of  the: 
u N I V ERS  ITY 
Of  ILLINOIS 

Q374.724 

H£2S 


STACKS 


/ 


The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  return  to  the  library  from 
which  it  was  withdrawn  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books 
are  reasons  for  disciplinary  action  and  may 
result  in  dismissal  from  the  University. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  LIBRARY  AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


L161  — 0-1096 


6 


* 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/historyofqueensc00unse_0 


iiKBTW; 


Sj2_Hgus 


E LOH C ISl-^Nj 


5 9 a a a aj* 


LC*  SUA K£%  CHUHCn  rLO£Hl*Q 


°I-D  COURTHOUSE 


&#  *$$  f 
&**?.«.*•*  hv.s 


.*¥&#!&$£  U.  L4r&>: 

&e,Tf.  liVsfc-  ®V  t^Jr* 


*V 

lVh.^  f<0s'  &1 4- 


Trrgqg'BTr 


QUEENS  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  FAIR  GROUNDS 


IW. 

|r  . . 

jrv  1 

Qtfliw 
46  2? 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  YORK. 

CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

Discovery  of  New  York—' The  Indians  of 

the  Five  Nations 7, 8 

CHAPTER  II. 

New  York  under  the  Dutch— English  Gov- 
ernors to  1675  8-10 

CHAPTER  III. 

War  with  France  and  the  Commencement 

of  the  Revolution 10,11 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Revolutionary  Events  in  New  York— The 

State  Government  Established 11,12 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  War  of  1812  between  the  United  States 

and  Great  Britain 12,13 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Internal  Improvements  — Constitutional 
Amendments— Schools— Statistics 13-15 

’ GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND, 

CHAPTER  I. 

A Sketch  of  the  Topography,  Geology  and 

Natural  History  of  Long  Island 16-18 

CHAPTER  1 . 

The  Indians  of  Long  Island  Territory, 
Characteristics,  and  Relations  with  the 

Whites 18-22 

CHAPTER  III. 

Discovery  and  Settlement  of  Long  Island 

— History  of  Colonial  Times 22-26 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Customs,  Characteristics  and  Institutions 

of  the  Early  Long  Islanders : 27-30 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  participation  of  Long  Island  in  the 

War  with  France 30,31 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Beginning  of  the  Revolution— Prevalence 
of  Toryism— Independent  Spirit  in  Suf- 

-.  folk 31-34 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  British  Invasion— Battle  of  Brooklyn — 

Washington’s  Retreat 34-36 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Long  Island  in  British  Hands— Raids  from 
the  Mainland— Smuggling —The  Prison 

Ships— Nathaniel  Woodhull 37-41 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  War  of  1812— Privateering— The  For- 
tification of  Long  Island 41-43 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Construction  of  Wagon  Roads  and 

Railroads  on  Long  Island 43,44 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Agricultural  Capabilities  and  Develop- 
ment of  Long  Island 44-46 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Formation  and  Growth  of  the  Long  Island 
Historical  Society 46-48 

HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Civil  History  of  the  County— Crimes  and 
Penalties— The  Court-House — Officials. . . 49-55 

CHAPTER  II. 

Early  Schools  and  Studies— The  Establish- 
ment of  Academies 55-57 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Cradle  of  American . Horse  Racing- 

Courses  and  Coursers  of  Old 57-59 

CHAPTER  TV. 

The  Timber  Growth  of  Queens  County  - 

Its  Uses— The  N ursery  Growths 59, 60 

CHAPTER  V. 

History  of  the  Queens  County  Agricultural 

Society 60-64 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Queens  .County  in  the  Civil  War— Record 
of  the  Volunteers, 65-73 

TOWN,  VILLAGE  AND  CITY  HISTORIES. 

Flushing 74-143 

Hempstead 144-192 

Jamaica 193-258 

Long  Island  City 259-326 

Newtown 329-406 

North  Hempstead 409-467 

Oyster  Bay 468-576 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

Albertson,  T.  W 430 

Allen,  Benjamin  W 438 

Allen,  Mrs.  B.  W 438 

Alsop  Family 340 

Alt-Muller,  George 526 

Angevine,  Lewis  W 185 

Armstrong,  John  J 247 

Backus.  Ascan 344 

Bell,  Robert  M 120 

Belmont,  Perry 576 

Bennett,  Jacob 262 

Bergen,  George  W 155 

Betts,  Richard 340 

Birdsall,  John 573 

Bloodgood  Family 90 

Bloomer,  Joshua 241 


Brinckerhoff  Family 343 

Brinckerhotf,  John  H 253 

Brown,  John  W 290 

Brutnell,  Richard 259 

Burnet,  Matthias 233 

Burroughs  Family 344 

Burroughs,  Robert 355 

Burtis,  Oliver  D 548 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 446 

Carpenter,  James  S 525 

Charliek,  Oliver — 575 

Clark,  John  M 431 

Clement,  Charles  H 156 

Cock,  Townsend  I) 508 

Cock,  William  T 511 

Colden,  Cadwallader  D 86 

Colgan,  Thomas 239 

Colyer,  Charles 497 

Cornell  Family 89 

Corsa,  Isaac 89 

Covert,  Charles  G 384 

Crimmin,  John 294 

Cutting,  Leonard 176 

De  Bevoise  Family 317 

De  Bevoise,  Abraham 252 

De  Be  Voise,  Adrianna 351 

De  Bevoise,  Charles  I 352 

De  Be  Voise,  Cornelius  S 350 

De  Bevoise,  Henry  S 280 

De  Be  Voise,  J oh  n 349 

De  Be  Voise,  John  C 349 

De  Bevoise,  John  1 321 

Debevoise,  John  M 352 

Dennett,  A.  K.  P 135 

Denton,  Richard 173 

Ditmars  Family 25q 

Downing,  Benjamin  W 136 

Downing,  George  S 530 

Duryea,  John  S 408 

Eastman,  Henry  W 456 

Embree  Family 86 

Farrington  Family 89 

Feakes,  John 507 

Fish  Family 341 

Floyd-Jones,  William 570 

Fosdick,  Morris 246 

Geissenhainer,  F.  W 392 

Greenoak,  John 267 

Griffin  Family •• 152 

Grosjean,  F 214 

Hallett  Family 344 

Hallett,  William 90,268 

Halsey,  Stephen  A 272 

Haviland  Family 89 

Haviland,  Isaac  E 431 

Hegeman,  Daniel 541 

Heitz,  John  F 551 

Herzog,  Frederick 550 

Hewlett  Family 432 

Hewlett,  Jacob  C 563 

Hewlett,  Joseph  L 434 

Hewlett,  William  H 433 


4 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Hicks,  Elias 

Hicks  Family..  

Hopkins,  John  B 

Hunter,  George .. . 

Hunter,  Jacob 

Jackson  Family 

Jackson,  John  C 

Johnson  Family 

Johnson,  Martin  G 

Jones  Family 

Jones.  Charles  H 

Jones,  David  W...., 

Jones,  John  D 

Jones,  Oliver  L 

Jones,  Walter  R 

King,  Rufus 

King,  Gov.  John  A...- 

King,  John  Alsop 

Kissam  Family 

Lawrence  Family 

Lawrence,  John  W 

Lawrence,  Joseph  A 

Lent  Family 

Levericb,  Edward 

Leverich,  Charles  P 

Lewis,  Francis 

L’Hommedieu,  James  H.. 

Licht,  Philip 

Loweree  Family 

Ludlam  Family 

Ludlatn,  Henry 

Ludlam,  James  M 

Luyster  Family 

Luyster,  John  B 

Maurice,  James 

Merritt,  Israel  J 

Messenger,  Thomas 

Moore  Family 

Moore,  Thomas  L 

Mudge,  William 

Nicoll,  Delancey 

Nicoll  Family 

Nostrand  Family 

Oakley,  J.  M 

Onderdonk,  Henry,  Jr  — 

Pad,  George  N 

Parsons,  Samuel 

Parsons,  S.  B 

Pitkin,  John  R 

Powell,  B.  S ... 

Poyer,  Thomas 

Praa,  Peter 

Prince  Family 

Prince,  L.  B 

Rapelye,  George  I 

Remsen  Family 

Remsen,  James  S 

Riker,  Samuel 

Rodman,  John 

Roemer,  Jacob 

Rogers,  Charles  H 

Rycken  (Riker)  Family... 
Schwalenberg,  William  H. 

Seabury,  Samuel 

Seabury,  Samuel,  jr 

Seaman  Family 

Smith,  Richard 

Smith,  Silvanus  S 

Smith,  William  Mitchell.. 

Snediker  Family 

Spooner,  Alden  J 

Sprong,  Bernard 

Suydam  Family 

Taber,  Samuel  T 

Taber,  Stephen 

Thorne  Family 

Thorne,  James 

Tompkins.  Joseph  J 

Townsend  Family 

Townsend,  Solomon 

Underhill,  Daniel 

Underhill,  John 

Urquhart,  William 

Valentine  Family 

Van  Alst,  John  I 

Van  Alst,  Peter  G 


466 

89 
209 
262 
265 

159, 408 
314 
248 
250-b 
552 

555 

556 
558 
555 

557 

255 

256 
258 
437 

90 


Vanderveer,  George  W, 

Vanderveer,  H.  S 

Van  Duyn,  William 

Van  Nostrand,  John  E. . 

Van  Pelt,  Peter 

Van  Siclen,  Abraham.. 

Van  Siclen,  James 

Van  Wyek  Family 

Van  Zandt  Family 

Walters  Family 

Webb,  Edwin 

Weed,  Henry  R 

Weeks,  William  M 

White  Family 

Whitney,  Scudder  V 

Willets,  Samuel 

Williams,  William  H 

Woodhull,  Nathaniel.... 

Wyckoff,  Nicholas 

Youngs,  Daniel  K 


132 

370 

343 

398 

401 

86 

445 

384 

86 

544 

547 

490 

342 
539 
380 
131 
462 
340 
178 
527 
140 
140 

250 
254 
220 
182 

92 

93 
219 
569 
238 
260 
124 
128 
356 

343 

251 
369 

86 

124 

322 

342 

325 
176 
240 
158 
495 

460 

461 
249 
157 

90 

343 
450 
455 

89 

520 

359 

490 

491 
543 
506 
238 

89, 507 
365 

326 


PORTRAITS. 


Albertson,  T.  W 

Allen,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  W 

Alt-Muller,  George 

Angevine,  Lewis  W 

Armstrong,  John  J 

Backus,  Ascan 

liell,  Robert  M 

Belmont,  Perry 

Bergen,  George  W 

Birdsall,  John 

Brinckerhoff,  John  H 

Burroughs,  Robert 

Burtis,  Oliver  D 

Bryant,  William  Cullen 

Carpenter,  James  S 

Charliek,  Oliver 

Clark,  John  M 

Cock,  Townsend  D 

Cock,  William  T 

Colyer,  Charles 

Covert,  Charles  G 

De  Bevoise,  Abraham 

De  Bevoise,  Anna  M 

De  Be  Voise,  Adrianna 

De  Bevoise,  Charles  1 

De  Be  Voise,  Cornelius  S 

De  Bevoise,  Henry  S 

De  Be  Voise,  John 

De  Be  Voise,  John  C 

De  Bevoise,  John  I 

De  Bevoise,  Jane 

Debevoise,  John  M 

Bennett,  A.  K.  P 

Downing,  Benjamin  W 

Downing,  George  S 

■Duryea,  H.  V 

Duryea,  John  S 

Eastman,  Henry  W 

Floyd-Jones,  William 

Fosdick,  Morris 

Geissenhainer,  F.  W 

Haviland,  Isaac  F, 

Hegeman,  Daniel 

Heitz,  John  F 

Herzog,  Frederick 

Hewlett,  William  H 

Hewlett,  William 

Hewlett,  Jacob  C 

Hewlett,  Joseph  L 

Hopkins,  John  B 

Hunter,  Jacob 

Jackson,  John  C 

Johnson,  Martin  G 

Jones,  Charles  H 

Jones.  David  W 

Jones,  John  D 

King,  Rufus 

Lawrence.  John  W 

Lawrence,  Joseph  A 

Leverich,  Edward 

Leverich,  Charles  P 


358 

407 

343 

338 

319 

205 

206 
206 

85 

89 

186 

231 

528 

498 

494 

465 

309 

41 

391 

496 


430 
440, 441 
527 
185 
247 
345 
120 
577 
154 
573 
253 
355 


L’Hommedieu,  James  H.. 

Licht,  P 

Ludlam,  Henry 

Ludlam,  James  M 

Luyster,  John  B 

Maurice,  James 

Merritt,  Israel  J 

Messenger,  Thomas. . . . . 

Moore,  Thomas  L 

Moore,  William  H 

Mudge,  William 

Nicoll,  Delancey 

Oakley,  J.  M 

Paff,  George  N 

Pitkin,  John  R 

Powell,  B.  S 

Prince,  L.  B 

Rapelye,  George  I 

Remsen,  James  S 

Riker,  Samuel 

Roemer,  Jacob 

Rogers,  Charles  H 

Schwalenberg,  William  H 

Smith,  Richard 

Smith,  Silvanus  S 

Smith,  William  Mitchell.. 

Taber,  Samuel  T 

Taber,  Stephen 

Tompkins,  Joseph  J 

Townsend,  Solomon 

Underhill,  Daniel 

Van  Alst,  John  I 

Van  Alst,  Peter  G 

Vanderveer,  George  W... 

Vanderveer,  H.  S 

Van  Nostrand,  John  E — 
Van  Pelt,  Peter 


548 

447 

524 

575 

4.30 

508 

510 


Webb,  Edwin 

Weeks,  William  M... 
Whitney,  Scudder  V 

Willets,  Samuel 

Wyckoff,  Nicholas.. 
Youngs,  Daniel  K — 


497 


444 

386 

547 

499 

538 

381 

131 

463 

176 

178 

528 

141 

254 

183 

219 

569 

125 

356 
251 
368 
121 
323 
325 

495 

460 

461 
451 
454 
359 
491 
543 
364 
327 

357 
407 
339 
319 
187 
528 
494 
465 
390 

496 


385 

252 

252 

351 
353 
350 
281 
349 
348 
321 
320 

352 
135 
137 
531 
519 
408 
457 
571 
216 
392 

431 
541 
551 
550 

433 

432 
562 

434 
211 
261 
315 

250-b 

554 

556 

559 

255 

133 

370 

398 

400 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Bergen,  George  W„  Residence 156 

Church,  Grace,  Jamaica 240,243,244 

Church.  Christ,  Oyster  Bay 502 

Church,  St.  George's,  Hempstead 175,177 

Church  Rectory,  St.  George's,  Hempstead.  177 

Church,  Presbyterian,  Jamaica 233,234 

Church,  Reformed,  Jamaica 236 

Church,  Union  Evangelical,  Corona 396 

De  Bevoise,  J.  C.,  Residence 348 

Duryea,  Starch  Works 518 

Frontispiece 1 

Grosjean,  F.,  Residence 215 

Hewlett,  George,  Residence 435 

Hopkins,  John  B.,  Residence 211 

Jackson,  Samuel  C..  Residence 408 

Johnson,  Martin  G.,  Residence 250-b 

Jones,  Oliver  L.,  M.  D.,  Hotel 566,567 

Leverich,  C.  D.,  "Residence 404 

Lutheran  Cemetery 393 

Licht,  Philip,  Factory 386 

Lott,  A.  V.  S.,  Residence 342 

Nichols,  G.  H.  & Co.,  Chemical  Works 377 

Owen,  Mrs.  Henry,  Residence 217 

Portable  House  Manufactory,  Corona 404 

Paff,  George  N„  Residence 183 

Remsen  & Wainright,  Hotel 162 

Roe,  G.  B.  & Co.,  Lumber  and  Coal  Yard...  107 

Schenck,  John,  Residence 535 

Smith,  Henry  T.,  Brick  Works 546 

Stein  way  & Sons’  Piano  Works 306,307 

Taylor,  John,  Residence 88 

Thorne,  James,  Residence  and  Office 521 

Van  Wickel,  George  S.,  Residence 254 

Van  Siclen,  Abraham,  Residence 204 

Van  Siclen.  James,  Residence 207 

Williams  Veneer  Mills 309 

Wyckoff,  N„  Residence 388 

Map  of  Long  Island 5 


466 


Willets,  Samuel,  Residence. 


PREFACE. 


It  has  heretofore  been  possible  for  the  scholar,  with 
leisure  and  a comprehensive  library,  to  trace  out  the 
written  history  of  his  county  by  patient  research  among 
voluminous  public  documents  and  many  volumes,  some- 
times old  and  scarce;  but  these  sources  of  information 
and  the  time  to  study  them  are  not  at  the  command  of 
most  of  those  who  are  intelligently  interested  in  local 
history,  and  there  are  many  unpublished  facts  to  be  res- 
cued from  the  failing  memories  of  the  oldest  residents, 
who  would  soon  have  carried  their  information  with 
them  to  the  grave;  and  others  to  be  obtained  from  the 
citizens  best  informed  in  regard  to  the  various  interests 
and  institutions  of  the  county  which  should  be  treated 
of  in  giving  its  history. 

This  service  of  research  and  compilation,  which  very 
few  could  have  undertaken  for  themselves,  the  publish- 
ers of  this  work  have  caused  to  be  performed.  While 
all  the  standard  sources  of  information  have  been  con- 
sulted, very  much  of  the  material  embodied  has  been 
gained  by  personal  interview  and  original  investigation. 
The  publishers  desire  to  acknowledge  in  general  terms  the 
kindness  and  courtesy  with  which  their  efforts  to  obtain 
the  facts  recorded  here  have  usually  been  met.  To  the 
proprietors  of  the  newspapers  of  the  county,  for  access  to 
the  files  of  their  journals;  to  officers  in  charge  of  the 
public  records;  to  clergymen,  for  assistance  in  preparing 
the  church  histories;  and  to  the  secretaries  of  numerous 
associations,  for  data  furnished,  their  thanks  are  due. 
Aside  from  this  general  expression  more  particular  men- 
tion is  called  for  of  several  contributors  to  the  work. 

Any  one  attempting  at  this  day  a complete  history  of 
Queens  county  must  profit  largely  by  the  labors  of 
Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  whose  contributions  to  the  early 
history  of  Long  Island  (enumerated  on  page  220)  are  as 
valuable  as  they  are  voluminous.  While  his  publications 
have  furnished  many  facts  incorporated  in  various  parts 
of  the  volume,  Mr.  Onderdonk  prepared  expressly  for 
this  work  the  general  history  of  the  county  (pages  49- 
65),  the  history  of  Jamaica  village  (pages  220-246)  the 
records  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  North  Hempstead 
and  Oyster  Bay,  and  the  account  of  Revolutionary  events 
in  those  towns. 

The  late  Alden  J.  Spooner  prepared  chapters  II  and 
XII  of  the  general  history  of  Long  Island  (pages  18-22, 
46-48),  but  his  lamented  death  left  the  completion  of 
them  to  other  hands.  Chapter  XI  of  the  same  section 
of  the  work  (pages  44-46J  was  written  by  Richard  Wil- 
lets,  of  Westbury. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  history  of  the  town  of 
Hempstead  articles  were  contributed  as  follows:  On  the 
village  of  Pearsalls  (pages  r66,  167),  by  Miss  Elbe  F. 
Pearsall;  the  “Jerusalem”  neighborhood  (pages  157-162), 
by  Edward  H.  Seaman;  St.  George’s  church  Hemp- 
stead village  (pages  174-178),  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Moore,  D. 
D.,  who  also  furnished  the  accompanying  cuts;  the 
church  institutions  at  Garden  City,  by  Rev.  T.  S. 
Drowne,  D.  D.;  Seaford,  New  Bridge,  Bellmore  and 
Smithville  South  (pages  169-171),  by  Thomas  D.  Smith; 
and  Rockville  Centre  and  East  Rockaway  (pages  163- 
166,  170^  by  John  Rhodes  and  Oliver  Denton. 

The  very  valuable  early  history  of  the  town  of  North 
Hempstead  (pages  409-412)  was  contributed  by  H.  G. 
Onderdonk,  of  Manhasset,  to  whom  the  publishers  are 
also  indebted  for  other  assistance.  The  history  of  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  churches  of  this  town  was  written 
by  Rev.  E.  Warriner,  from  a portion  of  the  material 
which  he  has  for  years  been  collecting  for  his  forthcom- 
ing “ Cyclopedia  of  Long  Island  Methodism.”  The 
value  of  these  articles  and  the  amount  of  research  in- 
volved in  their  preparation  will  be  recognized  by  all 
readers.  The  section  on  the  agriculture  of  North  Hemp- 
stead (pages  416,  417)  is  by  Benjamin  D.  Hicks,  and  we 
are  indebted  to  that  gentleman  for  other  favors.  The 
account  of  journalism  in  the  town  was  furnished  by  H. 
W.  Eastman;  that  of  the  schools  by  Commissioner  C.  E. 
Surdam;  that  of  the  Roslyn  mills  by  Walter  Hicks;  and 
notes  on  Port  Washington  and  the  oyster  business  by 
Warren  Weeks.  Histories  of  the  religious  institutions 
of  the  town,  other  than  the  M.  E.  churches  above  men- 
tioned, were  contributed  as  follows:  Christ  church 
Manhasset,  Rev.  J.  E.  Homans;  Westbury  union 
Sunday-school,  Miss  Henrietta  Titus;  Reformed  church 
of  Manhasset  (in  part),  Warren  Mitchell;  Trinity 
church  Roslyn,  Rev.  William  C.  Brush;  St.  Aloysius 
church,  Great  Neck,  Rev.  E.  J.  Smith;  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  church  at  Roslyn,  Rev.  M.  C.  Brennan; 
Roslyn  Presbyterian  church,  J.  Browne  jr. ; Baptist 
church  of  Port  Washington,  James  E.  Bird. 

Contributions  to  the  history  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay 
were  made  as  follows-  Sea  Cliff  (page  529)  Rev.  W.  H. 
De  Puy,  D.  D.;  agriculture  (pages  487,  488),  Daniel 
K.  Youngs;  Odd  Fellows’  lodge,  Glen  Cove  (page  520), 
W.  M.  Peck;  Syosset  (pages  547,  548),  O.  D.  Burtis; 
Glen  Cove  and  Matinecock  (pages  505-525),  J.  T.  Bowne; 
Hicksville  (page  549),  John  F.  Heitz;  churches  of  Oyster 
Bay  village — Episcopal  Rev.  W.  M.  Geer,  Baptist  Rev.  C. 
S.  Wightman,  Presbyterian  Rev.  A.  G.  Russell,  Method- 
ist Episcopal  William  Ludlam;  churches  of  Glen  Cove 
— Presbyterian  Rev.  T.  S.  Bradner,  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Rev.  J.  S.  Gilder,  Protestant  Episcopal  Rev.  J.  C. 
Middleton;  Brookville  Reformed  church,  Rev.  J.  H. 
Davis;  Locust  Valley  Reformed  church,  Rev.  A.  De  W. 
Mason;  East  Norwich  M.  E.  church,  H.  H.  Frost;  Jones 
Institute,  Walter  Franklin.  The  author  of  the  history  of 
this  town  would  acknowledge  the  kind  assistance  given 
in  its  preparation  by  the  town  clerk,  John  N.  Remsen, 
and  by  Miss  Letitia  Townsend;  many  facts  in  the  early 
history  of  the  town  were  taken  by  permission  from  the 
“ Townsend  Memorial.” 

Other  acknowledgments  are  made  in  different  parts  of 
the  history  itself. 

So  much  time  is  necessarily  consumed  in  preparing 
and  printing  a work  of  the  magnitude  of  this  that  the 
parts  first  done  may  not  in  all  cases  embody  the  latest 
information,  as,  for  example,  in  giving  a list  of  the  pas- 
tors of  a church  or  the  officers  of  an  organization  or  a 
town;  this  would  be  inevitable  at  whatever  time  the  vol- 
ume might  be  issued.  Thus:  while  the  supervisors  are 
the  same  in  several  towns  as  in  1881,  the  present  super- 
visor of  Newtown  is  Thomas  F.  McGowan;  of  North 
Hempstead,  Jacob  Powell;  Hempstead,  Martin  V.  Wood. 

While  some  unimportant  errors  may  perhaps  be  found 
amid  the  multitude  of  details  entering  into  the  composi- 
tion of  a work  of  this  character,  the  publishers  yet  present 
this  result  of  many  months’  labor  as  a reliable  and 
orderly  narrative  of  all  the  events  in  the  history  of 
Queens  county  of  sufficient  importance  to  merit  such 
record. 


OEiGinsr  o:f  towns 


KINGS  COUNTY. 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Brooklyn. . . . 

Bushwick 

Flatbush 

Flatlands. . . . , 

Gravesend 

New  Utrecht. 


Was  Settled  1636. 

“ “ 1660. 

“ " 1651. 

“ “ 1636. 

“ “ »643- 

“ *654. 


Flushing..  .Chartered  1645,  by  Gov.  Kieft. 


He'mpstead  “ 1644,  “ “ settled,  1643. 

Janaica...  “ 1656,  “ Gov.  Stuyvesant;  settled,  1655. 

Newtown..  “ 1640,  “ Gov.  Kieft. 

Loig  Island  City From  Newtown,  May  6th  1870. 

North  Hempstead From  Hempstead,  April  6th  1784 

Oyster  Bay 1653. 


SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 


Babvlon From  Huntington,  March  13th  1872. 

Brookhaven 1658;  settled,  1655. 

East  Hampton 1648. 

Huntington 1 ^53- 

[slip 1710;  settled,  1666. 

Riverbead From  Southold,  1792. 

Shelter  Island From  Southold,  1730;  settled.  1652. 

Smithtown Chartered  1677,  by  Gov.  Andros. 

Southampton 1640. 

Southold 1640. 


..  MAP  OF  - ^ 

Turns® 


■ !l<  E A J V t. 


,Y  tLtfl 

J7]  (f 

<v\  »pi^H 

Ij  \V  T~t\  1 

>WA 

OUTLINE  HISTORY 

OF  THE 

STATE  OF. NEW  YORK. 


CHAPTER  I. 


DISCOVERY  OF  NEW  YORK. THE  INDIANS  OF  THE  FIVE 

NATIONS. 


<N  1524  John  de  Verazzano,  a Florentine  navi- 
gator in  the  service  of  Francis  the  First  of 
France,  made  a voyage  to  the  North  American 
coast,  and,  as  is  believed  from  the  account 
which  he  gave,  entered  the  harbor  of  New 
York.  No  colonies  were  planted,  and  no  results 
followed;  and  the  voyage  was  almost  forgotten. 

Though  discoveries  were  made  by  the  French  north 
from  this  point,  and  colonies  planted  by  the  English 
farther  to  the  south,  it  is  not  known  that  New  York  was 
again  visited  by  Europeans  till  1609,  when  the  Dutch 
East  India  Company  sent  Idendrick  Hudson,  an  English- 
man by  birth,  on  a voyage  of  discovery  in  a vessel  called 
the  “Half  Moon.”  He  reached  the  coast  of  Maine,  sailed 
thence  to  Cape  Cod,  then  southwesterly  to  the  mouth  of 
Chesapeake  Bay,  then,  coasting  northward,  he  entered 
Delaware  Bay  on  the  28th  of  August.  From  thence  he 
proceeded  northward,  and  on  the  3d  of  September,  1609, 
anchored  in  New  York  Bay.  On  the  12th  he  entered 
the  river  that  bears  his  name,  and  proceeded  slowly  up 
to  a point  just  above  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Ilud- 
• son;  thence  he  sent  a boat's  crew  to  explore  farther  up, 
and  they  passed  above  Albany.  September  23d  he  set 
sail  down  the  river,  and  immediately  returned  to  Europe. 

in  1607  Samuel  Champlain,  a French  navigator,  sailed 
up  the  St.  Lawrence,  explored  its  tributaries,  and  on  the 
4th  of  July  in  that  year  discovered  the  lake  which  bears 
his  name. 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  New  York  by  the 
whites  the  southern  and  eastern  portions  were  inhabited 
by  the  Mahican  or  Mohegan  Indians;  while  that  portion 
west  from  the  Hudson  River  was  occupied  by  five  con- 
federate tribes,  afterwards  named  by  the  English  the 


Five  Nations,  and  by  the  French  the  Iroquois,  and  by 
themselves  called  Hodenosaunee — people  of  the  long 
house.  The  long  house  formed  by  this  confederacy  ex- 
tended east  and  west  through  the  State,  having  at  its 
eastern  portal  the  Mohawks,  and  at  its  western  the  Sen- 
ecas; • while  between  them  dwelt  the  Oneidas,  Ononda- 
gas,  and  Cayugas;  and  after  1714  a sixth  nation,  the 
Tuscaroras,  southeast  from  Oneida  Lake.  Of  these 
Indians  Parkman  says  that  at  the  commencement  of  the 
seventeenth  century  “ in  the  region  now  forming  the 
State  of  New  York,  a power  was  rising  to  a ferocious 
vitality,  which,  but  for  the  presence  of  Europeans,  would 
probably  have  subjected,  absorbed  or  exterminated  every 
other  Indian  community  east  of  the  Mississippi  and 
north  of  the  Ohio.” 

“ The  Iroquois  was  the  Indian  of  Indians.  A thorough 
savage,  yet  a finished  and  developed  savage,,  he  is,  per- 
haps, an  example  of  the  highest  elevation  which  man 
can  reach  without  emerging  from  his  primitive  condition 
of  the  hunter.  A geographical  position  commanding  on 
the  one  hand  the  portal  of  the  great  lakes,  and  on  the 
other  the  sources  of  the  streams  flowing  both  to  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Mississippi,  gave  the  ambitious  and  ag- 
gressive confederates  advantages  which  they  perfectly 
understood,  and  by  which  they  profited  to  the  utmost. 
Patient  and  politic  as  they  were  ferocious,  they  were  not 
only  the  conquerors  of  their  own  race,  but  the  powerful 
allies  and  the  dreaded  foes  of  the  French  and  English 
colonies,  flattered  and  caressed  by  both,  yet  too  sagacious 
to  give  themselves  without  reserve  to  either.  Their  or- 
ganization and  their  history  evince  their  intrinsic  superi- 
ority. Even  their  traditionary  lore,  amid  its  wild  pueril- 
ities, shows  at  times  the  stamp  of  an  energy  and  force  in 
striking  contrast  with  the  flimsy  creations  of  Algonquin 
fancy.  That  the  Iroquois,  left  under  their  own  institu- 
tions, would  ever  have  developed  a civilization  of  their 
own,  I do  not  believe.” 

These  institutions  were  not  only  characteristic  and 
curious,  but  almost  unique.  Without  sharing  the  almost 
fanatical  admiration  for  them  of  Morgan,  or  echoing 


8 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


the  praises  which  Parkman  lavisnes  on  tnem,  it  may  be 
truly  said  that  their  wonderful  and  cohesive  confederation 
furnished  a model  worthy  to  be  copied  by  many  civilized 
nations,  while,  so  long  as  they  were  uncontaminated  by 
the  vices  of  civilization,  they  possessed,  with  all  their 
savagery,  many  noble  traits  of  character,  which  would 
adorn  any  people  in  their  public,  social,  or  domestic 
relations. 

They  made  themselves  the  dreaded  masters  of  all 
their  neighbors  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  carried  their 
victorious  arms  far  to  the  north,  the  south,  and  the  east. 
Their  dominance  is  thus  eloquently  pictured  in  Street’s 
“ Frontenac  > 

“ The  fierce  Adirondacs  had  fled  from  their  wrath. 

The  Hurons  been  swept  from  their  merciless  path; 

Around,  the  Ottawas,  like  leaves,  had  been  strewn. 

And  the  lake  of  the  Eries  struck  silent  and  lone. 

The  Lenape,  lords  once  of  valley  and  hill. 

Made  women,  bent  low  at  their  conquerors’  will. 

By  the  far  Mississippi  the  Illini  shrank 

When  the  trail  of  the  Tortoise  was  seen  on  the  bank; 

On  the  hills  of  New  England  the  Pequod  turned  pale 
When  the  howl  of  the  Wolf  swelled  at  night  on  the  gale; 

And  the  Cherokee  shook  in  his  green,  smiling  bowers 
When  the  foot  of  the  Bear  stamped  his  carpet  of  flowers.” 

It  will  hereafter  be  seen  that  the  Iroquois  acted  an  im- 
portant part  in  the  early  history  of  the  State. 

Space  will  not  permit  a description  of  their  league,  or 
confederation,  a sketch  of  their  tribal  relations,  and  their 
religious,  social  and  domestic  customs,  or  a history  of 
'their  warlike  achievements. 

Only  an  allusion  may  here  be  made  to  the  many  dim 
and  shadowy  records  of  a pre-existing  people  of  whom 
not  even  a faint  tradition  remains.  These  records  con- 
sist of  stone,  terra  cotta,  or  bone  weapons,  implements 
or  ornaments,  that  are  occasionally  discovered,  and  of 
the  remains  of  defensive  works  found  here  and  there 
through  the  State.  Many  similar  works  have  been  leveled 
by  the  plough,  and  those  that  remain  are  slowly 
crumbling  and  passing  to  oblivion.  Some  of  them, 
though  they  would  not  be  regarded  as  models  of  military 
engineering  at  the  present  day,  give  evidence  of  an 
adaptation  to  the  circumstances  that  probably  existed 
when  they  were  built,  and  of  skill  in  construction,  which 
are  not  discreditable  to  their  builders. 


CHAPTER  IT. 


NEW  YORK  UNDER  THE  DUTCH ENGLISH  GOVERNORS 

TO  1765. 


IN  1610  another  vessel  was  sent  from  Holland 
to  trade  with  the  natives  and  in  1612  two 
more,  soon  after  followed  by  others;  and  a 
small  fort  and  a few  rude  buildings  were 
erected  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Man- 
hattan  Island,  and  the  place  was  named  New 
Amsterdam.  In  1614  the  States  General  of  Hol- 
land granted  a charter  to  the  merchants  engaged  in  these 


expeditions,  giving  exclusive  privileges  of  trade  for  four 
years.  The  Hudson  River  had  been  ascended  by  Hen- 
drick Christiansen,  and  a fort  and  trading  house  erected 
near  the  present  site  of  Albany,  which  was  named  Fort 
Orange. 

In  1621  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  was  chartered, 
and  in  1623  settlers  were  sent  thither.  In  1626  Peter 
Minuit,  as  director-general  or  governor  of  the  province, 
arrived  with  other  settlers,  and  purchased  the  island  of 
Manhattan  from  the  Indians  for  trinkets  of  the  value  of 
about  $24.  In  1629  the  company  offered  grants  to 
patroons  who  should  found  settlements  in  the  province 
(which  had  been  named  New  Netherlands)  of  fifty  or 
more  adults,  and  several  availed  themselves  of  this  offer. 
In  1633  Minuit  was  recalled  and  WoutcrVan  Twiller  ap- 
pointed in  his  place.  During  his  administration  the  con- 
troversy concerning  jurisdiction  was  commenced  between 
the  Dutch  and  the  English,  who  claimed  the  country  on 
the  ground  of  prior  discovery  by  Cabot  and  the  grant  of 
James  I.  covering  the  territory. 

In  1638  Van  Twiller  was  succeeded  in  the  government 
of  the  colony  by  William  Kieft.  By  reason  of  hostilities 
which  occurred  with  the  Indians  on  Long  Island  in 
1643-44,  for  which  Kieft  was  censured,  he  was  recalled, 
and  succeeded  by  Peter  Stuyvesant  in  1647.  The  con- 
troversy concerning  jurisdiction  continued  during  his 
administration,  till,  in  1664,  Charles  II.  of  England,  re- 
gardless of  the  claims  of  the  Dutch  to  New  Netherlands, 
granted  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York  and  Albany, 
afterwards  James  II.,  the  whole  country  from  the  Con- 
necticut to  the  Delaware,  including  the  entire  Dutch  pos- 
sessions. A fleet  was  sent  under  Colonel  Richard  Nicolls 
by  the  duke  to  enforce  his  claim,  and  on  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1664,  the  province  was  surrendered  without 
bloodshed,  and  the  government  of  the  colony  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  English. 

Colonel  Nicolls  at  once  assumed  the  functions  of  gov- 
ernor; the  name  New  Amsterdam  was  changed  to  New 
York,  and  Fort  Orange  to  Albany,  laws  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province  were  prescribed,  and  courts  for  the 
administration  of  these  laws  established.  In  1668  Gov- 
ernor Nicolls  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Colonel 
Francis  Lovelace.  England  at  about  this  time  became 
involved  in  a war  with  Holland,  and  this  government 
sent  a squadron  to  repossess  its  province  in  America. 
This  squadron  arrived  July  30th,  1673,  and  the  fort  at 
New  York  was  surrendered  without  resistance  by  Captain 
John  Manning,  who  was  in  command.  Captain  Anthony 
Colve  became  governor;  but  his  reign  was  short,  for  on 
the  conclusion  of  peace  between  the  two  powers,  Febru- 
ary 9th,  1674,  the  province  reverted  to  the  English.  A 
new  patent  was  issued,  confirming  the  first,  and  Sir  Ed- 
mund Andros  was  commissioned  governor.  The  despotic 
agent  of  a despotic  ruler  he  was  unpopular  with  the  peo- 
ple, and  became  involved  in  difficulties  with  the  neigh- 
boring colonies.  He  was  recalled  and  his  successor, 
Thomas  Dongan,  arrived  on  the  22nd  of  August,  1683. 
In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  the  first  colonial  assem- 
bly was  convened,  many  needed  reforms  were  instituted, 


NEW  YORK  UNDER  ENGLISH  GOVERNORS. 


9 


and  better  times  than  the  colonists  had  ever  known  ap- 
peared to  have  dawned.  The  most  important  act  of  this 
Assembly  was  the  adoption  of  a charter  of  liberties  and 
privileges,  or  bill  of  rights.  The  hopes  thus  raised  were 
soon  disappointed.  On  the  accession  of  James  II.  to  the 
English  throne  he  refused  his  confirmation  of  the  priv- 
ileges which  had  been  granted  while  he  was  Duke  of 
York,  prohibited  the  Assembly,  forbade  the  establishment 
of  a printing  press  in  the  colony,  and  filled  the  principal 
offices  in  the  province  with  Roman  Catholics. 

In  1687  a war  broke  out  between  the  Iroquois  and  the 
French.  The  country  of  the  former  was  invaded  by  the 
French,  under  De  la  Barre  and  M.  de  Nonville  success- 
ively, and  in  retaliation  the  Iroquois,  twelve  hundred 
strong,  fell  upon  th^  French  on  the  south  side  of  the 
island  of  Montreal,  “ burnt  their  houses,  sacked  their 
plantations,  and  put  to  the  sword  all  the  men,  women  and 
children  without  the  skirts  of  the  town.  A thousand 
French  were  slain  in  this  invasion,  and  twenty-six  were 
carried  into  captivity  and  burnt  alive.”  Shortly  after- 
ward, in  another  attack,  the  lower  part  of  the  town  was 
destroyed,  and  in  all  this  the  assailants  lost  only  three. 

In  1688  New  York  and  the  Jerseys  were  annexed  to 
the  jurisdiction  of  New  England,  and  Sir  Edmund  An- 
dros was  made  governor  of  all.  Governor  Dongan  was 
removed,  and  Francis  Nicolson  succeeded  him.  The 
government  was  vested  in  a governor  and  council,  who 
were  appointed  by  the  king  without  the  consent  of  the 
people. 

In  1689  William  and  Mary  ascended  the  English 
throne.  Sir  Edmund  Andros  was  seized  at  Boston,  and 
Jacob  Leisler  seized  the  fort  at  New  York,  under  the 
pretence  of  holding  it  for  the  new  sovereigns.  During 
the  two  years  of  Leisler’s  usurpation  the  French  and  In- 
dians made  a descent  on  Schenectady,  February  8th, 
1690,  and  massacred  about  sixty  of  the  inhabitants.  The 
danger  by  which  they  were  threatened  induced  the  people, 
— who,  though  favorably  disposed  toward  William  and 
Mary,  were  opposed  to  Leisler — to  submit  to  his  authority 
for  the  time.  On  the  arrival,  in  March,  1691,  of  Colonel 
Sloughter,  who  had  been  commissioned  governor  in  1869, 
Leisler  at  first  refused  to  surrender  the  government  to 
him.  For  this  he  was  tried  by  a special  commission,  and 
sentenced  to  death.  The  governor,  who  refused  to  sign 
his  death  warrant,  was  persuaded,  while  intoxicated,  to 
do  so,  and  he  was  executed  before  the  governor  had  re- 
covered from  his  intoxication  Governor  Sloughter  died 
in  July,  1691,  after  a weak  administration  of  only  a few 
months. 

The  colonial  Assembly  was  again  established  during 
this  year,  and  the  oppressive  laws  which  had  been  im- 
posed on  the  colony  repealed.  In  the  interim  between 
the  death  of  Sloughter  and  the  arrival  of  his  successor 
the  chief  command  was  committed  to  Richard  Ingoldsby. 
In  August,  1692,  Benjamin  Fletcher  arrived  with  a com- 
mission as  governor.  He  was  narrow,  violent,  avaricious 
and  bigoted,  and  his  administration  was  a continual  ex- 
hibition of  these  qualities.  . 

In  1693  the  French  and  Indians  under  Count  Frontenac 


invaded  the  country  of  the  Iroquois,  killed  some,  and 
took  three  hundred  prisoners.  In  1696  he  made  another 
incursion,  and  ravaged  a portion  of  the  coun  ry.  The 
Indians  retaliated  by  hostile  incursions  among  their 
enemies,  but  the  peace  of  Ryswick,  between  France  and 
England,  terminated  these  hostilities. 

Governor  Fletcher  was  succeeded  in  1698  by  Richard, 
Earl  of  Bellomont,  who  died  in  1701,  and  John  Nanfan, 
the  lieutenant-governor,  succeeded  him  till  the  arrival  of 
the  next  governor,  Lord  Cornbury,  in  1702.  The  admin- 
istration of  this  governor  was  chiefly  distinguished  for 
religious  intolerance;  and  he  received  the  unenviable 
distinction  of  being  the  worst  governor  under  the  English 
regime.  He  was  succeeded,  December  1 8th,  1708,  by 
Lord  Lovelace,  who  died  on  the  5th  of  t,he  following 
May.  Under  Lieutenant-Governor  Ingoldsby,  who  ad- 
ministered the  government  after  his  death,  an  unsuccess- 
ful expedition  against  Canada  was  undertaken.  Gerardus 
Beekman  succeeded  him  as  governor  pro  tem .,  till  June 
14th,  1710,  when  the  next  governor,  Robert  Hunter, 
arrived.  In  1711  another  disastrous  expedition  against 
Canada  was  made,  but  in  1713  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  ter- 
minated the  war  between  England  and  France,  and  put 
an  end  to  Indian  hostilities.  In  1719  Hunter  returned 
to  England,  and  Peter  Schuyler  was  governor,  ad  interim , 
till  the  arrival  of  William  Burnet  in  1720.  On  the  acces- 
sion to  the  throne  of  George  II.  Burnet  was  transferred 
to  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  and  succeeded, 
April  15th,  1728,  by  John  Montgomery,  who  died  July 
1st,  1731.  Rip  Van  Dam,  by  virtue  of  seniority  in  the 
council,  was  his  successor  till  the  arrival  of  William 
Cosby,  the  next  governor,  finished  his  administration  and 
began  one  rendered  memorable  for  its  arbitrary  proceed- 
ings and  tumult,  rather  than  for  striking  or  important 
events.  Cosby  died  March  10th,  1736,  and  was  succeeded 
by  George  Clark,  senior  counselor  after  Van  Dam,  whom 
Cosby  had  caused  to  be  suspended.  Clark  was  com- 
missioned lieutenant-governor  in  the  following  October. 
An  antagonism  had  been  growing  during  some  time  be- 
tween the  democratic  and  the  aristocratic  parties  in  the 
colonies.  Clark  at  first  sought  to  conciliate  both,  but  in 
the  end  had  the  confidence  of  neither,  and  his  retirement, 
on  the  arrival  of  his  successor,  Admiral  George  Clinton, 
September  23d,  1743,  was  but  little  regretted.  The  ad- 
ministration of  Governor  Clinton  was  characterized  by  a 
continual  conflict  with  the  people,  represented  in  the 
provincial  Assembly.  Unable  by  repeated  prorogations 
and  dissolutions  to  coerce  them  into  submission,  he  re- 
signed after  an  administration  of  ten  years,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded, October  10th,  1763,  by  Sir  Danvers  Osborne. 
He  was  charged  with  still  more  stringent  instructions 
than  his  predecessors,  and  met  with  still  firmer  resistance 
from  the  people.  After  an  administration  of  a few  davs 
he  committed  suicide  by  hanging,  probably  because  of 
the  embarrassment  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  and 
grief  for  the  death  of  his  wife.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Lieutenant-Governor  Tames  De  Lancey  till  the  arrival,  in 
September,  1755,  of  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  who,  though  nom- 
inally governor,  surrendered  the  duties  of  the  office  into 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


the  hands  of  De  Lancey.  Governor  Hardy  resigned  in 
1757  and  De  Lancey  became  governor.  He  died  on  the 
30th  of  July,  1760,  and  Cadwalader  Colden,  president  of 
the  council,  took  charge  of  the  government.  He  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-governor  in  August,  1761,  and 
in  October  of  the  same  year  General  Robert  Moulton, 
who  had  been  appointed  governor,  assumed  the  guber- 
natorial functions;  but  on  the  13th  of  the  following  monih 
he  left  the  administration  of  affairs  in  the  hands  of  Colden, 
and  went  on  an  expedition  against  Martinique.  Colden’s 
administration  continued  tiil  1765. 


CHAPTER  III. 


WAR  WITH  FRANCK  AN])  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE 
REVOLUTION. 

Tie?5-  ~ , 

early  as  1722  a trading  post  was  established 
at  Oswego  by  Governor  Burnet,  with  the  view 
of  establishing  others  farther  west  on  the 
lakes,  and  securing  the  trade  of  the  western 
Indians.  To  intercept  this,  and  secure  this 
trade  for  themselves,  the  French  established  a 
post  and  erected  a fort  at  Niagara,  with  the 
design  of  extending  a chain  of  military  posts  to  the  Ohio 
River,  and  thus  limiting  the  English  trade. 

In  March,  1744,  war  was  declared  between  France  and 
England,  in  which  the  colonies  of  New  York  and  New 
England  participated.  During  its  continuance  the  coun- 
try north  from  Albany  was  frequently  ravaged  by  parties 
of  French  and  Indians.  Saratoga  was  burned,  and  nearly 
all  the  inhabitants  either  killed  or  made  prisoners,  and 
the  village  of  Hoosic  taken. 

In  1746  an  unsuccessful  expedition  against  Canada  was 
undertaken,  for  which  the  colony  of  New  York  furnished 
sixteen  hundred  men.  Peace  was  concluded  at  Aix  La 
Chapelle  in  1748,  and  a period  of  nominal  tranquillity 
followed,  though  the  frontier  was  desolated  by  savage 
parties,  encouraged  by  the  French. 

In  1755,  with  the  view  of  checking  their  encroach- 
ments, four  expeditions  were  sent  against  them,  two  of 
which  were  in  the  colony  of  New  York.  One  of  them, 
that  against  Niagara,  was  unsuccessful,  but  the  other, 
against  Crown  Point,  achieved  a success,  which  was  not 
however  followed  up. 

It  was  not  till  1756  that  the  English  ministry  aroused 
from  its  imbecility  and  formally  declared  war.  In  the 
campaign  of  1756  the  English  and  colonial  forces  met 
with  no  success,  but  the  two  forts  at  Oswego  were  lost, 
with  1,600  prisoners  and  much  war  material.  The  cam- 
paign of  1757  was  equally  unsuccessful  and  disastrous. 
Fort  William  Henry,  on  Lake  George,  with  3,000  men, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French  under  Montcalm. 

On  the  accession  of  William  Pitt  to  the  head  of  the 
British  ministry  in  1758  new  energy  was  infused  into 


their  measures,  and  a fresh  impulse  given  to  the  colonies. 
Success  soon  turned  in  favor  of  the  English,  and,  with 
few  exceptions,  continued  till  Canada  was  subdued. 
Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  Niagara  and  Quebec  fell  in 
1758,  and  Montreal,  Detroit,  Michilimackinac  and  all 
other  Canadian  posts  in  1760.  A great  obstacle  to  the 
prosperity  of  New  York  was  removed  by  the  conquest,  of 
Canada,  which  prevented  further  hostile  incursions  of 
French  and  Indians  into  its  territory. 

In  1763  a controversy  arose  between  the  colonies  of 
New  York  and  New  Hampshire  concerning  the  jurisdic- 
tion over  the  territory  between  Lake  Champlain  and  the 
Connecticut  river,  now  comprising  the  State  of  Vermont. 
Proclamations  and  counter  proclamations  were  issued, 
but  the  matter  was  finally  referred  to  and  settled  for  the 
time  by  the  crown. 

During  many  years  the  government  of  Great  Britain 
had  attempted  to  make  encroachments  on  what  the  col- 
onists regarded  as  their  rights,  but  without  success.  The 
taxation  of  the  people  without  their  consent  was  sought 
to  be  accomplished  in  some  insidious  manner,  and  was 
steadfastly  and  watchfully  guarded  against  by  the  col- 
onists. through  their  representatives  in  the  colonial  As- 
sembly. In  1764  the  notorious  stamp  act  was  passed 
and  its  enforcement  in  the  city  of  New  York  attempted. 
It  was  resisted  by  the  populace,  the  effigy  of  Governor 
Colden,  who  was  charged  with  its  execution,  was  hanged 
and  burned  in  the  streets,  and  finally  a quantity  of  the 
stamped  paper  was  seized  and  consumed  in  a bonfire. 

Through  the  influence  of  London  merchants,  whose 
colonial  trade  suffered  by  reason  of  the  act,  the  odious 
law  was  repealed  in  1766,  but  its  repeal  was  followed  by 
a declaration  by  Parliament  of  the  right  “ to  tax  the  col- 
onies in  all  cases  whatsoever.”  Troops  were  quartered 
in  New  York  city,  really  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the 
laws  that  Parliament  might  enact.  Collisions  occurred 
between  these  troops  and  the  people,  and  the  Assembly 
refused  appropriations  for  their  support.  Parliament 
declared  the  legislative  powers  of  the  Assembly  annulled 
till  compliance  was  had  with  the  demands  of  the  govern- 
ment. In  June,  1767,  a bill  was  enacted  by  Parliament 
imposing  duties  on  certain  articles  imported  into  the  col- 
onies. This  was  followed  by  a revival  of  the  non- 
importation agreement  that  had  previously  been  entered 
into  by  the  colonists,  and  again  the  influence  of  the 
English  merchants  procured  the  repeal  of  all  these  duties, 
except  that  on  tea,  which  was  retained  by  reason  of  a de- 
termination to  assert  and  maintain  the  right  of  taxation. 

Sir  Henry  Moore  succeeded  Governor  Colden  in  1765, 
and  his  administration  continued  till  his  death,  in  1769, 
when  the  government  again  devolved  on  Cadwallader 
Colden.  Between  the  soldiers  and  those  colonists  who 
were  known  as  the  Sons  of  Liberty  animosities  continued 
to  exist,  and  finally,  on  the  18th  of  January,  1770,  five 
years  previous  to  the  battle  of  Lexington,  a collision  oc- 
curred at  Golden  Hill,  in  New  York  city,  in  which  several 
of  the  citizens  were  wounded. 

In  October,  1770,  Lord  Dunmore  superseded  Colden 
in  the  government  of  New  York,  and  in  1771  he  was 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  . NEW  YORK. 


transferred  to  the  government  of  Virginia  and  succeeded 
in  New  York  by  William  Tryon,  who  was  rendered  in- 
dependent of  the  people  by  a royal  decree  that  his  salary 
should  be  paid  from  the  revenue. 

The  non-importation  agreement  was  continued  so  far 
as  related  to  tea,  and  the  East  India  Company  suf- 
fered severely  in  consequence.  Doggedly  determined  to 
maintain  the  assumed  right  of  taxation,  the  British  gov- 
ernment abolished  the  export  duty  on  such  tea  as  was 
shipped  to  the  colonies,  thus  enabling  the  company  to 
sell  it  there  cheaper  than  in  England,  and  appointed 
consignees  in  the  colonial  ports  for  its  sale.  Regardless 
of  this  appeal  to  their  cupidity,  the  people  made  such 
demonstrations  of  resistance  that  the  consignees  in  New 
York  resigned,  and  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  land  a 
quantity  of  tea  clandestinely  it  was  thrown  overboard  by  the 
vigilance  committee,  and  the  vessel  sent  out  of  the  harbor. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  in  the  other  colonies 
the  oppressive  acts  of  the  King  and  Parliament  met  with 
as  firm  resistance  as  in  New  York.  The  battle  of  Lex- 
ington was  the  signal  for  a general  rush  to  arms  through- 
out the  colonies. 

In  New  York  city  the  arms  in  the  arsenals  were  seized 
and  distributed  among  the  people,  and  a provisional  gov- 
ernment for  the  city  was  organized.  Ticonderoga  was 
seized  on  the  ioth  of  May,  1 775,  by  Connecticut  patriots 
under  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  and  two  days  later  Crown 
Point,  both  without  resistance,  and  thus  the  command  of 
Lake  Champlain  was  secured. 

The  Continental  Congress  assembled  on  the  ioth  of 
May,  and  on  the  22nd  of  the  same  month  a Provincial 
Congress  assembled  in  New  York. 

In  August  an  attack  was  made  by  the  British  ship  of  war 
“ Asia”  on  a party  who  were  engaged  in  removing  some 
cannon  from  the  battery  in  New  York,  and  considerable 
damage  was  done  to  the  buildings  in  the  vicinity  but  the 
guns  were  removed.  In  the  autumn  an  armament  was 
collected  by  General  Schuyler  at  Ticonderoga  and  an  ex- 
pedition went  against  Canada.  The  forts  at  Chambly, 
St.  Johns  and  Montreal  were  taken,  and  Quebec  was  as- 
saulted, but  the  colonial  force  was  here  repulsed  and 
driven  out  of  Canada. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  NEW  YORK — THE  STATE  GOV- 
ERNMENT ESTABLISHED. 


jy-x-y  ARLY  in  1776  General  Lee,  with  a force  of 
twelve  hundred  men,  occupied  the  city  of 

vmZa 


New  York.  General  Schuyler  with  a small 
> force  had  disarmed  the  tories  of  the  Mohawk 
valley  and  a like  service  had  been  rendered  on 
Long  Island  by  the  New  Jersey  militia.  About  the 
first  of  July  General  Howe  who  had  previously 
evacuated  Boston  and  sailed  for  Halifax,  appeared  off 


1 1 


Sandy  Hook  with  his  army,  where  he  was  soon  afterward 
joined  by  his  brother,  Admiral  Howe,  with  a force  of 
British  regulars  and  Hessians,  and  Clinton  and  Parker, 
on  their  return  from  an  unsuccessful  attack  on  Charles- 
ton, making  an  aggregate  force  of  about  30,000  men. 

The  Provincial  Congress  of  New  York  adjourned  to 
White  Plains,  where  it  convened  on  the  9th  of  July,  and 
ratified  the  Declaration  of  Independence  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

On  the  22nd  of  August  a British  force  landed  on  Long 
Island,  and  on  the  27th  a battle  was  fought,  resulting  in 
the  defeat  of  the  Americans,  who  on  the  night  of  the 
29th,  favored  by  a thick  fog,  retreated  to  New  York. 
The  plan  had  been  formed  to  capture  New  York,  ascend 
the  Hudson,  effect  a junction  with  a force  from  Canada 
under  General  Carlton,  and  thus  cut  off  communication 
between  the  patriots  of  New  England  and  those  of  the 
middle  and  southern  colonies;  but  the  movements  of 
Washington  and  the  failure  of  Carlton  frustrated  the 
plan. 

On  the  15th  of  September  General  Howe  took  posses- 
sion of  New  York,  and  the  Americans  retreated  to  Har- 
lem Heights.  General  Howe  sought  to  gain  their  rear, 
but  Washington’s  movements  frustrated  his  designs. 

Opposed  to  General  Carlton  at  the  north  was  General 
Gates,  who  abandoned  Crown  Point  and  concentrated 
his  forces  at  Ticonderoga.  A small  squadron  was 
formed  and  placed  on  Lake  Champlain  under  command 
of  Arnold  in  August.  An  action  took  place  in  October 
between  this  squadron  and  the  fleet  which  Carlton  had 
prepared  at  St.  Johns,  in  which  the  Americans  were  de- 
feated and  fell  back  on  Ticonderoga.  Not  deeming  it 
prudent  to  attack  them  there  General  Carlton  withdrew 
to  Canada. 

On  the  2 1 st  of  April  1777  a State  constitution  was 
adopted,  and  under  it  George  Clinton  was  elected  gov- 
ernor, and  he  assumed  the  duties  of  the  office  on  the 
31st  of  the  following  July. 

The  principal  object  of  the  British  in  the  campaign  of 
1777  was  to  carry  out  the  cherished  design  of  separating 
the  eastern  from  the  southern  colonies  by  controlling  the 
Hudson  River  and  Lake  Champlain.  Lieutenant-General 
Burgoyne,  who  had  superseded  General  Carlton,  was  to 
force  his  way  from  Canada,  and  meet  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
at  Albany,  while  Colonel  St.  Leger  was  to  ascend  the 
St.  Lawrence,  and,  with  a force  of  loyalists  and  Indians, 
sweep  through  the  Mohawk  valley  from  Oswego  and 
Rome,  and  join  them  at  Albany. 

In  June  Burgoyne  moved  on  Ticonderoga,  which  the 
American  commander,  General  St.  Clair,  evacuated.  As 
the  American  army  retreated  some  fighting  took  place, 
without  decisive  results,  till  at  Bennington  the  Amer- 
icans, under  General  Stark,  achieved  a victory  over  a 
detachment  of  the  enemy  under  Colonel  Baum,  who  was 
slain.  . 

Colonel  St.  Leger  advanced  and  invested  Fort  Schuy- 
ler, otherwise  called  Fort  Stanwix,  now  Rome.  The 
battle  of  Oriskany  was  fought,  soon  after  which  St.  Leger 
abandoned  his  undertaking  and  returned  to  Canada. 


12 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


General  Burgoyne  advanced  to  Saratoga,  where  he  was 
surrounded,  and  on  the  17th  of  October  was  compelled 
to  surrender. 

While  operations  were  in  progress  in  the  vicinity  of 
Saratoga  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sought  to  make  a diversion 
in  favor  of  Burgoyne.  He  proceeded  up  the  Hudson, 
captured  Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton,  devastated  the 
settlements  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  burnt  Kingston, 
and,  on  learning  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  returned 
to  New  York. 

In  the  campaigns  of  1778  and  1779  no  very  important 
operations  were  carried  on  in  New  York.  The  Indians 
of  the  Six  Nations  (except  the  Oneidas  and  a few  others) 
were  induced  to  carry  on  against  the  Americans  their 
savage  and  cruel  warfare,  and  devastation,  slaughter  and 
massacres  were  the  result.  To  arrest  these  depredations 
General  Sullivan,  in  the  summer  of  1779,  with  an  army 
of  3,000  men,  ascended  the  Susquehanna  to  Tioga  Point, 
where  he  was  joined  by  General  Clinton  with  a thousand 
men.  With  these  forces  they  penetrated  the  country  of 
the  savages,  destroyed  their  towns,  and  laid  waste  their 
cornfields  and  orchards.  Though  not  subdued  by  this 
pmnishment,  they  were  so  crippled  that  their  inroads  were 
less  frequent  and  destructive  afterward. 

During  the  years  1780  and  1781  the  Mohawk  valley 
was  the  scene  of  devastation  by  the  savages  of  the  Six 
Nations,  particularly  the  Mohawks,  under  their  celebrated 
chief  Brant;  but  aside  from  these  New  York  was  not  the 
scene  of  important  hostile  operations.  The  year  1780 
was  made  memorable  by  the  treason  of  Arnold.  This 
gallant  officer  had,  for  some  irregularities  in  Philadelphia 
in  1778,  been  court-martialed  and  sentenced  to  be  repri- 
manded by  the  commander-in-chief.  He  apparently  ac- 
quiesced in  the  sentence,  but  his  pride  was  deeply 
wounded,  and  he  thirsted  after  revenge.  He  solicited 
and  obtained  command  of  West  Point,  and  entered  into 
negotiations  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton  for  the  delivery  of 
that  fortress  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  In  the  course 
of  these  negotiations  Major  Andre,  of  the  British  army, 
met  General  Arnold  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  In 
attempting  to  return  he  was  captured,  about  thirty  miles 
from  New  York,  by  three  militiamen  named  Paulding, 
Williams  and  Van  Wert,  who  refused  his  offered  bribes 
and  delivered  him  to  their  commander.  He  was  tried, 
condemned  and  executed  as  a spy. 

The  Revolutionary  war  virtually  closed  with  the  sur- 
render of  Cornwallis  and  his  army  at  Yorktown  on  the 
19th  of  October,  1781.  A treaty  of  peace  was  entered 
into  on  the  3d  of  September,  1783,  and  on  the  25th  of 
November  in  the  same  year  the  Btitish  troops  evacuated 
on  New  York. 

After  the  United  States  had  achieved  their  independ- 
ence it  was  early  perceived  that  the  confederation,  which 
had  been  established  for  a particular  purpose,  lacked 
that  cohesive  force  which  was  requisite  for  an  effectual 
national  government.  Measures  were  accordingly  insti- 
tuted, first  for  a revision  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation, 
but  finally  the  formation  of  a national  constitution  was 
deteimined  on;  and  such  constitution  was  formed  by  the 


convention  in  Philadelphia  in  1787.  After  its  adoption 
by  the  requisite  number  of  States  it  was  ratified  in  con- 
vention by  the  State  of  New  York,  by  a close  vote,  on 
the  26th  of  July,  1788,  but  with  the  recommendation  of 
several  amendments,  which,  however,  were  not  adopted. 

The  difficulties  arising  out  of  the  conflicting  claims  of 
New  York  and  New  Hampshire  to  the  territory  now  com- 
prising Vermont,  which  had  been  held  in  partial  abey- 
ance during  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  were  finally  set- 
tled by  the  admission  of  the  disputed  territory  into  the 
Union  as  a State,  in  1790,  under  the  name  of  Vermont. 

By  reason  of  indefiniteness  and  confusion  in  the  original 
grants  Massachusetts  claimed  a portion  of  the  territory 
of  New  York.  This  claim  was  settled  by  the  cession  to 
Massachusetts  of  all  rights,  except  that  of  political  sov- 
ereignty, over  about  one-fourth  of  the  State.  The  largest 
tract  of  these  lands,  embracing  what  has  been  known  as 
the  Genesee  country,  was  sold  by  Massachusetts  for  the 
sum  of  one  million  dollars. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  WAR  OF  l8l2  BETWEEN  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND 
GREAT  BRITAIN. 


^ *"  Z t^le  commencement;  present  century 

difficulties  arose  between  this  country  and 
Great  Britain  concerning  the  rights  of  neutrals 
on  the  seas,  and  the  aggressions  of  the  British 
became  a subject  of  bitter  animosity.  In  ad- 
dition to  other  encroachments,  the  English  gov- 
eminent  claimed  the  right  to  search  American  ves- 
sels and  impress  into  their  service  such  of  their  crews  as 
they  chose  to  regard  as  British  subjects.  Outrages  were 
committed  in  the  enforcement  of  this  pretended  right,  and 
for  the  suppression  of  the  practice,  and  the  vindication 
of  the  national  honor,  war  became  necessary;  and  it  was 
declared  on  the  19th  of  June,  1812.  To  this  measure 
there  was  a strong  opposition,  both  in  New  England  and 
New  York,  and  this  opposition  embarrassed  the  govern- 
ment to  some  extent  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  An 
invasion  of  Canada  was  determined  on,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose forces  were  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Plattsburg, 
on  Lake  Champlain,  under  General  Dearborn,  and  at 
Lewiston,  on  the  Niagara  River,  under  General  Van 
Rensselaer.  A naval  force  was  fitted  up  on  the  lakes, 
and  Commodore  Chauncey  was  placed  in  command  of  it. 
Unsuccessful  attacks  were  made  by  the  British  fleet  on 
Sackett’s  Harbor  and  Ogdensburg,  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  British  vessel  “ Caledonia  ” was  captured  at 
the  foot  of  Lake  Erie  An  attack  was  made  on  the 
heights  at  Queenston,  on  the  Canadian  bank  of  the 
Niagara,  and  though  at  first  the  Americans  were  success- 
ful they  were  finally  compelled  to  surrender.  Nothing 
beyond  slight  skirmishing  occurred  in  this  quarter  during 
the  remainder  of  the  year. 


THE  WAR  OF  1812— THE  REBELLION. 


1 3 


Early  in  the  spring  of  r8i3  a successful  expedition  to 
Canada  was  made  from  Ogdensburg,  and  in  retaliation 
an  attack,  was  made  on  that  place,  some  stores  taken,  sev- 
eral vessels  destroyed  and  the  property  of  citizens  injured. 
In  April  a successful  expedition  was  sent  by  General 
Dearborn  against  York,  now  Toronto.  In  May  the  Brit- 
ish were  driven  from  Fort  George,  on  the  Niagara  River, 
near  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  enemy’s  post  on  that  frontier 
evacuated.  Sackett’s  Harbor  was  attacked  by  the  British, 
who  were  repulsed,  and  an  unsuccessful  attack  was  also 
made  by  them  on  the  village  of  Black  Rock. 

The  brilliant  victory  of  Commodore  Perry,  on  Lake 
Erie,  was  achieved  on  the  10th  of  September  in  this  year, 
but  the  operations  on  Lake  Ontario  were  less  decisive. 
Late  in  the  autumn  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to 
invade  Canada  under  General  Wilkinson.  The  Ameri- 
can generals  Izard  and  Hampton  were  repulsed  near  the 
border  of  Franklin  county.  In  December  the  British 
took  Fort  Niagara,  and  massacred  a large  part  of  the  gar- 
rison and  even  hospital  patients.  Lewiston  was  burned, 
and  the  villages  of  Youngstown,  Manchester,  Schlosser 
and  the  Indian  village  of  Tuscarora  were  devastated  by 
the  enemy.  The  village  of  Black  Rock  and  Buffalo  were 
also  burned,  and  thus  the  desolation  of  the  Niagara  fron- 
tier was  completed. 

Early  in  1814  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  British  to 
capture  some  military  stores  at  Oswego  Falls,  but  without 
succtss.  On  the  3d  of  July,  i8r4,  Fort  Erie  was  taken 
by  the  Americans,  and  on  the  25th  a battle  was  fought 
at  Lundy’s  Lane.  In  August  Fort  Erie  was  besieged  by 
the  British,  who  were  comoelled  to  retire  about  the  mid- 
dle of  September. 

The  plan  of  a dismemberment  of  the  Union,  by  pos- 
sessing Lake  Champlain  and  the  Hudson  River  from  the 
north,  and  capturing  New  York,  was  again  formed,  and 
it  was  hoped  that  discontent  and  opposition  to  the  war 
in  New  England,  and  possibly  in  New  York,  might  lead 
to  the  conclusion  of  a separate  peace  with  these  States. 
The  people,  however,  were  fully  aroused,  and  the  de- 
fenses of  New  York  were  strengthened  and  strongly  gar- 
risoned. An  invasion  was  undertaken  from  Canada,  and 
a descent  was  made  on  Plattsburg  by  an  army  of  14,000 
men  under  Sir  George  Prevost,  but  after  a severe  engage- 
ment on  the  nth  of  September  this  army  was  compelled 
to  retire  with  great  loss.  The  British  fleet,  under  Com- 
modore Downie,  was  on  the  same  day  captured  on  Lake 
Champlain  by  Commodore  Macdonough.  No  further 
invasion  of  this  frontier  took  place.  On  the  24th  of  De- 
cember a treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  at  Ghent. 

No  other  interruption  of  the  peaceful  relations  between 
this  country  and  England  has  occurred.  Some  infrac- 
tions of  the  neutrality  laws  have  been  attempted  by  peo- 
ple on  the  Canadian  frontier,  the  chief  of  which  took 
place  during  the  Canadian  rebellion,  commonly  known 
as  the  “ Patriot  war,”  in  1837-38. 

What  were  known  as  the  anti-rent  disturbances  com- 
menced as  early  as  1839,  and  were  not  terminated  till 
1846.  Laws  were  enacted  to  modify  the  process  of  col- 
lecting rents  and  to  extend  the  time  lor  “ re-entry  ” on 


lands  where  rents  were  in  arrears.  Participators  in  out- 
rages were  pardoned,  and  quiet  was  finally  restored. 

The  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  led  to 
hostilities  between  Mexico  and  this  nation,  and  on  the 
nth  of  May,  T846,  Congress  declared  that,  by  the  acts 
of  the  Mexicans,  war  existed  between  the  two  nations. 
The  Americans  were  victorious  in  all  important  engage- 
ments with  the  Mexican  army,  and  the  part  taken  by  the 
troops  from  the  State  of  New  York  was  conspicuous  and 
highly  creditable  to  their  valor. 

From  time  to  time  the  Legislature  enacted  laws  con- 
cerning slavery,  down  to  the  year  T819.  A law  passed 
in  1799  provided  for  the  gradual  extinction  of  slavery  in 
the  State.  “In  i8t7  a further  act  was  passed,  decreeing 
that  there  should  be  no  slavery  in  the  State  after  the  4th 
of  July,  r827.  Ten  thousand  slaves  were  set  free  by  this 
act.’ 

The  recognition  of  slavery  in  the  territories  of  the 
United  States  was  earnestly  resisted  during  many  years, 
and  the  controversy  finally  resulted  in  a gigantic  civil 
war.  On  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  pres- 
idency, in  i860,  on  the  platform  of  avowed  hostility  to 
the  extension  of  slavery,  and  the  failure  to  effect  a com- 
promise by  which  the  institution  should  be  recognized  or 
tolerated  in  any  of  the  territories,  the  southern  States  de- 
termined to  secede  from  the  Union  and  establish  a sep- 
arate government.  The  attack  by  the  Confederates,  as 
these  States  styled  themselves,  on  Fort  Sumter  was  the 
first  overt  act  of  the  Rebellion,  and  on  its  occurrence,  in 
April,  r86r,  was  the  commencement  of  active  hostilities. 
Before  the  close  of  that  year  the  State  of  New  York  had 
placed  in  the  field  one  hundred  and  fifteen  regiments. 

In  July,  1863,  during  the  execution  of  a draft  ordered 
by  Congress,  an  alarming  riot  occurred  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  The  police  were  unable  to  check  its  progress, 
and  during  several  days  the  city  was  convulsed  with  law- 
lessness, rapine  and  murder.  The  outbreak  was  finally 
quelled  by  military  force,  but  not  until  a large  amount  of 
property  had  been  destroyed  and  many  lives  sacrificed. 
The  war  was  prolonged  till  the  spring  of  1865,  when  it 
terminated  with  the  complete  success  of  the  Union  arms, 
and  peace  has  since  prevailed. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS  CONSTITUTIONAL  AMEND- 
MENTS  SCHOOLS STATISTICS. 


N 1791  the  Legislature  ordered  an  exploration 

Rand  survey  to  ascertain  the  most  eligible 
method  of  removing  obstructions  from  the 
Mohawk  and  Hudson  rivers,  with  a view  to 
improve  their  navigation  by  the  construction 
^ f canals.  The  following  year  two  companies 

a0  were  incorporated,  styled  the  Northern  and  West- 
ern Inland  Lock  Navigation  Companies,  for  the  purpose 


14 


OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


of  facilitating  navigation  by  connecting  Lake  Ontario 
with  the  Mohawk  and  Lake  Champlain  with  the  Hudson 
by  canals. 

In  1810  a provision  was  made  by  the  Legislature  “ for 
exploring  the  route  of  an  inland  navigation  from  Hudson’s 
River  to  Lake  Ontario  and  Lake  Erie.”  It  was  at  first 
proposed  to  solicit  aid  from  the  general  government  to 
carry  out  this  work,  but  in  1812  a commission  reported 
to  the  Legislature  that  sound  policy  demanded  that  this 
should  be  done  by  the  State.  War  with  Great  Britain 
interrupted  the  project. 

On  the  termination  of  the  war  the  policy  was  revived; 
and  notwithstanding  the  formidable  character  of  the  un- 
dertaking, and  the  difficulties  in  its  wav,  through  the 
untiring  energy  and  perseverance  of  De  Witt  Clinton  an 
act  prepared  by  him  was  passed  in  April,  1817,  author- 
izing the  construction  of  the  work.  It  was  commenced 
on  the  4th  of  July  in  that  year,  and  on  the  26th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1825,  the  first  flotilla  of  boats  left  Buffalo  for  New 
York.  The  departure  of  this  flotilla  was  communicated 
to  New  York  in  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  by  the  dis- 
charge of  cannon  stationed  within  hearing  of  each  other. 
This  was  then  regarded  as  a rapid  transmission  of  intelli- 
gence. 

The  first  railroad  in  the  State,  that  between  Albany  and 
Schenectady,  was  chartered  in  1826  and  completed  in 
1831.  Other  roads  through  the  central  portion  of  the 
State  were  soon  constructed,  and  railroad  connection  be- 
tween the  great  lakes  and  Hudson  River  established.  In 
1851  these  different  roads  were  consolidated  into  the 
present  immense  New  York  Central  Railroad,  and  subse- 
quently connection  was  established,  through  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  with  the  city  of  New  York.  In  1833  the 
New  York  and  Erie  Railway  was  commenced,  but  it  was 
not  completed  till  1852.  The  enlargement  of  the  Erie 
Canal  to  its  present  capacity  was  commenced  in  1835  and 
completed  in  1862.  These  constitute  the  main  avenues 
of  travel  and  transportation  through  the  State  between 
the  eastern  and  western  extremities,  but  connecting  routes 
in  every  direction  have  come  into  existence,  and  the  fa- 
cilities for  transportation  and  travel  in  this  State  are  not 
excelled  by  those  of  any  other.  It  is  hardly  necessary 
to  call  attention  to  the  telegraph  lines  that  ramify  through 
all  parts  of  the  State. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  a State  constitution  was 
adopted  in  1777.  Several  amendments  to  this  constitu- 
sion  were  adopted  in  a convention  held  for  that  purpose 
in  1801.  In  1821  it  was  revised  by  a convention  chosen 
for  that  purpose,  and  the  new  constitution  was  adopted 
early  in  1822,  at  a popular  election  held  for  that  purpose, 
by  a majority  of  more  than  33,000  in  a total  vote  of 
1 16,919. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1846,  another  constitutional  con- 
vention met  at  Albany,  and  it  continued  in  session  more 
than  four  months.  The  amendments  to  the  constitution 
adopted  by  that  body  were  ratified  by  the  people  in  the 
following  November  by  a majority  of  more  than  20,000 
votes. 

In  1867  another  constitutional  convention  assembled, 


on  the  4th  of  June,  and  continued  its  session,  except 
during  an  adjournment  of  two  months,  several  weeks  into 
1868.  The  amended  constitution  framed  by  this  con- 
vention was  submitted  to  the  people  in  November,  1869, 
and  resulted  in  its  rejection,  except  the  article  making 
changes  in  the  judiciary,  by  a majority  of  more  than 
66,000.  The  judiciary  article  was  accepted  by  a small 
majority. 

In  1872  a commission  of  thirty-two  persons  was  ap- 
pointed to  propose  to  the  Legislature  amendments  to  the 
constitution.  In  1873  several  important  amendments 
were  recommended,  and  ratified  at  the  election  in  1874. 
It  is  a notable  fact  that,  as  changes  have  been  made  in 
the  constitution  of  the  State,  the  right  of  the  elective 
franchise  has  been  extended;  till  now  complete  manhood 
suffrage  is  established. 

In  1787  a law  was  enacted  incorporating  the  Regents 
of  the  University  of  New  York,  and  in  their  report  for 
1793  they  called  attention  to  the  importance  of  instituting 
a common  school  system.  At  different  times  from  1787 
to  1795  Governor  Clinton  called  the  attention  of  the 
Legislature  to  the  same  subject,  and  in  that  year  an  act 
was  passed  appropriating  $50,000  annually  for  five  years 
for  the  encouragement  of  schools.  In  1805,  after  atten- 
tion had  repeatedly  been  called  to  the  subject  by  the  dif- 
ferent governors,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  laying  the 
foundation  of  the  present  common  school  fund.  In  1812 
the  first  common  school  system  was  adopted,  comprising 
substantially  the  features  of  the  system  as  it  existed  up  to 
1840.  Changes  in  this  system  have  from  time  to  time 
been  made,  till  now  the  free  school  system  of  this  State  is 
believed  to  be,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  the  most 
nearly  perfect  of  all  in  existence. 

The  State  Agricultural  Society,  which  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  such  great  benefit,  was  organized  at  a conven- 
tion in  Albany  in  1832.  It  was  reorganized  in  1841,  and 
measures  were  adopted  for  raising  funds  and  holding 
annual  fairs.  ( 

In  1836  the  Legislature  ordered  a scientific  survey  of 
the  State  for  the  purpose  of  developing  a knowledge  of 
its  geology,  mineralogy  and  natural  history.  The  pub- 
lished reports  of  this  survey  are  of  very  great  value. 

The  following  list  of  the  governors,  lieutenant-govern- 
ors and  presidents  of  the  council  who  have  administered 
the  government  of  the  colony  and  State  of  New  York 
from  1629  to  the  present  time  will  be  found  convenient 
for  reference. 

Under  the  Dutch  regime:  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  1629; 
William  Kieft,  1638;  Peter  Stuyvesant,-i647. 

English  governors,  etc.:  Richard  Nicolls,  1664;  Francis 
Lovelace,  1667;  Anthony  Colve,  on  the  recapture  of  the 
province  by  the  Dutch,  1673.  After  the  surrender  to  the 
English:  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  1674;  Anthony  Brockholls, 
1681;  Thomas  Dongan,  1683;  Francis  Nicholson,  1688; 
Jacob  Leisler,  1689;  Henrv  Sloughter,  1691;  Richard 
Ingold>by,  1691;  Benjamin  Fletcher,  1692;  Richard, 
Earl  of  Bellomont,  1698;  John  Nanfan,  1699;  Lord 
Cornbury,  1702;  Lord  Lovelace,  1708;  Richard  Ingoldsby, 
1709;  Gerardus  Beekman,  1710;  Robert  Hunter,  1710; 


GOVERNORS  OF  NEW  YORK— POPULATION. 


i5 


Peter  Schuyler,  1719;  William  Burnet,  1720;  John 
Montgomery,  1728;  Rip  Van  Dam,  1731;  William  Cosby, 
1732;  George  Clark,  1736;  George  Clinton,  1743;  Dan- 
vers Osborne,  1753;  James  De  Lancey,  1753;  Sir  Charles 
Hardy,  1755;  James  De  Lancey,  1757;  Cadvvallader 
Colden,  1760;  Robert  Monkton,  1762;  Cadvvallader 
Colden,  1763;  Henry  Moore,  1765;  John,  Earl  of  Dun- 
more,  1770:  William  Tryon,  1771. 

Governors  of  the  State:  George  Clinton,  1777;  John 
Tay,  1795;  George  Clinton,  1801;  Morgan  Lewis,  1804; 
Daniel  D.  Tompkins,  1807;  De  Witt  Clinton,  1817; 
Joseph  C.  Yates,  1822;  De  Witt  Clinton,  1824;  Martin 
Van  Buren,  1828;  Enos  T.  Throop,  1830;  William  L. 
Marcy,  1832;  William  H.  Seward,  1838;  William  C.  Bouck, 
1842;  Silas  Wright,  1844;  John  Young,  1846;  Hamilton 


Fish,  1848;  Washington  Hunt,  1850;  Horatio  Seymour, 
1852;  Myron  H. Clark,  1854;  John  A.King,i856;  Edwin  D. 
Morgan, 1858;  Horatio  Seymour,  1862;  Reuben  E.  Fenton, 
1864;  John  T.  Hoffman,  1868;  John  A.  Dix,  1872;  Samuel 
J.Tilden,i874;  Lucius  Robinson, 1876;  A.  B.  Cornell, 1880. 

The  population  of  the  colony  and  State  of  New  York 
was  in  1698,18,067;  1703,20,665;  1723,40,564;  1731, 
50,824;  1737,  60,437;  1746,  61,589;  1749,  73,348;  1756, 

96,790;  1771,  163,337;  1790,  340,120;  1800,  586,756; 

1810,  959,049;  1820,  1,3727812;  1830,  1,918,608;  1840, 

2,428,921;  1850,  3,097,394;  i860,  3,880,735;  1870, 

4.382>759:  l88°.  5.o83-i73- 

Of  the  total  population  there  were  in  1790,  21,324 
slaves;  in  1800,  33,343;  1810,  15,017;  1820,  10,088;  1830, 
75;  1840,  4. 


GENERAL 


HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


CHAPTER  I. 


A SKETCH  OF  THE  TOPOGRAPHY,  GEOLOGY  AND  NATURAL 
HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


HE  time  has  long  since  gone  by  when  a belief 
in  the  sudden  creation  of  the  earth  in  its 
mAjIlM  1\  present  form  was  generally  prevalent.  Once 
it  was  considered  not  only  heterodox  but 
fl!§D  almost  blasphemous  for  a man  to  avow  his 

JS*  conviction  that  he  saw  on  the  surface  of  the  earth 
& indications  of  changes  that  occurred  at  a period 
previous  to  about  six  thousand  years  since.  That  con- 
tinents, or  even  islands,  should  rise  from  the  sea,  become 
submerged,  and  emerge  again  in  the  lapse  of  immense 
time,  was  not  deemed  possible.  Within  the  limits  of 
historic  time  no  record  was  given  of  more  than  slight 
changes,  and  men  had  not  learned  to  read  the  record 
which  is  written  in  the  strata  beneath  the  surface,  and 
which  science  has  made  legible  on  the  edges  of  those 
strata  where  they  are  visible.  The  man  w.ho  ventured 
to  assert  that  Long  Island  was  once  submerged,  and  that 
its  emergence  was  of  comparatively  recent  date,  would 
have  been  regarded  by  some  as  impious  and  by  others  as 
mad.  That  period  of  ignorance  has  passed,  and  people 
have  come  to  recognke  the  fact  that,  as  far  as  the 
records  of  the  past  can  be  deciphered,  the  earth  has  been 
steadily  changing,  in  the  midst  of  its  changing  environ- 
ments, and  that,  as  far  as  science  is  able  to  peer  into  the 
future,  changes  will  continue  to  succeed  each  other. 

An  inspection  of  the  map  of  Long  Island  shows  that 
it,  as  well  as  the  coast  south  from  it,  had  its  birth  from 
the  sea,  in  what,  geologically  speaking,  may  be  termed 
modern  times;  and  there  are  evidences  of  vertical  oscilla- 
tions of  the  surface  here  which  may  have  caused  a suc- 
cession of  partial  or  complete  submergences  and  emerg- 
ences. 


The  island  extends  from  east  to  west  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles,  and  has  an  average  width  of 
about  fifteen  miles.  Along  the  northern  coast  an  average 
elevation  of  about  one  hundred  feet  is  found,  though 
there  are  places  where  the  hills  are  much  higher.  On 
this  coast  numerous  “ necks  ” of  land  and  inlets  or  es- 
tuaries of  the  sound  are  seen;  and  the  water  along  this 
shore  is  deeper  than  on  the  southern  coast.  Between  the 
heights  along  the  sound  shore  and  the  irregular  range  of 
hills  which  extend  lengthwise  through  the  island  near  the 
middle,  for  most  of  its  length,  and  which  are  termed  the 
backbone,  the  surface  is  in  many  places  much  broken. 
Harbor  Hill,  in  North  Hempstead,  one  of  the  highest 
points  on  the  island,  was  found  by  actual  measurement  to 
be  three  hundred  and  eighty-four  feet  in  height. 

The  northern  coast  of  the  island  is  indented  by  eight 
principal  bays,  or  fiords,  which  extend  inland  from  three 
to  six  miles  and  have  a width  of  from  half  a mile  to  a 
mile  and  a half.  In  some  places  in  these  the  water  has 
a depth  of  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet,  and  the  average  depth 
is  about  twenty  feet.  South  from  this  central  range  the 
surface  slopes  to  the  coast  gradually,  and  so  evenly  as  to 
have  the  appearance  of  a level  plain. 

Along  the  south  shore  are  numerous  shallow  bays  and 
inlets,  especially  toward  the  western  extremity  of  the 
island.  Along  this  shore  also  is  a narrow  sand  beach, which 
incloses  a bay,  or  rather  a succession  of  narrow  bays,  for 
most  of  the  length  of  the  coast.  This  beach  is  crossed 
at  different  points  by  inlets,  formerly  called  “ guts’' 
(Dutch  ,<:gat,”  or  gate),  which  connect  these  bays  with 
the  ocean,  and  divide  the  beach  into  a succession  of  long 
narrow  beaches;  as  narrow  necks  of  land  connect  these 
beaches  with  the  mainland  and  divide  the  long  narrow 
bay  into  a succession  of  bays,  some  of  which  do  not 
communicate  with  the  ocean,  Outside  these  long  narrow 
beaches  is  a shifting  sand  bar,  and  inside  the  bays  are 
extensive  salt  marshes,  or  meadows.  About  forty  miles 
of  the  eastern  end  of  the  island  is  divided  by  a succession 
of  bays  into  two  peninsulas,  each  having  an  average 


GEOLOGICAL  STRUCTURE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


U 


j. 

width  of  about  five  miles  and  the  southern  extending 
some  twenty  miles  further  east  than  the  northern,  though 
the  last  seems  to  be  continued  to  about  the  same  distance 
by  a succession  of  islands. 

When  the  geological  survey  of  the  State  was  made — 
nearly  forty  years  since — it  was  believed  that  the  forma- 
tion of  the  island  was  due  to  the  action  of  opposite  and 
resultant  currents,  and  probably  its  foundation  on  the 
primary  rock  which  underlies  it  was  thus  laid,  in  a pre- 
glacial period.  The  Gulf  Stream  from  the  south,  as  it  is 
believed  to  have  flowed;  the  Arctic  current  from  the 
north,  and  the  action  of  the  tides  in  the  Atlantic,  all 
combined  to  bring  hither  and  deposit  the  materials  of 
which  this  foundation  consists. 

It  is  believed  by  geologists  that  the  ' strata  of  rocks 
here  were  formerly  from  three  hundred  to  one  thousand 
feet  lower  than  they  now  are.  Then  the  southeastern 
shore  of  the  United  States  was  farther  inland,  and  the 
Gulf  Stream  swept  from  the  south  parallel  with  and 
nearer  to  the  base  of  the  primary  Atlantic  chain  of  moun- 
tains than  at  present.  Along  the  course  of  this  stream, 
from  Georgia  to  Maryland,  extended  a broad  belt  of 
primary  rocks.  These  rocks,  which  were  various  in  their 
character,  were  remarkably  prone  to  disintegration,  and 
the  results  ot  their  wearing  down  were  extremely  various. 

These  debrita  were  borne  northward  beneath  the  sur- 
face by  the  equatorial  current,  and  deposited,  as  in  its 
course  northward  this  current  became  less  rapid;  hence 
the  deposits  of  various  kinds  that  are  found  in  Virginia, 
Maryland,  Delaware  and  New  Jersey.  At  this  period 
the  basin  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  Hudson  valleys  was 
occupied  by  an  inland  sea,  through  which  came  the  Arctic 
current,  bringing  its  freight  of  debrita  to  be  deposited 
when  circumstances  favored  its  subsidence.  The  effect 
of  the  oblique  meeting  of  those  currents  in  the  region  of 
Long  Island,  when  the  force  of  both  was  partially  spent, 
was  to  arrest  their  northward  and  southward  flow,  and  to 
produce  a gentle  resultant  current  toward  the  east,  with 
eddies  that  were  influenced  by  the  form  of  the  sea  bot- 
tom where  the  currents  met,  by  storms  that  swept  over 
the  surface  here,  and  by  other  storms  at  the  north  or 
south,  which  temporarily  deflected,  retarded  or  ac- 
celerated these  currents.  Thus,  it  was  believed,  were  the 
materials  of  the  strata  which  underlie  Long  Island  brought 
hither;  and  thus  in  the  resultant  comparatively  still  water 
and  eddies  were  they  deposited;  Ijence  the  lignite  and 
the  bones  of  marine  and  terrestrial  animals  that  are  found 
at  great  depths  when  wells  are  sunk  and  excavations 
made. 

After  the  process  of  piling  the  foundation  of  the  island 
on  the  sea  bottom  had  gone  on,  in  the  way  indicated, 
during  indefinite  time,  the  upheaval  took  place.  Previous 
to  the  adoption  of  the  glacial  theory  it  was  believed  that 
icebergs  floated  hither,  bringing  the  boulders,  etc.,  that 
they  had  torn  from  their  beds  in  the  north,  and  dropping 
them,  one  by  one,  as  they  slowly  melted  while  circulat- 
ing in  the  eddies  here;  and  that  at  a later  period  they 
became  stranded  or  ran  aground  in  shallow  water,  and 
there  melted,  leaving  their  entire  cargoes  to  constitute 


the  hills  on  the  island  as  the  surface  was  further  up- 
heaved.  The  researches  of  modern  geologists  seem  to 
show  that  subsequent  to  the  period  spoken  of,  but  in 
pre-glacial  times,  an  upheaval  occurred  which  carried 
the  surface  here  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred  feet 
higher  than  it  now  is,  and  that  it  remained  thus  elevated 
during  the  glacial  period. 

It  is  believed  that  during  this  time  of  elevation  the 
Hudson  River  had  its  mouth  eighty  miles  farther  to  the 
southeast  than  at  present,  and  that  its  course  and  the 
former  littoral  plain  through  which  it  ran,  as  well  as  the 
old  coast  lines,  are  traceable  by  soundings.  During  the 
time  of  elevation  the  ice  period  occurred,  and  it  is  thought 
that  the  terminal  moraine  of  the  glacier  extended  length- 
wise through  the  island  and  far  to  the  east  along  the 
New  England  coast,  as  well  as  west  across  New  Jersey; 
and  that  the  drift  material  of  the  island  was  brought  by 
this  agency  from  the  regions  to  the  north  and  west,  where 
it  existed  in  place.  Thus  were  brought  the  deposits 
of  clay,  sand  and  gravel  which  are  found  especially  on 
the  north  half  of  the  island,  and  which  often  vary  so 
greatly  in  their  character,  though  separated  only  by  short 
distances.  Thus,  too,  were  brought  hither  the  boulders, 
some  of  which  are  of  immense  size.  Kidd’s  Rock  and 
Millstone  Rock  in  the  town  of  North  Hempstead,  Queens 
county,  may  be  mentioned  as  examples. 

The  primary  rock  which  underlies  the  island  comes  to 
the  surface  at  Hell  Gate  and  Hallett’s  Cove,  on  its  north- 
western extremity,  and  here  the  drift  deposit  lies  di- 
rectly on  this  rock.  Elsewhere  it  is  superposed  on  older 
deposits. 

It  is  certain  that  since  the  glacial  period  a subsidence 
of  the  surface  has  taken  place,  and  it  is  not  considered 
impossible  that  several  vertical  oscillations  have  occurred. 
Mr.  Lewis  says:  “If  a depression  of  two  hundred  feet 
should  take  place  all  of  Long  Island  that  would  remain 
above  the  water  would  be  a broken  range  of  hills.  With 
an  elevation  of  two  hundred  feet  Long  Island  Sound 
would  be  converted  to  dry  land.  The  Connecticut  and 
Hudson  Rivers  would  roll  along  deeper  channels,  and 
discharge  their  waters  many  miles  seaward;  while  Brook- 
lyn and  New  York  would  be  inland  cities.”  It  is  believ- 
ed, as  before  stated,  that  the  vertical  oscillations  in  past 
time  have  carried  the  surface  of  the  land  here  more  than 
two  hundred  feet  higher  as  well  as  lower  than  its  present 
elevation.  At  present  the  surface  is  subsiding,  though 
at  the  rate  of  only  a few  inches  in  a century.  Evidences 
of  this  subsidence  are  found  in  abundance  where  excava- 
tions or  borings  are  made,  and  in  some  instances  where 
the  bottom  of  the  sea  at  some  distance  from  the  coast  is 
explored.  The  stumps  of  submerged  or  buried  forests 
are  thus  found,  as  well  as  other  products  of  the  former 
surface.  Evidences  of  a former  subsidence,  much  greater 
than  at  present,  are  found  in  the  occurrence  of  marine 
deposits  at  points  in  the  higher  parts  of  the  island.  It 
is  believed  that  every  rood  of  the  space  from  the  central 
range  of  hills  “ has  been  the  shore  line  of  first  an  invad- 
ing, afterward  of  a receding  ocean,  and  the  scene  of  those 
great  coast  changes  which  waves  produce.”  These 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


18 


changes,  which  occur  from  time  to  time  now  as  the  re- 
sults of  storm  and  ocean  currents,  it  is  hardly  necessary 
to  detail.  As  the  swell  rolls  obliquely  from  the  eastward 
along  the  coast  the  beach  is  modified  by  the  deposit  or 
the  washing  away  of  the  sand;  inlets  to  the  bays  are 
choked  up  and  obliterated,  and  others  break  out  at  other 
points;  sand  spits  and  beaches  form,  and  southerly  winds 
drift  the  sands  on  the  island,  to  be  again  washed  away 
by  the  waves. 

Along  the  northern  coast  changes  have  taken  place, 
and  they  are  still  going  on,  by  shore  erosion  and  the 
transportation  of  the  detritus  by  storms  and  tidal  currents. 
Portions  of  the  main  island  have  been  thus  cut  off  and 
have  become  islands,  and  the  material  washed  away  has 
been  deposited,  sometimes  at  considerable  distance,  to 
form  shoals,  beaches,  or  necks  connecting  what  had  thus 
been  made  islands  with  the  shore  again.  Beaches  have 
thus  been  formed  and  obliterated,  inlets  and  channels 
have  been  excavated  and  again  filled  up,  islands  have 
been  cut  off  and  joined  again  to  the  island,  or  washed 
away,  and  changes,  many  of  which  are  now  difficult  to 
trace  and  doubtless  others  that  cannot  now  be  traced, 
have  in  the  lapse  of  time  occurred.  Some  of  the  more  re- 
cent of  these  may,  however,  be  easily  discerned,  and  peo- 
ple whose  lives  have  been  spent  here  have  been  able  to 
note  many  that  have  gradually  occurred,  or  to  remember 
others  that  were  effected  by  violent  storms. 

The  species  of  animals  which  were  found  on  Long  Isl- 
and when  it  was  first  discovered  did  not  differ  from 
those  on  the  main  land.  Of  course  its  insular  condition 
prevented  the  annual  or  occasional  migrations  which  oc- 
curred elsewhere  by  reason  of  climatic  changes  or  other 
causes,  and  the  complete  extinction  here  of  many  of 
those  species  took  place  earlier  by  reason  of  that  condi- 
tion. With  the  long  stretch  of  sea  coast  which  the  island 
has,  of  course  it  was  the  habitat  of  all  those  species  of 
aquatic  birds  which  are  found  in  this  latitude.  The  isl- 
and was  annually  visited  too  by  those  migratory  land 
birds  that  frequent  regions  in  this  latitude,  and  at  the 
present  time  it  is  the  annual  resort  of  many  species  that 
attract  hither  sportsmen  during  each  season.  The  mu- 
seum of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society  has  specimens 
of  many  of  these  species  of  animals  and  birds,  and  in  this 
department  it  is  proposed  to  make  it  quite  complete. 

By  reason  of  the  prevailing  character  of  the  soil,  the 
botany  of  the  island  does  not  embrace  as  wide  a range  of 
species  as  are  sometimes  found  on  equal  areas  in  the  same 
latitude.  Of  the  trees  formerly  covering  large  portions  of 
the  island  the  oak,  pine  and  chesnut  were  the  most  abund- 
ant and  valuable  ; and  it  is  said  that  the  quality  of  this 
timber  was  far  superior  to  that  of  the  same  species  found 
elsewhere.  Among  the  most  valuable  species  of  timber 
growing  on  the  island  at  present  the  locust  occupies  a 
prominent  position.  It  is  thought  that  Captain  John 
Sands,  who  came  to  Sands  Point  about  1695,  introduced 
this  tree,  from  Virginia,  about  the  year  1700.  Since  that 
time  it  has  spread  extensively  here.  The  quality  of  this 
timber  grown  here  is  greatly  superior  to  that  of  the  same 
species  in  the  region  whence  it  was  brought.  A few  gi- 


gantic specimens  of  this  tree  a[c  standing  on  the  lawn  at 
the  residences  of  Mr.  Bogart,  of  Roslyn,  and  of  the  late 
Elwood  Valentine,  at  Glen  Cove.  Says  Lewis  : “It  is 
believed  that  those  on  Mr.  Bogart’s  ground,  several  now 
or  recently  at  Sands  Point,  and  two  in  the  dooryard  of 
the  old  Thorne  mansion  at  Little  Neck,  now  occupied  by 
Eugene  Thorpe.  Esq.,  are  of  the  first  imported  and  plant- 
ed on  Long  Island”.  About  eighty  species  of  forest 
trees — indigenous  and  those  that  have  become  acclimat- 
ed— are  growing  without  cultivation  on  the  island.  Speci- 
mens of  many  species  of  these  are  now  in  the  Historical 
Society’s  museum,  in  which  a competent  and  energetic 
member  of  the  society  proposes  to  place  a complete  set 
of  specimens  of  the  flora  and  fauna  of  the  island. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  INDIANS  OF  LONG  ISLAND — TERRITORY,  CHARACTER- 
ISTICS AND  RELATIONS  WITH  THE  WHITES. 


EFORE  the  settlement  by  the  Dutch  were  the 


dark  ages  of  island  history.  The  wampum 
or  wampum  bells  give  no  record  of  the  red 
men's  origin,  migrations,  wars  or  loves.  Im- 
mense heaps  of  the  broken  shells  of  the  quahog 
or  periwinkle  are  their  only  monuments. 

Every  locality  where  one  or  more  families 
were  located  had  a name  which  gave  designation  to  a 
tribe.  The  authorities  on  this  subject  have  recognized 
thirteen  tribes,  as  follows: 

The  Canarsie  tribe  claimed  the  whole  of  Kings 
county  and  a part  of  the  town  of  Jamaica.  They  includ- 
ed the  Marechawicks  at  Brooklyn,  the  Nyacks  at  New 
Utrecht,  and  the  Jamecos  at  Jamaica.  Their  principal 
settlement  was  at  the  place  called  Canarsie,  which  is  still 
a famous  place  for  fishing  and  fowling,  and  was  doubt- 
less the  residence  of  the  sachem  and  a great  portion  of 
the  tribe.  In  1643  the  name  of  the  sachem  was  Penha- 
witz.  In  1670  the  deed  of  that  part  of  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn constituting  Bedford  was  signed  by  Peter,  Elmohar, 
Job,  Makagiquas,  and  Shamese,  sachems.  In  1656  the 
deed  of  Newtown  was  signed  by  Rowcroesteo  and  Pom- 
waukon,  sachems  supposed  to  have  been  of  Canarsie. 
The  confirmatory  deed  of  Gravesend  in  1650  was  signed 
by  Johosutum,  Airemakamus,  Aeramarka  and  Assanched, 
sachems  who  called  the  Indian  name  of  the  place  Massa- 
barkem. 

The  Rockaway  tribe  was  scattered  over  the  southern 
part  of  the  town  of  Hempstead,  which  with  a part  of 
Jamaica  and  the  whole  of  Newtown  constituted  their 
claim.  The  greater  part  of  the  tribe  was  at  Near  Rock- 
away. Part  lived  at  the  head  of  Maspeth  Creek,  in 
Newtown,  and  deeds  for  land  there  were  executed  by  the 
Rockaway  sachem.  This  tribe  had  also  a settlement  of 
several  hundred  acres  on  Hog  Island,  in  Rockaway  Bay. 


THE  LONG  ISLAND  INDIANS— THEIR  LANGUAGE. 


19 


The  first  Rockaway  sachem  known  to  the  Dutch  was 
Chegonoe.  Nowedinah  was  sachem  in  1648,  Eskmoppas 
in  1670,  Paman  in  1685,  and  Quaquasho  or  the  Hunter 
in  1691. 

The  Montauk  tribe  had  jurisdiction  over  all  the  re- 
maining lands  to  Montauk,  probably  including  Gardiner’s 
Island;  and  there  seems  to  be  evidence  that  the  sachem 
of  this  tribe  was  conceded  the  title  and  functions  of 
grand  sachem  of  Paumanake,  or  Long  Island. 

The  Merrick,  Meroke,  or  Merikoke  tribe  claimed  all 
the  territory  south  of  the  middle  of  the  island  from  Near 
Rockaway  to  the  west  line  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  was  in  all 
probability  at  some  former  period  a part  of  the  Marsa- 
pequa  or  Marsapeague  tribe.  A part  of  the  land  in  the 
town  of  Hempstead  was  bought  from  this  tribe.  They 
had  a large  settlement  on  Hicks’s  Neck,  and  occupied 
the  other  necks  between  that  and  their  principal  site, 
where  the  village  of  Merrick  now  stands.  Their  sachem 
in  1647  was  Wantagh. 

The  Marsapequa  or  Marsapeague  tribe  had  its  prin- 
cipal settlement  at  Fort  Neck,  in  South  Oyster  Bay,  and 
thence  extended  eastward  to  the  bounds  of  Islip  and 
north  to  the  middle  of  the  island.  Here  were  two  Indian 
forts,  the  larger  of  which  was  stormed  by  Captain  John 
Underhill,  in  the  service  of  the  Dutch,  in  1653,  with 
great  slaughter  of  the  Indians.  The  remains  of  the  fort 
have  been  encroached  upon  and  covered  by  the  waters 
of  the  Great  South  Bay.  Tackapousha  was  sachem  of 
this  tribe  in  1656;  also  chief  sachem  of  the  western  chief- 
taincies of  the  island,  after  the  division  between  the  Dutch 
and  the  English. 

The  Matinecock  tribe  claimed  jurisdiction  of  the 
lands  east  of  Newtown,  as  far  as  the  west  line  of  Smith- 
town  and  probably  to  the  Nissaquag  River.  This  was  a 
numerous  tribe,  and  had  large  settlements  at  Flushing, 
Glen  Cove,  Cold  Spring,  Huntington  and  Cow  Harbor 
A portion  of  the  tribe  took  part  in  the  war  of  1643,  under 
Gunwarrowe;  but  their  sachem  at  that  time  remained 
friendly  to  the  Dutch,  and  through  his  diplomacy  suc- 
ceeded in  establishing  peace.  Whiteneymen  (one-eyed) 
was  sachem  in  1643,  and  Assiapam  in  1653. 

The  Nesaquake  or  Missaquogue  tribe  possessed  the 
country  from  the  river  named  after  them  to  Stony  Brook 
and  from  the  sound  to  the  middle  of  the  island.  The 
extensive  shell  banks  near  the  village  of  Nissaquag  show 
that  it  was  the  site  of  a considerable  settlement,  and  it 
was  probably  the  residence  of  the  sachem.  Coginiquant 
was  sachem  in  1656. 

The  Setalcat  or  Setauket  tribe  claimed  from  Stony 
Brook  to  the  Wading  River  and  was  one  of  the  most 
powerful.  Its  members  inhabited  Strong’s  Neck  and  the 
banks  of  the  different  creeks,  coves  and  harbors.  Warra- 
waken  was  sachem  in  1655,  and  Gil  in  1675. 

The  Corchaug  tribe  owned  the  territory  from  the 
Wading  River  to  Oyster  Ponds,  and  was  spread  along 
the  north  shore  of  Peconic  Bay  and  over  the  necks  ad- 
joining the  sound.  It  probably  claimed  Robin’s  Island 
also.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  a numer- 
ous and  powerful  tribe.  Momometon  was  sachem  in  1648. 


The  Manhasset  tribe  peopled  Shelter  Island  and 
probably  Hog  Island.  This  tribe,  although  confined  to 
about  10,000  acres,  could,  if  tradition  is  reliable,  bring 
into  the  field  at  one  time  more  than  500  warriors.  Pog- 
gattatuck,  brother  of  Wyandanch,  was  sachem  in  1648, 
and  Yokee  or  Youghco  in  1651.  His  residence  was  on 
Sachem’s  Neck. 

The  Secatogue  tribe  adjoined  the  Marsapequas  on 
the  west  and  claimed  the  country  as  far  east  as  Patch- 
ogue.  The  farm  of  the  Willets  at  Islip  is  called  Seca- 
togue Neck,  and  here  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  prin- 
cipal settlement  and  probably  the  residence  of  the  sachem, 
who  in  1683  was  Winnequaheagh. 

The  Patchogue  tribe  extended  its  jurisdiction  east 
from  Patchogue  to  Westhampton,  and  as  some  think  to 
Canoe  Place.  The  main  settlements  were  at  Patchogue, 
Fire  Place,  Mastic,  Moriches  and  Westhampton.  Tobac- 
us  was  sachem  in  1666. 

The  Shinnecock  tribe  claimed  the  territory  from 
Canoe  Place  to  Easthampton,  including  Sag  Harbor  and 
the  whole  south  shore  of  Peconic  Bay. 

The  Indians  of  Long  Island  were  designated  on  the 
Dutch  maps  Mohegans,  and  have  been  so  called  by  his- 
torians. This  is  but  a sub-title  under  the  general  term 
Algonquins,  covering  a great  race  of  savages  scattered 
over  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Delaware  and  other 
States. 

The  Indians  of  the  island  were  tall  and  straight,  mus- 
cular and  agile,  with  straight  hair  and  reddish-brown 
complexion.  Their  language  was  the  Algonquin,  the 
highly  descriptive  tongue  in  which  the  apostle  Eliot 
wrote  the  Indian  Bible,  and  which  was  used  by  other 
missionaries.  It  was  the  language  that  greeted  the  col- 
onists at  Roanoke,  and  the  Pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  It 
was  spoken  through  twenty  degrees  of  latitude  and  sixty 
degrees  of  longitude.  Strange  that  a language  which  a 
century  ago  was  spoken  so  widely  and  freely  between  the 
aborigines  and  the  settlers  should  have  so  perished  that 
it  is  doubted  whether  a man  is  living  who  can  speak  it  or 
read  the  Indian  Bible,  so  laboriously  prepared  by  the 
apostolic  John  Eliot. 

The  Indian  names  of  Long  Island  are  said  to  be  Se- 
wanhacky,  Wamponomon  and  Paumanake.  These  names, 
or  at  least  the  first  two,  seem  to  have  arisen  from  the 
abundance  of  the  quahog  or  hard  clam,  the  shell  of  which 
furnished  the  wampun  or  sewant,  which  in  the  earlier 
times  was  the  money  of  the  country,  as  well  as  the 
material  for  the  embroidery  and  the  record  symbols  of 
the  Indian  belts.  Matouwacs  is  the  name  given  the 
island  on  the  earliest  Dutch  maps.  The  deed  to  the 
settlers  at  Easthampton  styles  it  Paumanake.  Rev. 
William  Hubbard,  of  Ipswich,  in  his  history  of  New 
England,  called  it  Mattamwake.  In  books  and  deeds  it 
bears  other  names,  as  Meitowax,  Metoac,  etc.  Sewan- 
hacky  and  Wamponomon  both  signify  the  island,  or  place, 
of  shells.  Of  Mattanwake  Judge  Furman  says:  “In 
the  Narragansett  language  mattan  was  a term  used  to 
signify  anything  fine  or  good,  and  duke  or  ake  meant  land 
or  earth;  thus  the  whole  word  meant  the  good  or  pleasant 


20 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


land,  which  was  certainly  highly  characteristic  of  Long 
Island,  even  at  that  period  of  its  early  settlement.” 

The  religious  notions  of  the  Long  Island  Indians  are 
described  in  a communication  from  the  Rev.  Samson 
Occum,  published  in  the  collections  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society.  His  words  are:  “They  believe  in  a 
plurality  of  gods,  and  in  one  great  arid  good  being,  who 
controls  all  the  rest.  They  likewise  believe  in  an  evil 
spirit,  and  have  their  conjurors  or  paw-waws.”  The 
ceremony  performed  by  these  characters  was  so  odious 
in  the  opinion  of  the  whole  people  that  the  duke’s  laws 
of  1665  enacted  that  “no  Indian  shall  be  permitted  to 
paw-waw  or  perform  worship  to  the  devil  in  any  town 
within  this  government.”  It  is  evident,  however,  that  they 
still  kept  up  their  devil  worship  at  the  visit  of  the 
Labadists  in  1679-80.  They  also  had  divinities  in  the 
winds  and  waters.  It  is  surprising  how  few  tokens  are 
found,  in  the  shape  of  idols,  or  carvings  of  any  kind,  to 
signify  a reverence  for  their  gods.  The  only  thing  which 
has  attracted  particular  attention  is  “ the  foot-print  of  the 
evil  spirit  ” — the  impression  of  a foot  on  a boulder,  now 
iu  the  possession  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society, 
which  had  lain  upon  Montauk  Point  from  the  earliest 
English  knowledge,  and  probably  for  centuries  before, 
and  which  was  always  an  object  of  Indian  veneration. 

The  lodges  or  wigwams  of  the  Long  Island  Indians 
were  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  wide,  having  a frame  of  two 
rows  of  poles  bent  together  and  covered  with  rushes, 
except  along  the  ridge,  where  an  opening  was  left  for 
smoke  to  escape.  This  frame  of  poles  was  interlaced 
with  the  bark  of  trees,  and  continued  to  a length  of  180 
feet  or  more,  as  the  families  conjointly  occupying  the 
wigwam  might  require.  Fires  were  built  along  the  floor, 
each  family  having  its  own  for  cooking  and  for  comfort 
in  cold  weather.  The  principal  household  utensils  were 
earthen  pots  and  gourds  for  holding  water. 

The  original  fur  and  feather  clothing  of  these  savages 
gave  place  to  cloth  after  the  advent  of  Europeans.  At 
first  a blanket  about  the  shoulders  and  a cloth  hanging 
from  a belt  about  the  waist  composed  their  costume,  but 
they  afterward  imitated  the  dress  of  the  whites.  All  were 
fond  of  decoration.  In  early  deeds  from  them  there  is  a 
peculiar  reservation  of  “the  trees  in  what  eagles  do  build 
their  nests,”  doubtless  in  order  to  secure  to  them  the 
feathers  of  the  royal  bird,  which  were  among  their  valued 
adornments. 

Their  canoes  were  of  different  sizes,  from  the  light 
shallop  to  those  of  sixty  feet  in  length.  They  were 
wrought  out  of  logs  with  stone  axes,  with  the  help  of  fire. 
Their  pottery,  of  which  specimens  are  found  in  the  shell 
heaps,  is  of  clay,  mixed  with  water,  hollowed  out  by  the 
hand  and  baked.  Most  of  the  specimens  are  very  inferior. 
Private  collections  abound  in  arrow-heads,  stone  axes, 
and  the  pestles  and  mortars  which  served  them  for  mills. 
The  Long  Island  Historical  Society  has  a collection  of 
Indian  relics,  in  which  the  only  metallic  instrument  is 
an  ax  of  native  copper  unearthed  a few  years  ago  at 
Rockaway,  together  with  a few  stone  axes  and  a quantity 
of  spear  heads,  apparently  buried  for  preservation. 


Long  Island  was  the  great  source  of  the  supply  of 
wampun  or  sewant — the  Indian  shell  money,  as  well  as 
the  beads  which  they  wore  as  ornaments  or  fastened  to 
their  clothing.  Along  the  shores  of  the  island  immense 
deposits  of  shells  once  existed  (some  of  which  yet  remain), 
from  which  the  blue  portion  forming  the  eye  was  care- 
fully removed  for  making  blue  beads;  these  were 
worth  three  times  as  much  as  the  white,  which  were 
made  from  the  inner  pillars  of  the  conch  shell  or 
periwinkle. 

Long  Island  will  always  be  a monumental  point  in 
history  as  the  place  to  which  Hudson  and  his  mariners 
first  came  as  the  key  to  open  a world  in  commerce  and 
civilization,  to  which  the  discoveries  of  Columbus  were 
but  the  vestibule.  The  earliest  account  of  the  Indians 
of  the  island  is  that  given  by  Hudson  in  the  narrative  of 
his  voyage  of  1609.  On  the  4th  of  September  of  that 
year  he  came  to  anchor  in  Gravesend  Bay.  He  says  the 
Canarsie  Indians  came  on  board  his  vessel  without  any 
apprehension  and  seemed  very  glad  of  his  coming.  They 
brought  with  them  green  tobacco  and  exchanged  it  for 
knives  and  beads.  They  were  clad  in  deer  skins,  well 
dressed,  and  were  “ very  civil.”  On  a subsequent  visit 
some  of  them  were  dressed  in  “mantles  of  feathers”  and 
some  in  “ skins  of  diver  sorts  of  good  furs.”  Hudson  states 
that  “ they  had  yellow  copper  and  red  copper  tobacco 
pipes,  and  ornaments  of  copper  about  their  necks;”  also 
that  they  had  currants  and  “great  store  of  maize  or 
Indian  corn,  whereof  they  made  good  bread.”  They  also 
brought  him  hemp.  Some  of  his  men  landed  where  is 
now  the  town  of  Gravesend  and  met  many  men,  women 
and  children,  who  gave  them  tobacco  They  described 
the  country  to  Hudson  as  “ full  of  great  tall  oaks,  and 
the  lands  as  pleasant  with  grass  and  flowers  and  goodly 
trees  as  they  had  ever  seen.” 

Doubtless  the  natives  presented  their  very  best  festal 
appearance  to  the  great  captain  of  the  “big  canoe;” 
though  when,  seventy  years  after  (in  1679-80),  when  they 
were  visited  by  the  Labadist  agents,  Dankers  and  Sluyter, 
after  contact  with  the  early  settlers,  they  had  sadly  de- 
generated, and  the  best  collection  that  has  been  made  of 
their  utensils  and  adornments  fails  to  show  any  of  the 
yellow  copper  ornaments. 

The  Dutch  and  English  found  the  river  Indians  and 
the  Long  Island  tribes  greatly  reduced  by  their  conflicts 
with  the  more  warlike  Iroquois  or  Five  Nations,  who  had 
laid  them  under  tribute.  The  powerful  Pequots  of  Con- 
necticut did  the  same  before  their  own  extermination. 
After  the  coming  of  the  Dutch,  under  a promise  of  pro- 
tection by  them,  the  Canarsies  neglected  to  pay  their 
tribute  to  the  Mohawks,  representing  the  Five  Nations, 
and  in  1655  the  latter  made  a descent  on  Staten  Island, 
where  they  killed  67  of  the  natives,  and  going  thence  to 
Gravesend,  Canarsie  and  other  places  made  a thorough 
butchery.  A bare  remnant  of  the  Canarsies  escaped  to 
Beeren  Island,  and  Mrs.  Abraham  Remsen  left  the  state- 
ment that  she  made  a shroud  for  the  last  individual  of 
them.  The  consistory  of  the  Dutch  church  at  Albany 
thereafter  for  many  years  acted  as  agent  for  the  Indians 


WARS  OF  THE  ISLAND  INDIANS— THEIR  SACHEMS 


2 I 


down  the  Hudson  in  the  payment  of  their  tribute  to  their 
conquerors. 

The  settlers  at  the  east  end  of  the  island  found  Wy- 
andanch,  the  grand  sachem,  at  war  with  Ninigret,  the 
sachem  of  the  Narragansetts  of  Rhode  Island.  There 
had  been  retaliatory  massacres  on  both  sides.  Ninigret 
struck  the  finishing  blow  on  the  occasion  of  the  marriage 
of  a daughter  of  Wyandanch  to  a young  chieftain  of  his 
tribe,  at  Fort  Pond,  on  Montauk.  Knowing  that  all  pre- 
caution would  be  overlooked  in  the  revelry  of  the  festive 
occasion  Ninigret  came  down  in  force  upon  his  unpre- 
pared enemy;  slaughtered  half  the  tribe,  including  the 
bridegroom,  and  bore  away  the  bride  as  his  captive  to 
the  mainland.  This  blow  broke  the  power  and  the  spirit 
of  Wyandanch,  who  then  by  a cession  of  Montauk  came 
under  the  government  and  protection  of  Easthampton. 

Hereby  hangs  a romance  which  can  not  be  done  away 
with  by  any  captious  objectors,  like  those  who  have 
sought  to  resolve  the  story  of  Pocahontas  into  a myth. 
It  is  secured  by  deed.  On  a square  bit  of  paper,  written 
plainly  in  the  old  English  character,  framed  and  placed 
in  the  noble  building  of  the  Long  Island  Historical 
Society,  is  a conveyance  to  Lion  Gardiner,  then  lord  of 
the  Isle  of  Wight  or  Gardiner’s  Island,  of  the  great  part 
of  Smithtown,  as  a consideration  for  his  services  in  re- 
gaining from  Ninigret  the  captive  daughter  of  Wyan- 
danch; the  last  named  signed  the  deed,  as  also  did  his 
son  Wyancombone,  and  the  latter’s  wife. 

Thompson  ascribes  the  war  between  the  Montauks  and 
the  Narragansetts  to  the  refusal  of  the  Montauk  monarch 
to  join  in  the  plot  for  exterminating  the  Europeans. 
Roger  Williams  traced  the  war  to  the  pride  of  the  con- 
tending sachems.  The  Long  Island  chief  he  said  was 
“proud  and  foolish;”  Ninigret,  “proud  and  fierce.” 

Lion  Gardiner,  in  his  notes  on  Easthampton,  says  that 
the  Block  Island  Indians,  acting  as  allies  of  the  Narra- 
gansetts, attacked  the  Montauks  during  King  Philip’s 
war  and  punished  them  severely.  The  engagement  took 
place  on  Block  Island,  whither  the  Montauks  went  in 
their  canoes,  and  the  latter  on  landing  fell  into  an  am- 
buscade. He  says:  “The  Montauk  Indians  were  nearly 
all  killed;  a few  were  protected  by  the  English  and 
brought  away;  the  sachem  was  taken  and  carried  to  Nar- 
ragansett.  He  was  made  to  walk  on  a large  flat  rock 
that  was  heated  by  building  fires  on  it,  and  walked  several 
times  over  it,  singing  his  death  song;  but  his  feet  being 
burned  to  the  bones  he  fell,  and  they  finished  the  tragical 
scene  as  usual  for  savages.” 

The  Long  Island  Indians  joined  the  neighboring  main- 
land tribes  in  the  hostilities  between  them  and  the  Dutch, 
which  grew  out  of  the  murder  of  an  Indian  at  New  York 
in  1641.  In  1643  some  Dutch  farmers  on  the  island 
ventured  to  seize  and  carry  off  two  wagon  loads  of  corn 
belonging  to  the  Indians;  the  owners  attempting  to  de- 
fend their  property  two  of  them  were  killed. 

The  Long  Island  and  Hudson  River  Indians  burning 
to  avenge  such  outrages,  more  than  two  thousand  of  them 
rose  in  open  war  and  made  the  greatest  possible  de- 
struction of  the  property  and  lives  of  the  settlers.  A 


transient  peace  was  patched  up,  the  Canarsie  chief  Pen- 
hawitz  being  one  of  an  embassy  to  New  Amsterdam  for 
that  purpose.  In  a few  months  war  broke  out  again, 
this  time,  it  is  said,  on  account  of  Governor  Kieft’s  em- 
bezzling the  presents  for  the  natives  by  which  the  treaty 
should  have  been  ratified.  The  savages,  crossing  to  the 
island  from  Westchester  county,  destroyed  the  settlement 
of  Mespat,  now  Newtown;  also  the  first  house  built  in 
Brooklyn,  that  of  William  Adriance  Bennett,  near  Gow- 
anus.  They  then  fell  upon  the  settlement  of  Lady 
Moody  at  Gravesend,  but  were  beaten  off  by  a company 
of  forty  men,  who  had  been  recruited  and  disciplined  by 
Nicholas  Stil well,  and  who  were  concealed  in  Lady 
Moody’s  log  house.  From  the  neighboring  villages  more 
than  a hundred  families  flocked  to  New  Amsterdam  for 
protection.  From  these  was  raised  a company  of  fifty 
men,  who  under  the  famous  John  Underhill  participated 
in  the  massacre  of  over  five  hundred  of  the  Indians  in 
March  1644,  at  Strickland’s  Plain,  on  Horse  Neck,  near 
Greenwich,  Conn.  As  one  of  the  results  of  this  decisive 
blow  several  of  the  Long  Island  chiefs  went  to  New  Am- 
sterdam and  made  a treaty  of  peace. 

In  1655  Hendrick  Van  Dyke,  the  late  “ schout  fiscal  ” 
of  New  Amsterdam,  shot  and  killed  a squaw  who  was 
stealing  peaches  from  his  garden.  He  was  soon  killed  by 
the  Indians  in  revenge.  At  the  same  time  they  perper- 
trated  terrible  massacres  on  Staten  Island  and  in  New 
Jersey,  and  spread  terror  on  Long  Island,  though  doing 
no  damage  there.  Governor  Stuyvesant  ordered  all 
persons  living  in  secluded  places  to  gather  and  “form 
villages  after  the  fashion  of  our  neighbors  of  New  Eng- 
land,” but  little  attention  was  paid  to  his  command. 

On  the  division  of  the  island  in  1650  between  the 
English  and  the  Dutch,  the  English  taking  the  eastern 
and  the  Dutch  the  western  part,  the  jurisdiction  of 
Grand  Sachem  Wyandanch  was  nominally  divided, 
Tackapousha  being  elected  sachem  of  the  chieftaincies  in 
possession  of  the  Dutch,  namely,  those  of  the  Marsape- 
quas,  Merricks,  Canarsies,  Secatogues,  Rockaways  and 
Matinecocks.  In  the  winter  of  1658  the  smallpox  de- 
stroyed more  than  half  the  Montauks,  while  Wyandanch 
lost  his  life  by  poison.  The  remainder  of  the  tribe,  to 
escape  the  fatal  malady  and  the  danger  of  invasion  in 
their  weakened  state,  fled  in  a body  to  their  white  neigh- 
bors, who  entertained  them  for  a considerable  period. 

Wyancombone  succeeded  his  father  in  the  sachemship, 
and,  being  a minor,  divided  the  government  with  his 
mother,  who  was  styled  the  squaw  sachem.  Lion  Gard- 
iner and  his  son  David  acted  as  guardians  to  the  young 
chief  by  request  of  his  father.  At  Fort  Pond — called  by 
the  Indians  Konkhongank — are  the  remains  of  the  burial 
ground  of  the  chieftaincy,  and  here  once  stood  the  citadel 
of  the  monarch  Wyandanch. 

From  the  numerous  array  of  tribes  mentioned  on  a 
preceding  page  it  is  evident  that  the  island  was  in  the 
earlier  periods  of  its  history  thickly  settled  by  the  Indians, 
who  found  support  and  delight  in  its  ample  resources  of 
hunting,  fishing  and  fowling;  but  their  position  exposed 
them  to  invasion,  and  their  stores  of  wampum  tempted 


22 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


the  fierce  tribes  of  the  mainland.  They  were  evidently 
in  constant  fear  of  aggression,  and  at  two  points — Fort 
Neck,  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  Fort  Pond,  Montauk — forts 
were  built,  capable  of  sheltering  five  hundred  men.  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  in  1633,  referring  to  Long  Island,  which 
had  just  been  reconnoitred  by  his  bark,  the  “Blessing,” 
says,  doubtless  upon  mere  report:  “ The  Indians  there 
are  very  treacherous,  and  have  many  canoes  so  great  as 
will  carry  eighty  men.” 

But  the  natives  soon  dwindled  in  numbers  and  power 
upon  contact  with  the  whites.  The  Dutch  at  the  west- 
ern end  of  the  island,  coveting  their  corn  lands,  soon 
found  means  to  purchase  and  appropriate  them,  while  at 
the  east  end  the  Narragansetts  drove  the  tribes  into  the 
arms  of  the  English.  All  over  the  island  their  lands  were 
bought  at  a nominal  price  from  the  too  easy  owners. 

Their  inordinate  fondness  for  “ fire-water  ” had  a large 
share  in  their  ruin.  Rev.  Azariah  Horton  was  a mis- 
sionary to  the  Long  Island  Indians  in  1741-44.  He 
states  that  in  1741  there  were  at  the  east  end  two  small 
towns  of  them,  and  lesser  companies  settled  at  a few 
miles  distance  from  each  other  through  the  island.  Up 
to  the  close  of  1743  he  had  baptized  35  adults  and  44 
children.  He  took  pains  to  teach  them  to  read,  and  some 
of  them  made  considerable  progress;  but,  notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  Mr.  Horton  in  1744  complained  of  a great 
defection  by  a relapse  into  their  darling  vice  of  drunken- 
ness, to  which  Indians  are  everywhere  so  greatly  addicted 
that  no  human  power  can  prevent  it. 

In  1761  the  Indians  had  so  diminished  on  Long  Island 
as  in  some  places  to  have  entirely  disappeared;  and 
the  once  powerful  Montauks  could  muster  but  192  souls. 
This  number  was  reduced  by  the  withdrawal  of  many 
who  went  to  Brotherton  with  Rev.  Samsom  Occum.  This 
celebrated  Indian  preacher  went  about  1755  to  Montauk, 
where  he  preached  and  taught  about  ten  years.  He  went 
to  England  and  raised  £t, 000  for  establishing  schools 
among  the  Indians. 

Rev.  Paul  Cuffee  was  another  Indian  preacher  on  the 
island.  He  was  buried  about  a mile  west  of  Canoe  Place, 
where  the  Indian  meeting-house  then  stood,  and  a neat 
marble  slab  has  been  erected  to  his  memory  by  the  Mis- 
sionary Societyof  New  York,  which  employed  him.  The 
writer  has  conversed  with  persons  who  gave  testimony  to 
his  piety  and  the  fervor  of  his  eloquence. 

The  Indian  kings  at  Montauk  have  for  a century  and 
more  borne  the  name  or  Pharoah  or  Pharo.  This  was 
doubtless  conferred  upon  them  by  the  first  misssionaries, 
who  are  also  responsible  for  Solomons,  Tituses  and  other 
Christian  and  classic  names.  A squaw  who  died  recently 
at  Easthampton  at  a very  advanced  age  was  named  Han- 
nah Hannibal.  One  of  the  Montauk  Pharoahsdied  about 
three  years  ago  and  his  brother  succeeded  him.  He  bore 
the  traits  of  pure  blood  in  the  sallow  complexion  and  long 
straight  hair  of  his  race.  With  the  advance  of  settlements 
on  the  island  the  Montauks  have  faded  away,  till  but  a 
remnant  of  scarcely  a dozen  pure  bloods  remains  on  the 
reserved  “Indian  fields”  on  the  promontory  of  Montauk. 
Subject  to  their  reservations  the  whole  promontory  was 


recently  sold  in  partition  sale  of  the  property  to  Arthur 
W.  Benson,  of  Brooklyn,  for  $151,000. 

The  influence  of  their  friends  at  Easthampton  kept 
these  Indians  from  taking  part  in  King  Philip’s  and  other 
wars,  and  from  being  violently  blotted  out  like  most  of 
their  brethren.  Elsewhere  many  of  them  have  succeeded 
in  whaling  enterprises,  and  they  have  been  ingenious  in 
basket  making.  Some  of  those  remaining  around  Mon- 
tauk are  useful  sailors  or  domestics. 

The  Shinnecock  tribe,  much  modified  by  negro  inter- 
marriages, still  cluster  about  Southampton  to  the  number 
of  about  200.  They  are  in  general  a worthy  and  indus- 
trious people,  with  a good  school  and  much  pride  of 
character.  Many  will  recollect  the  mourning  which  went 
abroad  on  the  loss,  in  the  wreck  of  the  “Circassia,”  of 
that  fine  corps  of  sailors  of  the  Shinnecock  tribe,  whose 
courage  and  manliness  were  of  a high  heroic  type. 


CHAPTER  III. 


DISCOVERY  AND  SETTLEMENT  OF  LONG  ISLAND HISTORY 

OF  COLONIAL  TIMES. 


HE  names  by  which  Long  Island  was  called 
by  the  Indians  were  various.  Among  them 
were  Mattanwake,  Meitowax,  Sewanhacky 
(Island  of  Shells),  Paumanake,  etc.  By  rea- 
son of  its  form  the  early  settlers  applied  to 
the  island  its  present  name.  The  colonial  Legis- 
lature in  1693  changed  it  to  Nassau,  in  honor  of 
William  of  Nassau,  Prince  of  Orange,  and  required  that 
all  legal  instruments  should  recognize  that  name.  It 
never  acquired  more  than  a partial  use,  and  though  the 
act  is  unrepealed  the  name  is  obsolete. 

There  have  been  traditions  that  this  island  was  visited 
by  Europeans  prior  to  its  discovery  by  Hudson;  but 
these  are  probably  no  more  reliable  than  similar  traditions 
concerning  other  regions.  An  account  of  a voyage  by 
John  de  Verazzano,  in  1524,  was  published,  and  from  his 
description  it  is  believed  by  some  that  he  entered  the 
harbor  of  New  York.  Others  insist  that  his  journal  gives 
no  foundation  for  such  a belief. 

The  first  discovery  of  Long  Island  by  Europeans  was 
made  early  in  September  1609,  by  Henry  Hudson,  an 
Englishman  in  the  employ  of  the  Dutch  East  India 
Company.  He  had  sailed  in  the  “Half  Moon”  from 
Amsterdam  on  the  25th  of  the  preceding  March  in  search 
of  a northwest  passage  to  India.  After  touching  at  var- 
ious points  on  the  coast  north  he  sailed  south  to  the 
mouth  of  Chesapeake  Bay;  then,  passing  north,  entered 
Delaware  Bay,  from  which  he  again  sailed  northward  and 
entered  New  York  Bay  on  the  3d  of  September.  During 
the  week  that  he  remained  there  a boat’s  crew,  engaged 
in  making  explorations,  landed  at  Coney  Island — the 
first  portion  of  Long  Island  pressed  by  the  foot  of  a white 


DISCOVERY  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


2.3 


man.  On  the  6th,  John  Colman,  of  a party  that  was  sent 
up  the  river  to  sound  and  explore,  was  killed  and  two 
others  were  wounded  by  a party  of  twenty-six  savages  in 
two  canoes.  The  next  day  Colman’s  body  was  buried  on 
the  shore,  and  the  place  of  his  interment  was  named  Col- 
man’s Point.  By  some  this  is  believed  to  have  been  Sandy 
Hook;  by  others,  Coney  Island.  After  the  discovery  of  the 
island  by  Hudson  the  region  was  visited  bv  private  adven- 
turers to  trade,  but  in  1614  a decree  of  the  States  General 
forbade  this  and  gave  to  the  East  India  Company  monopoly 
of  this  trade.  In  that  year  Adrian  Block  and  Hendrick 
Christiance  visited  this  region  under  the  East  India  Com- 
pany and  built  a fort  and  some  dwellings  on  the  island  of 
Manhattan  or  Manhattoes,  as  it  was  called  by  the  Indians. 
Captain  Block  passed  with  his  vessel  through  Hell  Gate 
and  sailed  through  the  sound,  and  first  discovered  the 
insular  condition  of  Long  Island.  Block  Island,  which 
was  called  by  the  Indians  Manissees,  was  named  in 
honor  of  him.  It  is  said  that  his  vessel  was  accidentally 
burned,  and  that  he  built  another  on  or  near  Manhattan 
in  the  summer  of  1614.  If  so,  it  was  the  first  vessel 
built  in  the  United  States. 

When  English  settlements  were  made  in  New  England 
a rivalry  at  once  sprang  up  between  the  English  and  the 
Dutch,  each  power  striving  to  strengthen  its  authority  by 
extending  its  settlements.  Under  these  circumstances  the 
settlement  of  the  western  end  of  the  island  by  the  Dutch 
commenced.  It  is  not  known  who  was  the  first  actual 
settler  on  Long  Island.  Settlements  were  made  in  Flat- 
lands,  Kings 'county,  as  early  as  1636,  possibly  earlier. 
It  is  not  probable  that  any  settlement  was  made  at  the 
Wallabout  prior  to  1636.  The  name  of  this  bay  is  cor- 
rupted from  “WahleBocht”  or  “ Waale  Boght,”  which 
according  to  the  late  Hon.  Teunis  G.  Bergen  means  “ the 
Beach  or  Shore  of  the  Cove;”  Samuel  Ogden  renders  it 
“the  Bend  of  the  Inner  Harbor.”  Settlers  came  and 
located  as  caprice  or  circumstance  seemed  to  dictate, 
without  any  provision  for  local  government.  At  nearly 
the  same  time  permanent  settlements  were  made  on  the 
west  end  of  the  island  by  the  Dutch  and  on  the  east  by 
the  English.  Both  purchased  their  lands  from  the 
Indians;  the  English  directly,  and  the  Dutch  through 
their  governors,  who  first  extinguished  the  Indian  title, 
then  parceled  out  the  land  to  individuals  in  various  ways, 
or  gave  permits  to  purchase  from  the  Indians. 

On  the  west  end  of  the  island  the  Dutch  in  1636  set- 
tled Brooklyn,  first  named  Breuckelen  after  a town  of  that 
name  in  the  province  of  Utrecht,  in  Holland;  Flatlands, 
first  New  Amersfort,  after  a place  of  the  same  name  in 
Holland,  also  in  1636;  Flushing,  or  in  Dutch  Vlissingen, 
also  after  a place  of  the  same  name  in  Holland,  1645; 
Flatbusb,  originally  Midwout,  after  Midwout  in  Holland, 
1651;  New  Utrecht  in  1657,  and  Bushwick  or  Woodtown 
in  1660. 

English  immigrants  were  permitted  to  settle  on  territory 
claimed  by  the  Dutch  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Dutch  government.  Of  the  English  towns  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Dutch  Hempstead  was  settled  in 
1643;  Gravesend  in  1645;  Jamaica,  originally  Rusdorp, 


in  1655,  and  Newtown,  first  called  Middlebury,  in  1656- 
The  jurisdiction  of  Oyster  Bay,  which  was  settled  in 
1653,  was  not  during  many  years  determined,  but  it  finally 
came  under  Connecticut. 

The  Dutch  towns  appear  to  have  been  wholly  under 
the  control  of  the  governor,  whose  will  in  all  matters — 
general  and  individual,  civil  and  ecclesiastical — was  ab- 
solute. The  English  towns  under  Dutch  jurisdiction 
were  allowed  to  choose  their  own  officers,  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  governor,  to  hold  their  town  meetings, 
and  manage  their  own  matters  as  nearly  like  the  eastern 
towns  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

It  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that  in  the  exercise  of 
power  so  nearly  absolute  the  representatives  of  their  High 
Mightinesses,  as  the  States  General  was  termed,  should  not 
at  times  yield  to  their  caprices,  their  sympathies  or  an- 
tipathies, and  do  arbitrary  and  oppressive  acts.  In  the 
case  of  Governor  Stuyvesant  his  tyrannical  disregard  of  the 
people’s  rights  led  to  the  assembling,  in  1653,  of  delegates 
from  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Flatbush,  Flatlands,  Graves- 
end, Newtown,  Flushing  and  Hempstead,  and  the  adoption 
of  an  address  to  the  governor  and  council  and  States 
General,  setting  forth  their  grievances,  and  asking  that 
they  be  redressed.  To  this  no  reply  was  given,  though  a 
protest  was  entered  on  their  minutes  against  the  meeting. 
When,  in  the  same  year,  a second  meeting  assembled, 
the  governor  ordered  them  “ to  disperse  and  not  to  as- 
semble again  on  such  business.” 

A line  had,  in  1650,  been  established  between  the 
Dutch  towns  on  the  west  and  the  English  on  the  eastern 
end  of  the  island  by  four  commissioners — two  from  the 
Dutch  government  and  two  from  the  united  colonies  of 
New  England,  although  the  New  England  colonists  had 
at  that  time  no  jurisdiction  on  the  island.  This  line  ran 
southward  across  the  island  from  the  “ westernmost  part 
of  Oyster  Bay.”  Notwithstanding  this  arrangement  the 
Dutch  governor  continued  to  claim  jurisdiction  over 
Oyster  Bay. 

The  people  at  about  this  time  were  sorely  troubled  by 
what  were  known  as  “land  pirates”  or  outlaws,  who  had 
been  banished  from  New  England,  and  against  these  the 
Dutch  governor  failed  to  afford  them  protection. 

It  may  here  be  remarked  that  the  administration  of 
Governor  Stuyvesant,  from  about  1656  to  the  conquest  in 
1664,  was  disgraced  by  a degree  of  religious  intolerance, 
and  especially  by  persecution  of  the  Quakers,  which 
rivaled  but  which  did  not  equal  that  of  the  Puritans  of 
New  England,  of  whom  it  may  truly  be  said  that  the 
principle  of  religious  liberty  never  dawned  on  their  minds. 
For  this  persecution  he  was  rebuked  by  the  authorities  in 
Holland.  These  persecutions  were  renewed  about  the 
commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Lord  Cornbury,  who  in  religious  intoler- 
ance was  fully  equal  to  Peter  Stuyvesant. 

In  1662  a new  charter  was  granted  to  Connecticut,  and 
this  charter  was  interpreted  to  include  the  whole  of  Long 
Island.  The  eastern  towns  gladly  availed  themselves  of 
this  interpretation,  and  in  1663  the  English  towns  under 
Dutch  jurisdiction  resolved  to  withdraw  from  that  juris- 


24 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


diction  and  place  themselves  also  under  Connecticut. 
Soon  afterward  two  commissioners  were  appointed  by 
Connecticut  to  organize  the  government  of  that  colony 
in  these  towns;  but  it  does  not  appear  from  history  that 
they  fulfilled  their  mission,  and  the  unsatisfactory  con- 
dition of  things  continued  till  the  conquest  in  1664. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  settlements  of  the  Dutch  were 
limited  to  the  western  end  of  the  island,  and  their  juris- 
diction to  a comparatively  small  portion  of  that  end. 
The  eastern  end  was  settled  by  English  immigrants,  un- 
der different  auspices,  and  its  settlement  commenced  a 
few  years  later. 

In  1620  King  James  I.  of  England  granted  to  the 
Plymouth  Company  a charter  for  all  the  land  between 
the  40th  and  48th  degrees  of  north  latitude,  extending 
from  “sea  to  sea”,  which  territory  was  termed  New 
England.  In  1636,  at  the  request  of  King  Charles  I., 
the  Plymouth  Company  conveyed  by  patent  to  William 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Stirling,  the  whole  of  Long  Island 
and  the  adjacent  islands.  Earl  Stirling  appointed  James 
Farret  his  attorney  for  the  sale  of  his  real  estate,  and 
authorized  him  to  select  for  himself  twelve  thousand 
acres  of  the  territory.  Farret  selected  Shelter  Island 
and  Robin’s  Island  in  Peconic  Bay,  and  in  1641  sold 
these  to  Stephen  Goodyear,  of  New  Haven.  Soon  after 
the  death  of  Earl  Stirling  and  his  son  in  1640,  the  heir 
of  the  latter,  grandson  of  the  earl,  for  a consideration  of 
three  hundred  pounds,  surrendered  to  the  crown  the 
grant  from  the  Plymouth  Company,  and  it  was  embodied 
in  the  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  April  2nd  1664,  which 
thus  described  it:  “And  also  all  that  island  or  islands 
commonly  called  by  the  several  name  or  names  of  Meito- 
wacks,  or  Long  Island,  situate,  lying  and  being  toward 
the  west  of  Cape  Cod  and  the  narrow  Higansetts,  abut- 
ting upon  the  mainland  between  the  two  rivers  there 
called  or  known  by  the  several  names  of  Connecticut 
and  Hudson’s  River.” 

In  1662  the  Connecticut  colony  claimed  Long  Island 
under  that  clause  in  their  charter  of  that  year  which  in- 
cluded the  “islands  adjacent,”  and  in  1664  sent  a com- 
mission to  the  island  to  assert  jurisdiction.  The  conquest 
in  that  year  put  an  end  to  their  proceedings.  With  this  ex- 
ception no  claim  was  made  by  any  power  to  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  island  between  the  years  1640  and  1664. 

The  eastern  towns  were  settled  by  the  English  as  fol- 
lows: Gardiner’s  Island  (annexed  in  1680  to  Easthamp- 
ton)  in  1639.  It  was  purchased  in  that  year  by  Lion 
Gardiner  from  the  attorney  of  Lord  Stirling.  Mr.  Gar- 
diner had  previously  purchased  it  from  the  Indians.  This 
was  the  first  English  settlement,  and  Mr.  Gardiner  was 
one  of  the  first  English  settlers  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
Southampton  and  Southold  were  settled  in  1640,  East- 
hampton  in  1648,  Shelter  Island  in  1652,  Huntington  and 
Oyster  Bay  in  1653  though  the  latter  was  claimed  by  the 
Dutch,  Brookhaven  in  1655,  and  Smithtown  in  1663. 

Most  of  the  settlers  in  these  towns  were  previous  im- 
migrants in  New  England,  who  crossed  the  sound  in 
larger  or  smaller  companies  and  established  independent 
settlements,  which  as  their  numbers  increased  came  to  be 


little  republics,  completely  independent  of  all  other 
powers.  Although  there  were  differences  in  the  details 
of  the  government  of  the  different  towns,  there  was  a 
general  similarity  among  them.  Each  had  its  legislative, 
executive,  and  judicial  department.  The  people  assem- 
bled in  town  meeting  constituted  the  legislative  depart- 
ment, and  in  important  cases  the  judicial  also.  In  that 
case  the  assembly  was  sometimes  termed  the  general 
court  of  the  town.  Two  or  three  magistrates,  a clerk, 
and  a constable  usually  constituted  the  ordinary  judicial 
and  executive  functionaries  of  the  town.  Of  course  the 
people  required  no  bill  of  rights  or  constitution  to  pro- 
tect them  from  oppression  by  their  rulers,  for  they  were 
their  own  rulers.  They  organized  companies  of  citizen 
soldiers,  erected  and  garrisoned  forts  when  necessary, 
enacted  and  enforced  laws  to  regulate  not  only  civil  but 
also  social  and  religous  matters,  and  to  guard  against 
threatened  vices  as  well  as  to  restrain  existing  evils 
churches  were  erected,  schools  were  • established,  and 
ministers  and  teachers  were  supported  by  taxes  on  the 
property  of  the  citizens,  imposed  by  the  people  them- 
selves in  their  legislative  character. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  these  original  settlers 
were  Puritans,  and  that,  although  they  were  not  guilty  of 
such  manifestations  of  bigotry  and  intolerance  as  disgraced 
the  Puritans  of  New  England,  they  jealously  guarded 
against  the  introduction  among  them  of  innovations  which 
would  exert  what  they  deemed  a deleterious  influence. 
They  required  of  those  who  proposed  to  settle  among 
them  a probation  of  from  three  to  six  months,  and  if  at 
the  end  of  that  time  they  were  not  satisfactory  to  the 
people  they  were  notified  to  leave  within  a specified  time. 
They  were  thus  able  to  prevent  undesirable  people  from 
coming  among  them,  and  to  maintain  their  religious  faith 
free  from  contamination  by  those  holding  heterodox 
opinions.  To  guard  against  the  evils  of  intemperance 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  was  restricted  under  heavy 
penalties.  The  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  lying,  profane 
cursing  and  slander  were  penal  offences  in  most  of  the 
towns,  and  the  whipping  post,  the  stocks,  pillory,  etc.  were 
in  common  use.  Thus,  each  town  managed  its  own 
affairs,  without  any  combination  with  neighboring 
towns,  till  the  island  came  to  be  a part  of  New  York 
in  1664. 

In  view  of  their  exposed  situation  and  the  difficulty  of 
defending  themselves  against  hostile  attacks  by  the  Indians 
or  invasions  by  the  Dutch,  these  towns  one  by  one  placed 
themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  New  England 
colonies;  without,  however,  subjecting  themselves  to  tax- 
ation by  those  colonies,  or  relinquishing  to  the  slighest 
extent  their  self-government.  Southampton  did  this  in 
1644,  Easthampton  in  1657,  Brookhavan  in  1659,  and 
Huntington  in  1660.  These  came  under  the  protection 
of  Connecticut.  Southold  and  Shelter  Island  assumed 
the  same  relation  to  New  Haven  in  1648.  Connecticut 
and  New  Haven  became  united  under  a new  charter  in 
1662,  and  these  towns  became  a part  of  the  new  colony 
of  Connecticut,  sent  representatives  to  the  colonial  As- 
sembly, and  contributed  toward  the  expense  of  the  gov- 


UNDER  THE  DUKE  OF  YORK. 


25 


ernment.  In  the  same  year  Oyster  Bay  also  assumed 
this  relation. 

The  oppression  to  which  the  people  in  the  towns  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Dutch  were  subjected  has  been 
spoken  of.  The  inhabitants  of  both  the  Dutch  and  English 
towns  had  submitted  to  the  tyranny  of  their  rulers  be- 
cause they  saw  no  way  of  escape.  In  November  of  1663 
the  people  of  the  English  towns  held  a mass  meeting  at 
Jamaica  to  consider  their  condition  and  devise  means  for 
their  relief;  but,  although  no  attempt  to  disperse  them 
was  made,  no  results  were  accomplished.  They  were 
therefore  ready  to  welcome  anything  wh-ich  promised 
relief. 

Early  in  1664  Charles  the  Second  of  England  granted 
to  his  brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  territory  which  in- 
cluded New  Amsterdam  and  all  of  Long  Island.  An  ex- 
pedition was  at  once  fitted  out  and  sent  under  Colonel 
Richard  Nicolls,  who  was  commissioned  deputy  governor, 
to  take  possession  of  the  colony.  On  his  arrival  at  New 
York  in  August  of  that  year  he  demanded  of  Governor 
Stuyvesant  the  surrender  of  his  possessions,  which  was 
refused.  Colonel  Nicolls  and  the  commissioners,  Robert 
Carr,  George  Cartwright  and  Samuel  Maverick,  who  had 
been  sent  with  him  to  assist  in  the  government  of  the 
colony,  landed  at  Gravesend,  and,  at  a meeting  held  for 
that  purpose,  consulted  with  the  people,  and  with  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  of  Connecticut,  and  exhibited  to  them 
the  royal  grant  to  the  Duke  of  York.  He  also  issued  a 
proclamation  promising  protection  and  all  the  privileges 
of  English  subjects,  and  sent  officers  for  volunteers  in  the 
western  towns  of  the  island.  After  consultation  with  his 
burgomasters  and  the  people  Governor  Stuyvesant,  find- 
ing that  the  current  of  popular  opinion  set  strongly  in  that 
direction,  reluctantly  consented  to  a surrender,  and  thus, 
without  bloodshed,  the  government  passed  to  the  English. 

The  people  of  the  towns  on  the  west  end  of  the  island 
acquiesced  in  the  change,  relying  on  the  promise  of  Gov- 
ernor Nicolls  and  the  commissioners  that  they  should 
enjoy  all  the  privileges  of  English  subjects — a promise 
which  was  not  fulfilled.  The  eastern  towns,  however, 
which  had  been  independent,  and  which  were  then  a part 
of  Connecticut,  were  not  willing  to  sever  their  political 
relations  with  that  colony  and  become  subject  to  the 
Duke  of  York,  and  Connecticut  at  first  maintained  her 
claim  to  them.  Governor  Winthrop,  who  had  been  one 
of  the  commissioners  to  arrange  the  terms  of  surrender, 
“informed  the  English  on  Long  Island  that  Connecticut 
had  no  longer  any  claim  to  the  island;  that  what  they  had 
done  for  them  was  for  the  welfare,  peace  and  quiet  set- 
tlement of  his  Majesty’s  subjects,  they  being  the  nearest 
organized  government  to  them  under  his  Majesty.  But 
now  that  his  Majesty’s  pleasure  was  fully  signified  by  his 
letters  patent  their  jurisdiction  had  ceased  and  become 
null.” 

In  March  1665  a convention  of  delegates  from  the 
towns  assembled  at  Hempstead,  in  accordance  with  a 
proclamation  of  Governor  Nicolls,  “ to  settle  good  and 
known  laws  within  this  government  for  the  future,  and 
receive  yor  best  advice  and  information  at  a genall  meet- 


ing.” At  this  convention  the  boundaries  and  relations  of 
the  towns  were  settled  and  determined,  and  some  other 
matters  adjusted.  New  patents  were  required  to  be  taken 
by  those  who  had  received  their  patents  from  the  Dutch 
authorities,  and  it  was  required  that  patents  should  be 
taken  by  those  who  had  never  received  any,  as  was  the 
case  with  the  eastern  towns.  These  required  a quit-rent 
— a relic  of  feudal  customs — which  was  the  source  of 
much  trouble,  and  the  subject  of  abuse  afterward.  A 
code  of  laws  for  the  government  of  the  province  was  also 
promulgated.  These,  which  had  been  compiled  at  the 
dictation  of  the  governor,  were  termed  the  duke’s  laws. 
They  contained  many  of  the  provisions  which  had  been 
adopted  by  the  eastern  towns,  and  many  of  the  enact- 
ments would  be  looked  on  at  the  present  day  as  curios- 
ities. With  some  modifications  they  were  continued  in 
force  till  1683,  when  the  first  provincial  Assembly  held 
its  session.  Thompson  says:  “In  addition  to  other  mat- 
ters which  occupied  the  con vention  at  Hempstead  in  1665, 
Long  Island  and  Staten  Island  (and  probably  Westchester) 
were  erected  into  a shire,  called  after  that  in  England 
Yorkshire,  which  was  in  like  manner  divided  into  sep- 
arate districts  denominated  ridings;  the  towns  now  in- 
cluded in  Suffolk  county  constituted  the  East  ‘ Riding;’ 
Kings  county,  Staten  Island,  and  the  town  of  Newtown 
the  ‘ West  Riding,’ and  the  remainder  of  Queens  county 
the  ‘North  Riding’  of  Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island.” 
The  word  “ riding”  thus  used  is  a corruption  of  trithing 
— a third.  The  original  names  of  some  of  the  towns  were 
changed  to  the  present  ones  at  this  meeting,  it  is  sup- 
posed. So  highly  pleased  were  the  delegates  at  this  con- 
vention with  the  prospect  before  them,  under  the  assur- 
ances of  the  governor,  that  they  adopted  and  signed  an 
address  to  the  king,  pledging  loyalty  and  submission  in 
terms  that  were  not  pleasing  to  the  people  and  that  were 
criticised  with  such  severity  that  the  court  of  assize  is- 
sued an  edict  forbidding  further  censure  of  these  dep- 
uties, under  penalty  of  being  brought  before  the  court 
“ to  answer  for  the  slander.” 

Under  the  duke’s  laws  the  justices — one  in  each  town 
—were  appointed  by  the  governor,  as  was  also  the  high 
sheriff  of  the  shire,  and  a deputy  sheriff  for  each  riding- 
Each  town  elected  at  first  eight  and  afterward  four  over- 
seers and  a constable,  who  constituted  a town  court,  with 
jurisdiction  limited  to  cases  of  jQt,  or  less.  They  also 
assessed  taxes  and  regulated  minor  matters.  Each  riding 
had  a court  of  sessions  consisting  of  the  justices,  with 
whom  the  high  sheriff,  members  of  the  council,  and  sec- 
retary of  the  colony  were  entitled  to  sit.  It  had  criminal 
jurisdiction,  and  in  civil  cases  its  judgments  were  final  in 
cases  less  than  £20.  The  court  of  assize,  which  con- 
sisted of  the  governor,  council  and  an  indefinite  number 
of  magistrates,  had  appellate  jurisdiction  in  cases  from 
inferior  courts,  and  original  jurisdiction  in  suits  for  de- 
mands above  £ 20 . 

No  provision  was  made  for  a legislature;  and,  while 
this  court  of  assize  was  nominally  the  head  of  the  gov- 
ernment, the  governor,  who  appointed  the  members  of  it, 
and  who  could  remove  most  of  them  at  his  pleasure, 


4 


26 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


really  possessed  unlimited  legislative,  executive  and  ju- 
dicial authority.  Thompson  says  : “In  this  court  the 
governor  united  the  character  of  both  judge  and  legislator. 
He  interpreted  his  own  acts,  and  not  only  pronounced 
what  the  law  was  but  what  it  should  be.” 

Although  the  people  on  the  western  end  of  the  island 
became  aware  that  the  government  under  the  Duke  of 
York  was  framed  on  no  better  model  then  that  under  the 
Dutch  governor,  and  those  in  the  English  towns  that  they 
were  shorn  of  all  their  former  privileges,  Governor 
Nicolls  exercised  his  powers  so  carefully  and  judiciously 
as  to  allay  their  discontent. 

He  relinquished  the  reins  of  government  in  1668 
and  was  succeeded  by  Francis  Lovelace,  who  during 
his  administration  acquired  the  almost  unanimous  ill- 
will  of  the  people.  When,  in  1670,  a levy  was  made 
on  the  towns  to  raise  money  for  repairing  the  fort  at  New 
York,  nearly  all  the  English  towns,  by  vote,  refused  to 
obey  the  order  for  the  contribution  or  levy  unless  “they 
might  have  the  privileges  that  other  of  his  Majesty’s  sub- 
jects have  and  do  enjoy.”  Thompson  says:  “ The 
English  colonists  on  Long  Island  brought  with  them  the 
doctrine  that  taxes  could  only  be  imposed  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  people  by  their  representatives  in  a general 
assembly.”  It  is  not  known  that  this  tax  was  ever  col- 
lected in  those  towns.  This  was  the  first  open  manifes- 
tation in  this  country  of  a spirit  of  resistance  to  the  in 
vasion  of  this  right — a resistance  which  led,  a century 
later,  to  the  American  Revolution. 

The  resolutions  of  refusal  were  laid  before  the  governor 
and  council,  and  were  by  them  ordered  to  be  publicly 
burned  before  the  town  house  of  the  city.  It  is  said  of 
Governor  Lovelace  that  in  1668  he  wrote  to  Sir  Robert 
Carr  in  New  Jersey,  that  to  keep  people  submissive  the 
best  method  was  “to  lay  such  taxes  upon  them  as  may 
not  give  them  liberty  to  entertain  any  other  thoughts  but 
how  they  shall  discharge  them.” 

Had  not  the  administration  of  Governor  Lovelace  come 
to  an  end  by  a sudden  and  unexpected  event,  he  would 
probably  have  suffered  the  full  consequences  of  the  pop- 
ular indignation  which  his  disregard  of  the  people’s  rights 
aroused.  “ The  country,  which  had  now  been  nine  years 
governed  by  the  Duke  of  York’s  deputies,  and  experienced 
in  very  full  measure  the  ill  effects  of  ignorance  and  indis- 
cretion in  the  conduct  of  its  rulers,  came  once  more 
under  the  government  of  their  ancient  masters,  the 
Dutch.” 

Between  1672  and  1674  the  English  and  Dutch  were  at 
war,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  July  1673  a small  Dutch 
squadron  entered  New  York  harbor,  and  Captain  Manning, 
the  commandant  of  the  fort,  surrendered  it  without  re- 
sistance. For  this  act  he  was  afterward  sentenced  to  have 
his  sword  broken  over  his  head. 

Captain  Anthony  Colve  was  by  the  commanders  of  the 
squadron  appointed  governor  of  the  colony,  and  he  at 
once  set  about  the  re-establishment  of  the  authority  of  the 
Dutch  government.  In  the  towns  that  had  before  been 
under  the  Dutch  regime  submission  was  readily  made, 
but  in  the  towns  of  the  East  riding  his  task  was  more 


difficult.  Huntington  and  Brookhaven  yielded  after  a 
time  on  certain  conditions,  but  Southold,  Southampton 
and  Easthampton  rejected  all  overtures,  and  petitioned 
for  admission  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  They  were 
accepted,  and  when  Governor  Colve  attempted  to  reduce 
these  towns  to  submission  by  force  Connecticut  sent 
troops  to  their  assistance,  and  the  Dutch  were  repulsed. 
In  November  1673  the  New  England  colonies  declared 
war  against  the  Dutch,  and  made  preparations  for  active 
hostilities.  The  conclusion  of  peace,  early  in  1674,  be- 
tween the  English  and  Dutch  of  course  arrested  their 
proceedings.  On  the  restoration  of  the  duke’s  govern- 
ment these  towns  were  unwilling  to  become  subject  again 
to  a rule  under  which  they  had 'been  oppressed.  Resist- 
ance was  unavailing,  however,  and  they  were  compelled 
to  submit  to  a repetition  cf  the  foimer  despotic  sway  of 
the  duke’s  governors. 

Sir  Edmund  Andros  became  governor  on  the  restor- 
ation of  the  duke’s  authority,  and  his  administration, 
which  continued  till  1681,  was  even  more  despotic 
than  that  of  Governor  Lovelace.  Colonel  Thomas 
Dongan  succeeded  Governor  Andros.  On  his  arrival, 
in  1683,  he  at  once  issued  orders  for  summoning  a 
general  assembly.  This  was  the  result  of  a petition 
to  the  duke  by  the  grand  jury  of  the  court  of  assize 
in  1681. 

At  the  first  session  of  this  colonial  Assembly,  in  1683, 
they  “adopted  a bill  of  rights,  established  courts  of  justice, 
repealed  some  of  the  most  obnoxious  of  the  duke’s  laws, 
altered  and  amended  others,  and  passed  such  new  laws 
as  they  judged  that  the  circumstances  of  the  colony  re- 
quired.” At  this  session  the  “ridings”  were  abolished, 
and  the  Counties  of  Kings,  Queens,  and  Suffolk  or- 
ganized. Another  session  was  held  in  1684,  at  which, 
among  other  acts,  the  court  of  assize  was  abolished,  and 
another  Assembly  was  summoned  to  convene  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

“Charles  II.  died  February  6th  1685,  and  the  Duke  of 
York  succeeded  him  by  the  title  of  James  II.;  as  he  de- 
termined to  have  as  little  to  do  with  parliaments  as  pos- 
sible so  it  is  probable  that  he  revoked  the  power  which 
he  had  given  to  his  governors  to  call  assemblies,  and  de- 
termined that  they  should  rule  the  colony  by  his  instruc- 
tions alone,  without  admitting  the  people  to  any  partici- 
pation in  the  public  councils.”  Under  the  government 
of  James  no  other  session  of  the  Legislature  rvas  ever 
held. 

On  the  occurrence  of  the  revolution  in  England  which 
placed  William  and  Mary  on  the  throne  a partyof  sympathi- 
zers with  that  revolution,  led  by  Jacob  Leisler,  seized  the 
government  of  the  colony,  and  during  two  years  matters 
here  were  in  an  unsettled  condition.  Long  Island  gave 
only  a partial  support  to  Leisler;  and  when,  in  1690,  he 
summoned  a general  assembly,  no  members  from  Suffolk 
attended  and  one  from  Queens  refused  to  serve.  It  ap- 
pears that  Leisler  attempted  to  use  force  against  some 
portions  of  Long  Island  which  he  declared  to  be  in  a state 
of  rebellion,  but  that  his  efforts  proved  entirely  unsuc- 
cessful. 


CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  DUTCH  SETTLERS. 


27 


CHAPTER  IV. 


CUSTOMS,  CHARACTERISTICS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  THE 
EARLY  LONG  ISLANDERS.  « 


HE  customs  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers  on  the 
west  end  of  the  island  were  in  many  respects 
quite  different  from  those  of  the  people  who 
settled  other  parts  of  it.  An  account  of  some 
of  them  is  given  by  Mr.  Furman  in  his 
“Antiquities  of  Long  Island,”  from  which  most  of 
the  following  brief  sketches  are  condensed. 

At  first  most  of  those  on  the  north  side  or  middle  of 
the  island  buried  their  dead  in  private  or  family  burial 
grounds,  without  monuments.  On  the  south  or  level 
portion  interments  were  made  in  the  churchyards,  and 
even  in  the  churches  in  some  instances.  The  governors 
and  colonial  Assembly  in  1664  and  1684  enacted  laws 
against  this  practice.  Their  funerals  were  quite  different 
from  those  ot  the  present  time;  wines  and  liquors  and 
cold  collations  were  provided  for  the  guests,  and  often 
linen  scarfs,  gloves,  funeral  cakes  etc.  were  distributed 
among  them.  Funerals  were  thus  made  very  expensive, 
and  often  bore  a strong  resemblance  to  joyous  feasts. 
It  was  also  customary  for  young  men,  on  arriving  at  their 
majority,  to  convert  the  first  money  they  earned  into 
gold  and  lay  it  aside  to  defray  the  expense  of  a respect- 
able funeral  should  they  die  early.  Another  practice  was 
to  lay  aside  for  each  member  of  the  family  a linen  shirt, 
handkerchief,  etc.,  and  never  suffer  them  to  be  worn,  but 
keep  them  clean  to  bury  them  in.  In  case  a woman  died 
in  childbed  a white  sheet,  instead  of  a black  pall,  was 
spread  over  her  coffin  as  she  was  carried  to  the  grave. 

They  took  especial  care  to  provide  for  the  education 
of  their  children.  The  teachers  were  appointed  only  on 
the  recommendation  of  the  governor,  and  their  duties 
were  very  accurately  prescribed.  In  modern  times  a 
teacher  would  smile  to  find  that  his  contract  required 
him  to  instruct  the  children  in  the  common  prayer  and 
catechism;  to  be  chorister  of  the  church;  to  ring  the  bell 
three  times  before  service,  and  read  a chapter  of  the 
Bible  between  the  ringings  of  the  bell;  to  read  the  Ten 
Commandments,  the  articles  of  faith,  and  set  the  psalm 
after  the  last  ringing;  to  read  a psalm  of  David  as  the 
congregation  were  assembling  in  the  afternoon;  to  read  a 
sermon,  in  the  absence  of  the  clergyman;  to  furnish  a 
basin  of  water  for  the  baptisms,  report  to  the  minister  the 
names  and  ages,  and  names  of  the- parents  and  sponsors 
of  the  children  to  be  baptized;  to  give  funeral  invitations, 
toll  the  bells,  serve  as  messenger  for  the  consistories,  etc., 
etc.,  and  to  receive  his  salary  in  wampum,  wheat,  dwell- 
ing, pasturage  and  meadow.  Such  were  the  provisions  of 
a contract  with  a Dutch  teacher  in  1682. 

The  practice  of  nicknaming  prevailed  among  them  and 
even  in  the  public  records  are  found  such  names  as  Friend 
John,  Hans  the  Boore,  Long  Mary,  Old  Bush,  and  Top 
Knot  Betty.  The  same  practice  prevailed  among  them 


that  is  found  among  the  Swedes  now,  of  taking  the  par- 
ent’s Christian  name  with  “sen”  or  “son”  added  to  it,  and 
for  this  reason  it  is  often  difficult  to  trace  genealogies. 

Both  negro  and  Indian  slavery  prevailed  on  Long  Isl- 
and. Not  many  records  are  left  of  cruelty  on  the  part 
of  masters  toward  their  slaves,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
“peculiar  institution”  here  did  not  possess  some  of  the 
opprobrious  features  which  characterized  it  in  the  south- 
ern States.  A species  of  white  slavery  also  existed  here 
as  elsewhere.  Indigent  immigrants  sold  their  services  for 
definite  periods,  during  which  they  were  as  much  the  sub- 
jects of  purchase  and  sale  as  veritable  slaves.  Frequently 
advertisements  appeared  in  the  papers  offering  rewards 
for  fugitive  negro  or  Indian  slaves. 

At  the  time  of  the  negro  plot  to  burn  New  York  some 
of  the  slaves  on  Long  Island  were  suspected  of  complic- 
ity; and  it  is  recorded  that  one  was  sentenced  “to  be 
burnt  to  death  on  the  1 8th  of  July  1741.” 

What  was  termed  samp  porridge  (from  the  Indian 
seaump — pounded  corn)  was  made  by  long  boiling  corn 
that  had  been  pounded  in  a wooden  mortar — a process 
that  was  learned  from  the  Indians.  What  was  known  as 
“suppaan”  was  made  in  the  same  way  from  more  finely 
ground  meal.  The  same  dish  was  called  suppaan  by  the 
Palatines  who  afterward  settled  in  the  Mohawk  valley. 
These  mortars  or  pioneer  mills,  as  they  were  sometimes 
called,  were  at  first  the  only  means  the  settlers  pos- 
sessed of  converting  their  corn  into  coarse  meal, 
and  the  process  was  called  niggering  corn,  because 
the  work  was  usually  done  by  negro  slaves.  In  the 
absence  of  shops  or  manufactories,  which  have  so 
universally  come  into  existence,  every  farmer  was  his 
own  mechanic.  He  was,  by  turns,  mason,  carpenter, 
tanner,  shoemaker,  wheelwright  and  blacksmith;  and  the 
women  manufactured  their  cloth  from  flax  and  wool,  fre- 
quently, it  is  said,  taking  their  spinning-wheels  with  them 
on  afternoon  visits  to  each  other.  Houses  and  their  fur- 
niture among  these  people  in  early  times  were  quite  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  the  present  day;  white  floors 
sprinkled  with  sand,  high-backed  chairs,  ornamented  with 
brass  nails  along  the  edge  of  the  cushioned  seat  and 
leathern  back;  pewter  and  wooden  plates  and  dishes — 
which  were  preferred  by  the  conservative  old  Knicker- 
bockers long  after  the  introduction  of  crockery,  because 
they  did  not  dull  the  knives — and  silver  plate  among  the 
wealthy  were  the  common  articles  of  furniture.  This 
silver  plate  was  in  the  form  ot  massive  waiters,  bowls, 
tankards,  etc.,  and  had  usually  descended  in  the  family 
from  former  generations  as  an  heirloom.  Sometimes 
china  plates  were  seen  hanging  around  as  ornaments — 
holes  having  been  drilled  through  their  edges  and  ribbons 
passed  through  by  which  to  suspend  them.  Punch,  which 
was  a common  beverage,  was  drunk  from  a common  bowl 
of  china  or  silver,  and  beer  or  cider  from  a tankard. 
The  wealthy  Dutch  citizens  had  highly  ornamented  brass 
hqoped  casks  in  which  to  keep  their  liquors,  which  they 
never  bottled.  Holland  gin,  Jamaica  rum,  sherry  and 
Bordeaux  wines,  English  beer  or  porter,  beer  from  their 
own  breweries  and  cider  were  common  drinks  in  early 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


times.  When  a wealthy  young  man  among  these  settlers 
was  about  to  be  married  he  usually  sent  to  Maderia  for  a 
pipe  of  the  best  wine,  a portion  of  which  was  drunk  at  his 
marriage,  another  portion  on  the  birth  of  his  first  son, 
and  the  remainder  was  preserved  to  be  used  at  his 
funeral.  Tea  drinking  was  a custom  of  later  date.  The 
custom  of  visiting  each  other  on  Sunday  afternoons  long 
prevailed;  but  the  clergy  and  the  strictest  of  the  laity, 
influenced  perhaps  by  the  views  of  their  New  England 
neighbors,  came  to  regard  it  as  an  evil,  and  it  was  grad- 
ually discontinued.  Furman  says:  “ It  seems  more  like 
Puritanic  rigor  than  as  an  exhibition  of  Christian  feeling 
to  break  up  such  kindly  and  social  meetings  as  these, 
after  the  religious  services  of  the  day  had  been  performed.” 

Previous  to  1793  no  post  office  was  established  on  the 
island  and  no  mail  was  carried  on  it.  A Scotchman  named 
Dunbar  rode  a voluntary  post  as  early  as  about  1775. 
This  was  in  violation  of  the  law,  but  the  necessity  of  the 
case  caused  the  offense  to  be  winked  at  The  people  on 
the  west  end  of  the  island  were  supposed  to  receive  their 
letters  from  the  post-office  in  New  York,  and  those  on  the 
east  end  from  New  London.  Even  as  late  as  1835,  Fur- 
man says,  the  mail  stage  left  Brooklyn  for  Easthampton 
no  oftener  than  once  a week,  and  mail  packages  were  of- 
ten left  and  taken  at  designated  places,  such  as  a particu- 
lar rock  or  a box  nailed  to  a tree.  Hotels  were  few 
then,  and  the  hospitalities  of  the  people  living  along  the 
route  through  the  island  were  always  readily  extended  to 
the  few  travelers  who  passed  over  it. 

Under  the  colonial  government  nearly  all  marriages  on 
the  island  were  under  a license  from  the  governor — a prac- 
tice which  increased  his  income  and  added  to  the  expense 
of  entering  the  matrimonial  state.  Marriage  by  publica- 
tion of  the  banns  seems  to  have  been  held  in  disrepute. 
In  1673  there  was  an  officer  at  New  York  whose  duty, 
which  extended  to  Long  Island,  was  to  hear  and  deter- 
mine matrimonial  disputes.  He  was  styled  “the  first 
commissary  of  marriage  affairs.”  Such  an  officer  at  the 
present  day  would  lead  a busy  life. 

Many  of  the  amusements,  sports,  and  fireside  enjoy- 
ments of  the  people  here,  as  well  as  their  religious  customs 
and  superstitions,  were  transplanted  from  the  native 
countries  of  the  original  settlers.  The  origin  of  many  of 
these  in  the  remote  past  is  lost;  but  customs  often  out- 
live the  ideas  which  gave  birth  to  them.  On  the  annual 
return  of  Christmas  the  yule  log  and  Christmas  candles 
were  burned  among  the  English  settlers  as  in  ancient  times 
in  “ merrie  England”  and  the  Dutch  celebrated  the  holi 
days  with  still  greater  zest  alter  the  manner  of  their  fore- 
fathers in  the  Netherlands.  St.  Nicholas,  or  “Santa 
Klaas,”  was  regarded  among  the  Dutch  children  as  a veri- 
table personage,  and  they  had  a hymn  in  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage which  they  sang  on  the  occasion  of  their  Christmas 
festivities,  the  first  line  of  which  was,  “ Sanctus  Klaas  goedt 
heyligh  man”  (St.  Nicholas  good  holy  man).  The  prac- 
tice which  was  introduced  by  these  Dutch  settlers  of  hav- 
ing their  children’s  stockings  hung  up  to  be  filled  by 
Santa  Klaas  is  far  from  being  extinct.  New  Year’s  eve 
and  the  first  of  January  were  formerly  celebrated  in  a 


noisy  way  by  firing  guns  at  the  doors  in  a neighborhood, 
when  the  neighbors  thus  saluted  were  expected  to  invite 
their  friends  in  to  partake  of  refreshments  and  then  join 
them  to  thus  salute  others  till  all  the  men  were  collected 
together,  when  they  repaired  to  a rendezvous  and  passed 
the  day  in  athletic  sports  and  target  firing.  It  was  finally 
deemed  necessary  to  arrest,  by  legal  enactments,  this 
practice  of  firing  guns  on  these  occasions.  When  the  style 
was  changed  the  Dutch  here  at  first  refused  to  recognize 
the  change  in  their  celebration  of  these  festivals.  New 
Year  was  never  celebrated  with  greater  cordiality  and 
hospitality  than  by  these  people,  and  their  old  customs 
are  plainly  traceable  in  the  manner  of  keeping  the  day 
still  in  vogue  here. 

St.  Valentine’s  day,  called  among  the  early  Dutch  here 
“ Vrouwen  dagh  ” or  women’s  day,  was  a time  of  great 
hilarity  among  the  young  people.  One  peculiarity  in 
their  manner  of  celebrating  it  is  thus  described  by  Fur- 
man: “ Every  girl  provided  herself  with  a cord  without  a 
knot  in  the  end,  and  on  the  morning  of  this  day  they 
would  sally  forth,  and  every  lad  whom  they  met  was  sure 
to  have  three  or  four  smart  strokes  from  the  cord  be- 
stowed on  his  shoulders.  These  we  presume  were 
in  those  days  considered  as  ‘love  taps  ’ and  in  that  light 
answered  all  the  purposes  of  the  ‘ valentines  ’ of  more 
modern  times.” 

Easter  day,  or  “ Pausch  ” (pronounced  Paus),  was  ob- 
served by  religious  services  as  well  as  merrymakings,  and 
these  continued  through  Easter  week.  Among  their 
customs  was  that  of  making  presents  to  each  other  of 
colored  eggs,  called  Easter  eggs,  and  this  still  prevails 
among  some  of  their  descendants. 

“ Pinckster  dagh,”  or  Pentecost,  was  once  celebrated 
by  the  Dutch  here  on  the  first  Monday  in  June  by  good 
cheer  among  neighbors,  among  which  soft  waffles  were 
peculiar  to  this  festival. 

Among  the  Dutch  people  in  the  days  of  slavery  the 
custom  prevailed  of  presenting  the  children  of  their  fe- 
male slaves,  at  the  age  of  three  years,  to  some  young 
member  of  the  family  of  the  same  sex,  and  the  one  to 
whom  the  child  was  presented  at  once  gave  it  a piece  of 
money  and  a pair  of  shoes,  and  this  event  was  often  fol- 
lowed by  strong  and  lasting  attachments  between  these 
domestics  and  their  destined  owners. 

Of  the  domestic,  social  and  religious  customs  of  the 
English  or  New  England  settlers  on  Long  Island  it  is 
unnecessary  to  speak.  Some  of  these  customs,  modified 
by  changes  in  the  surroundings  of  these  people  during 
more  than  two  centuries,  and  by  the  increasing  cosmopol- 
itanism of  the  American  people,  are  still  in  vogue  among 
their  descendants— faint  traces  of  a bygone  age,  but 
sufficiently  distinct  to  indicate  their  Yankee  origin.  These 
characteristic  Yankee  customs  are  generally  known. 

The  peculiar  circumstances  by  which  these  settlers 
were  surrounded  led  to  the  adoption  of  some  customs 
which  have  quite  passed  away  as  these  surroundings  have 
given  place  to  others. 

Since  very  early  times  the  species  of  gambling  that  is 
designated  “ turf  sports  ” has  been  very  prevalent  on 


THE  WHALE  FISHERY— PRICES  OF  STANDARD  COMMODITIES. 


29 


Long  Island,  and  the  files  of  old  newspapers  abound  with 
notices  of  races  that  were  to  take  place,  or  accounts  of 
those  that  had  occurred.  Lotteries  too  were  not  only 
tolerated  but  were  often  instituted  to  raise  money  for 
erecting  churches,  or  founding  religious  or  benevolent 
associations.  The  latter  form  of  gambling  is  now  pro- 
hibited by  law,  but  whether  or  not  the  moral  sense  of  the 
people  will  ever  frown  down  the  former  is  an  unsolved 
question. 

During  many  years  whaling  was  an  important  industrv 
on  the  southeastern  coast  of  the  island,  and  at  intervals 
along  the  shore  whaleboats  were  kept  for  launching 
whenever  whales  were  sighted.  Mr.  Furman,  in  describ- 
ing a tour  around  Long  Island  in  old  times,  says  that  there 
might  be  seen  “occasionally,  at  long  intervals,  small 
thatched  huts  or  wigwams  on  the  highest  elevations,  with  a 
staff  projecting  from  the  top.  These  huts  were  occupied, 
at  certain  seasons,  by  men  on  the  watch  for  whales,  and 
when  they  saw  them  blowing  a signal  was  hoisted  on  this 
staff.  Immediately  the  people  would  be  seen  coming 
from  all  directions  with  their  whaling  boats  upon  wagon 
wheels,  drawn  by  horses  or  oxen,  launch  them  from  the 
beach,  and  be  off  in  pursuit  of  the  great  fish.  You  would 
see  all  through  this  region  these  whaling  boats  turned 
upside  down,  lying  upon  a frame  under  the  shade  of  some 
trees  by  the  roadside,  this  being  the  only  way  in  which 
they  could  keep  them,  having  no  harbors;  four  or  five 
families  would  club  together  in  owning  one  of  these  boats 
and  in  manning  them.”  So  much  a standard  industry 
was  this  that  shares  in  the  results  of  the  fisheries  were 
sometimes  made  portions  of  the  salaries  or  perquisites  of 
clergymen.  In  July  1699  it  was  said:  “ Twelve  or  thir- 
teen whales  have  been  taken  on  the  east  end  of  the 
island.”  In  1711  it  was  reported  that  four  whales  were 
taken  at  Montauk,  eight  at  Southampton,  two  at  Moriches, 
two  and  a calf  at  Brookhaven,  two  at  Islip,  and  one 
drift  whale  that  yielded  twenty  barrels  of  oil.  In  1721 
it  was  said  that  forty  whales  had  been  taken  on  Long 
Island,  but  in  1722  only  four  were  reported.  In  1741 
they  were  reported  as  being  more  abundant.  The  whales 
that  formerly  frequented  this  coast  have  long  since  been 
exterminated  or  driven  away,  though  occasionally  strag- 
glers have  been  seen  in  comparatively  recent  times.  The 
New  York  Times  of  February  27th  1858  published  the 
following  from  a correspondent  in  Southampton:  “At 
noon  to-day  the  horn  sounded  through  the  streets,  which 
is  the  signal  to  look  out  for  a whale.  In  a few  minutes 
tough  old  whalemen  enough  had  mustered  on  the  beach 
to  man  several  boats  and  push  out  into  the  surf  in  chase 
of  three  whales  which  were  leisurely  spouting  in  the 
oifing.  After  an  exciting  but  brief  chase  the  lance 
touched  the  life  of  one  of  the  three,  who  spouted  claret 
and  turned  up  dead.  . He  was  towed  to  the  shore  and 
will  make — the  judges  say — forty  barrels  of  oil.” 

The  taking  of  shellfish  in  the  bays  and  on  the  coast 
has  been  an  important  and  increasing  industry,  and  the 
capture  of  fish  for  the  expression  of  oil  and  the  manufac- 
ture of  fertilizers  has  come  to  be  a business  of  some  im- 
portance. 


It  was  the  custom  of  the  Indians  on  this  island  before  its 
settlement  by  the  whites  to  annually  burn  the  herbage  on 
large  portions  of  it,  which  were  thus  kept  free  from  trees 
and  underbrush.  This  enabled  the  early  settlers  to  enter 
at  once  on  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  and  to  convert 
large  tracts  into  common  pastures.  The  arrest  of  the 
annual  fires  permitted  underbrush  to  spring  up  in  such 
profusion  that  the  male  inhabitants  of  the  towns  between 
the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty  were  called  out  by  the  court 
of  assize  during  four  days  of  each  year  to  cut  away  this 
growth.  On  the  wooded  portions  of  the  island  the  timber 
was  cut  and  converted  into  staves  so  rapidly  by  the  early 
settlers  that  within  the  first  twenty  years  the  towns  insti- 
tuted rules  regulating  or  prohibiting  the  cutting  of  trees. 

At  first  the  scarcity  of  a circulating  medium  compelled 
people  to  make  exchanges  in  various  kinds  of  produce, 
and  this  method  necesitated  the  fixing  of  the  value  of 
produce,  either  by  custom  or  law.  The  Indian  sewant 
or  wampum  was  very  much  used  in  the  place  of  money, 
and  both  it  and  produce  were  used  not  only  in  business 
transactions  but  in  the  payment  of  taxes,  fines  etc.  By 
reason  of  the  facility  with  which  the  material  could  be 
procured  the  manufacture  of  wampum  was  sometimes 
engaged  in  by  the  whiles  within  the  memory  of  some  now 
living.  John  Jacob  Astor  employed  men  to  manufacture 
it  here,  that  he  might  send  it  to  the  northwest  and  ex- 
change it  with  the  Indians  there  for  furs.  The  following 
schedule  of  the  value  of  produce  in  the  middle  and  latter 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  this  custom  pre- 
vailed, is  taken  from  Wood:  “ Pork  per  lb.,  3 pence;  beef, 
2;  tallow,  6;  butter,  6;  dry  hides,  4;  green  hides,  2;  lard, 
6;  winter  wheat  4s.  to  5s.  per  bush.;  summer  wheat,  3s.  6d. 
per  bush.;  rye,  2s.  6d.  to  3s.  6d.  per  bush.;  Indian  corn, 
2S.  3d.  to  2S.  6d.  per  bush.;  oats,  2s.  per  bush.”  Stock  in 
1665  was  legally  valued  as  follows:  “ Colts,  one  to  two 
years,  ^3  each;  two  to  three,  jQ 4 each;  three  to  four, 
^8;  horses  four  years  or  more  of  age,  ^12;  bullocks, 
bulls  or  cows,  four  years  or  upward,  jQ6  each;  steers  and 
heifers,  one  to  two  years,  each  jQi  10s;  two  to  three,  jQ 2 
xos.;  three  to  four,  ^4;  goats,  one  year,  8s.;  sheep,  one 
year,  6s.  8d.;  hogs,  one  year,  jQi.  These  were  the  prices 
fixed  for  the  guidance  of  the  town  authorities  in  receiving 
produce,  etc.,  in  payment  of  taxes.  Produce  in  place  of 
a circulating  medium  continued  in  use  till  about  1700, 
when  money  had  become  sufficiently  abundant  for  the  re- 
quirements of  trade.  Board  was  5s.  per  week;  meals  6d. 
each;  lodgings,  2d.  per  night;  beer,  2d.  per  mug;  pasture 
per  day  and  night,  is.;  labor  per  day,  2s.  6d. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  present  century 
President  Dwight  traversed  the  island,  and  said  of  it  that 
by  reason  of  its  insular  situation  the  people  must  always 
be  contracted  and  limited  in  their  views,  affections  and 
pursuits,  that  they  were  destitute  of  advantages  that 
were  calculated  to  awaken  and  diffuse  information 
and  energy,  and  if  such  were  to  spring  up  here  they 
would  emigrate,  and  that  it  must  continue  for  an 
indefinite  period  to  be  a place  where  advantages  that 
were  enjoyed  elsewhere  would  be  imperfectly  realized. 
Eighty  years  have  passed,  and  one  has  only  to  glance 


3° 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


over  the  island  to  see  that  his  predictions  have  been 
very  “imperfectly  realized.”  Instead  of  becoming  an 
intellectual  waste  by  reason  of  its  insularity,  it  has  come 
to  be  the  abode  of  wealth,  refinement  and  intelligence,  in 
a degree  quite  equal  to  that  of  any  region  in  the  country. 
The  salubrity  of  its  climate,  its  proximity  to  the  great 
commercial  metropolis  of  the  country,  the  excellent  fa- 
cilities for  travel  and  communication  which  its  railroad 
system  affords,  and  its  unsurpassed  pleasure  resorts  and 
watering  places,  combine  to  make  it  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable places  of  residence  in  the  country;  and  year  by 
year  people  avail  themselves  more  and  more  of  these  ad- 
vantages. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  PARTICIPATION  OF  LONG  ISLAND  IN  THE  WAR  WITH 
FRANCE. 


ONG  ISLAND  was  not  the  theater  of  hostil- 
ities during  the  French  and  Indian  wars. 
Military  operations  were  carried  on  along 
what  was  then  the  northern  frontier  of  the 
colony,  and  each  of  the  belligerents  sent  hos- 
Ws,f  tile  expeditions  into  the  territory  of  the  other,  but 
® no  force  of  the  enemy  ever  penetrated  to  this 
vicinity. 

Only  very  imperfect  records  remain  of  the  names  and 
deeds  of  those  from  Long  Island  who  had  part  in  this 
war.  It  appears  by  an  extract  from  the  Assembly  journal, 
made  by  H.  Onderdonk  jr.,  that  in  the  war  against  France 
which  had  been  proclaimed  in  1744  an  act  was  passed  in 
1746  to  raise  ^13,000  “for  further  fortifying  the  colony 
of  New  York,  and  for  canceling  the  bills  of  credit.  The 
quota  of  Queens  was  ^487  9s.  5d. ; that  of  Kings  ^245 
18s.;  that  of  Suffolk  ^433  6s.  8d.  yearly  for  three  years.” 
In  June  of  the  same  year  Jonathan  Lawrence,  of  Queens, 
and  James  Fanning,  of  Suffolk,  were  authorized  to  raise 
recruits.  “ In  July  Fanning  had  one  hundred  men  mus- 
tered, of  whom  Hempstead  sent  seventy-eight  and  Jamaica 
twenty-two,  under  Captain  Wraxhall.” 

In  August  of  the  same  year  it  was  stated:  “ Five  com- 
plete companies  of  the  force  raised  in  New  York  and 
Long  Island  for  the  expedition  against  the  Canada  border 
are  now  embarked  for  Albany,  on  their  way  to  the  place 
of  rendezvous.” 

In  November  1747  an  account  was  rendered  by  Lieu- 
tenant James  Thorn  of  Colonel  Hicks’s  regiment  for 
Queens  county  “for  forty-four  days  of  service  of  himself 
and  men  in  the  fort  at  Schenectady,”  ^113  9s.  6d. 

In  June  1749  a public  thanksgiving  was  appointed  in 
the  colony  “ for  the  late  glorious  peace;”  which,  however, 
does  not  appear  to  have  proved  glorious  or  permanent. 

After  the  declaration  of  war  in  1755  a regiment  was 
enlisted  in  New  York  city  and  its  vicinity,  which,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  William  Cockroft,  joined  Gen- 


eral Johnson  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  George. 
In  this  regiment  it  is  believed  were  many  from  Long 
Island.  On  the  reception  of  the  news  of  the  battle  of 
Lake  George  the  inhabitants  of  Queens  county  sent  a 
thousand  sheep  and  seventy  cheeses  to  the  army,  as  a 
token  of  their  approbation;  and  the  county  of  Kings 
raised  ^57  6s.  4d.  for  the  transportation  of  these  sheep  to 
Albany. 

In  1756  Captains  Thomas  Williams  and  Potter  raised 
companies  in  Suffolk  and  Queens  counties,  and  joined  the 
British  forces  near  Lake  George.  In  March  1757  it  was 
stated  that  “to  the  French  and  Indian  war  Queens  county 
sends  thirty-eight  men;  Suffolk  thirty-eight;  Kings  eight. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  at  that  time  the  population  of 
this  island  was  a large  proportion  of  that  of  the  whole 
colony;  and  when,  in  the  years  1758-60,  provincial  troops 
were  called  for  to  assist  the  regular  forces  in  their  oper- 
ations against  the  French,  the  quota  of  New  York  was 
1680,  of  which  the  allotment  of  Long  Island  was  about 
one  fourth,  or  657.  Of  these  300  were  assigned  to  Queens, 
289  to  Suffolk,  and  68  to  Kings.  In  the  attempt  to  reduce 
Fort  Ticonderoga,  in  1758,  and  in  the  expedition  of  Col- 
onel Bradstreet  immediately  afterward  against  Fort 
Frontenac,  there  were  from  Long  Island,  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel Isaac  Corsa,  Major  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Captains 
Elias  Hand,  Richard  Hewlett,  and  Daniel  Wright,  and 
Lieutenants  Ephraim  Morse  and  Dow  Ditmars,  with 
many  soldiers.  In  the  attack  on  Fort  Frontenac  Colonel 
Corsa  with  his  Long  Island  men  did  efficient  service. 
He  volunteered  to  erect  a battery,  which  he  did,  under 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  during  the  night  of  August  26th; 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  cannonade  from  this 
battery  compelled  an  immediate  surrender. 

At  the  reduction  of  Fort  Niagara  in  1759  there  were 
several  hundred  soldiers  from  Long  Island,  a portion  of 
whom  were  commanded  by  Captain  Ephraim  Morse,  who 
had  been  promoted;  George  Dunbar  and  Roeloff  Duryea 
were  his  lieutenants.  Honorable  mention  is  made  of  the 
services  of  Captain  Morse  and  his  command  jn  this  cam- 
paign. On  the  6th  of  November  in  that  year  a public 
celebration  of  the  victories  of  the  British  and  colonial 
arms  was  held  at  Jamaica.  Captain  Morse  was  engaged 
in  the  campaign  of  1760,  with  Roeloff  Duryea  and 
Abraham  Remsen  as  his  lieutenants.  They  were  at  the 
surrender  of  Montreal,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  which 
completed  the  conquest  of  Canada.  In  addition  to  the 
officers  already  mentioned  the  names  of  the  following  are 
preserved:  Captains  Petrus  Stuyvesant  and  Daniel  Wright; 
Lieutenants  Daniel  Wright,  William  Alges,  David  Jones, 
Morris  Smith,  James  Cassidy,  Isaac  Seaman,  Joseph 
Bedell,  Michael  Weeks,  Edward  Burk  and  John  Dean; 
Sergeants  John  Allison,  Joseph  Cassidy,  James  Palmer, 
Samuel  Brown,  Nicholas  Wilson,  Timothy  Hill,  Simeon 
Smith,  George  Dunbar,  James  Marr  and  Cornelius 
Turner;  Corporals  Daniel  Southard,  Cooper  Brooks,  John 
Halton,  John  Larabee,  Isaac  Totten,  James  Brown,  Jere- 
miah Finch,  John  Walters  and  Matthew  Robins,  and 
drummer  Benjamin  Agens. 

During  the  war  privateers  occasionally  made  their  ap- 


THE  FRENCH  WAR  PERIOD— BRITISH  OPPRESSION. 


3 1 


pearance  on  the  coast,  to  prey  upon  the  commerce  of 
New  York  and  New  England.  Mr.  Onderdonk  records 
among  his  gleanings  from  the  Postboy  the  following: 
“October  25th  1755. — Captain  Wentworth,  of  Flushing, 
being  at  St.  Thomas,  mustered  as  many  New  Yorkers  as 
he  could  find  (twenty-four  hands  in  all)  and  in  his  new  ves- 
sel, indifferently  mounted  with  great  guns,  put  to  sea  in 
pursuit  of  a French  privateer  cruising  off  the  harbor  and 
chasing  New  York  vessels,  but  the  privateer  thought  fit 
to  disappear.” 

From  time  to  time  during  the  war  troops  were  billeted 
on  the  inhabitants  of  the  island  or  quartered  among  them; 
and  their  presence  was  not  agreeable  to  the  people,  who 
feared  the  influence  on  their  youth  of  soldiers  who  were 
uncontrolled  by  the  restraints  of  public  opinion.  From 
the  Assembly  journal  it  appears  that  the  sheriff  from  time 
to  time  presented  bills  for  “ lodging  and  victualling  ” these 
troops.  These  bills  appear  to  have  been  paid  to  the 
sheriff,  and  the  money  to  have  been  distributed 
among  the  people  on  whom  the  troops  were 
billeted.  In  some  cases  the  people  petitioned  the 
Assembly  for  relief  from  the  burdens  which  the  billeting 
of  soldiers  imposed  on  them. 

French  prisoners  also  were  brought  hither  and  billeted 
on  the  inhabitants  in  different  parts  of  the  island,  and 
many  bills  were  rendered  for  the  entertainment  of  these. 
It  is  said  that  the  officers  and  men  thus  billeted  passed 
their  time  and  relieved  the  tedium  of  their  imprisonment 
by  hunting  the  game  with  which  the  island  abounded,  and 
engaging  in  other  sports.  When  the  treatment  of  these 
prisoners  is  contrasted  with  that  of  the  prisoners  in  New 
York,  or  in  the  prison  ships  at  the  Wallabout  during  the 
Revolution,  or  with  that  of  the  Union  prisoners  at  the 
south  during  the  late  civil  war,  the  descendants  of 
those  early  settlers  of  the  island  have  no  reason 
to  blush  because  of  the  inhumanity  of  their  ances- 
tors. 

Prisoners — if  they  may  be  so  termed — of  another  class 
were  sent  here  during  this  war.  When,  in  1713,  the  prov- 
ince of  Nova  Scotia  was  acquired  by  Great  Britain  the 
French  inhabitants,  who  were  simple,  quiet  people, 
strongly  attached  to  their  ancient  customs  and  religion, 
were  permitted  to  retain  their  possessions  on  taking  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  English  government.  This  oath 
was  not  well  kept,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  war  it  was 
deemed  expedient  to  expatriate  these  people,  who  under 
the  guise  of  neutrality  gave  aid  to  the  enemy.  Accord- 
ingly they  were  dispossessed  of  their  houses,  separated, 
and  sent  to  widely  distant  regions.  They  were  known 
here  as  the  “neutral  French,”  and  were  distributed 
among  the  people  in  different  parts  of  the  island.  From 
the  Assembly  journal  of  July  1st  1756  it  appears  that 
“ the  justices  of  Kings,  Queens  and  Suffolk  counties  are 
empowered  to  bind  out  the  neutral  French  from  Nova 
Scotia  who  are  distributed  in  said  counties.”  It  also 
appears  that  in  November  of  the  same  year  “bills  were 
paid  by  order  of  the  general  Assembly  for  supporting  the 
neutral  French,  brought  here  in  May  last  and  sent  to  the 
magistrates.” 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTION PREVALENCE  OF  TORY- 
ISM  INDEPENDENT  SPIRIT  IN  SUFFOLK. 


jE  have  mentioned  the  fact  that  on  Long 
Island  the  first  protest  against  taxation 
Mi without  representation  was  made.  It  was 
in  1691  that  the  first  permanent  assembly 
j|j Qf  representatives  of  the  people  was  estab- 
i v’T'p  lished,  and  this  was  the  first  step  in  the  direction 
fA  of  a free  government  in  the  colony  of  New  York. 

The  colonial  governors  had  possessed  very  large — 
almost  absolute — power,  and  that  power  had  sometimes 
been  arbitrarily  exercised.  The  people’s  money  had 
been  used  at  the  discretion  of  the  governors,  and,  it  was 
believed,  had  often  been  misapplied  and  embezzled.  On 
application,  in  1706,  to  Queen  Anne  the  Assembly  was 
authorized  to  appoint  a treasurer  to  receive  and  disburse 
all  money  which  was  raised  under  its  authority,  and  it 
accordingly  “assumed  general  control  of  all  the  finances 
by  making  specific  appropriations.”  In  17 11  the  Assem- 
bly denied  the  right  of  the  council  (which  was  claimed) 
to  alter  revenue  bills,  asserting  that  the  power  of  the 
council  flowed  from  the  pleasure  of  the  prince,  personified 
by  the  commission  of  the  governor,  but  that  the  power  of 
the  Assembly,  in  relation  to  taxes,  flowed  from  the  choice 
of  the  people,  who  could  not  be  divested  of  their  money 
without  their  consent. 

From  this  time  forward  an  almost  constant  struggle 
was  going  on  between  the  crown,  through  its  representa- 
tives— the  governors — on  one  side, and  the  people, through 
their  representatives — the  Assembly — on  the  other.  The 
governors  sought  to  vex  and  coerce  the  Assembly  into 
compliance  with  their  demands,  or  to  punish  what  they 
considered  contumacy  and  contempt  by  frequent  proro- 
gations and  dissolutions.  Under  the  absurd  pretext 
that  the  colony  had  been  planted  and  sustained  in  its 
infancy  by  the  mother  country,  the  right  of  almost  ab- 
solute control  over  it  afterward  was  claimed.  The  con- 
flict continued,  with  the  result  of  constantly  calling  the 
attention  of  the  people  to  the  subject  and  leading  them 
to  investigate  the  principles  which  lie  at  the  foundation 


of  just  government  and  the  sources  whence  the  powers 
of  so-called  rulers  are  derived.  They  thus  came  to  know 
and  appreciate  the  value  of  their  rights,  and  thus  was 
nurtured  and  developed  the  spirit  of  resistance  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  a power  which  they  had  come  to  believe  had  no 
just  foundation.  This  conflict  between  the  spirit  of 
liberty  and  the  encroachments  of  arbitrary  power  cul- 
minated in  the  resistance,  on  the  part  of  the  colonies,  to 
the  oppressive  acts  of  the  crown  and  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain  that  inaugurated  the  Revolution. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  during  all  this  conflict  the 
inhabitants  of  Long  Island  constituted  a large  proportion 
of  the  colony,  and  even  in  1787  more  than  one-fifth  of 
the  tax  of  the  State  was  assessed  to  the  counties  of  Kings, 


32 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Queens  and  Suffolk.  Their  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  regal  power  was  as  uncompromising  as  that  of 
the  people  of  other  regions;  though,  by  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances, many  were  loyalists  during  the  Revolutionary 
struggle.  Because  of  their  well  known  conservative 
character  the  Dutch  on  the  western  end  of  the  island 
were  averse  to  engaging  in  a rebellion  in  which  iu  required 
no  extraordinary  prescience  to  enable  them  to  predict 
immediate  serious  consequences,  and  probable  ultimate 
failure.  They  desired,  as  they  had  always,  to  pursue  the 
even  tenor  of  their  way  and  make  the  best  of  the  circum- 
stances by  which  they  were  surrounded,  rather  than  to 
seek  a change  the  result  of  which  appeared  to  them 
doubtful.  A different  people  inhabited  Suffolk  county. 
They  were  the  descendants  of  the  original  Puritans,  in 
whom  resistance  to  oppression  was  almost  an  instinct; 
and,  had  circumstances  permitted,  they  would  have  been 
rebels  with  as  great  unanimity  as  were  the  New  Eng- 
landers. In  Queens  county  the  loyal  sentiment  was 
always  largely  in  the  ascendant,  though,  had  circumstances 
favored,  the  rebel  feeling  would  have  become  dominant 
here.  It  must  be  remembered  that  Long  Island  had 
about  300  miles  of  vulnerable  coast,  which  could  not  have 
been  successfully  defended  against  a marine  force. 
Thompson  says: 

“ Motives  of  personal  safety  and  the  preservation  of 
their  property  would  necessarily  induce  many  either  to 
remain  inactive  or  join  with  the  ranks  of  the  opposition. 
Others,  and  those  not  inconsiderable  in  number,  were  de- 
sirous for  the  opportunity  of  rioting  upon  the  property  of 
their  neighbors,  thereby  benefitting  themselves  without 
the  liability  of  punishment;  and  it  so  happened  that  more 
frequent  and  daring  outrages  upon  persons  and  property 
were  practiced  by  our  own  citizens  than  by  many  who  had 
come  3,000  miles  to  force  our  submission  to  the  tyranny 
of  a foreign  master.  The  engagement  of  the  27th  of 
August  1776  was  followed  by  an  abandonment  of  Long 
Island  to  the  enemy;  and  the  town  and  county  committees 
in  many  instances,  either  through  fear  or  necessity,  were 
induced  to  repudiate  all  legislative  authority  exercised  by 
the  provincial  and  legislative  Congresses.  The  inhabi- 
tants who  continued  on  the  island  were  compelled  to 
subscribe  to  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  king.  General 
Howe  had,  immediately  on  landing  at  Gravesend,  issued 
a proclamation  promising  security  of  person  and  property 
to  those  who  should  remain  peaceably  upon  their  farms. 
The  island  became  therefore  at  once  a conquered  territory, 
forts  being  erected  and  garrisons  established  in  different 
places.  Martial  law  prevailed,  the  army  became  a sanc- 
tuary for  criminals  of  every  grade,  and  means  the  most 
despicable  were  resorted  to  for  increasing  the  numerical 
force  of  the  enemy.  Those  inhabitants  who  had  thereto- 
fore taken  an  active  part  as  officers  of  militia  and  com- 
mitteemen deemed  it  most  imprudent  to  remain,  and  con- 
sequently took  refuge  within  the  American  lines,  leaving 
the  greater  part  of  their  property  exposed  to  the  ravages 
of  an  unprincipled  foe.  The  British  commanders  were 
exorbitant  and  exactious,  requiring  the  more  peaceable 
and  unoffending  inhabitants  to  perform  every  species  of 
personal  service;  to  labor  on  the  forts,  to  go  with  their 
teams  on  foraging  parties,  and  transporting  cannon,  am- 
munition, provisions  and  baggage  from  one  place  to 
another  at  the  option  of  every  petty  officer.  The  enemy 
took  possession  of  the  best  rooms  in  their  houses,  and 
obliged  the  owners  to  provide  them  accommodations  and 
support  for  men  and  horses.  The  property  of  those  who 


had  fled  from  their  homes,  and  especially  those  engaged 
in  the  American  service,  was  particularly  the  object  of 
rapine,  and  in  many  instances  the  damages  were  immense. 
Woods  and  fences  were  lavishly  used  for  fuel,  and  in  any 
other  way  which  served  the  purposes  of  those  stationed 
in  the  neighborhood,  as  well  as  for  the  garrisons  of  Brook- 
lyn and  New  York.  Churches  and  places  for  religious 
worship  were  desecrated  for  any  objects  which  suited  the 
convenience  of  the  army,  except  those  of  the  Episcopal- 
ians, which  were,  it  seems,  scrupulously  regarded,  doubt- 
less in  pursuance  of  governmental  instructions,  their 
members  (upon  Long  Island)  being  in  general  in  the 
interest  of  England. 

“ When  the  British  army  invaded  Long  Island,  in  1776, 
many  persons  who  belonged  to  the  island  and  had  joined 
the  British  forces  on  Staten  Island  landed  with  the  in- 
vading army.  Those  royalists  were  ordered  to  wear  red 
rags  in  their  hats,  as  badges  of  friendship,  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  rebels.  The  red  rag  men  proceeded  with 
the  army  in  every  direction,  giving  information  against 
every  person  whom  they  disliked,  and  causing  them  to  be 
plundered,  imprisoned  and  tormented  at  their  pleasure. 

“ Shortly  after  the  army  landed  General  Howe  ordered 
that  every  inhabitant  who  desired  favor  should  attend  at 
headquarters  and  receive  a certificate  of  protection. 
Many  obeyed  as  friends,  and  many  from  fear,  but  the 
greatest  number  remained  at  home.  Every  one  who  at- 
tended at  headquarters  was  ordered  to  mount  a red  rag 
in  his  hat.  When  those  persons  who  remained  at  home 
found  out  that  there  was  magic  in  a red  rag  they  all 
mounted  the  badge;  negroes,  boys,  old  and  young  wore 
r.jd  rags.  These  badges  of  submission  soon  produced  a 
scarcity  of  the  needful  article,  and  then,  forsooth,  red 
petticoats  suffered.  Many  were  torn  into  shreds  for  hat 
bands,  and  those  who  wore  them  were  held  in  derision 
by  the  British  and  called  the  petticoat  gentry.” 

It  has  always  been  said  of  the  loyalists  or  tories  on 
this  island  that  they  were  guilty  of  greater  atrocities 
toward  the  rebels  or  Whigs  than  were  the  British  soldiers 
who  were  sent  to  reduce  the  rebellious  colonies  to  sub- 
jection; and  this  was  doubtless  in  many  instances  true, 
for  these  soldiers  were  under  military  discipline,  and,  to 
some  extent  at  least,  were  held  to  an  observance  of  the 
rules  of  civilized  warfare.  The  tories  carried  on  hostil- 
ities without  any  such  restraint,  and  the  worst  among 
them  formed  marauding  bands  who,  under  the  pretense 
of  loyalty,  plundered  and  often  murdered  their  rebellious 
neighbors.  On  the  other  hand  it  is  a matter  of  history 
that  the  Whigs  were  not  behindhand  in  carrying  on  this 
predatory  kind  of  warfare.  Parties  from  the  New  Eng- 
land States  crossed  the  sound  and  united  with  some  of 
the  worst  characters  among  the  Whigs  on  the  island  to 
plunder  the  tories,  or  to  kill  or  make  prisoners  of  them. 
Similar  expeditions  were  made  from  New  Jersey. 

A century  has  passed  since  the  Revolutionary  struggle, 
and  scarcely  a word  has  been  uttered  in  condemnation  or 
even  mild  censure  of  the  lawless  acts  and  crimes  of  the 
patriots,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  not  even  an  apology  is 
offered  for  any  of  the  deeds  of  the  tories.  In  this  case, 
as  in  many  others,  success  or  failure  is  the  criterion  by 
which  they  are  judged,  and  the  measure  of  praise  be- 
stowed or  of  reproach  heaped  on  them.  In  the  American 
colonies  the  spirit  of  liberty  had  been  developed  more 
than  a century,  and  when  the  mother  country  sought,  by 
her  unjust,  arbitrary  and  oppressive  acts  to  crush  out 


WHIGS  AND  TORIES. 


33 


this  spirit  open  resistance  followed,  and  a nation  was  es- 
tablished which  has  astonished  the  world  by  its  rapid 
growth  and  prosperity,  and  has  solved  the  previously 
doubtful  problem  of  man’s  capacity  for  self-government. 
Unmeasured  praise  is  lavished  on  those  who  achieved  the 
success  which  has  led  to  this  stupendous  result,  the  mo- 
tives by  which  some  of  them  may  have  been  actuated  are 
never  questioned,  and  no  word  of  censure  is  ever  applied 
to  any  of  their  acts.  Had  the  rebellion  failed,  had  the 
authority  of  the  parent  country  been  re-established,  and 
had  the  American  colonies  grown  great  under  English 
rule,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  the  loyalists  would 
have  been  recorded  in  history  as  the  conservators  of  the 
blessings  by  which  they  were  surrounded,  the  friends  of 
good  order,  and  the  foes  of  that  anarchy  which  the  rebels 
sought  to  establish;  and  that  the  Whigs  would,  even  now, 
be  stigmatized  as  traitors  who  sought  to  subvert  the  au- 
thority of  a beneficent  government  and  inaugurate  a reign 
of  lawlessness,  and  that  their  acts  would  by  many  be  con- 
sidered execrable  crimes  against  humanity. 

As  before  stated,  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  island 
were  tories  because  of  the  force  of  circumstances.  Policy 
or  fear  prompted  them  to  give  their  adhesion  to  a cause 
which  they  would  not  otherwise  have  embraced;  and  by 
association  they  ultimately  came  to  be  earnest  supporters 
of  that  with  which  they  had  at  first  no  sympathy.  In  this 
case,  as  in  every  similar  one,  a large  class  were  noisy  adher- 
ents of  the  crown  because  the  popular  current  bore  them 
unresistingly  in  that  direction;  while  their  honest  convic- 
tions of  right  prompted  a portion  to  remain  loyal  to  the 
government  of  Great  Britain.  In  other  regions  the  rebels 
or  Whigs  were  influenced  by  similar  motives,  though  a 
much  larger  proportion  of  them  than  of  the  tories  here  were 
controlled  by  principle.  When  people  learn  to  look  with 
more  charity  on  those  who  differ  with  them  in  opinion, 
and  to  recognize  in  others  the  same  freedom  of  thought 
which  they  claim  for  themselves,  this  will  be  a better 
world  than  it  now  is. 

Lawless  bands,  both  of  tories  and  Whigs,  who  were 
not  controlled  by  military  discipline,  committed  robberies 
and  even  murders  with  impunity.  There  is  hardly  a town 
on  the  island  the  history  of  which  in  that  period  does  not 
contain  accounts  of  raids  by  these  marauders.  Thompson 
says: 

“ Most  parts  of  the  island,  and  particularly  along  the 
sound,  suffered  greatly  from  depredations  of  little  bands 
of  piratical  plunderers  designated  ‘whaleboat  men,’  from 
the  fact  of  their  craft  resembling  those  used  in  whaling 
along  shore.  With  these  they  would  make  frequent  de- 
scents under  cover  of  night,  attack  detached  houses,  rifle 
the  inhabitants  of  their  money,  plate,  and  other  valuables, 
and,  availing  themselves  of  the  speed  of  their  vessels, 
reach  their  lurking  places  among  the  islands  of  the  sound, 
or  upon  the  main  shore,  before  any  effectual  means  could 
be  taken  to  intercept  them.  Indeed,  so  great  was  the 
apprehension  of  these  sudden  attacks  that  many  of  the 
inhabitants  had  their  doors  and  windows  protected  by 
iron  bars;  and  it  became  usual  for  people  to  pass  the 
nights  in  the  woods  and  other  secret  places,  to  avoid 
violence.” 

In  many  cases  these  whaleboat  men  were  downright 
robbers  and  pirates,  who  plundered  Whigs  and  tories 


without  discrimination,  and  were  often  guilty  of  murder, 
either  wantonly  or  under  some  flimsy  pretext.  Besides 
these  whaleboat  marauders,  who  infested  the  shores  for 
purposes  of  robbery,  there  were  those  who  were  known 
as  whaleboat  privateers,  who  prowled  around  the  western 
end  of  the  island  and  greatly  annoyed  British  troops 
there  and  at  New  York,  as  well  as  the  shipping  in  the 
harbor  and  vicinity.  Many  vessels  were  captured  or  de- 
stroyed by  them,  and  many  officers  and  prominent  loyal- 
ists made  prisoners.  At  times  they  rendered  the  waters 
in  this  region  unsafe  except  for  large  vessels,  and  unavail- 
ing efforts  were  made  to  destroy  them.  It  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  they  were  not  always  over  scrupulous  in  their 
transactions.  Space  will  not  permit  a recital  of  their 
many  adventures  here. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  the  strong  tory  pro- 
clivities of  a majority  of  the  people  in  Kings  and  Queens 
counties  became  known  to  the  Revolutionary  leaders  and 
the  Provincial  Congress.  Active  and  in  some  cases 
ratljer  unscrupulous  efforts  were  made  to  crush  out  this 
feeling,  but  without  success.  English  ships  of  war  were 
cruising  off  the  southern  coast,  and  with  these  the  tories 
maintained  communication  in  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  the 
rebels  who  then  had  possession  of  the  island.  Attempts 
to  disarm  these  tories  were  only  partially  successful,  and 
the  arms  taken  from  them  were  speedily  replaced  from 
the  British  ships  cruising  off  the  coast.  The  enforcement 
of  a draft  was  also  a failure,  though  the  recusant  tories, 
who  were  termed  deserters,  were  hunted  in  their  hiding 
places  in  the  swamps  and  elsewhere  like  wild  beasts. 
Doubtless  this  active  persecution  by  the  Whigs  was  not 
forgotten  by  the  tories  when  their  time  of  triumph  came. 

Although  in  Kings  and  Queens  counties  the  loyal  sen- 
timent was  from  the  first  largely  in  the  ascendant,  Suffolk 
early  gave  evidence  of  her  adhesion  to  the  republican 
cause.  Says  Field: 

“ Out  of  its  whole  population  of  freeholders  and  adult 
male  inhabitants,  numbering  2,834  between  the  ages  of  six- 
teen and  sixty,  only  236  were  reckoned  as  being  of 
loyalist  proclivities.  The  enrolled  militia  of  the  county 
exceeded  2,000,  of  whom  393  officers  and  privates  were 
in  the  ranks  of  Colonel  Smith’s  regiment,  the  best  disci- 
plined and  armed  on  the  island.  It  was  the  only  one 
which  could  be  considered  in  any  form  to  have  survived 
the  shock  of  the  27th  of  August,  and  only  a small  part 
even  of  this  body  ever  did  service  after  that  fatal  day. 

“ In  Queens  county  the  whole  force  of  the  WMiigs  which 
could  be  mustered  under  arms  was  insufficient  to  overawe 
their  loyalist  neighbors.  Seventeen  hundred  and  seventy 
ablebodied  men  among  her  citizens  were  enrolled  on  the 
roster  of  her  militia,  while  only  379  were  by  the  most 
stringent  measures  induced  to  appear  in  arms.” 

The  comparative  numerical  strength  of  the  Whigs  and 
tories  in  Kings  county  is  not  known.  It  is  certain,  how- 
ever, that  the  tory  element  was  largely  in  the  ascendant. 

Early  in  1776  a conspiracy  was  discovered,  in  which 
the  leading  loyalists  on  Long  Island  bore  a conspicuous 
part.  Governor  Tryon,  who  had  been  for  some  time  on 
board  the  English  man-of-war  “Asia,”  cruising  off  the 
coast,  and  whose  gubernatorial  functions  were  exercised 
in  the  cabin  of  that  vessel,  was  probably  among  the  chief 
of  those  who  concocted  the  plot.  Though  the  conspiracy 


5 


34 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND 


had  extensive  ramifications,  Long  Island  was  to  be  the 
principal  theater  of  the  events  which  were  to  be  accom- 
plished, and  a majority  of  the  leading  conspirators  were 
residents  of  Kings  and  Queens  counties.  The  timely 
discovery  of  the  conspiracy  and  the  frustration  of  the 
conspirators’  designs  prolonged  the  rule  of  the  rebels  on 
the  island  for  a brief  time,  but  the  plans  of  the  conspira- 
tors were  in  part  followed  when  the  island  was  invaded 
by  Lord  Howe  in  the  succeeding  August. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  BRITISH  INVASION BATTLE  OF  BROOKLYN — WASH- 

INGTON’S RETREAT. 


N June  nth  1776  the  British  army,  which  had 
a short  time  previously  evacuated  Boston, 
where  it  had  been  closely  besieged  by  the 
Americans,  sailed  from  Halifax  for  New  York 
harbor.  The  strategic  importance  of  this 
point  had  long  been  apparent  to  the  British 
commander,  and  it  had  been  foreseen  by  Wash- 
ington that  this  would  be  the  next  point  attacked.  The 
plan  of  the  British  campaign  was  to  possess  New  York 
and  Long  Island  with  an  army  of  about  35,000  men;  then 
to  ascend  the  Hudson  river  and  effect  a junction  with  an 
army  of  some  13,000  that  was  to  pass  the  lakes,  penetrate 
to  the  Hudson  and  descend  that  river.  The  eastern 
provinces  were  thus  to  be  divided  from  the  middle  and 
southern,  and  active  operations  were  at  the  same  time  to 
be  carried  on  at  the  south,  and  thus  the  rebellion  was  to 
be  crushed  in  a single  campaign.  The  failure  of  the 
southern  campaign  before  the  arrival  of  Howe  at  New 
York  and  the  interruption  of  the  Canadian  army  at  the 
lakes  frustrated  the  British  commander’s  plan  for  the 
speedy  subjugation  of  the  rebellious  colonies. 

As  early  as  the  preceding  March  Washington  had  or- 
dered the  commencement  of  fortifications  at  Brooklyn, 
and  when,  after  the  sailing  of  the  British  fleet  from 
Halifax,  it  became  certain  that  this  was  to  be  the  next 
point  of  attack,  the  work  was  pushed  with  the  utmost 
vigor.  To  prevent  the  sailing  of  the  fleet  at  once  into 
the  East  River,  and  the  immediate  possession  by  the 
enemy  of  Brooklyn  Heights,  obstructions  were  placed  in 
the  river,  of  such  a character  as  to  be  thought  by  both 
parties  impassable,  though  at  the  present  day  they  would 
not  be  looked  on  as  formidable. 

On  the  29th  of  June  the  fleet  from  Halifax  entered  the 
lower  bay  of  New  York.  It  was  at  first  the  intention  of 
General  Howe  to  land  at  once  on  Long  Island  at  Grave- 
send Bay;  but  he  was  deterred  from  doing  so  by  intelli- 
gence that  was  communicated  to  him,  from  spies,  of  the 
character  of  the  defenses.  On  the  ninth  of  July  the  Brit- 
ish troops  were  landed  on  Staten  Island,  where  they  re- 
mained during  a month  and  a half,  receiving  reinforce- 


ments almost  daily.  The  naval  forces  were  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  Sir  Richard  Howe;  and  his  brother, 
General  William  Howe,  was  in  command  of  the  land  for- 
ces. Both  were  brave,  skillful,  and  experienced  officers, 
and  the  plan  and  conduct  of  the  battle  which  followed 
fully  sustained  their  good  reputation. 

Space  will  not  permit  a detailed  account  of  the  defensive 
works  which  had  been  constructed  on  the  heights  of  Brook- 
lyn and  in  its  vicinity.  In  the  construction  of  these  works 
and  in  the  disposition  of  the  forces  that  were  to  man  them 
the  American  officers  found  it  necessary  to  provide  a- 
gainst  different  possible  plans  of  attack,  and  in  doing  so 
the  effective  American  force  of  20,000  men  (the  nominal 
force  was  27,000)  was  extended  from  Kings  Bridge,  on 
Manhattan  Island,  and  from  the  Wallabout  Bay  to  Gow- 
anus  Meadow,  a line  many  miles  in  length.  It  is  proper 
to  say  that  the  plan  of  these  fortifications  has  since  been 
made  the  subject  of  criticism. 

The  transfer  of  the  British  from  Staten  Island  to  Long 
Island  is  thus  described  by  Field: 

“The  morning  of  the  22nd  of  August  dawned,  with 
tropical  brilliancy,  on  a scene  of  unequaled  interest  to  the 
spectators  of  both  armies.  Long  before  the  sun  had  risen 
the  British  army  had  been  under  arms,  and  from  the  vari- 
ous camps  the  entire  force  was  marching,  with  the  loud 
strains  of  martial  music,  to  the  place  of  embarkation. 
The  men  of  war  had  quit  their  anchorage  and  were  stand- 
ing up  the  bay  under  easy  sail,  with  open  ports  and  guns 
ready  for  action.  At  the  landing  on  Staten  Island  seventy- 
five  fleet  boats,  attended  by  three  bateaux  and  two  gal- 
leys, received  four  thousand  of  the  Hessian  troops  on 
board,  and  at  the  firing  of  a signal  gun  their  thousand 
oars  dipped  almost  simultaneously  into  the  waters  of  the 
bay.  Another  corps,  of  five  thousand  men,  was  embarked 
upon  the  transports  which  now  took  up  their  position 
under  the  guns  of  the  men  of  war,  attended  by  ten  bat- 
eaux to  aid  in  their  landing.  In  another  instant  the  sur-v 
face  of  the  bay  between  the  two  islands  was  covered  with 
the  flotilla  rowing  swiftly  towards  the  Long  Island  shore. 
In  advance  sailed  the  galleys  and  bateaux  over  the  shoal 
water  where  the  great  ships  could  not  float,  firing  from 
their  bow  guns  as  they  approached  the  land.  The  scene 
was  not  less  magnificent  than  appalling.  The  greatest 
naval  and  military  force  which  had  ever  left  the  shores 
of  England  was  now  assembled  in  the  harbor  of  New 
York;  for  the  mightiest  power  upon  the  globe  had  put 
forth  its  greatest  strength  to  crush  its  rebellious  colonies. 
Thirty-seven  men  of  war  guarded  a transport  fleet  of  four 
hundred  vessels,  freighted  with  enormous  trains  of  artil- 
lery and  every  conceivable  munition  of  war,  with  troops 
of  artillery  and  cavalry  horses,  and  provisions  for  the 
sustenance  of  the  thirty-five  thousand  soldiers  and  sailors 
who  had  been  borne  across  the  ocean  in  their  hulls.  Amid 
all  the  stirring  scenes  which  ninety  years  past  have  wit- 
nessed in  the  great  metropolis  of  the  western  world,  noth- 
ing which  will  compare  in  magnitude  and  grandeur  with 
that  upon  which  dawned  the  morning  of  the  22nd  of  Aug- 
ust 1776  has  human  eye  since  beheld  in  America.” 

By  noon  15,000  men  and  forty  pieces  of  artillery  had 
been  landed  at  Denyse’s  dock,  now  Fort  Hamilton,  which 
was  the  landing  of  a ferry  from  Staten  Island,  and  at 
what  is  now  Bath.  Hitherto  the  j oint  of  attack  had 
been  uncertain,  but  this  landing  of  the  enemy  dispelled 
the  uncertainty,  and  troops  were  hurried  across  from 
New  York  to  reinforce  those  holding  the  defenses.  The 


THE  BATTLE  OF  BROOKLYN. 


35 


following  account  of  the  battle  which  followed  is  taken 
from  Thompson’s  history  of  Long  Island: 

“The  English,  having  effected  their  landing,  marched 
rapidly  forward.  The  two  armies  were  separated  by  a 
chain  of  hills,  covered  with  woods,  called  the  heights,  and 
which,  running  from  west  to  east,  divide  the  island  into 
two  parts.  They  are  only  practicable  upon  three  points, 
one  of  which  is  by  the  road  leading  from  the  Narrows  to 
Brooklyn.  The  road  leading  to  that  of  the  center  passes 
the  village  of  Flatbush,  and  the  third  is  approached,  far 
to  the  right,  by  the  route  of  a road  from  the  village  of 
Flatlands  to  East  New  York  and  Bedford.  Upon  the 
summit  of  the  hills  is  found  a road,  which  follows  the 
length  of  the  range,  and  leads  from  Bedford  to  Jamaica, 
which  is  intersected  by  the  road  last  described;  these 
ways  are  all  interrupted  by  hills,  and  by  excessively  diffi- 
cult and  narrow  defiles.  The  American  general,  wishing 
to  arrest  the  enemy  upon  these  heights,  had  carefully 
furnished  them  with  troops;  so  that,  if  all  had  done  their 
duty,  the  English  would  not  have  been  able  to  force  the 
passage  without  extreme  difficulty  and  danger.  The 
posts  were  so  frequent  upon  the  road  from  Bedford  to 
Jamaica  that  it  was  easy  to  transmit  from  one  of  these 
posts  to  the  other  the  most  prompt  intelligence  of  what 
passed  upon  the  three  routes.  Colonel  Miles,  with  his 
battalion,  was  to  guard  the  road  of  Flatlands,  as  well  as 
that  of  Jamaica,  and  to  reconnoitre  the  movements  of  the 
enemy. 

“Meanwhile  the  British  army  pressed  forward,  its  left 
wing  being  to  the  north  and  its  right  to  the  south;  the 
village  of  Flatbush  was  found  in  its  center.  The  Hessians, 
commanded  by  General  De  Heister,  formed  the  main 
body;  the  English,  under  Major-General  Grant,  the  left; 
and  the  other  corps,  conducted  by  General  Clinton  and 
the  two  Lords  Percy  and  Cornwallis,  composed  the  right. 
In  this  wing  the  British  generals  had  placed  their  prin- 
cipal hope  of  success;  they  directed  it  upon  Flatlands. 
Their  plan  was  that,  while  the  corps  of  General  Grant  and 
the  Hessians  of  General  De  Heister  should  disquiet  the 
enemy  upon  the  two  first  defiles,  the  right  wing,  taking  a 
circuit,  should  march  through  Flatlands  and  endeavor  to 
seize  the  point  of  intersection  of  this  road  with  that  of 
Jamaica,  and  then,  rapidly  descending  into  the  plain 
which  extends  at  the  foot  of  the  heights  on  the  other 
side,  should  fall  upon  the  Americans  in  flank  and  rear. 
The  English  hoped  that,  as  this  post  was  most  distant 
from  the  center  of  the  army,  the  advanced  guard  would 
be  found  more  feeble  there,  and  perhaps  more  negligent. 
Finally,  they  calculated  that  the  Americans  would  not  be 
able  to  defend  it  against  a force  so  superior.  This  right 
wing  of  the  English  was  the  most  numerous,  and  entirely 
composed  of  fresh  troops. 

“ On  the  evening  of  the  26th  of  August  General  Clinton 
commanded  the  vanguard,  which  consisted  of  light 
infantry;  Lord  Percy  the  center,  where  were  found  the 
grenadiers,  the  artillery  and  the  cavalry;  and  Cornwallis 
the  rearguard,  followed  by  the  baggage,  some  regiments 
of  infantry  and  of  heavy  artillery.  All  this  part  of  the 
English  army  put  itself  in  motion  with  admirable  order 
and  silence,  and  leaving  Flatlands  traversed  the  country 
called  New  Lots.  Colonel  Miles,  who  this  night  per- 
formed his  service  with  little  exactness,  did  not  perceive 
the  approach  of  the  enemy;  so  that  two  hours  before  day 
the  English  were  already  within  half  a mile  of  the  road 
to  Jamaica,  upon  the  heights.  Then  General  Clinton 
halted  and  prepared  himself  for  the  attack.  He  had  met 
one  of  the  enemy’s  patrols,  and  made  him  prisoner. 
General  Sullivan,  who  commanded  all  the  troops  in  ad- 
vance of  the  camp  of  Brooklyn,  had  no  advice  of  what 
passed  in  this  quarter.  He  neglected  to  send  out  fresh 
scouts;  perhaps  he  supposed  the  English  would  direct 


their  principal  efforts  against  his  right  wing  as  being  the 
nearest  to  them. 

“General  Clinton,  learning  from  his  prisoners  that  the 
road  to  Jamaica  was  not  guarded,  hastened  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  circumstance,  and  occupied  it  by  a rapid  move- 
ment. Without  loss  of  time  he  immediately  bore  his  left 
toward  Bedford,  and  seized  an  important  defile  which  the 
Americans  had  left  unguarded.  From  this  moment  the 
success  of  the  day  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  English. 
Lord  Percy  came  up  with  his  corps,  and  the  entire  col- 
umn descended  by  the  village  of  Bedford  from  the 
heights  into  the  plain  which  lay  between  the  hills  and  the 
camp  of  the  Americans.  During  this  time  General  Grant, 
in  order  to  amuse  the  enemy  and  divert  his  attention  from 
the  events  which  took  place  upon  the  route  of  Flatlands, 
endeavored  to  quiet  him  on  his  right.  Accordinly,  as  if 
he  intended  to  force  the  defile  which  led  to  it,  he  had  put 
himself  in  motion  about  midnight  and  had  attacked  the 
militia  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  who  guarded 
it.  They  at  first  gave  ground;  but,  General  Parsons  being 
arrived  and  having  occupied  an  eminence,  he  renewed 
the  combat  and  maintained  his  position  until  Brigadier- 
General  Stirling  came  to  his  assistance  with  1,500  men. 
The  action  became  extremely  animated,  and  fortune 
favored  neither  the  one  side  nor  the  other.  The  Hes- 
sians, on  their  part,  had  attacked  the  center  at  break  of 
day;  and  the  Americans,  commanded  by  General  Sullivan 
in  person,  valiantly  withstood  their  efforts.  At  the  same 
time  the  British  ships,  after  having  made  several  move- 
ments, opened  a very  brisk  cannonade  against  a battery 
established  in  the  little  island  of  Red  Hook,  upon  the 
right  flank  of  the  Americans  who  combated  against  Gen- 
eral Grant.  This  was  also  a diversion,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  prevent  them  from  attending  to  what  passed  in 
the  center  and  on  the  left.  The  Americans  defended 
themselves  however  with  extreme  gallantry,  ignorant  that 
so  much  valor  was  exerted  in  vain  since  victory  was  al- 
ready in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  General  Clinton,  being 
descended  into  the  plain,  fell  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
center,  which  was  engaged  with  the  Hessians.  He  had 
previously  detached  a small  corps  in  order  to  intercept 
the  Americans. 

“As  soon  as  the  appearance  of  the  light  infantry  ap- 
prized them  of  their  danger  they  sounded  the  retreat  and 
retired  in  good  order  toward  their  camp,  bringing  off 
their  artillery.  But  they  soon  fell  in  with  the  party  of  the 
royal  troops  which  had  occupied  the  ground  in  their  rear, 
and  who  now  charged  them  with  fury.  They  were  com- 
pelled to  throw  themselves  into  the  neighboring  woods, 
where  they  met  again  with  the  Hessians,  who  repulsed 
them  upon  the  English;  and  thus  the  Americans  were 
driven  several  times  by  the  one  against  the  other  with 
great  loss.  They  continued  for  some  time  in  this  desper- 
ate situation,  till  at  length  several  companies,  animated 
by  a heroic  valor,  opened  their  way  through  the  midst  of 
the  enemy  and  gained  the  camp  of  General  Putnam,  while 
others  escaped  through  the  woods.  The  inequality  of 
the  ground,  the  great  number  of  positions  which  it  of- 
fered, and  the  disorder  that  prevailed  throughout  the  line 
were  the  causes  that  for  several  hours  divers  partial  com- 
bats were  maintained,  in  which  many  of  the  Americans  fell. 

“Their  left  wing  and  center  being  discomfited,  the 
English,  desirous  of  a complete  victory,  made  a rapid 
movement  against  the  rear  of  the  right  wing,  which,  in  ig- 
norance of  the  misfortune  which  had  befallen  the  other 
corps,  was  engaged  with  General  Grant.  Finally,  having 
received  the  intelligence,  they  retired.  But,  encountering 
the  English,  who  cut  off  their  retreat,  a part  of  the  sol- 
diers took  shelter  in  the  woods;  others  endeavored  to  make 
their  way  through  the  marshes  of  Gowanuscove,  but  here 
some  were  drowned  in  the  waters  or  perished  in  the  mud. 


36 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


A very  small  number  only  escaped  the  hot  pursuit  of  the 
victors  and  reached  the  camp  in  safety.  The  total  loss 
of  the  Americans  in  this  battle  was  estimated  at  more 
than  three  thousand  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  pris- 
oners. Among  the  last  were  found  General  Sullivan  and 
Brigadier  General  Lord  Stirling.  Almost  the  entire  regi- 
ment of  Maryland,  consisting  of  young  men  of  the  best 
families  of  that  province,  was  cut  to  pieces.  Six  pieces 
of  cannon  fell  into  the  power  of  the  victors.  The  loss  of 
the  English  was  very  inconsiderable.  In  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners  it  did  not  amount  to  four  hundred  men. 

:‘The  enemy  encamped  in  front  of  the  American  lines, 
and  on  the  succeeding  night  broke  ground  within  six 
hundred  yards  of  a redoubt  on  the  left,  and  threw  up  a 
breastwork  on  the  Wallabout  heights  upon  the  Debevoise 
farm,  commenced  firing  on  Fort  Putnam,  and  reconnoi- 
tered  the  American  forces.  The  Americans  were  here 
prepared  to  receive  them,  and  orders  were  issued  to  the 
men  to  reserve  their  fire  till  they  could  see  the  eyes  of 
the  enemy.  A few  of  the  British  officers  reconnoitered 
the  position;  and  one  on  coming  near  was  shot  by 
Wiliam  Van  Cott,  of  Bushwick.  The  same  afternoon 
Captain  Rutgers,  brother  of  Colonel  Rutgers,  also  fell. 
Several  other  British  troops  were  killed,  and  the  column 
which  had  incautiously  advanced  fell  back  beyond  the 
the  range  of  the  American  fire.” 

It  has  been  truly  said  that  previous  to  the  battle  on  Long 
Island  there  existed  an  uncertainty  which  of  two  move- 
ments that  seemed  equally  to  promise  good  results  would 
be  chosen  by  the  British  commander,  and  that  it  was 
Washington’s  misfortune  to  be  compelled  to  act  as  though 
certain  that  both  would  be  adopted.  On  the  29th  of 
August  that  uncertainty  had  been  removed.  The  battle 
had  been  fought,  and  what  remained  of  the  American 
army,  dejected  and  dispirited,  was  confronted  by  the  vic- 
torious and  exultant  hosts  of  the  enemy.  With  these  in 
their  front,  and  the  river,  which  might  at  any  time  be  en- 
tered by  the  war  vessels  lying  below  should  wind  and 
tide  favor,  in  their  rear,  it  has  been  a matter  of  much 
wonder  to  many  that  a sagacious  leader  like  Washington 
should  hesitate  a moment  in  his  determination.  On  the 
afternoon  of  that  day  a council  of  war  was  convened  in 
the  Pierrepont  mansion,  near  where  the  foot  bridge 
crosses  Montague  street.  This  council  unanimously  de- 
cided to  abandon  the  lines  at  Brooklyn  and  retreat  across 
the  river,  and  made  a memorandum  of  the  reason  for  so 
deciding.  H i eld  gives  the  following  excellent  descrip- 
tion of  the  arrangements  for  this  retreat: 

“ The  preparations  for  this  important  movement, 
scarcely  less  fraught  with  danger  than  its  alternative,  were 
entered  upon  with  the  profoundest  caution  and  secrecy. 
Everything  which  could  convey  the  slightest  intimation 
of  the  design  to  the  enemy  was  carefully  avoided;  and 
never,  perhaps,  for  a movement  so  important,  were  the 
plans  more  skillfully  devised,  or  the  performance  of  them 
more  exact,  where  a thousand  untoward  events  might 
have  destroyed  them.  It  was  little  that  the  boats  for 
transporting  the  army  were  abundant  in  New  York. 
They  must  be  gathered  with  expedition  and  secrecy,  and 
the  troops  transferred  to  the  opposite  shore  during  the 
short  night  of  midsummer.  Even  the  management  of  the 
boats  by  skilled  oarsmen  was  important,  for  that  service 
could  not  be  left  to  the  clumsiness  of  common  soldiers. 
Fortunately  the  necessities  of  the  occasion  were  not 
greater  than  the  means  at  hand  for  meeting  them.  Col- 
onel Glover’s  Marblehead  regiment  provided  seven  hun- 


dred of  the  ablest  men  for  this  service,  whose  stout  arms 
could  safely  and  swiftly  pass  the  men  through  the  dense 
fog;  and  they  were  accordingly  withdrawn  from  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  line  for  that  purpose. 

“At  the  same  time  that  all  the  troops  were  warned  to 
prepare  for  an  attack  upon  the  enemy,  orders  were  quietly 
communicated  to  the  alternate  regiments  along  the  front 
to  fall  in  line;  and  long  before  those  on  the  right  and 
left  were  aware  of  any  movement  their  comrades  had 
silently  moved  away  into  the  darkness,  and  the  void  was 
only  felt,  without  being  known.  Often  the  first  intimation 
that  adjoining  regiments  received  of  the  departure  of 
those  on  their  right  and  left  was  the  whispered  order  to 
extend  their  own  lines,  and  cover  the  space  so  mys- 
teriously vacated.  Again  and  again  was  this  maneuver 
performed  on  the  constantly  thinning  line;  and  one  reg- 
iment after  another  flitted  away  into  the  gloom,  until 
nothing  but  a long  line  of  sentinels  occupied  the  breast- 
works, and  preserved  the  empty  show  of  a defense.” 

So  well  was  this  retreat  planned  and  so  skillfully  was 
the  plan  executed,  that  not  only  had  the  enemy  no  inti- 
mation of  what  was  transpiring,  but  the  men  in  the 
American  army  believed  that  these  maneuvers  portended 
a general  assault  on  the  lines  of  the  enemy  on  the  morrow. 
There  were  instances  of  mistakes  and  of  a want  of  caution, 
but  fortunately  none  of  them  seriously  embarrassed  the 
movement.  A heavy  fog,  which  hung  over  the  island 
toward  morning,  concealed  the  movements  of  the  retreat- 
ing troops  from  their  enemies,  who  were  so  near  that  the 
sounds  of  their  pickaxes  and  shovels  could  be  distinctly 
heard.  Not  only  were  all  the  details  of  this  retreat 
planned  by  the  commander-in-chief,  but  the  movement 
was  executed  under  his  immediate  superintendence. 

After  this  evacuation  of  the  island  by  the  American 
forces  it  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  British  and 
tories.  Such  of  the  patriots  as  had  been  active  became 
exiles  from  their  homes,  which  were  plundered,  and  if 
they  returned  they  were  imprisoned;  but,  as  before 
stated,  those  wearing  red  badges  enjoyed  immunity. 
Had  the  advantage  gained  by  the  English  in  this  battle 
been  followed  up  at  once  by  the  passage  of  the  slender 
barrier,  and  the  entrance  of  the  ships  of  war  into  the 
East  River,  the  American  army  must  inevitably  have  been 
captured  or  annihilated;  a result  which  the  delay  of  a few 
hours  in  the  retreat  would  have  insured,  for  the  British 
fleet  below  was  preparing  to  weigh  anchor  for  that  purpose. 

Thompson  says:  “ The  unfortunate  issue  of  the  battle 
of  Long  Island  is  doubtless  due  to  the  illness  of  General 
Greene.  He  had  superintended  the  erection  of  the  works 
and  become  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  ground.  In 
the  hope  of  his  recovery  Washington  had  deferred  sending 
over  a successor  till  the  urgency  of  affairs  made  it 
absolutely  necessary,  and  then  General  Putnam  took 
command  without  any  previous  knowledge  of  the  posts 
which  had  been  fortified  beyond  the  lines,  or  of  the  places 
by  which  the  enemy  could  make  their  approach,  nor  had 
he  time  to  acquire  the  knowledge  before  the  action.” 

The  defeat  of  the  American  forces  in  this  battle  re- 
moved the  restraint  which  had  kept  in  check  the  strong 
feeling  of  loyalty  in  Queens  county,  and  in  the  following 
autumn  about  fourteen  hundred  signed  a declaration  of 
loyalty  and  petition  for  protection. 


REVOLUTIONARY  EXPLOITS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


LONG  ISLAND  IN  BRITISH  HANDS RAIDS  FROM  THE 

MAINLAND — SMUGGLING. 


*T  has  already  been  stated  that  in  the  eastern 
half  of  the  island,  previous  to  the  battle  of 
August  27th,  the  feeling  of  loyalty  to  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain  was  very  weak.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  different  towns  and 
districts  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  at  which  res- 
olutions were  adopted  expressive  of  sympathy  with 
the  cause  of  the  rebels;  and  committees  of  correspondence, 
as  they  were  termed,  were  appointed  to  represent  them 
in  county  conventions  and  to  devise  such  measures  as  the 
welfare  of  the  country  seemed  to  demand.  In  a county 
convention  of  these  committees  as  early  as  1774  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  recommending  aid  to  the  poor  of 
Boston,  and  approving  the  doings  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  In  the  provincial  convention  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  delegates  to  the  Continental  Congress  Suffolk 
county  was  represented  by  Colonel  William  Floyd,  Col- 
onel Nathaniel  Woodhull,  Colonel  Phineas  Fanning, 
Thomas  Tredwell  and  John  Sloss  Hobart. 

During  the  summer  of  1775  British  vessels  prowled 
about  the  east  end  of  the  island,  and  occasionally  raided 
on  and  carried  away  the  stock.  To  guard  against  these, 
troops  that  had  been  raised  were  retained  and  others 
were  sent,  but  considerable  depredations  were  committed 
on  Fisher’s  and  Gardiner’s  Islands,  and  still  more  efficient 
measures  were  adopted  for  protection.  After  the  decla- 
ration of  independence  by  the  Continental  Congress  and 
the  approval  of  this  action  by  the  Provincial  Congress 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  Whigs  in  this  part  of  the  island 
rose  to  a high  pitch.  Public  demonstrations  were  made, 
and  in  one  instance  at  least  the  effigy  of  George  III.  was 
publicly  hanged  and  burned. 

The  evacuation  of  Long  Island  by  the  continental 
forces  and  its  possession  by  the  British  after  the  battle  of 
Brooklyn  quenched  this  enthusiasm  in  a great  measure. 
The  regular  continental  troops  withdrew  from  the  island, 
and  the  militia  disbanded.  The  people  submitted  to  the 
inevitable  condition,  the  actions  of  the  committees  were 
revoked,  and  no  further  public  demonstration  of  sympathy 
with  the  rebels  took  place.  Those  who  had  been  active, 
open  rebels  fled,  and  their  property  was  unceremoniously 
taken.  In  the  autumn  of  1776  upward  of  six  hundred  in 
Snffolk  county  signed  a testimonial  of  submission  and 
allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  so  far  as  open  rebel- 
lion was  concerned  the  subjugation  of  this  part  of  the 
island  was  complete.  This  submission,  however,  was 
made  by  many  under  the  force  of  circumstances  and  with 
large  mental  reservations. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  Revolution  the  condition 
of  the  people  in  this  part  of  the  island  was  insecure.  To 
insure  the  doubtful  loyalty  of  a portion  of  the  inhabitants 
British  troops,  the  ranks  of  which  were  increased  by  en- 


1  -T 
0 / 


listments  from  among  the  tories,  were  stationed  at  differ- 
ent points,  and  against  the  lawlessness  of  these  there  was 
no  protection.  Robbery  was  carried  on  by  marauding 
gangs  under  the  guise  of  Whig  or  tory  partisanship,  and 
frequent  raids  were  made  by  parties  of  continental  troops 
from  the  Connecticut  shore  of  the  sound,  although  noth- 
ing occurred  which  can  justly  be  dignified  by  the  name 
of  a battle.  A few  of  these  may  be  mentioned  here.  In 
November  1776  three  or  four  hundred  troops  crossed 
from  New  Haven  to  Setauket,  where  a sharp  skirmish 
was  had  with  a detachment  of  General  Howe’s  troops. 
Eight  or  ten  of  the  British  troops  were  killed,  and  23 
prisoners  and  75  muskets  taken. 

In  April  1777  an  expedition  was  planned  by  General 
Parsons,  the  object  of  which  was  to  destroy  a quantity 
of  forage  and  provisions  that  had  been  collected  at  Sag 
Harbor.  For  that  purpose  a party  of  two  hundred  men, 
under  Colonel  Meigs,  crossed  the  sound  from  New  Haven 
on  the  23d  of  May  in  whaleboats.  They  secreted  their 
boats  about  three  miles  from  Sag  Harbor;  marched  to 
the  village,  arriving  at  2 a.  m.;  impressed  guides,  by 
whom  they  were  conducted  to  the  quarters  of  the  com- 
manding officer,  whom  they  captured;  forced  the  outpost 
by  a bayonet  charge  and  proceeded  to  the  wharf,  where 
in  three-fourths  of  an  hour,  although  under  the  fire  of  an 
armed  schooner  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  away,  they 
burned  twelve  brigs  and  sloops,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
tons  of  hay  and  a quantity  of  grain,  and  destroyed  ten 
hogsheads  of  rum  and  a quantity  of  merchandise.  They 
also  killed  six  of  the  enemy,  took  ninety  prisoners,  and 
returned  after  an  absence  of  a little  more  than  twenty- 
four  hours  without  the  loss  of  a man.  For  this  service 
Congress  presented  a sword  to  Colonel  Meigs,  and  Gen- 
eral Washington,  in  a letter,  complimented  General 
Parsons. 

In  August  1777  General  Parsons  organized  an  expe- 
dition of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  to  break  up  a 
British  outpost  at  Setauket,  where  a Presbyterian  church 
had  been  fortified  -by  surrrounding  it  with  an  embank- 
ment six  feet  in  height  and  placing  swivels  in  four  of  the 
gallery  windows.  After  an  engagement  of  two  or  three 
hours  with  the  loss  of  only  four  men  General  Parsons 
withdrew,  fearing  his  retreat  might  be  cut  off  by  the  cap- 
ture of  his  sloop  and  boats.  It  is  a notable  fact  that  one 
of  the  volunteers  in  this  expedition,  Zachariah  Green, 
was  twenty  years  afterward  installed  a minister  of  this 
same  church. 

In  the  autumn  of  1780  Major  Benjamin  Tallmadge 
planned  and  successfully  executed  one  of  the  most 
audacious  exploits  accomplished  on  the  island  during  the 
war.  At  Smith’s  Point,  Mastic,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
island,  an  enclosure  of  several  acres  had  been  made,  tri- 
angular in  form,  with  strongly  barricaded  houses  at  two 
of  the  angles,  and  a fort,  ninety  feet  square,  protected  by 
an  abattis,  at  the  other.  The  fort  was  completed  and 
garrisoned  by  about  fifty  men,  and  in  it  two  guns  were 
mounted.  On  the  21st  of  November  Major  Tallmadge 
embarked  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  with  eighty  dismounted 
dragoons,  and  landed  at  9 in  the  evening  at  Mount  Sinai, 


38 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


where  the  boats  were  secured.  They  attempted  to  cross 
the  island,  but  a rain  storm  drove  them  back  to  their 
boats  and  kept  them  there  till  7 the  next  evening,  when 
they  again  set  out.  At  3 the  next  morning  they  arrived 
within  two  miles  of  the  fort  (which  was  called  Fort 
George),  and  arranged  to  attack  it  simultaneously  at 
three  points,  which  was  done.  A breach  was  made,  the 
enclosure  entered,  and  the  main  fort  carried  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  without  the  firing  of  a gun,  the  two  other 
attacking  parties  mounting  the  ramparts  at  the  same  time 
with  shouts.  They  were  fired  on  from  one  of  the  houses, 
but  they  forcibly  entered  it  and  threw  some  of  their  as- 
sailants from  the  chamber  windows.  With  none  killed 
and  only  a few  slightly  wounded  they  destroyed  the  fort, 
burned  a vessel  and  took  fifty-four  prisoners  and  a 
quantity  of  merchandise,  with  which  they  returned.  A 
party  of  ten  or  twelve,  with  Major  Tallmadge,  visited 
Coram  and  burned  some  four  hundred  tons  of  hay.  For 
this  exploit  Major  Tallmadge  was  commended  in  a letter 
by  General  Washington. 

A year  later  Major  Tallmadge  sent  a party  of  150 
under  Major  Trescott  to  destroy  Fort  Slongo,  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  Smithtown.  The  force  crossed  from 
Saugatuck  River  in  the  night,  attacked  and  destroyed  the 
fort,  which  was  garrisoned  by  140  men,  burned  the  block- 
house, destroyed  two  iron  guns,  killed  four  and  wounded 
two  of  the  enemy,  took  twenty-one  prisoners,  one  brass 
field  piece  and  seventy  muskets;  and  returned  with  none 
killed  and  but  one  seriously  wounded. 

In  1778  a fort  was  erected  on  Lloyd’s  Neck  by  the 
British  for  the  protection  of  wood  cutters  and  djfense 
against  raiders  from  the  mainland.  An  unsuccessful 
attack  was  made  on  this  fort  on  the  12th  of  July  1781,  by 
a force  of  French  under  Count  de  Barras,  assisted  by 
American  volunteers.  In  this  affair  a few  of  the  assail- 
ants were  wounded  and  one  or  two  killed 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  the  fact  that  the  restraints 
of  military  discipline  prevented  the  British  troops  on  the 
island,  during  its  long  occupation  by  them,  from  the  per- 
petration of  such  atrocities  as  the  lawless  marauding 
bands  of  tories  or  piratical  whaleboat  crews  were  guilty 
of.  The  following,  from  the  pen  of  the  excellent  historian 
Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  of  Jamaica,  is  quoted  as  an  illus- 
tration of  this: 

“ Billeting  Soldiers. — During  the  summer  British  troops 
were  off  the  island  on  active  service,  or  if  a few  remained 
here  they  abode  under  tents;  but  in  winter  they  were 
hutted  on  the  sunny  side  of  a hill,  or  else  distributed  in 
farmers’  houses.  A British  officer,  accompanied  by  a jus- 
tice of  the  peace  or  some  prominent  loyalist  as  a guide, 
rode  around  the  country,  and  from  actual  inspection  de- 
cided how  many  soldiers  each  house  could  receive,  and 
this  number  was  chalked  on  the  door.  The  only  notifi- 
cation was:  ‘ Madam,  we  have  come  to  take  a billet  on 
your  house.’  If  a house  had  but  one  fireplace  it  was 
passed  by,  as  the  soldiers  were  not  intended  to  form  part 
of  the  family.  A double  house  for  the  officers  or  single 
house  with  a kitchen  for  privates  was  just  the  thing.  The 
soldiers  were  quartered  in  the  kitchen,  and  the  inner 
door  nailed  up  so  that  the  soldiers  could  not  intrude  on 
the  household.  They,  however,  often  became  intimate 
with  the  family  and  sometimes  intermarried.  The  Hes- 


sians were  more  sociable  than  the  English  soldiers,  and 
often  made  little  baskets  and  other  toys  for  the  children, 
taught  them  German  and  amused  them  in  various  ways, 
sometimes  corrupting  them  by  their  vile  language  and 
manners.  Any  misconduct  of  the  soldiers  might  be  re- 
ported to  their  comma'hding  officers,  who  usually  did 
justice;  but  some  offenses  could  not  be  proven,  such  as 
night  stealing  or  damage  done  the  house  or  to  other  prop- 
erty. As  the  soldiers  received  their  pay  in  coin  they  were 
flush  and  paid  liberally  for  what  they  bought,  such  as 
vegetables,  milk,  or  what  they  could  not  draw  with  their 
rations.  These  soldiers  were  a safeguard  against  robbers 
and  whaleboat  men.  Some  had  their  wives  with  them, 
who  acted  as  washerwomen,  and  sometimes  in  meaner 
capacities. 

“ From  a perusal  of  the.  orderly  book  of  General  De- 
lancey,  it  appears  that  he  used  every  means  to  protect 
the  persons  and  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  Long 
Island  from  the  outrages  of  British  soldiers.  They  were 
not  allowed  to  go  more  than  half  a mile  from  camp  at 
daytime  (and  for  this  purpose  the  roll  was  called  several 
times  during  the  day),  nor  leave  it  under  any  pretext 
after  sundown  without  a pass;  but  now  and  then  they 
would  slip  out  and  rob.  On  the  nth  of  June  1778  Mr. 
John  Willett,  of  Flushing,  was  assaulted  at  his  own  house, 
at  11  o’clock  at  night  by  persons  unknown  but  supposed 
to  be  soldiers  from  having  bayonets  and  red  clothes,  who 
threatened  his  life  and  to  burn  his  house.  The  general 
offered  a reward  of  $10  to  the  person  who  should  first 
make  the  discovery  to  Major  Waller,  and  a like  reward 
for  the  discovery  of  the  person  who  robbed  Mr.  Willett 
on  the  9th  of  June  of  two  sheep,  a calf  and  some  poultry, 
as  he  was  determined  to  inflict  exemplary  punishment 
and  put  a stop  to  practices  so  dishonorable  to  the  King’s 
service.  Again,  March  9th  1778,  Mrs.  Hazard,  of  New- 
town, having  complained  that  the  soldiers  of  the  guard 
pulled  down  and  burnt  up  her  fence,  that  was  near  the 
guardhouse,  the  general  at  once  issued  an  order  to  the 
officer  that  he  should  hold  him  answerable  thereafter 
for  any  damage  done  the  fences.  So  too  if  a soldier 
milked  the  farmers’  cows,  he  should  be  punished  without 
mercy;  nor  should  he  go  in  the  hayfield  and  gather  up 
new  mown  grass  to  make  his  bed  of.  Generally  the 
farmers  were  honestly  paid  for  whatever  they  sold.  For 
instance,  April  23d  1778,  they  were  notified  to  call  on 
Mr.  Ochiltree,  deputy  commissary  of  forage  at  Flushing, 
with  proper  certificates  and  get  payment  for  their  hay.” 

In  January  1777  the  American  prisoners  in  New  York 
were  paroled  and  billeted  on  the  people  in  Kings  county. 
Of  their  situation  there  Colonel  Graydon  wrote: 

“ The  indulgence  of  arranging  ourselves  according  to 
our  respective  circles  of  acquaintances  was  granted  us, 
and  Lieutenant  Forrest  and  myself  were  billeted  on  Mr. 
Jacob  Suydam,  whose  house  was  pretty  large,  consisting 
of  buildings  which  appeared  to  have  been  erected  at  dif- 
ferent times.  The  front  and  better  part  was  occupied  by 
Mr.  Theophilus  Bache  and  family  from  New  York. 
Though  we  were  generally  civilly  enough  received,  it 
cannot  be  supposed  we  were  very  welcome  to  our  Low 
Dutch  host,  whose  habits  were  very  parsimonious,  and 
whose  winter  provision  was  barely  sufficient  for  them- 
selves. They  were,  however,  a people  who  seemed 
thoroughly  disposed  to  submit  to  any  power  that  might 
be  imposed  on  them;  and  whatever  might  have  been  their 
propensities  at  an  earlier  stage  of  the  contest,  they  were 
now  the  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects  of  King  George  the 
III.  Their  houses  and  beds  we  found  clean,  but  their 
living  extremely  poor.  A sorry  wash  made  up  of  a 
sprinkling  of  bohea  and  the  darkest  sugar,  on  the  verge 
of  fluidity,  with  half  baked  bread  (fuel  being  very  scarce) 


SMUGGLING— THE  PRISON  SHIPS. 


39 


and  a little  stale  butter,  constituted  our  breakfast.  At 
our  first  coming  a small  piece  of  pickled  beef  was  occa- 
sionally boiled  for  dinner,  but  to  the  beef,  which  was  soon 
consumed,  there  succeeded  cleppers  or  clams;  and  our 
unvaried  supper  was  suppaan  or  mush,  sometimes  with 
skimmed  milk,  but  more  generally  with  buttermilk  blended 
with  molasses,  which  was  kept  for  weeks  in  a churn,  as 
swill  is  saved  for  hogs.  I found  it,  however,  after  a little 
use,  very  eatable,  and  supper  soon  became  my  best  meal. 
The  religion  of  the  Dutch,  like  their  other  habits,  was 
unostentatious  and  plain;  and  a simple,  silent  grace  be- 
fore meat  prevailed  at  the  table  of  Jacob  Suydam. 
When  we  were  all  seated  he  suddenly  clapped  his  hands 
together,  threw  his  head  on  one  side,  closed  his  eyes,  and 
remained  mute  and  motionless  for  about  a minute.  His 
niece  and  nephew  followed  his  example,  but  with  such  an 
eager  solicitude  that  the  copied  attitude  should  be  prompt 
and  simultaneous  as  to  give  an  air  of  absurdity  to  what 
might  otherwise  have  been  very  decent.” 

During  the  British  occupation  of  Long  Island  illicit 
trade  was  carried  on  between  the  people  here  and  in 
Connecticut  by  means  of  many  ingeniously  devised  plans- 

Previous  to  the  separation  of  the  colonies  non-impor- 
tation associations  had  existed,  and  the  patriotic  colonists 
had  accustomed  themselves  to  drinking  sage  and  sassafras 
tea  and  wearing  homespun.  After  the  separation  no 
motive  of  patriotism  stood  in  the  way  of  indulgence  in 
the  use  of  British  goods,  and  with  the  facilities  which  the 
long  stretch  of  the  north  coast,  with  its  numerous  estuaries? 
inlets  and  harbors,  and  the  narrow  sound  beyond,  af- 
forded for  smuggling,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Yankee 
shrewdness  should  elude  the  sleepy  vigilance  of  govern- 
ernment  officials,  and  the  people  of  Connecticut  come  to 
be  well  supplied  with  goods  that  had  been  brought  from 
New  York  ostensibly  to  supply  the  wants  of  loyal  Long 
Islanders.  All  the  ordinary  devices  of  smuggling  were 
resorted  to,  and  even  collusions  were  entered  into  with 
the  so-called  piratical  whaleboat  men,  and  stores  were 
robbed  and  the  goods  taken  across  the  sound,  the  owners, 
of  course,  sharing  the  profits  of  the  adventure.  In  many 
cases  government  officials  winked  at  this  trade,  because 
it  supplied  necessaries  that  were  difficult  to  procure 
otherwise.  In  some  instances  it  was  believed  they  were 
secretly  interested  in  the  transactions.  By  reason  of  the 
long  sound  coast  of  Suffolk  county  and  the  secret  rebel 
sympathies  of  many  of  its  inhabitants  a large  share  of 
this  trade  was  done  throught  it. 

No  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  American  Revolution 
is  more  appalling  or  revolting  to  every  human  feeling 
than  that  which  records  the  sufferings  of  the  prisoners 
who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British.  In  all  cases  of 
this  kind  the  account  which  prisoners  themselves  give 
of  their  treatment  should  be  taken  with  many  grains  of 
allowance,  for  they  were  very  prone  to  exaggerate;  but 
if  the  half  of  that  which  was  related  by  American  prisoners 
is  true  the  inhumanity  of  their  keepers  was  truly  shock- 
ing. The  capture  of  New  York  in  September  1776  and 
of  Fort  Washington  in  November  of  the  same  year  threw 
into  the  hands  of  the  British  a large  number  of  prisoners, 
which,  added  to  those  already  in  their  hands,  swelled  the 
aggregate  to  about  5,000  in  the  city  of  New  York.  To 
the  confusion  and  embarrassment  which  this  sudden 


accumulation  of  prisoners  necessitated  were  added 
the  negligence  of  the  British  commander  and  the  brutal- 
ity of  Provost  Marshal  Cunningham  and  his  subordi- 
nates. 

But  if  the  condition  ot  the  prisoners  in  New  York  was 
pitiable  that  of  the  seamen  confined  in  the  prison  ships  at 
the  Wallabout  was  horrible.  The  crowding  together  of 
many  human  beings  in  the  hold  of  a ship,  even  with  the 
best  means  of  ventilation  and  the  utmost  care  for  their 
cleanliness  and  comfort,  is  disastrous  to  the  health  of 
those  so  situated.  If  then,  as  was  the  case  with  these 
prisoners,  they  are  compelled  to  breath  over  and  over 
again  the  pestilential  emanations  from  their  own  bodies 
and  from  the  filth  by  which  they  are  surrounded,  and  to 
subsist  on  food  insufficient  in  quantity  and  almost  poison- 
ous in  quality,  it  is  not  a matter  of  wonder  that,  as  was 
the  case  with  those  confined  in  these  ships,  few  survive 
their  imprisonment.  From  the  autumn  of  1776,  when 
the  British  came  in  possession  of  New  York,  during  six 
years  one  or  more  condemned  hulks  were  stationed  at  the 
Wallabout,  in  which  were  confined  such  American  seamen 
as  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  British.  The  first  of  these 
was  the  “ Whitby,”  which  was  moored  in  the  Wallabout 
in  October  1776.  In  May  1777  two  other  large  ships 
were  also  anchored  there,  one  of  which  was  burned  in 
October  of  the  same  year,  and  the  other  in  February 
1778.  In  April  1778  the  old  “Jersey  ” was  moored  there, 
and  the  “Hope”  and  the  “ Falmouth  ” — two  so-called 
hospital  ships — were  stationed  near.  Up  to  the  time 
when  these  hospital  ships  were  stationed  there  no  phy- 
sicians had  been  in  attendance  on  the  sick  in  the  prison 
ships.  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Berkley,  Mass.,  was  a 
prisoner  on  the  old  “Jersey,”  and  relates  his  experience 
and  observation  as  follows: 

“ This  was  an  old  sixty-four  gun  ship,  which  through 
age  had  become  unfit  for  further  actual  service.  She  was 
stripped  of  every  spar  and  all  her  rigging.  After  a battle 
with  a French  fleet  her  lion  figurehead  was  taken  away 
to  repair  another  ship;  no  appearance  of  ornament  was 
left,  and  nothing  remained  but  an  old,  unsightly,  rotten 
hulk.  Her  dark  and  filthy  external  appearance  perfectly 
corresponded  with  the  death  and  despair  that  reigned 
within,  and  nothing  could  be  more  foreign  from  truth 
than  to  paint  her  with  colors  flying,  or  any  circumstance 
or  appendage  to  please  the  eye.  She  was  moored  at  the 
Wallabout  Bay,  about  three-quarters  of  a mile  to  the  east- 
ward of  Brooklyn  ferry,  near  a tide  mill  on  the  Long  Isl- 
and shore.  The  nearest  place  to  land  was  about  twenty 
rods;  and  doubtless  no  other  ship  in  the  British  navy 
ever  proved  the  means  of  the  destruction  of  so  many 
human  beings.  It  is  computed  that  not  less  than  eleven 
thousand  American  seamen  perished  in  her.  After  it  was 
next  to  certain  death  to  confine  a prisoner  here  the  inhu- 
manity and  wickedness  of  doing  it  was  about  the  same  as 
if  he  had  been  taken  into  the  city  and  deliberately  shot 
in  some  public  square;  but,  as  if  mercy  had  fled  from  the 
earth,  here  we  were  doomed  to  dwell.  And  never  while 
I was  on  board  did  any  Howard  or  angel  of  pity  appear, 
to  inquire  into  or  alleviate  our  woes.  Once  or  twice,  by 
the  order  of  a stranger  on  the  quarter  deck,  a^bag  of 
apples  was  hurled  promiscuously  into  the  midst  of  hun- 
dreds of  prisoners,  crowded  together  as  thick  as  they 
could  stand,  and  life  and  limbs  were  endangered  by  the 
scramble.  This,  instead  of  compassion,  was  a cruel  sport. 


40 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


When  I saw  it  about  to  commence  I fled  to  the  most  dis- 
tant part  of  the  ship. 

“ On  the  commencement  of  the  first  evening  we  were 
driven  down  to  darkness,  between  decks  secured  by  iron 
gratings  and  an  armed  soldiery,  and  a scene  of  horror 
which  baffles  all  description  presented  itself.  On  every 
side  wretched  desponding  shapes  of  men  could  be  seen. 
Around  the  well  room  an  armed  guard  were  forcing  up 
the  prisoners  to  the  winches  to  clear  the  ship  of  water  and 
prevent  her  sinking,  and  little  else  could  be  heard  but  a 
roar  of  mutual  execrations,  reproaches,  and  insults. 
During  this  operation  there  was  a small,  dim  light  ad- 
mitted below,  but  it  served  to  make  darkness  more  vis- 
ible, and  horror  more  terrific.  In  my  reflections  I said 
this  must  be  a complete  image  and  anticipation  of  hell. 
Milton’s  description  of  the  dark  world  rushed  upon  my 
mind: — 

“ Sights  of  woe,  regions  of  horror  doleful, 

Shades  where  peace  and  rest  can  never  dwell.” 

“ If  there  was  any  principle  among  the  prisoners  that 
could  not  be  shaken  it  was  their  love  of  country.  I 
knew  no  one  to  be  seduced  into  the  British  service.  They 
attempted  to  force  one  of  our  prize  brig’s  crew  into  the 
navy,  but  he  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  perform  any 
duty,  and  was  again  restored  to  the  prison  ship. 

“ When  I first  became  an  inmate  of  this  abode  of 
suffering,  despair  and  death  there  were  about  four  hun- 
dred prisoners  on  board;  but  in  a short  time  they 
amounted  to  twelve  hundred,  and  in  proportion  to  our 
numbers  the  mortality  increased.  All  the  most  deadly 
diseases  were  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  king  of  ter- 
rors, but  his  prime  ministers  were  dysentery,  small-pox, 
and  yellow  fever.  There  were  two  hospital  ships  near  to 
the  old  ‘Jersey,’  but  these  were  soon  so  crowded  with 
the  sick  that  they  could  receive  no  more.  The  conse- 
quence was  that  the  diseased  and  the  healthy  were 
mingled  together  in  the  main  ship.  In  a short  time  we 
had  two  hundred  or  more  sick  and  dying  lodged  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  lower  gun  deck,  where  all  the  prisoners 
were  confined  at  night.  Utter  derangement  was  a com- 
mon symptom  of  yellow  fever,  and,  to  increase  the  hor- 
ror of  the  darkness  that  shrouded  us  (for  we  were  allowed 
no  light  between  decks),  the  voice  of  warning  would  be 
heard,  ‘ Take  heed  to  yourselves!  There  is  a madman 
stalking  through  the  ship  with  a knife  in  his  hand!’  I 
sometimes  found  the  man  a corpse  in  the  morning  by 
whose  side  I laid  myself  down  at  night.  At  another 
time  he  would  become  deranged  and  attempt  in  the 
darkness  to  rise,  and  stumble  over  the  bodies  that  else- 
where covered  the  deck.  In  this  case  I had  to  hold  him 
to  his  place  by  main  strength.  In  spite  of  my  efforts  he 
would  sometimes  rise,  and-  then  1 had  to  close  in  with 
him,  trip  up  his  heels,  and  lay  him  again  upon  the  deck. 
While  so  many  were  sick  with  raging  fever  there  was  a 
loud  cry  for  water,  but  none  could  be  had  except  on  the 
upper  deck,  and  but  one  allowed  to  ascend  at  a time. 
The  suffering  then  from  the  rage  of  thirst  during  the 
night  was  very  great.  Nor  was  it  at  all  times  safe  to  at- 
tempt to  go  up.  Provoked  by  the  continual  cry  for  leave 
to  ascend,  when  there  was  one  already  on  deck,  the  sen- 
try would  push  them  back  with  his  bayonet.  By  one  of 
these  thrusts,  which  was  more  spiteful  and  violent  than 
common,  I had  a narrow  escape  of  my  life.  In  the 
morning  the  hatchways  were  thrown  open  and  we  were 
allowed  to  ascend,  all  at  once,  and  remain  on  the  upper 
deck  during  the  day.  But  the  first  object  that  met  our 
view  was  an  appalling  spectacle — a boat  loaded  with  dead 
bodies,  conveying  them  to  the  Long  Island  shore,  where 
they  were  slightly  covered  with  sand.  I sometimes  used 
to  stand  and  count  the  number  of  times  the  shovel  was 
filled  with  sand  to  cover  a dead  body;  and  certain  I am 


that  a few  high  tides  or  torrents  of  rain  must  have  disin- 
terred them,  and  had  they  not  been  removed  I should 
suppose  the  shore  even  now  would  be  covered  with  huge 
piles  of  the  bones  of  American  seamen.  There  were 
probably  four  hundred  on  board  who  had  never  had  the 
small-pox.  Some  perhaps  might  have  been  saved  by  in- 
oculation, but  humanity  was  wanting  to  try  even  this  ex- 
periment. Let  our  disease  be  what  it  would,  we  were 
abandoned  to  our  fate.  Now  and  then  an  American 
physician  was  brought  in  as  a captive,  but  if  he  could  ob- 
tain his  parole  he  left  the  ship;  nor  could  we  blame  him 
for  this,  for  his  own  death  was  next  to  certain  and  his 
success  in  saving  others  by  medicine  in  our  situation  was 
small.  I remember  only  two  American  physicians  who 
tarried  on  board  a few  days.  No  English  physician  or 
any  one  from  the  city  ever,  to  my  knowledge,  came  near 
us.  There  were  thirteen  of  the  crew  to  which  I be- 
longed, but  in  a short  time  all  died  but  three  or  four. 
The  most  healthy  and  vigorous  were  first  seized  with  the 
fever  and  died  in  a few  hours.  For  them  there  seemed 
to  be  no  mercy.  My  constitution  was  less  muscular  and 
plethoric,  and  I escaped  the  fever  longer  than  any  of  the 
thirteen  except  one,  and  the  first  onset  was  less  violent.” 

Alexander  Coffin  jr.,  who  was  twice  a prisoner  on  the 
old  “Jersey,”  has  related  some  of  his  experiences  there. 
Of  the  firmness  and  patriotism  of  the  American  prisoners, 
even  under  these  circumstances,  he  said: 

“ Although  there  were  seldom  less  than  1,000  prisoners 
constantly  on  board  the  ‘Jersey’ — new  ones  coming 
about  as  fast  as  others  died,  or  were  exchanged  (which, 
by  the  bye,  was  seldom) — I never,  in  the  two  different 
times  that  I was  on  board,  knew  of  but  one  prisoner 
entering  on  board  a British  ship  of  war,  though  the  boats 
from  the  fleet  were  frequently  there  and  the  English  offi- 
cers were  endeavoring  to  persuade  them  to  enter;  but 
their  persuasions  and  offers  were  invariably  treated  with 
contempt,  and  even  by  men  who  pretty  well  knew  they 
should  die  where  they  were.  These  were  the  men  whose 
bones  have  been  so  long  bleaching  on  the  shores  of  the 
Wallabout;  these  were  the  patriots  who  preferred  death 
in  its  most  horrible  shape  to  the  disgrace  and  infamy  of 
fighting  the  battles  of  abase  and  barbarous  enemy  against 
the  liberties  of  their  country;  these  were  the  patriots 
whose  names  suffer  no  diminution  by  a comparison  with 
the  heroes  and  patriots  of  antiquity.” 

The  bodies  of  those  who  died  on  these  ships  were 
buried  in  the  sand  along  the  shore,  on  the  slope  of  a hill, 
in  a ravine,  and  in  several  other  localities.  The  bones  of 
many  were  washed  out  of  the  sand  and  were  seen  lying 
along  the  shore.  In  1803  some  societies  began  to  agitate 
the  subject  of  awarding  funeral  honors  to  the  remains  of 
these  martyrs,  but  nothing  was  accomplished  till  1808. 
The  Tammany  Society,  which  then  embraced  many  Rev- 
olutionary patriots,  took  the  lead  in  the  work,  and  the 
corner  stone  of  a monument  to  these  heroes  was  laid 
April  13th  of  that  year,  on  land  donated  by  John  Jack- 
son,  Esq.,  near  the  Brooklyn  navy  yard.  Their  bones,  to 
the  amount  of  about  twenty  hogsheads,  were  collected, 
placed  in  thirteen  capacious  coffins,  and  on  the  26th  of 
May  1808  each  coffin,  in  charge  of  one  of  the  Tammanial 
tribes  and  escorted  by  eight  Revolutionary  soldiers  as 
pall  bearers,  was  borne  to  the  place  of  sepulture,  and  all 
were,  with  solemn  and  imposing  ceremonies,  deposited  in 
a common  tomb. 

After  the  interment  of  these  remains  steps  were  taken 
toward  providing  funds  to  erect  a suitable  monument  to 


GEN.  NATHANIEL  WOODHULL— THE  WAR  OF  1812. 


41 


the  memory  of  these  martyrs,  but  the  interest  which  was 
at  first  felt  in  the  matter  subsided,  and  at  length  the  lot 
on  which  the  vault  was  constructed  was  sold  for  taxes. 
It  was  purchased  by  Benjamin  Romaine,  who,  to  prevent 
its  further  desecration,  fitted  it  up  as  a burial  place  for 
himself  and  family,  and  there,  at  his  death,  in  1844,  he 
was  entombed.  After  his  death  another  movement  was 
made  looking  toward  the  erection  of  a monument,  and  an 
association  for  that  purpose  was  formed;  but  “yet  there 
is  no  monument — no  stone  bearing  the  record  of  their 
patriotic  devotion  to  principle,  and  their  more  than  he- 
roic death.” 

The  self-sacrificing  patriotism,  the  meritorious  services, 
the  pure,  unselfish  life,  and  the  tragic  death  of  General 
Nathaniel  Woodhull  render  a brief  sketch  of  him  appro- 
priate here.  He  was  born  in  1722  at  Mastic,  in  Brook- 
haven,  received  a sound  education,  and  early  displayed 
those  mental  traits  that  qualified  him  for  public  useful- 
ness. In  1758  he  entered  the  army  in  the  French  and 
Indian  war  of  (754-60,  and  held  the  position  of  major. 
He  was  at  Ticonderoga  under  General  Abercrombie,  and 
was  with  General  Bradstreet  in  the  expedition  against 
Fort  Frontenac  and  the  reduction  of  that  fortress.  He 
did  important  service  in  the  expedition  from  Schenectady 
to  the  Oneida  carrying  place  in  the  same  summer,  and  in 
1760,  having  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  he 
went  in  command  of  the  3d  regiment  of  New  York  troops 
in  the  expedition  against  Canada.  On  the  termination  of 
hostilities  he  was  discharged  with  the  troops  of  the  prov- 
ince and  returned  to  private  life.  In  1769  he  was  made 
a member  of  the  colonial  Assembly  from  Suffolk  county, 
and  he  continued  a member  of  that  body  till  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  colonial  government  in  1775.  He  was  chosen 
a delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in  May  1775,  and  in 
August  of  the  same  year  was  made  president  of  that 
Congress,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  till  August  10th  1776. 
He  was  also,  in  August  1775,  appointed  brigadier-general 
of  the  militia  of  Suffolk  and  Queens  counties.  On  the 
10th  of  August  1776  he  obtained  leave  of  absence  from 
the  Provincial  Congress.  On  the  24th,  two  days  previous 
to  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  he  was  ordered  by  the  con- 
vention to  take  command  of  a force  of  militia  and  “ use 
all  possible  diligence  to  prevent  the  stock  and  other  pro- 
visions from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.”  He 
discharged  this  duty  to  the  best  of  his  ability  with  his 
meager  force,  driving  beyond  the  reach  of  the  enemy  all 
the  cattle  that  could  be  collected,  at  the  same  time  making 
known  to  the  convention  his  inability  to  maintain  himself 
with  the  force  at  his  command.  The  unfortunate  issue 
of  the  battle  of  Long  Island  and  the  impracticability  of 
sending  the  desired  reinforcements  will  be  remembered. 
In  the  hope  of  receiving  these,  however,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  his  sense  of  honor  and  duty,  he  did  not  make  a 
final  retreat,  but  on  the  28th  ordered  his  troops  to  a point 
four  miles  east  of  Jamaica,  where,  in  the  afternoon,  he 
attempted  to  join  them.  A thunder  storm  arrested  him 
some  two  miles  from  this  town,  at  the  tavern  of  Increase 
Carpenter,  and  he  was  overtaken  by  a party  of  dragoons 
and  infantry,  guided  by  some  tories.  Wood  says:  “ The 


general  immediately  gave  up  his  sword,  in  token  of  sur- 
render. The  ruffian  who  first  approached  him  [said  to  be 
a Lieutenant  Huzzy],  as  is  reported,  ordered  him  to  say 
‘God  save  the  King.’  The  general  replied  ‘God  save  us 
all;’  on  which  he  most  cowardly  and  cruelly  assailed  the 
defenseless  general  with  his  broadsword,  and  would  have 
killed  him  on  the  spot  if  he  had  not  been  prevented  by 
the  interference  of  an  officer  of  more  honor  and  humanity 
(said  to  be  Major  De  Lancey  of  the  dragoons),  who  ar- 
rested his  savage  violence.”  He  was  removed  to  Jamaica, 
his  wounds  were  dressed,  and  with  other  prisoners  he  was 
confined  till  the  next  day  in  a stone  church.  He  was 
then  sent  to  Gravesend  and  confined  with  eighty  others 
in  a vessel  that  had  been  used  for  the  transportation  of 
live  stock,  with  no  provision  for  comfort  or  health. 
Thence  he  was  removed  to  a house  in  New  Utrecht. 
Here  it  was  found  his  injuries  necessitated  the  amputa- 
tion of  his  arm.  Previous  to  the  operation  he  sent  for 
his  wife,  and  made  arrangements  for  the  alleviation  of 
the  suffering  of  the  American  prisoners  at  his  own  ex- 
pense. Mortification  soon  succeeded  the  operation,  and 
on  the  20th  of  September  he  died.  Wood  says  of  him: 
“ With  personal  courage  he  possessed  judgment,  decision 
and  firmness  of  character,  tempered  with  conciliating 
manners,  which  commanded  the  respect  and  obedience 
of  his  troops  and  at  the  same  time  secured  their  confi- 
dence and  esteem.” 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  WAR  OF  l8l2 — PRIVATEERING — THE  FORTIFICATION 
OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


N the  1 8th  of  June  1812  a formal  declaration 
of  war  against  Great  Britain  was  made  by 
the  United  States.  Allusion  has  elsewhere 
been  made  to  the  causes  which  led  to  this 
war,  in  which,  as  in  the  case  of  the  French 
wars,  Long  Island  was  not  the  theater  of  active 
hostilities. 

the  latter  part  of  1812  and  early  in  1813  British 
cruisers  were  stationed  on  the  American  coast.  From 
the  files  of  a paper  called  War,  which  was  published  in 
New  York  at  the  time,  it  appears  that  on  the  19th  of 
January  1813  a British  74,  two  frigates  and  a gun  brig 
were  stationed  off  the  entrance  to  New  York  harbor,  and 
on  the  26th  it  was  stated  that  this  fleet  had  been  aug- 
mented, and  several  prizes  taken.  Commodore  Lewis, 
in  command  of  the  flotilla  in  New  York  harbor,  attempted 
to  go  down,  but  was  prevented  by  the  ice.  It  was  not 
till  the  20th  of  March  1813  that  the  entire  coast  of  the 
United  States,  with  the  exception  of  Rhode  Island, 
Massachusetts,  and  New  Hampshire,  was  declared  in  a 
state  of  blockade. 

In  April  of  that  year,  it  was  stated  that  a British  74 
and  several  privateers  were  cruising  in  Long  Island 


6 


42 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Sound,  that  they  had  captured  a number  of  coasting  ves- 
sels, and  that  “ the  naval  force  now  in  this  harbor  is 
sufficient  either  to  capture  or  drive  them  off,  but  for 
some  unaccountable  reason  the  ‘United  States’  and 
‘Macedonian’  have  been  suffered  to  lie  upward  of 
three  months  at  the  navy  yard  entirely  dismantled;  our 
enemy  when  occasion  requires  can  fit  out  a ship  of  war 
in  three  weeks,  or  even  less  time.” 

In  June  1813  the  daring  privateer  “Governor  Tomp- 
kins,” of  New  York,  came  through  the  sound.  Off 
Fisher’s  Island  she  was  chased  by  the  enemy’s  ‘■quadton 
cruising  there,  but  escaped. 

Prime  relates  that  “in  June  1813,  while  a British 
squadron  under  Commodore  Hardy  lay  in  Gardiner’s 
Bay,  a launch  and  two  barges  with  100  men  attempted 
to  surprise  Sag  Harbor  in  the  night.  They  landed  on 
the  wharf,  but,  an  alarm  being  quickly  given,  the  guns  of 
a small  fort  were  opened  upon  them  with  such  effect 
that  they  had  only  time  to  set  fire  to  a single  sloop,  and 
retreated  with  so  much  precipitation  as  to  leave  a large 
quantity  of  guns,  swords,  and  other  arms  behind  them. 
The  flames  were  speedily  extinguished,  and  no  other  in- 
jury sustained.” 

In  September  of  the  same  year  a flotilla  of  thirty  gun- 
boats, under  Commodore  Lewis,  passed  through  Hell 
Gate  to  Sands  Point  in  quest  of  some  armed  vessels  of 
the  enemy  that  were  cruising  in  the  sound.  The  weather 
was  not  favorable  for  close  action,  and  after  a few  shots 
at  long  range  the  flotilla  anchored;  a frigate  which  had 
drawn  away  from  its  consorts  returned,  and  the  enemy’s 
ships  retired  eastward. 

November  16th  1813  Admiral  Warren,  commanding 
the  blockading  squadron,  issued  a proclamation  in  which 
he  declared  a blockade  of  “ all  that  part  of  Long  Island 
Sound  being  the  sea  coast  lying  within  Montaug  Point, 
or  the  eastern  point  of  Long  Island,  and  the  point  of 
land  opposite  thereto,  commonly  called  Plack  Point,  sit- 
uate on  the  sea  coast  of  the  main  land;  together  with  all 
the  ports,  harbors,  creeks,  and  entrances  of  the  East  and 
North  rivers  of  New  York,  as  well  as  all  the  other  ports, 
creeks,  and  bays  along  the  coast  of  Long  Island  and  the 
State  of  New  York,”  etc. 

In  1813  the  “Amazon,”  Captain  Conklin,  of  Hunting- 
ton,  the  “ Sally,”  Captain  Akerly,  of  Cow  Harbor,  and 
the  “ Arago  ” and  “ Juno,”  Captain  Jones,  of  Brookhaven, 
were  captured  in  the  sound  by  the  British  vessels  “Acas- 
ta”  and  “Atalanta.”  During  the  same  year  a British  fleet 
entered  and  remained  some  time  in  Gardiner’s  Bay. 

In  May  1814  the  sloop  “ Amelia,”  bound  for  Rhode 
Island,  laden  with  rye,  pork,  and  flour,  was  made  a prize 
by  a barge  from  the  British  ship  of  war  “ Bulwark.”  One 
of  the  owners  of  this  sloop  was,  with  two  or  three  other 
men,  suspected  of  treason.  They  were  tried  and  acquit- 
ted. 

In  August  of  the  same  year  a small  schooner  was  chased 
on  shore  at  Rockaway  by  the  boats  of  the  blockading 
squadron,  and  set  on  fire.  The  fire  was  extinguished, 
though  those  engaged  in  extinguishing  it  were  several 
times  fired  upon. 


In  1814  the  British  vessels  “Pomona”  and  “Dispatch,” 
arriving  off  Setauket  harbor,  sent  seven  barges  into 
Drown  Meadow  Bay,  where  they  captured  the  vessels 
“Two  Friends,”  “ Hope,”  Herald,”  and  “ Mercantile,” 
and  burned  the  “ Oneida,”  which  were  all  anchored  in 
the  bay. 

It  was  believed  that  New  York,  which  was  then  as  now 
the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  nation,  would  become 
a point  of  attack,  and  that  the  .western  end  of  Long  Isl- 
and might  become,  as  it  had  been  in  the  Revolution,  the 
theater  of  active  hostilities.  In  view  of  this  danger  the 
citizen  soldiery  organized  and  prepared  for  possible  emer- 
gencies; but  beyond  this  the  island  did  not  become  the 
scene  of  active  warlike  preparations  till  the  summer  of 
1814.  A large  British  fleet  was  then  concentrating  near 
the  Bermuda  Islands,  and  in  view  of  the  possibility  that 
this  might  be  the  objective  point  it  was  deemed  exped- 
ient to  take  such  measures  as  would  prevent  a repetition 
of  the  disaster  of  August  1776.  By  a letter  received 
from  John  Lyon  Gardiner,  of  Gardiner’s  Island,  by 
Jonathan  Thompson,  collector  of  internal  revenue  of 
New  York,  the  fact  became  known  and  was  communi- 
cated to  Governor  Tompkins  that  such  an  attack  was  in- 
tended. The  people  aroused  from  the  lethargy  into 
which  they  had  been  lulled  by  their  hope  of  a favorable 
termination  of  the  pending  negotiations  for  peace.  A 
committee  of  defense  which  had  been  constituted  recom- 
mended measures  for  the  protection  of  Brooklyn  against 
attack  by  land,  and  issued  an  address  calling  on  the  citi- 
zens to  organize  and  enroll  for  resistance  to  hostile 
attacks,  and  to  aid,  by  voluntary  contributions  of  labor 
and  material,  in  the  construction  of  defensive  works  at 
Brooklyn  and  elsewhere.  The  response  to  this  appeal 
was  made  with  alacrity.  Citizens  and  associations,  with- 
out distinction  of  party  and  social  condition,  at  once 
offered  their  services.  Stiles  says:  “ The  rich  and  the 
poor  proffered  their  services,  and  mingled  their  labors  on 
the  same  works  in  the  purest  spirit  of  patriotic  emulation. 
Those  who  from  any  cause  were  unable  to  give  their 
personal  labor  to  the  common  cause  voluntarily  and 
liberally  contributed  of  their  means  for  the  employment 
of  substitutes,  while  many  both  gave  and  worked.  Even 
the  women  and  schoolboys  caught  the  inspiration  of  the 
hour  and  contributed  their  quota  of  labor  upon  the 
works,  and  the  people  of  the  interior  towns  in  the  neigh- 
boring states  of  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey  hastened 
to  proffer  their  assistance  in  averting  what  was  felt  to  be 
a common  national  danger.” 

In  addition  to  the  labor  of  the  different  military  or- 
ganizations the  members  of  different  societies  and  trades 
in  various  localities  came  in  bodies  and  labored  on  these 
works.  The  tanners  and  curriers,  the  plumbers,  the 
students  of  medicine,  wire  factory  operators,  founders, 
journeymen  cabinet  makers,  fire  companies,  exempts 
members  of  churches,  under  the  lead  of  their  pastors, 
carpenters,  parties  of  citizens  in  bodies  from  various  lo- 
calities, large  parties  of  Irishmen,  colored  people  both 
from  New  York  and  Long  Island,  freemasons  in  a body, 
and  even  at  one  time  a party  of  some  two  hundred  ladies 


FORTIFICATIONS  OF  1814— EARLY  HIGHWAYS. 


43 


came  in  a procession  and  performed  a few  hours’ 
labor. 

At  one  time  the  committee  of  defense  announced  their 
want  of  several  thousand  fascines,  and  stated  that  patterns 
were  left  at  Creed’s  tavern  in  Jamaica,  and  at  Bloom’s  in 
Newtown.  The  answer  to  this  appeal  was  the  bringing 
to  Fort  Greene  of  a hundred  and  twenty  loads  of  fascines, 
averaging  twenty-five  bundles  to  a load,  by  the  citizens 
of  Jamaica,  headed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schoonmaker. 
“ Mr.  Eigenbrodt,  the  principal  of  the  academy  at  Ja- 
maica, with  his  pupils,  aided  in  cutting  these  fascines.” 
The  works  were  commenced  on  the  9th  of  August  1814 
and  completed  early  in  September.  They  were  at  once 
occupied  by  a large  force  from  different  localities,  in- 
cluding a brigade  of  Long  Island  militia,  1,750  strong, 
under  command  of  General  Jeremiah  Johnson,  of  Brook- 
lyn, subsequently  well  known  as  an  antiquarian  and  his- 
torian. 

In  addition  to  these,  fortifications  were  erected  along 
the  coast  below  Brooklyn.  A block-house  was  located 
one-half  or  three-fourths  of  a mile  north  from  Fort  Ham- 
ilton, near  the  shore  of  the  bay,  on  land  then  owned  by 
Mr.  Barkuloo.  On  the  site  of  Fort  Hamilton  was  an 
earthwork,  and  on  that  of  Fort  Lafayette  was  a log  fort. 
A block-house  was  located  on  the  shore  of  New  Utrecht 
Bay,  about  midway  between  Fort  Hamilton  and  Bath, 
near  the  residence  of  the  late  Barney  Williams.  From 
the  fact  of  this  block-house  having  been  located  there 
the  place  was  long  known  as  the  “gun  field.”  This 
block-house  stood  several  years  after  the  termination  of 
the  war.  About  one-fourth  of  a mile  southeast  from  Bath, 
also  on  the  shore  of  New  Utrecht  Bay,  stood  another 
block-house,  on  land  owned  by  the  late  Egbert  Benson 
and  now  the  property  of  his  heirs.  In  August  1776  the 
forces  of  General  Howe  were  landed  in  the  vicinity  of 
where  these  last  two  block-houses  stood,  and  they  were 
probably  erected  in  view  of  a possible  attempt  to  land 
troops  here  during  this  war.  Each  was  armed  with  a 
large  barbette  gun.  They  were  built  in  the  fashion  of 
block-houses  of  those  times,  with  a projection  of  some 
feet,  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  ground,  from  which 
assailants  could  be  fired  on  through  loopholes  from 
directly  overhead.  At  Rockaway  inlet  another  block- 
house was  erected  during  the  war.  Boat’s  crews 
from  the  blockading  squadron  had  entered  through 
this  inlet  and  committed  depredations  on  the  inhab- 
itants near  the  shore  of  Jamaica  Bay,  and  to 
prevent  a repetition  of  such  attacks  this  block-house 
was  built.  Several  regiments  of  militia  were  encamped 
in  and  about  the  works  in  the  vicinity  of  Bath 
and  Fort  Hamilton  during  the  continuance  of  hostil- 
ities. 

It  is  not  known  that  any  hostile  vessels  came  within 
Sandy  Hook.  The  storm  of  war  was  averted,  and  Long 
Island  was  not  made  the  scene  of  such  strife  as  desolated 
it  in  1776.  Peace  was  concluded  early  in  1815,  and  the 
joy  of  the  people  here  was  testified  by  illluminations, 
bonfires,  etc. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  CONSTRUCTION  OF  WAGON  ROADS  AND  RAILROADS 
ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


T first  highways  were  established  in  the  differ- 
ent towns  according  to  the  apparent  necessi- 
ties of  the  people  in  those  towns,  without 
reference  to  the  convenience  of  the  people 
elsewhere.  No  thoroughfares  were  projected 
v ^ till  a long  time  afterward,  and  the  irregularity 
0f  the  roa(js  was  such  that  guides  were  necessary 
in  some  cases  to  conduct  strangers  from  place  to  place. 
These  roads  were  often  facetiously  termed  cow  paths 
because  of  their  irregularity,  which  is  still  a notable  fea- 
ture of  the  ordinary  highways. 

In  view  of  the  urgent  necessity  which  had  come  to  be 
felt  for  better  facilities  for  travel  the  Legislature  in  1704 
enacted  a law  by  which  three  commissioners  in  each  of 
the  counties  on  the  island  were  appointed  to  lay  out  a 
road  four  rods  in  width  from  Brooklyn  ferry  to  East- 
hampton.  Twenty  years  later  bv  another  act  of  the 
Legislature  commissioners  were  appointed  “for  better 
clearing  and  further  laying  out  the  roads  on  the  island.” 
By  the  action  of  these  commissioners  the  direct  road 
from  Brooklyn  to  Easthampton  was  established.  This 
road  ran  through  the  center  portion  of  the  island,  and 
during  many  years  it  was  the  main  thoroughfare  between 
New  York  and  the  “east  end.”  As  time  went  on  parallel 
roads  were  opened  both  north  and  south  from  this,  and 
turnpikes  were  established  between  different  localities. 

As  late  as  1764  the  first  post  route  was  established 
through  the  island,  and  it  was  called  the  circuit.  The 
mail  was  carried  (on  horseback)  once  in  two  weeks  east- 
ward through  the  north  part  of  the  island,  returning 
along  the  south  shore. 

About  the  year  1847  what  has  been  termed  the  Plank 
Roadia  began  to  prevail  through  the  country  and  it 
reached  its  height  about  1850  or  1851.  The  level  sur- 
face of  Long  Island  afforded  better  facilities  for  the  con- 
struction of  these  roads  than  existed  in  many  regions, 
and  within  three  or  four  years  after  the  first  was  built 
they  had  greatly  multiplied  in  all  parts  of  the  island  and 
a new  era  of  travel  was  thought  by  some  to  have  dawned. 
The  impracticability  of  these  roads,  however,  soon  be- 
came apparent,  and  here  as  elsewhere  the  mania  sub- 
sided almost  as  rapidly  as  it  had  arisen.  The  projection 
of  new  roads  ceased  and  those  which  had  been  con- 
structed were  abandoned  or  converted  into  turnpikes 
and  then  into  common  highways.  Of  the  many  that 
came  into  existence  none  remain  as  plank  roads. 

Long  Island  has  a railroad  system  which  fully  meets 
the  wants  of  its  inhabitants  and  affords  ample  facilities 
for  pleasure  seekers  from  abroad  to  visit  the  seaside 
resorts  along  its  southern  shore.  The  sole  reliance  of 
the  roads  on  the  island  for  support  is  on  local  patron- 


44 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


age;  none  of  them  are  parts  of  thoroughfares  that  open 
into  regions  beyond. 

The  first  railroad  constructed  on  Long  Island  was  that 
from  South  ferry  in  Brooklyn  to  Jamaica.  This  was 
opened  for  travel  April  18th  1836.  In  the  same  year  the 
Long  Island  company  commenced  the  extension  east- 
ward of  this  road,  and  in  August  1837  it  was  in  opera- 
tion to  Hicksville.  In  1841  it  reached  Suffolk  Station, 
and  on  the  25th  of  July  1844  the  first  train  of  cars  passed 
over  it  to  Greenport,  a total  length  of  ninety-five  miles. 

From  Hicksville  a branch  was  opened  to  Syosset  in 
1854,  and  an  extension  completed  to  Northport  in  1868, 
and  thence  a road  was  completed  to  Port  Jefferson  in 
1872.  Branches  were  also  constructed  from  Mineola  to 
Hempstead  and  to  Locust  Point  and  from  Jamaica  to 
Far  Rockaway. 

In  1869  the  Sag  Harbor  branch  was  built,  diverging 
from  the  main  line  at  Manor  Station,  passing  through 
the  Hamptons  and  terminating  at  Sag  Harbor.  The 
road  from  Hunter’s  Point  to  Flushing  was  opened  in  1854 
and  it  was  subsequently  extended  to  Manhasset.  A road 
was  also  constructed  from  Hunter’s  Point  to  Whitestone. 

On  the  south  side  a road  was  opened  from  Jamaica  to 
Babylon  in  the  autumn  of  1867  and  extended  to  Patchogue 
in  1868.  Branches  of  this  road  were  also  built.  A.  T. 
Stewart  constructed  a road  to  Garden  City  and  this  was 
extended  to  Babylon.  Other  roads  and  branches  sprang 
into  existence  and  a competition  arose  that  was  not  con- 
ducive to  the  prosperity  of  the  roads. 

A consolidation  of  these  roads  under  the  control  of 
the  Messrs.  Poppenhusen  by  leases  and  otherwise  was 
effected.  Lavish  expenditures  were  made  and  much 
business  was  done,  but  the  management  was  not  success- 
ful, and  in  1877  Thomas  R.  Sharp  was  appointed  receiver 
of  the  consolidated  corporation. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1880  a controlling  interest  in  the 
Long  Island  Railroad  passed  into  the  hands  of  a syndi- 
cate of  Boston  capitalists,  at  the  head  of  which  is  Austin 
Corbin,  under  whose  management  the  road  has  come. 

Within  a comparatively  recent  time  several  roads  for 
the  conveyance  of  passengers  to  and  from  the  summer 
resorts  on  the  south  coast  of  Long  Island  have  come  into 
existence. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  AGRICULTURAL  CAPABILITIES  AND  DEVELOPMENT 
OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


WHATEVER  may  be  the  general  impression 
the  value  and  fertility  of  the  lands  of 
,''3)  Long  Island,  they  do  and  will  command  a 
price  far  in  excess  of  soils  equally  fertile 
but  which  are  not  situated  near  a great 
market.  Easy,  cheap  and  uninterrupted  water 
communication  with  a center  of  trade  aggregating 
a population  of  nearly  two  millions  will  always  make 


Long  Island  a place  of  peculiar  interest  to  tillers  of  the 
soil.  The  vast  and  increasing  demand  of  the  city  of 
New  York  for  vegetables  and  fruits  of  a perishable  na- 
ture, as  well  as  the  peculiar  adaptation  of  the  soil  for 
their  culture,  has  already  made  Kings  and  a large  portion 
of  Queens  county  one  immense  garden.  Previous  his- 
tories of  the  island  are  nearly  silent  upon  this  the  chief 
business  of  its  inhabitants. 

The  early  settlers  of  Long  Island,  coming  as  they  did 
chiefly  from  the  New  England  colonies,  naturally  followed 
the  same  system  of  tillage  and  rotation  of  crops  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed.  Probably  the  first  settlers 
found  sufficient,  cleared  land  for  their  purpose;  as,  ac- 
cording to  early  traditions,  there  was  much  cleared  land, 
or  land  not  covered  with  timber,  besides  the  great  plains. 
They  very  soon  discovered  that  success  depended  upon 
the  application  of  manures.  As  early  as  1653  the  first 
settlers,  by  the  terms  of  the  patent  from  the  Dutch 
governor  for  the  lands  they  occupied,  were  required  to 
pay  to  the  government  one-tenth  of  the  revenue  arising 
from  the  ground  manured.  This  tax  for  the  town  of 
Hempstead  amounted  in  1657  to  one  hundred  schepels 
of  wheat  (the  Dutch  bushel  of  three  pecks).  In  1651 
Hempstead  produced  from  the  proceeds  of  the  servants 
labor  corn,  beef,  pork,  butter,  tobacco  and  staves,  which 
were  exchanged  for  liquor  and  merchandise. 

Cattle  were  imported  for  breeding  as  early  as  1625, 
and  a cow  in  New  York  was  worth  ^30.  The  abundant 
grass  on  the  plains,  doubtless,  turned  the  attention  of  the 
early  settlers  to  the  raising  of  stock.  But  as  yet  there 
were  few  or  no  fences;  so  herdsmen  were  hired  by  the 
town  to  take  care  of  the  cattle  from  the  nth  of  May  till 
the  23d  of  October,  when  the  Indian  harvest  would  be 
wholly  taken  in  and  housed.  In  1667  the  town  of  Hemp- 
stead hired  Abraham  Smith  to  keep  the  cattle  from 
destroying  the  corn  planted  in  the  plain  called  “ the 
field,”  and  he  was  to  have  one  and  a half  bushels  per 
acre  paid  him  for  this  service.  So  important  was  this 
office  deemed  that  the  conditions  of  agreement  were 
entered  at  large  on  the  town  book.  A half  hour  after 
sunrise,  at  the  blowing  of  a horn,  the  owners  of  cattle 
drove  them  from  their  several  pens  into  one  common 
herd,  when  they  were  taken  under  the  care  of  the  cow- 
keeper  and  his  dog,  and  driven  on  the  plains.  He  was 
to  keep  them  from  going  astray,  or  wandering  in  the 
woods,  or  getting  on  tilled  land;  to  water  them  at  some 
pond  at  reasonable  hours;  to  drive  them  weekly  to  the 
south  meadows,  and  then  bring  them  home  half  an  hour 
before  sunset  that  they  might  be  milked.  For  this  ser- 
vice (in  1658)  the  hire  was  twelve  shillings  sterling  per 
week  in  butter,  corn  and  oats.  The  calves  were  cared 
for  by  another  keeper,  who  was  required  to  water  them 
twice  a day,  drive  them  to  the  salt  meadows  once  in  two 
weeks,  and  put  them  in  an  inclosure  at  night  to  protect 
them  from  the  wolves.  After  a while  cowherds  were 
dispensed  with,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  fence  the 
pasture  lands.  Thus  Cow  Neck  in  1669  was  fenced 
from  Hempstead  Harbor  to  Great  Neck,  as  the  turnpike 
now  runs.  Rockaway  had  in  1690  a fence  running  from 


AGRICULTURE  ON  THE  ISLAND. 


h5 


the  landing  across  to  Jamaica  Bay.  Each  proprietor  had 
the  right  to  put  cattle  in  the  pasture  ground  in  propor- 
tion to  the  length  of  fence  he  had  made.  At  that  time 
cattle  were  sold  to  butchers  in  New  York,  and  exported 
alive  to  the  West  Indies.  In  1658  cattle  were  bought  on 
the  great  plains  to  be  shipped  to  the  colony  of  Delaware. 
In  1678  the  city  of  New  York  consumed  only  four  hun- 
dred beeves. 

Sheep  were  not  introduced  until  a later  date;  in  1643 
there  were  not  over  sixteen  in  the  whole  colony  of  New 
York.  In  1670  sheep  were  pastured  on  the  plains,  under 
the  care  of  a shepherd,  who  had  directions  not  to  let 
them  go  over  half  a mile  in  the  woods,  for  fear  of  their 
being  lost  or  destroyed  by  wolves.  Each  proprietor  had 
an  ear  mark  for  his  own  sheep,  which  was  recorded  in 
the  town  book.  In  1737  the  New  York  Gazette  says: 
“Vast  losses  have  been  sustained  in  this  colony  and 
those  adjacent  by  the  death  of  cattle  for  the  want  of 
fodder,  and  many  persons  have  been  almost  ruined 
thereby.  We  hear  from  Long  Island  that  five  thousand 
head  of  cattle  have  been  lost  this  winter,  besides  sheep 
and  lambs  innumerable.” 

Corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  flax,  wood  for  fuel,  fat  cattle 
and  sheep  were  for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  or  until 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  the  staple 
products  of  the  island,  and  the  chief  source  of  income. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  a tory  advised  a British 
minister  to  land  the  forces  destined  for  the  subjugation 
of  the  colonies  on  Long  Island;  “for,”  said  he,  “it  is 
one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  long,  and  is  very  fertile, 
abounding  in  wheat  and  every  other  kind  of  grain,  and 
has  innumerable  black  cattle,  sheep,  hogs  etc.;  so  that 
in  this  fertile  island  the  army  can  subsist  without  any 
succor  from  England.  It  has  a fertile  plain  twenty-four 
miles  long,  with  a fertile  country  about  it,  and  is  twenty 
miles  from  New  York;  and  from  an  encampment  on  this 
plain  the  British  army  can  in  five  or  six  days  invade  any 
of  the  colonies  at  pleasure.  The  spot  I advise  you  to 
land  is  at  Cow  Bay.”  The  suggestion  was  acted  upon. 
The  English  army  occupied  Long  Island,  with  New  York 
city  as  its  headquarters,  for  nearly  seven  years;  and 
drew  its  supplies  of  fresh  and  salt  hay,  oats,  straw, 
wheat,  rye,  corn,  buckwheat  and  firewood  from  our 
island.  For  an  encouragement  to  farmers  to  raise  plenti- 
ful supplies  of  fresh  provisions,  vegetables  and  forage 
for  the  army,  the  British  commandant  forbade  all  per- 
sons from  tresspassing,  or  breaking  down  or  destroying 
fences,  or  carrying  away  produce  from  the  owners.  In 
1780  the  requisition  on  Queens  county  was  for  four 
thousand  five  hundred  cords  of  wood. 

Since  the  advent  of  the  present  century,  and  within 
the  memory  of  many  now  living,  radical  changes  have 
been  made  in  the  system  of  agriculture,  in  the  crops 
produced,  fertilizers  applied,  machinery  employed,  do- 
mestic manufactures  and  manner  of  living.  There  are 
many  localities  in  Suffolk  and  a few  in  Queens  county 
in  which,  from  their  peculiarity  of  position,  primitive 
farming  is  still  followed — that  is,  corn  upon  old  sod, 
followed  by  oats  the  second  year,  which  is  succeeded  in 


the*  fall  by  either  wheat  or  rye  with  which  clover  and 
timothy  seed  are  sown.  Then  good  crops  of  hay  are 
cut  for  from  three  to  five  years;  it  is  then  pastured  one 
or  two  years,  and  the  same  routine  repeated 

With  the  growth  of  New  York  and’ Brooklyn  grew  the 
demand  for  vegetables,  milk,  hay,  straw  and  such  articles 
of  a perishable  and  bulky  nature  as  cannot  be  profitably 
transported  long  distances.  Hence  we  see  that  the  area 
necessary  for  their  production  has  extended,  not  only 
eastward  over  nearly  two  counties,  but  the  country  for 
miles  around  every  harbor  which  indents  the  shores  of 
Long  Island,  as  well  as  near  every  depot  of  its  railroads, 
has  been  put  under  contribution  to  supply  the  demand. 
Consequent  upon  this  change  the  product  of  cereals  is 
greatly  reduced,  and  stock-raising  is  entirely  abandoned 
as  a source  of  profit. 

Nearly  all  the  produce  raised  within  twenty-five  miles 
of  New  York  is  carted  in  with  teams  by  the  proprietors 
in  the  night.  The  largest  part  is  sold  at  wholesale  to 
dealers  or  middle-men,  between  midnight  and  daylight, 
chiefly  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington  market,  which  until 
recently  was  the  center  of  the  retail  as  well  as  the  whole- 
sale trade.  Three  years  ago,  in  consequence  of  the  great 
throng  of  market  wagons,  which  for  years  had  greatly  im- 
peded business  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city,  a market 
was  established  in  the  vicinity  of  West  Twelfth  street  and 
Tenth  avenue.  Those  who  do  not  sell  at  wholesale  re- 
main until  daylight,  when  the  retail  trade  begins.  The 
grocers  then  come  for  their  daily  supply.  Produce  sent 
by  water  or  rail  is  consigned  to  commission  dealers. 

Twenty  five  years  ago  all  the  milk  supplied  by  Long 
Island  was  produced  within  so  small  a distance  from  the 
city  that  it  was  taken  in  in  wagons.  Market  garden- 
ing becoming  more  profitable,  the  area  of  milk  produc- 
tion was  gradually  extended  eastward  along  the  lines  of 
railroad,  until  at  the  present  time  it  has  assumed  im- 
mense proportions.  Swill  milk  is  still  produced  largely 
in  the  suburbs  of  Brooklyn;  but  that  industry  is  by  com- 
mon consent  ruled  out  as  an  agricultural  pursuit. 

The  selling  of  hay  was  the  first  innovation  upon  the 
old  system  of  stock  raising  as  a source  of  income.  The 
old  theory  that  unless  the  hay  and  corn  were  fed  upon 
the  land  its  fertility  would  be  reduced  was  soon  exploded; 
and  the  wisdom  of  the  new  enterprise  was  demonstrated 
by  the  fact  that  the  returns  from  the  sale  of  hay  were  so 
much  greater  than  from  the  sale  of  stock  that  the  farmer 
could  afford  to  buy  stable  manure,  street  sweepings, 
lime  and  ashes  from  the  city  to  apply  to  his  land.  The 
benefits  of  liberal  expenditures  for  these  fertilizers  in 
market  gardening  are  still  more  apparent.  Guano  and 
artificial  or  manufactured  fertilizers  have  been  largely 
used  with  good  results;  but  after  being  applied  for  a 
series  of  years  their  efficacy  is  so  diminished  that  they 
are  generally  abandoned,  and  the  more  bulky  articles 
named  are  resumed. 

On  the  margins  of  creeks  along  the  south  side  of  the 
island  are  immense  shell  banks  left  by  the  Indians;  these 
clam  or  quahaug  shells  have  been  burnt  and  the  lime  used 
profitably.  The  fish  called  menhaden,  however,  has  been 


46 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


most  largely  employed.  Thompson,  in  his  history  of 
Long  Island,  published  in  1839,  estimated  that  a hundred 
million  were  annually  taken  for  that  purpose.  He  says: 
“ The  profusion  of  this  species  of  fish  and  the  consequent 
cheapness  of  the  article  will  probably  always  insure  its 
use  in  those  parts  of  the  island  where  they  abound.”  But 
the  establishment  of  factories  for  extracting  oil  from  them 
has  long  since  precluded  their  use,  although  the  refuse  is 
dried  and  sold  under  the  name  of  fish  guano. 

Whether  the  great  plains  have  deteriorated  in  fertility, 
or  whether  by  an  improved  system  of  husbandry  it  is  more 
profitable  to  pasture  cattle  only  on  the  farm,  it  is  difficult 
to  determine;  but  the  fact  is  that,  in  place  of  hundreds  of 
cattle  and  thousands  of  sheep  which  once  subsisted  upon 
its  abundant  grasses  from  May  until  October,  it  is  now  a 
rare  occurrence  to  see  even  a drove  of  a dozen  or  two 
cows  attended  by  a boy,  and  there  are  no  sheep. 

Montauk  Point  is  about  forty  miles  long  and  contains 
nine  thousand  acres.  It  has  been  owned  in  common  by 
about  forty  individuals  in  shares.  It  has  never  been 
tilled  or  used  for  any  purpose  other  than  pasturage,  each 
owner  being  entitled  to  place  upon  it  seven  cattle  or  forty- 
nine  sheep  per  share. 

There  are  more  than  one  hundred  square  miles  or 
seventy  thousand  acres  of  salt  meadows  bordering  the 
bays  and  harbors  of  Long  Island.  From  these  marshes 
immense  quantities  of  hay  are  taken,  which  with  corn 
stalks  is  largely  used  for  wintering  young  stock  and  dry 
cattle.  There  are  three  kinds  of  grasses  growing  upon 
them,  distinguished  by  the  names  of  sedge,  salt  and  black 
grass. 

The  scarcity  and  advance  in  the  price  of  farm  labor,  as 
well  as  the  advantages  attending  their  use,  have  caused 
the  introduction  of  the  best  farm  implements  and  agricul- 
tural machinery.  Stones  are  used  to  some  extent  as  fenc- 
ing material  where  they  are  available,  but  by  far  the 
largest  part  of  the  island  is  entirely  destitute  of  stones 
large  enough  for  the  purpose.  Chestnut  timber  is  abund- 
ant on  all  the  rolling  woodlands,  and  furnishes  the  ma- 
terial for  about  all  the  farm  fences. 

Why  the  attention  of  cranberry  culturists  has  not  been 
attracted  to  Long  Island  ere  this  it  is  hard' to  tell.  The 
southern  portion  is  watered  for  miles  by  numerous  streams 
bordered  by  bogs  now  almost  worthless,  which  could 
easily  be  converted  into  cranberry  swamps.  It  is  a well 
known  fact  that  many  a piece  of  marsh  capable  of  being 
made  to  produce  an  annual  profit  of  hundreds  of  dollars 
produces  nothing  now  but  coarse  grass  and  bushes  and  a 
fine  specimen  of  Long  Island  mosquito. 

The  soil  of  the  southern  half  of  the  island,  beginning 
at  the  foot  of  the  line  of  hills  which  divide  it  through  its 
entire  length,  is  alluvial,  and  of  comparatively  recent  for- 
mation. Vegetable  matter  and  loam  are  deficient,  sand 
preponderating.  The  action  of  the  water  appears  to  have 
taken  away  a portion  of  its  soluble  minerals.  The  soil, 
being  of  light,  friable  character,  is  adapted  to  garden 
farming,  whereas  a clay  soil  by  constant  tillage  becomes 
still  more  tenacious. 

The  Hempstead  plains,  which,  through  a mistaken  pol- 


icy, have  until  recently  been  held  as  public  domain,  are 
susceptible  of  remunerative  cultivation.  The  soil,  which 
is  composed  of  black  sand  and  vegetable  mould,  is  a foot 
or  more  in  depth.  The  hollows  which  cross  the  tract  at 
regular  intervals  appear  to  have  been  ancient  water 
courses,  with  but  little  and  in  some  places  no  soil  to  cover 
the  substratum  of  coarse  gravel  which  appears  to  underlie 
the  whole  formation.  There  is  another  and  still  more  ex- 
tensive tract  extending  eastward  from  the  plains,  reaching 
to  the  head  of  Peconic  Bay,  composed  so  nearly  of  pure 
sand  as  to  be  incapable  of  profitable  cultivation  by  any 
process  now  known.  Scrub  oak  and  pines,  with  a little 
wiry  grass,  which  usually  dries  up  in  the  hot  summer 
sun,  are  the  only  products.  The  northern  and  hilly  or 
undulating  half  of  the  island  has  a soil  rich  in  the  mineral 
elements  and  phosphates  essential  to  plant  growth.  Hence 
wheat,  potatoes,  cabbage  and  other  strong  growing  crops 
are  more  successfully  grown  than  on  the  alluvial  portions 
of  the  island. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


FORMATION  AND 


GROWTH  OF  THE 
TORICAL  SOCIETY. 


LONG  ISLAND  HIS- 


_nHE  first  steps  toward  the  formation  of  the 
Long  Island  Historical  Society  were  natur- 
ally taken  by  a native  Long  Islander,  who 
had  affinities  by  birth,  marriage  and  resi- 
dence with  each  of  the  three  counties.  He  pre- 
pared and  caused  to  be  widely  distributed  the 
following  circular: 

Brooklyn,  February  14th,  1863. 

Dear  Sir:  The  time  has  arrived  when  the  city  of 
Brooklyn  should  found  and  foster  institutions — religious, 
historical,  literary,  scientific,  educational  and  humani- 
tarian— beyond  the  scope  of  former  undertakings  As 
one  of  these  a historical  society  associated  with  our 
peculiar  geographical  position  naturally  suggests  itself. 
We  propose  to  establish. 

THE  LONG  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  threefold  Indian,  Dutch  and  English  history  of 
the  island  is  full  of  interest,  and  there  are  doubtless  con- 
cealed treasures  in  each  department,  which  will  be  de- 
veloped by  research  and  inquiry.  By  calling  out  the 
recollections  of  the  living  who  will  soon  pass  awav, 
drawing  public  records  and  private  writings  from  their 
concealment,  having  a fit  place  for  the  collection  and  de- 
posit of  trophies,  memorials  and  historic  materials,  and 
also  for  conventions  and  lectures  upon  historic  topics,  it 
cannot  be  doubted  that  much  valuable  knowledge  will  be 
saved  and  communicated  which  would  otherwise  be  irre- 
trievably lost. 

It  is  proposed  to  establish,  first,  a library  and  repository 
of  books,  documents  and  manuscripts,  memorials,  trophies 
and  pictures.  For  this  purpose  all  persons  are  requested 
to  favor  us  with  any  appropriate  material  in  their  posses- 
sion, either  by  gift  or  on  deposit. 


THE  LONG  ISLAND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


47 


It  is  also  proposed  to  encourage  lectures  upon  historic 
and  kindred  topics. 

Without  further  developing  our  plans  and  objects  in 
this  circular,  we  invite  your  attendance  at  the  rooms  of 
the  Hamilton  Literary  Association,  Hamilton  Building, 
corner  of  Court  and  Joralemon  streets,  Brooklyn  (the  door 
nearest  the  corner),  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday  March  3d 
1863,  at  8 o’clock,  to  take  measures  to  organize  the 
society. 

Henry  C.  Murphy,  J 

Alden  J.  Spooner, 

John  Greenwood,  } Kings  County. 

John  Winslow, 

Joshua  M.  Van  Cott,  J 


R.  C.  McCormick  jr., 
Henry  Onderdonkjr, 


Queens  County. 


Henry  P.  Hedges,  Suffolk  County. 

At  the  time  and  place  mentioned  there  was  an  unusual 
attendance  of  the  educated  and  progressive  citizens. 
Other  meetings  were  held  in  the  same  place,  which  devel- 
oped a warm  interest.  The  subject  was  debated  in  a be- 
coming spirit,  the  society  was  resolved  upon,  and  appro 
priate  committees  were  appointed  to  prepare  an  act  of 
incorporation  under  the  general  law  and  a constitution 
and  by-laws,  and  provide  the  requisite  rooms.  The  or- 
ganization was  ultimately  effected,  and  rooms  were  se- 
cured under  the  Hamilton  rooms,  on  the  corner  of 
Court  and  Joralemon  streets. 

The  first  election  of  officers  took  place  in  these  rooms 
in  May  1863,  the  following  full  board  being  elected: 

President,  James  C.  Brevoort;  first  vice-president,  John 
Greenwood;  second,  Charles  E.  West;  foreign  correspond- 
ing secretary,  Henry  C.  Murphy;  home  corresponding 
secretary,  John  Winslow;  recording  secretary,  A.  Cooke 
Hull,  M.  D.;  treasurer,  Charles  Congdon;  librarian,  Henry 

R.  Stiles. 

Directors. — Charles  Congdon,  Roswell  Graves,  Thomas 
W.  Field,  A.  C.  Hull,  M.  D.,  J.  M.  Van  Cott,  Ethelbert 

S.  Mills,  R.  S.  Storrs  jr.,  D.  D.,  Henry  R.  Stiles,  M.  D., 
A.  N.  Littlejohn,  D.  D.,  Charles  E.  West,  LL.  D.,  A.  A. 
Low,  George  W.  Parsons,  Alden  J.  Spooner,  John  AVins- 
low,  S.  B.  Chittenden,  Hon.  John  Greenwood,  George  A. 
Stephenson,  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  William  Poole, 
Henry  Sheldon,  J.  Carson  Brevoort,  W.  I.  Budington, 

D.  D.,  Elias  Lewis  jr.,  Theodore  L.  Mason,  M.  D.,  Henry 

E.  Pierpont. 

Counsellors. — Kings  County:  Hon.  John  A.  Lott,  Francis 
Vinton,  D.  D.,  T.  G.  Bergen,  F.  A.  Farley,  D.  D.,  Ben- 
jamin D.  Silliman.  Hon.  James  Humphrey.  Queens 
County:  AVilliam  Cullen  Bryant,  Hon.  John  A.  King, 
Richard  C.  McCormick,  John  Harold,  L.  B.  Prince,  Sol- 
omon D.  Townsend.  Suffolk  County:  Hon.  Selah  B. 
Strong,  Hon.  J.  L.  Smith,  William  S.  Pelletreau,  James  H. 
Tuth ill.  Rev.  E.  Whitaker,  Henry  P.  Hedges. 

Executive  committee. — R.  S.  Storrs  jr.,  D.  D.  (chair- 
man), J.  M.  Van  Cott,  Alden  J.  Spooner,  E.  S.  Mills, 
George  W.  Parsons,  Henry  Sheldon,  Simeon  B.  Chitten- 
den, Henry  R.  Stiles  (secretary). 

The  first  annual  meeting  (second  year)  was  held  May 
5th  1864,  at  which  all  the  above  officers  were  re-elected 
and  the  first  annual  report  was  presented,  which  exhibits 


a beginning  of  great  vigor  and  hopefulness.  In  this  re- 
port Dr.  Henry  R.  Stiles,  the  librarian,  says: 

“ The  nucleus  of  a library,  with  which  we  commenced 
our  operations  on  the  4th  of  June  last,  comprised  about 
800  bound  volumes  and  1,000  unbound  volumes  and 
pamphlets.  This  collection,  consisting  chiefly  of  works 
relating  to  Long  Island  and  American  local  history, 
family  genealogies  and  newspapers,  was  contributed 
mainly  by  Messrs.  J.  C.  Brevoort,  A.  J.  Spooner,  E.  B. 
Spooner,  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.  and  Henry  R.  Stiles.  We 
then  occupied  two  apartments,  one  used  as  a lecture- 
room;  the  other  and  smaller  of  the  two  was  shelved  as  a 
library  room,  having,  as  we  then  modestly  thought,  ample 
accommodations  for  the  next  two  years.  We  soon  found, 
however,  that  we  had  quite  underestimated  the  liberality 
of  our  friends;  for  so  large  was  their  sympathy,  so  active 
their  co-operation,  and  so  steady  the  influx  of  their  gifts 
— never  intermitting  for  a single  day,  it  might  almost  be 
said  for  a single  moment — that  it  soon  became  evident 
we  should  need  more  book  room.  At  this  point  in  our 
history  (in  September  1863)  the  receipt  of  nearly  1,100 
valuable  volumes  from  the  trustees  of  the  former  City 
library  fairly  overwhelmed  our  slender  accommodations, 
and  obliged  us  to  extend  our  borders  by  securing  three 
large  and  commodious  apartments  adjoining  the  library.” 

These  claims  for  additional  space,  made  by  the  natural 
history  and  museum  department  as  well  as  the  library, 
soon  compelled  the  occupation  of  the  entire  third  stories 
of  the  two  large  buildings  which  front  on  Court  and 
corner  on  Joralemon  street,  comprising  eight  ample  and 
convenient  rooms,  there  being  one  reading  room  espec- 
ially for  ladies,  with  cosey  alcoves  for  books  and  appro- 
priate spaces  for  a large  collection  of  valuable  pictures. 
In  these  rooms  the  collections  remained  until  removed  to 
the  society’s  own  building.  Even  to  this  space  had  to  be 
added,  for  the  annual  courses  of  lectures,  the  large  lec- 
ture room  of  the  Packer  Institute,  near  at  hand  on  Joral- 
emon street;  and  at  times  the  Athenaeum,  Atlantic  av- 
enue and  Clinton  street.  For  additional  space  for  the 
lectures  the  society  for  several  years  latterly  has  occupied 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Clinton  and  Fulton 
streets;  and  for  some  of  the  lectures  of  1880-81  the  beau- 
tiful auditorium  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Pierrepont 
and  Clinton  streets. 

The  society  having  been  greatly  favored  in  the  accum- 
ulation of  the  materials  of  history,  a spirit  sprung  up 
among  the  members  of  individual  and  mutual  labor  on 
works  of  local  history.  The  principal  of  these  were: 

A History  of  Brooklyn,  in  three  volumes,  by  Henry  R. 
Stiles. 

The  AVallabout  Series  of  Memoirs  of  the  Prison  Ships, 
with  annotations  by  Henry  R.  Stiles. 

Journal  by  two  Labadists,  Dankers  and  Sluyter,  of  a 
voyage  to  New  Netherland  from  Holland  in  1679-80. 

History  of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  by  Thomas  W. 
Field. 

The  Campaign  of  1776  around  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn, including  particulars  of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island, 
by  H.  P.  Johnson. 

Sketch  of  the  first  settlement  of  Long  Island,  by  Silas 
Wood;  reprinted  with  biography  and  address  by  A.  J. 
Spooner. 

History  of  Brooklyn,  by  Gabriel  Furman;  reprinted 
with  biography  by  A.  J.  Spooner,  and  notes  by  H.  R.  Stiles. 

Revolutionary  Incidents  in  Kings,  Queens  and  Suffolk, 
by  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  of  Jamaica. 


48 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 


Dr.  Stiles  resigned  his  office  of  librarian,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  George  Hannah,  who  has  served  since  July 
ist  1865. 

The  collections  in  books  and  objects  of  art  and  curios- 
ity increased  so  largely  as  to  make  an  irresistible  appeal 
for  the  always  contemplated  building;  and  about  three 
years  ago  the  board  resolved  upon  a determined  effort. 
An  active  committee  was  appointed,  which  prosecuted 
the  work  with  zeal  and  success.  In  November  1877  it 
was  reported  that  $roo,ooo  had  been  subscribed.  Plans 
were  solicited,  and  those  of  George  B.  Post,  a New  York 
architect,  were  preferred.  Under  his  care  the  building 
has  proceeded,  and  it  was  formally  taken  possession  of, 
with  appropriate  ceremonies  and  speeches,  Wednesday 
January  12th  1881,  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  new  build- 
ing. Samuel  McLean  was  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee. The  number  of  subscribers  to  the  building  fund 
was  exactly  300.  The  amount  subscribed  was  $137,684. 
The  cost  of  the  building  was  $121,250.  The  three  lots 
on  which  it  stands  cost  in  1867  $32,500,  on  which  $20,- 
000  was  then  paid  by  subscribers,  leaving  a mortgage  of 
$14,500;  this  was  paid  off  on  the  delivery  of  the  building, 
and  a balance  of  $2,000  paid  to  the  society.  The  society, 
like  the  Academy  of  Music  and  the  Mercantile  Library, 
has  demonstrated  the  high-toned  intelligence  and  liberality 
of  the  “City  of  Churches”  in  whatever  concerns  its  re- 
ligious, moral  or  social  welfare.  Among  the  benefactors 
of  the  society  (much  too  numerous  to  mention  all,  or  even 
the  leading  contributors)  should  be  named  the  two  sisters 
Thurston,  who  gave  $2,000  for  a department  of  the  his- 
tory of  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  and  Miss  Maria  Cary, 
who  subscribed  $2,500  to  found  a department  of  American 
biography.  An  unknown  giver  donated  $2,000  as  the 
nucleus  of  a permanent  fund  for  increasing  the  library. 
The  principal  addition  to  this  fund  has  been  Mr.  Seney’s 
gift  of  $50,000,  while  he  also  gave  $12,000  for  immediate 
expenditure  in  books,  and  $25,000  for  binding  books. 
There  are  other  invested  funds  for  special  departments. 

The  society  is  now  established  and  fully  equipped  in  its 
new  and  superb  building,  Clinton  and  Pierrepont  streets, 
Brooklyn.  The  number  of  books  in  the  library  is  about 
30,000,  with  about  an  equal  number  of  pamphlets.  To 
these  there  has  been  a large  addition  of  rare  and  valuable 


books  in  every  department  from  the  splendid  donations 
made  for  such  purpose. 

The  museum  and  natural  history  department  is  ar- 
ranged in  the  spacious  upper  hall  of  the  building,  and  is 
under  the  competent  and  energetic  care  of  Elias  Lewis  jr., 
whose  reputation  as  a naturalist  and  scientist  is  well  known 
on  the  island.  The  collections  have  since  the  removal 
been  furnished  with  appropriate  cases  for  their  full  display. 

For  all  the  privileges  of  the  library,  museum  and  lec- 
tures the  fees  are  $5  for  initiation  and  the  same  amount 
annually;  life  membership  $100.  There  are  over  1,300 
annual  and  life  members. 

At  the  last  election  for  officers  of  the  society  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  chosen: 

President,  Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.;  first 
vice-president,  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy',  LL.  D.;  second 
vice-president,  Hon.  Joshua  M.  Van  Cott;  foreign  corre- 
sponding secretary,  Hon.  Benjamin  D.  Silliman;  home 
corresponding  secretary,  Rev.  Charles  H.  Hall,  D.  D.; 
recording  secretary,  Chauncey  L.  Mitchell,  M.  D.;  treas- 
urer, A.  W.  Humphreys;  librarian,  George  Hannah; 
curator,  Elias  Lewis  jr. 

Directors. — Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.; 
Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  LL.  D.,  Samuel  McLean,  Alfred 
S.  Barnes,  Rev.  Charles  H.  Hall,  D.  D.,  James  R.  Taylor, 
Henr  y E.  Pierrepont,  A.  Abbott  Low,  Henry  Sheldon, 
Walter  T.  Hatch,  Alexander  M.  White,  Bryan  H.  Smith, 
Hon.  Simeon  B.  Chittenden,  Hon.  Benjamin  D.  Silliman, 
J.  Carson  Brevoort,  LL.  D.,  Hon.  Joshua  M.  Van  Cott, 
Edwards  S.  Sanford,  Rev.  Alfred  P.  Putnam,  D.  D.,  Elias 
Lewis  jr.,  Chauncey  L.  Mitchell,  M.  D.,  John  S.  Ward, 
George  I.  Seney,  Joseph  C.  Hutchinson,  M.  D.,  A.  W. 
Humphreys,  Henry  D.  Polhemus. 

Councillors. — Kings  county:  Alden  J.  Spooner,  Rt.  Rev. 

A.  N.  Littlejohn,  D.  D.,  Hon.  J.  S.  T.  Stranahan,  Abraham 

B.  Baylis,  Peter  C.  Cornell,  David  M.  Stone,  Hon.  John 
Greenwood,  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Farley,  D.  D.,  Prof.  Darwin 

G.  Eaton,  George  L.  Nichols,  Rev.  N.  H.  Schenck,  D.  D., 
Hon.  Joseph  Neilson.  Queens  county:  Henry  Onder- 
donk  jr.,  William  Floyd  Jones,  John  A.  King,  Benjamin 
D.  Hicks,  Henry  W.  Eastman.  Suffolk  county:  James 

H.  Tuthill,  Hon.  J.  Lawrence  Smith,  Hon.  John  R.  Reed, 
Rev.  Epher  Whitaker, William  Nicol,  Samuel  B.  Gardiner. 


HISTORY  OF 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


CIVIL  HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY — CRIMES  AND  PEN- 
ALTIES— THE  COURT-HOUSE — OFFICIALS. 


jPp^ROM  the  first  settlement  of  the  towns  till  the 
^ English  conquest  in  1664  minor  offenses 
were  tried  in  the  town  courts,  without  ap- 
peal; but  graver  cases  were  appealable  to 
the  Dutch  governor  in  New  Amsterdam. 
1665  Richard  Nicolls,  the  English  governor, 
ordered  a convention  to  assemble  at  Hempstead, 
which  promulgated  “ the  duke’s  laws,”  a written  copy  of 
which  remains  on  file  in  some  of  the  towns  to  this  day. 
In  1683  the  General  Assembly  repealed  some  of  the  ob- 
jectionable laws,  and  appointed  town  courts  to  be  held 
monthly  and  a court  of  sessions  to  be  held  annually  at 
Jamaica;  also  a yearly  court  of  oyer  and  terminer.  At 
this  session  of  the  Assembly  Queens  county  was  created 
from  what  had  been  Yorkshire.  In  1691  the  courts  of 
common  pleas  and  general  sessions  were  organized  more 
definitely. 

Most  of  the  court  records  have  been  dispersed  or  lost. 
A few  tattered  volumes  may  be  yet  found  in  the  clerk’s 
offices  of  the  several  towns.  A volume  of  the  minutes  of 
the  common  pleas  and  general  sessions  from  1720  to 
1774  is  still  preserved  in  the  county  clerk's  office.  Judge 
Lewis  Morris  has  left  a volume  of  his  minutes  of  the  su- 
preme court  and  oyer  and  terminer  from  1722  to  1746. 

The  judges  were  pompous.  Those  of  the  supreme 
court  wore  red  silk  gowns,  flowing  wigs  of  powdered 
hair,  breeches  buckled  at  the  knee,  stockings  and  shoes 
fastened  on  with  very  large  silver  buckles.  They  had  a 
high  sense  of  their  dignity.  A body  of  soldiers  at  the 
beginning  of  a court  escorted  the  judges  from  their 
lodgings  to  the  court-house,  attended  with  much  com- 
pany, in  great  pomp,  with  trumpets  and  other  music  be- 


fore them.  One  Samuel  Bownas  having  (in  1702) 
preached  against  the  sacraments  and  baptism  of  the 
Church  of  England,  the  chief  justice,  John  Bridges,  had 
a desire  to  have  him  indicted  for  that  offense.  He 
charged  the  grand  jury,  having  first  called  over  their 
names,  and  sent  them  out  to  find  a true  bill  against  him. 
Bownas  had  taken  the  precaution  to  lay  before  the  jury 
some  minutes  of  his  proposed  defense,  and  when  they 
returned  into  court  they  presented  the  bill  against  him 
indorsed  “ Ignoramus .”  The  judge  was  very  angry  and 
demanded  their  reasons.  A grand  juror  answered,  “We 
are  sworn  to  keep  our  deliberations  secret.”  The  judge 
was  nettled  and  replied:  “Now  Mr.  Wiseman  speaks! 
You  are  not  so  sworn,  and  I have  a mind  to  lay  you  by 
the  heels  [that  is,  put  you  in  the  stocks]  and  fine  you.” 
The  grand  juror  replied,  “ Neither  grand  nor  petit 
jurors  are  to  be  menaced,  but  are  to  act  freely  and  to  the 
best  of  their  judgment.”  Now  the  judge,  finding  he  had 
not  children  to  deal  with,  began  to  flatter,  and  requested 
the  jury  to  take  back  “ the  bill  ” and  resume  considera- 
tion on  it.  Next  morning  the  judge  asked  the  foreman, 
“ How  find  you  the  bill  ?”  Answer:  “ As  yesterday.” 
The  judge  then  charged  the  jury  with  obstructing  justice. 
The  clerk  then  by  order  of  the  judge  called  over  the 
jurors  singly  to  show  their  reasons.  Some  refused  to  say 
more  than  “ That’s  our  verdict  ”;  others  said,  “ How 
unreasonable  for  the  court  to  try  to  perjure  the  jurors  by 
revealing  their  secrets  !”  The  jury  stood  15  to  7.  This 
angered  the  judge  so  that  he  adjourned  the  court  for  six 
weeks,  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be  kept  closer  than  before 
and  threatened  to  send  him  to  London.  In  October 
1703  the  prisoner  was  again  put  on  trial;  the  sheriff 
called  18  men  for  a grand  jury,  but  they  too  came  into 
court  with  their  bill  signed  “ Ignoramus ,”  which  made 
some  of  the  lawyers  say,  by  way  of  a joke,  that  they  had 
got  into  an  ignoramus  county.  The  prisoner  was  led 
into  court  and  discharged. 

In  1702  the  governor  ordered  the  attorney-general  to 
take  measures  in  the  supreme  court  for  the  removal  from 


5° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


office  of  Justices  John  Talman  and  Jonathan  Whitehead 
for  speaking  disrespectfully  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  In 
1719  some  inhabitants  of  Jamaica  complained  to  the 
governor  of  “ the  evil  doings  ” of  several  of  the  justices 
of  the  peace,  and  “pray  that  they  may  be  ousted  from 
office.  They  are:  (1)  Jonathan  Whitehead,  who  is  a 
common  pleader  for  money  at  the  petty  courts  of  justice, 
whereby  he  makes  j£ 60  per  year,  and  is  a card-player 
also.  He  daily  vexes  and  teases  the  people  of  Newtown 
(for  a debt  which  he  says  they  owe  him)  before  petty 
justices’  courts,  and  once  tried  to  rescue  a prisoner  out 
of  the  officer’s  hands.  (2)  John  Smith,  who  would  not 
notice  informations  made  against  one  John  Turner  for 
speaking  treasonable  words  against  the  king,  and  where 
he  was  sole  judge  has  given  a contrary  judgment,  once 
for  the  plaintiff  and  again  for  the  defendant.  (3)  John 
Clement  favored  Whitehead,  a brother  justice,  in  a case 
where  the  defendant,  refusing  to  pay  an  unjust  assess- 
ment, was  tossed  from  town  to  town  to  wait  on  9 courts 
successively.  (4)  William  Cornell  has  out-braved  the  law 
and  taken  upon  himself  in  his  petty  justice’s  court  to 
give  judgment  on  a case  of  ^3,  expressly  against  the 
letter  of  the  law,  and  has  been  indicted  for  robbing  per- 
sons of  their  fish  and  clothing.  (5)  John  Hunt  has  been 
an  instrument  of  oppression  to  his  poor  neighbors  in 
Newtown.  He  once  summoned  a man  before  him  for  an 
act  done  out  of  the  county,  referred  it  to  arbitration,  then 
resumed  the  action,  and  cast  the  defendant.  Again, 
upon  the  accidental  breaking  of  a shoe-buckle  in  his 
presence,  he  called  a court  and  gave  judgment  against 
the  defendant  for  six  shillings  damages  and  three  dollars 
costs,  without  allowing  him  time  to  prepare  his  defense 
He  has  also  assumed  the  office  of  constable,  and  sum- 
moned a man  to  appear  before  himself  in  his  own  court, 
gave  the  plaintiff  four  shillings  more  than  his  debt,  and 
allowed  six  shillings  to  himself,  there  being  no  evidences. 
And  to  crown  all  they  have,  after  agreement  in  cabal, 
unitedly  and  arbitrarily  turned  out  our  church  wardens, 
fined  each  and  given  out  executions  against  them  with- 
out signifying  their  sentence,  and  have  also  invaded  the 
privileges  of  the  vestry  in  giving  away  the  people’s  money 
without  the  vestry’s  consent.”  The  justices  were  not  re- 
moved from  office. 

In  1773  Governor  Tryon  by  a writ  of  supersedeas  re- 
moved Samuel  Smith,  of  Jamaica,  from  his  office  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace. 

In  1705  Roger  Mompesson,  chief  justice,  held  a court 
in  Jamaica  and  sentenced  one  Samuel  Wood  to  be  burnt 
on  the  cheek,  near  the  nose,  with  the  letter  T (signifying 
thief)  for  stealing  money  and  goods  from  John  Marsh. 

In  1724  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  ordered 
Richard  Bradley,  attorney-general,  to  prosecute  the 
justices  of  Queens  county  for  the  insufficiency  of  their 
jail. 

In  1702  some  people  of  the  county  complained  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  erection  of  a court  of  chancery, 
with  its  exorbitant  fees  and  arbitrary  orders.  In  this 
court  the  Rev.  Joshua  Bloomer  entered  a suit  for  the  re- 
covery of  his  salary.  The  governor,  being  chancellor, 


awarded  him  his  salary  from  the  day  of  his  induction, 
1769  to  1774,  each  party  to  pay  their  own  costs. 

In  1727  Adam  Smith,  for  scandalizing  Justice  Johannes 
Van  Wyck,  was  fined  20  shillings.  In  1744  Ephraim 
Cheeseman  at  the  court  of  sessions  covered  his  head 
with  his  hat  and  refused  to  take  the  oath,  under  pretense 
of  being  a Quaker;  but  as  he  had  no  certificate  thereof 
he  was  committed  to  prison  and  fined  three  shillings  and 
costs.  In  1733,  Justice  James  Dickinson  coming  into 
court  and  telling  them  that  they  (the  judges)  would  not 
do  him  justice,  the  sheriff  was  ordered  to  take  him 
into  custody.  On  his  submission  and  petition  he  was 
discharged. 

In  1729  one  Jacob  Forman  was  tried  for  counterfeit- 
ing. The  court  ordered  the  constable  to  keep  the  jury 
from  meat  and  drink,  fire  or  candle,  till  they  agreed. 

In  1742  one  Abraham  Shulter  pleaded  guilty  to  his  in- 
dictment and  the  court  ordered  him  fifteen  lashes  on  his 
naked  back  immediately. 

Before  the  present  century  Queens  county  had  no  dis- 
trict attorney,  but  one  from  New  York  performed  that 
duty.  The  more  eminent  lawyers  also  resided  in  New 
York.  Among  them  were  Jacob  Regnier  and  Major 
Bickley,  1710;  John  Chanlers,  1723;  Dongan,  Rice,  Kelly, 
Bragg,  William  Smith,  1727;  Lodge,  Lurturg,  1730;  Ben- 
jamin Nicolls,  Anthony  White,  1740;  Crannel,  1753; 
Duane,  Emrnot,  1757;  Reade,  1758;  Burnet,  Alsop,  1760; 
Benjamin  Kissam,  1762;  McKesson,  1769;  Joseph  Reid 
j r. , John  Jay,  1770;  Willetts,  DePeyster,  1772;  Helme, 
Murray,  1772. 

The  practitioners  in  the  inferior  courts  were  residents 
in  the  county,  such  as  Samuel  Clawes,  father  and  son, 
1710-53;  Peter  Chook,  1687;  Slos  and  Whitehead  Hicks, 
1760;  Slos  and  Daniel  Jones  (who  finally  rose  to  em- 
inence), 1760;  Riker,  1763;  Abner  Skinner,  Eliphalet 
Wickes,  B.  F.  Thompson,  William  H.  Barroll,  Thomas  C. 
Pinckney,  1825;  W.  T.  McCoun,  Wessel  S.  Smith,  &c. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county  crimes  of  a deeper 
dye  were  unknown.  The  settlers  were  a sort  of  com- 
munists. They  early  took  measures  to  keep  interlopers 
and  strangers  of  unknown  character  out  of  their  bounds, 
no  sojourner  being  allowed  to  stay  over  a day  and  a night 
unless  his  host  would  become  surety  for  his  good  behavior 
and  save  the  town  from  any  expense  on  his  account.  By 
degrees,  however,  bad  men  got  among  them.  They  had 
also  slaves,  who  being  ignorant  and  brutal,  and  sometimes 
overworked  and  ill-treated,  became  lawless.  The  over- 
seers of  the  towns  could  inflict  the  milder  punishments, 
but  an  appeal  could  usually  be  taken  (under  the  Dutch) 
to  the  director-general  in  New  York.  Under  the  English 
government  courts  of  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  were 
established. 

There  was  no  jail  in  the  county  before  1670,  and  crim- 
inals were  sometimes  sent  to  New  York  for  imprison- 
ment. For  smaller  offenses  the  punishments  were  speedy. 
Offenders  were  banished,  whipped,  set  in  the  stocks  or 
pillory,  and  sometimes  branded  or  “stigmatized”  with  a 
hot  iron.  For  slaves  the  punishments  were  more  severe. 
In  New  York  for  murdering  the  whites  they  were  broken 


PENALTIES  IN  COLONIAL  TIMES. 


on  the  wheel,  suspended  alive  in  an  iron  case  by  chains 
to  a gibbet  and  left  to  starve.  We  will  now  give  some 
instances  of  the  peculiar  punishments  inflicted  by  our 
ancestors  in  Queens  county: 

January  8th  1856  the  court  sentenced  John  Smith,  of 
Newtown,  for  stealing  pigs,  to  be  beaten  severely  with 
rods,  and  then  to  be  marked  and  banished.  July  5th 
1667  Thomas  Etherington,  of  Newtown,  was  sentenced 
to  sit  for  two  hours  in  the  stocks,  for  stealing  two 
hens;  and  his  wife  for  her  misbehavior  to  sit  two 
days  at  the  same,  on  the  next  monthly  court  day.  In 
1668 — “If  John  Jacobson  don’t  return  the  goods  he 
stole  he  shall  be  turned  out  of  Newtown.”  October 
4th  1671  William  Hubbs  was  sentenced  to  a fine  of 
^5  or  to  an  infliction  of  ten  stripes  for  hog  steal- 
ing. In  1672  Andrifes,  a slave  of  William  Lawrence,  was 
given  39  stripes  and  branded  on  the  forehead  with  a 
hot  iron  for  stealing  some  linen  at  Jamaica.  January 
15th  1764  John  Jennings,  for  abstracting  law  papers,  was 
set  in  the  stocks  for  two  hours,  with  a paper  pinned  on 
his  breast,  signifying  his  crime.  February  9th  1674,  there 
being  no  “lock-up”  at  Flushing,  the  court  sent  one 
James,  “ a dangerous  fellow,”  to  New  York  to  be  kept  in 
prison  there.  July  14th  1694  the  tovvn  of  Newtown 
voted  that  a pair  of  stocks  be  set  up.  They  got  worn  out 
by  exposure  to  the  weather,  and  April  3d  17  n it  was 
again  voted  to  build  a pair  of  stocks  for  the  town’s  use. 

William  Howard  was  chosen  “negro  whipper”  of 
Oyster  Bay  from  1717  to  1722.  John  Taylor  was  chosen 
“town  whipper”  from  1733  to  1737;  James  Rosell  from 
1738  to  1740;  William  Ingram  in  1741,  and  in  1733,  at 
town  meeting,  John  Baker  was  chosen  whipper  “for 
Hempstead  and  the  bounds  thereof.”  December  4th 
1727  David  Wallace  and  David  Wilson,  for  passing 
counterfeit  bills,  were  sentenced  to  stand  in  the  pillory  at 
Jamaica  one  hour,  then  to  be  placed  in  a cart  so  as  to  be 
publicly  seen  with  a halter  about  their  necks,  brought  to 
the  public  whipping  post,  and  there  to  receive,  the  former 
thirty-nine  lashes,  the  latter  twenty-eight  stripes;  after 
which  they  were  to  be  imprisoned,  the  former  six  months 
and  the  latter  three  months.  April  4th  1727  Newtown 
voted  that  William  Tallier  should  be  the  “general 
whipper”  for  the  town.  February  20th  1755  Quamino, 
a slave,  having  threatened  a witness,  the  court  ordered 
him  twenty  lashes  on  his  bare  back.  January  18th  1772 
Hempstead  paid  Benjamin  Hall  £1  for  making  a pair  of 
stocks  for  the  town’s  use,  and  in  May  1784  paid  jQ 2 is. 
for  building  another  pair.  April  4th  1772  Joseph  Price 
was  chosen  whipper  for  the  town  of  Jamaica.  In  1773 
the  town  of  Hempstead  ordered  a “cage  ” to  be  erected 
as  a place  of  confinement  for  lesser  criminals.  April  6th 
1784  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  voted  that  one  or  more  pair 
of  stocks  be  erected  where  the  justices  thought  necessary. 
The  town  of  North  Hempstead  voted  in  1785  that  stocks 
be  erected  at  the  public  expense,  and  in  1806  that  stocks 
be  erected  at  William  and  Dobson  Allen’s  inn,  Manhasset. 
November  10th  1788  the  county  court  sentenced  John 
Green  for  horse  stealing  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes  on 
his  naked  back  “ this  afternoon,  and  thirty-nine  more 


to-morrow,  and  then  to  depart  the  county.”  November 
8th  1790  David  Devoe,  for  stealing  a horse  worth  ^5, 
was  sentenced  to  receive  immediately  thirty-nine  lashes 
on  his  bare  back,  “and  the  like  infliction  every  forty- 
eight  hours  until  he  shall  have  received  one  hundred  and 
fifty-six  lashes,  and  then  to  depart  the  county.”  January 
nth  1791  John  Bellard,  of  Newtown,  was  whipped. 
June  nth  1791  there  was  paid  Jonah  Hallett,  sheriff, 
jQ\\  8s.  “ for  executing  a wench  Nelly  and  whipping 
sundry  persons.”  April  4th  1797  it  was  voted  in  town 
meeting  that  a “ cage  ” be  erected  in  Jamaica.  October 
1 2th  1808  there  was  paid  Nicholas  Wyckoff,  sheriff, 
$12.50  as  the  expenses  of  executing  Benjamin  Tuin.  John 
Williams,  constable,  was  paid  $1.50  for  attending  said 
execution.  The  last  whipping  noted  on  the  record  oc- 
curred October  6th  1810. 

February  2nd  1708  an  Indian  “Sam  ” and  a negress, 
slaves  of  William  Hallett  jr.,  of  Newtown,  for  the  mur- 
der of  their  master,  his  wife  and  five  children,  were  burnt 
at  the  stake  at  Jamaica,  and  put  to  all  torments  possible 
for  a terror  to  others.  Water  in  a horn  fastened  to  a 
pole  was  reached  to  their  mouths  to  allay  their  thirst 
and  so  prolong  their  sufferings.  Two  more  negroes 
were  executed  as  accessories  to  the  crime.  December 
17th  1714  Deborah  Gryce  was  executed  at  Jamaica  for 
causing  the  death  of  her  infant  child,  and  January  1st 
1715  a free  negro  woman  was  executed  for  the  same 
crime.  December  30th  1726  Samuel,  a negro  slave  of 
John  Foster,  was  hanged  for  burglary.  September  15th 
1733  Edward  King,  a tinker,  was  hanged  for  killing  Wil- 
liam Smith  on  the  road  near  Flushing,  by  a stab  in  the 
breast  with  a knife.  October  13th  1740  Richard  Combs 
was  hanged  for  burglary  in  robbing  the  house  of  John 
Hinchman,  in  Jamaica,  of  money  and  goods.  November 
2nd  1784  William  Guthrie  and  Joseph  Alexander  were 
hanged  at  Jamaica  for  robbing  the  house  of  Thomas 
Thorne,  on  the  east  shore  of  Manhasset.  October  15th 
1790  Nellie,  a slave  of  Daniel  Braine,  was  hanged  for 
setting  fire  to  the  house  of  J.  Vanderbilt,  town  clerk  of 
Flushing,  whereby  all  the  town  records  were  consumed. 
October  25th  1793  Absalom,  a negro,  was  hanged  for  a 
robbery  and  assault  on  Miss  Elizabeth  Mercier  on  the 
highway  in  Newtown.  September  8th  1808  Benjamin 
Tuin  was  hanged  for  killing  Adam  Gordon  with  a hoe  at 
Jerusalem;  both  colored;  cause  jealousy.  March  12th 
1853  Thomas  Atchison  was  hanged  for  the  murder  of 
Rulef  Voorhies,  of  Hempstead.  January  15th  1875 
Lewis  Jarvis  and  Elbert  Jackson,  blacks,  were  executed 
for  the  murder  of  Jackson  Jones  at  Jerusalem.  Decem- 
ber 10th  1875  William  Delaney  was  executed. 

It  is  not  easy  to  ascertain  when  the  first  court-house 
and  prison  was  erected,  as  for  many  years  after  the 
settlement  of  the  towns  the  higher  grades  of  crime  were 
tried  and  punished  in  New  York.  In  1674  the  court  of 
Flushing,  for  want  of  a jail  or  “ lock-up,”  sent  one  James, 
“ a dangerous  fellow,”  to  New  York  for  safe-keeping 
there.  For  minor  offenses  the  towns  had  “a  cage  ” for 
brief  imprisonment. 

In  January  1666  it  was  ordered  that  a sessions-house 


52 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and  prison  be  built  in  Jamaica,  and  that  £10  be  levied 
on  the  several  towns  for  that  purpose.  The  people  of 
Jamaica  agreed  to  keep  it  in  repair  for  21  years,  on  con- 
dition of  being  allowed  to  worship  in  it  on  Sundays. 
The  contractor,  William  Hallett,  failed  to  perform  his 
contract,  and  in  1669  the  court  decided  that  the  building 
must  be  completed  by  next  Christmas  day  or  he  be  fined 

^lo- 
in 1702  Samuel  Bownas,  a Friend,  was  imprisoned  here 
for  preaching  against  the  Church  of  England.  He  com- 
plained of  being  put  in  a small  room  made  of  logs,  which 
had  been  protested  against  as  an  unlawful  prison.  His 
friends,  however,  furnished  him  with  a very  good  bed 
and  all  things  necessary  to  life. 

In  1708  divers  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Queens 
county  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for  the  enact- 
ment of  a law  to  repair  or  build  anew  the  County  Hall 
(as  it  was  then  called)  and  the  common  jail. 

In  1710  an  act  was  passed  to  enable  the  supervisors  to 
sell  the  old  hall  and  prison,  and  to  confirm  the  purchase 
of  new  ones.  The  proceedings  seem  to  have  been  dila- 
tory, for  in  1720  a bill  was  brought  into  the  Assembly  to 
empower  the  justices  of  the  county  to  sell  the  hall  and 
jail  in  Jamaica,  and  build  another  where  they  should 
think  most  convenient.  In  1723  they  were  authorized 
to  merely  repair  the  old  buildings;  but  in  1724  another 
bill  was  introduced  in  the  Assembly  to  enable  the  justices 
to  finish  and  complete  the  building  already  erected.  It 
was  not  a perfectly  secure  prison,  for  in  1738  two  prison- 
ers broke  jail,  and  were  advertised  very  minutely.  One, 
William  Wiggins,  had  gray  hair  and  a very  long  visage. 
He  wore  a homespun  coat,  old  sheep-skin  breeches  and 
a broad-brimmed  beaver  hat.  The  other,  Amos  Lang- 
don,  was  slow  of  speech,  had  on  a gray  worsted  coat,  old 
leather  breeches,  dog-skin  shoes  and  a narrow-brimmed 
beaver.  George  Reynolds,  under  sheriff,  offered  ^13  re- 
ward for  their  recovery. 

In  1771  Thomas  Willett,  sheriff,  gave  notice  that  two 
Jews,  Levi  Moses  and  Theodorus  Benjamin,  having  been 
imprisoned  many  years  for  debt,  broke  jail.  The  jail 
was  much  used  for  the  imprisonment  of  debtors.  Joseph 
Smith  and  Nathaniel  Pearsall  lay  there  many  years. 
Though  they  offered  to  give  up  all  their  property,  their 
creditors  were  inexorable.  They  finally  (1741)  petitioned 
the  General  Assembly  for  relief.  Negroes  found  roam- 
ing around  the  country  without  a pass  were  also  liable  to 
be  taken  up  and  put  in  jail.  Thus  in  1762  William 
Watts  arrested  a negro  fellow  in  the  meadows  near  Ja- 
maica, who  probably  spoke  either  Spanish  or  French,  for 
he  would  not  speak  English.  In  1764  Daniel  Hewlett 
put  a negro  man  in  jail  who  said  his  master’s  name  was 
Joseph  Hendricks.  “ The  owner  may  have  him  (if  he 
don’t  get  out  of  jail)  on  paying  for  trouble  and  charges.” 
He  wore  a hat  with  no  brim,  old  stocking-leggins,  blue 
breeches  and  no  shoes. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  British  commander 
tore  down  the  old  court-house  and  carried  off  the  ma- 
terials to  construct  barracks  and  huts  for  the  soldiers 
stationed  in  and  around  Jamaica,  so  that  at  the  peace  in 


1783  there  was  no  place  for  confining  prisoners.  They 
were  kept  under  a guard  of  militia  temporarily  and  then 
sent  off  to  New  York  for  safe  keeping.  Very  considera- 
ble expenses  were  incurred  in  thus  escorting  prisoners 
to  and  from  the  city  by  a body  of  mounted  militia. 

The  old  stone  Presbyterian  church  was  used  as  a court- 
house in  1784,  when  two  robbers  were  sentenced  to  be 
hanged  at  Beaver  Pond.  In  that  year  the  agitation  of 
the  site  of  a new  jail  and  court-house  had  been  com- 
menced. The  eastern  people  petitioned  the  Legislature 
to  have  it  set  at  the  west  end  of  Hempstead  Plains;  the 
western  people  prayed  that  any  future  building  might  be 
at  or  near  the  old  site  in  Jamaica.  The  Legislature, 
taking  all  the  petitions  into  consideration,  decided 
(March  31st  1785)  on  a geographical  center,  and  that 
^2,000  should  be  raised  by  the  supervisors  to  build  a 
court-house  and  jail  within  a mile  of  the  “ Windmill 
Pond  ” at  or  near  the  house  of  Benjamin  Cheeseman, 
near  the  south  bounds  of  North  Hempstead;  “ and  that 
till  it  be  completed  courts  shall  be  held  at  Jamaica.” 
The  judges  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  were  author- 
ized to  superintend  its  erection  with  good  economy. 
The  bill  of  Judge  Timothy  Smith  for  such  superintend- 
ing from  May  13th  1785  to  June  2nd  1787  was  at  the  rate 
of  ^,50  for  six  months;  and  yet  the  taxpayers  of  that  day 
thought  he  was  unnecessarily  spinning  out  the  job  ! 
What  would  they  have  said  could  they  have  witnessed 
the  process  of  the  erection  of  the  present  one? 

February  8th  1787  the  sheriff  petitioned  the  Legislature 
for  an  act  to  remove  the  Queens  county  prisoners  from 
the  jail  in  New  York  to  the  jail  just  completed  in  Queens 
county. 

In  1790,  February  9th,  the  first  capital  trial  was  held 
here  before  Judge  Robert  Yates,  when,  on  motion  of 
Aaron  Burr,  attorney  general,  two  negro  slaves,  Nelly 
and  Sarah,  for  arson,  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged  on 
Friday,  October  15th,  at  some  public  place  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  court-house. 

In  1798  the  sum  of  ^200  was  raised  for  completing 
the  court-house. 

On  court  days  there  was  usually  considerable  excitement 
about  the  house  and  grounds.  Farmers  and  others  otten 
made  a holiday  of  it.  Many  resorted  thither  to  transact 
business  and  meet  acquaintances.  Stands  and  booths  for 
the  sale  of  oysters,  cake  and  beer,  and  other  refreshments 
abounded.  Hilarity  went  beyond  due  bounds,  according 
to  a complaint  made  to  General  Jay  by  Cadwallader  D. 
Colden,  assistant  attorney  general  (January  29th  1799), 
wherein  he  says:  “ The  court  of  Queens  county  is  at  all 
times  the  least  orderly  of  any  court  I ever  was  in.  The 
entry  of  the  court-house  is  lined  on  court  days  with  the 
stalls  of  dram  sellers  and  filled  with  drunken  people,  so 
as  to  be  almost  impassable.”  About  1825-27,  when  the 
sheriff  was  prohibited  from  selling  liquor  in  the  court- 
house, he  evaded  the  law  by  erecting  a shed  against  the 
front  of  the  building,  and  so  sold  liquor  and  passed  it 
through  a window  into  the  court-house. 

On  Sunday  night,  January  18th  1801,  Walter  Dunlevy, 
who  was  sentenced  to  fourteen  years’  imprisonment  in 


THE  COURT  HOUSE— COUNTY  OFFICERS. 


53 


the  State  prison  for  manslaughter,  was  rescued  from  this 
jail  by  his  confederates.  Two  armed  men  came  to  the 
bedside  of  Willett  Lawrence,  under  sheriff,  bid  him  keep 
silent  at  his  peril,  took  the  key  and  let  out  the  prisoner, 
and  then  locked  in  the  sheriff.  Dunlevy  was  discovered 
on  a ship  bound  for  Europe,  and  put  for  safe  keeping  in 
the  Bridewell  at  New  York. 

Political  meetings,  fairs  and  other  public  gatherings  were 
often  held  at  the  court-house,  and  the  New  Market  race 
course  was  near  it  till  1821;  but  latterly  the  opening  of 
the  North  Hempstead  turnpike  and  several  railroads  had 
made  other  places  of  more  convenient  access.  There 
were  formerly  three  inns  or  houses  of  entertainment, viz.: 
Daniel  Seely’s,  who  also  kept  a blacksmith  shop;  Cheese- 
man’s,  and  that  of  the  incumbent  of  the  court-house.  As 
the  prisoners  were  then  few  there  were  several  spare  rooms. 
He  also  prepared  dinners  on  court  days. 

The  lack  of  accommodations  on  court  days  provoked 
great  deal  of  dissatisfaction  among  the  judges  and  law- 
yers, and  after  a great  deal  of  maneuvering  and  jobbery 
it  was  decided  that  a court-house  and  jail  should  be 
erected  at  Long  Island  City.  The  new  edifice  was  form- 
ally turned  over  to  the  board  of  supervisors  March  29th 
1877.  The  Legislature  had,  in  1872,  appointed  commis- 
sioners to  build  it  and  appropriated  $150,000;  but  in  1875 
the  Legislature  voted  $100,000  additional,  and  put 
the  building  in  the  hands  of  the  supervisors  to  complete 
it.  The  edifice  is  three  stories  high,  of  Roman  architect- 
ure, built  of  brick  with  granite  trimmings.  The  interior 
trimmings  are  hard  wood  oiled.  The  first  floor  contains 
the  sheriff’s  and  supervisors’  rooms,  with  spacious  vaults 
and  also  reception  rooms.  On  the  second  floor  is  the 
court-room,  and  at  the  sides  are  the  judges’  rooms,  wait- 
ing rooms,  and  rooms  for  the  jurors,  grand  jury  and  dis- 
trict attorney.  The  jail  is  in  the  rear.  It  will  accommo- 
date 200  prisoners.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building  was 
$276,000,  with  an  addition  of  $2,500  for  gas  fixtures  and 
furniture.  The  building  was  formally  occupied  by  the 
sheriff  in  April  1877. 

We  close  this  sketch  of  the  civil  history  of  the  county 
with  lists  of  its  officers  and  representatives  in  legislative 
bodies. 

County  Judges. — A court  of  common  pleas  was  estab- 
lished for  the  county  in  1691.  The  judge  was  assisted 
by  two  or  more  justices.  Judges  were  appointed  as  fol- 
lows: 

Thomas  Hicks,  1691;  John  Coe,  1699;  Thomas  Wil- 
lett, May  1702;  John  Coe,  July  1710;  Thomas  Willett, 
1723;  Isaac  Hicks,  1730;  David  Jones,  1734;  Isaac 
Hicks,  April  6th  1738;  James  Hazard,  1740;  Thomas 
Hicks,  November  23d  1748;  John  Lloyd,  February  T4th 
1784;  Benjamin  Coe,  March  5th  1793;  John  W.  Sea- 
man, March  13th  1806;  Cary  Dunn  jr.,  January  26th 
1809;  Effingham  Lawrence,  April  23d  1818;  James 

Lent,  February  5th  1823;  Singleton  Mitchell,  May  2nd 
1829;  Benjamin  W.  Strong,  April  8th  1834;  David  S. 
Jones,  January  17th  1840;  Henry  I.  Hagner,  April  18th 
1843;  Isaac  E.  Haviland,  March  5th  1846;  William  J. 
Cogswell  ( vice  Hagner,  deceased),  1849;  Morris  Fosdick, 
November  1849;  Elias  J.  Beach,  November  1857;  John 
J.  Armstrong  (the  present  judge),  November  1865. 

Surrogates. — Probate  of  wills  was  formerly  vested  in 


the  court  of  assizes  and  courts  of  sessions.  In  1692  the 
governor  had  this  prerogative.  In  1721  a surrogate  was 
first  appointed  for  Queens  county.  The  incumbents 
have  been  as  follows:  John  Bridges,  January  4th  1721; 
John  Messenger,  October  23d  1735;  Samuel  Clowes  jr., 
November  23d  1748;  Thomas  Braine,  1754;  Samuel 
Clowes,  1759;  Edward  Dawson,  April  23d  1767;  James 
Robinson,  February  5th  1784;  David  Lamberson  jr., 
February  24th  1816;  John  D.  Ditmis,  June  6th  1820; 
John  W.  Seaman,  February  14th  1821;  Nicholas 
Wyckoff,  March  4th  1826;  Henry  I.  Hagner,  April  8th 
1834;  William  J.  Cogswell,  appointed  September  7th 
1849,  vice  Hagner,  deceased;  Morris  F’osdick,  November 
1849;  William  H.  Onderdonk,  November  1865;  James 
W.  Covert,  November  1869;  Alexander  Hagner,  No- 
vember 1873;  Garret  J.  Garretson  (appointed  in  place  of 
Hagner,  deceased),  May  1880;  Charles  De  Kay  Town- 
send, November  1880. 

County  Superintendents  of  Common  Schools  (office  created 
April  17th  1843,  and  abolished  March  12th  1847). — 
Pierpont  Potter,  1843;  Timothy  Titus  jr.,  October  6th 

1845- 

School  Commissioners. — Benjamin  W.  Downing,  April 
1856.  Prior  to  1857  school  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  supervisors;  since  then  they  have  been 
elected  by  the  people.  Queens  county  was  divided  into 
two  districts.  The  commissioners  have  been  as  follows: 
— 1st  District:  Benjamin  W.  Downing,  1858;  Charles  W. 
Brown,  James  W.  Covert,  William  H.  Peckham,  Eugene 
M.  Lincoln,  Andrew  T.  Provost,  Charles  E.  Surdam; 
2nd  District:  Daniel  Clark,  1858;  Dr.  William  D.  Wood, 
Isaac  G.  Fosdick,  Garret  J.  Garretson,  Isaac  G.  Fosdick. 

Sheriffs. — Counties  were  first  erected  in  1683.  Sheriffs 
for  Queens  county  have  been  appointed  or  elected  as 
follows:  Thomas  Willett,  1683;  John  Coe,  December 
13th  1689;  John  Lawrence,  January  19th  1691;  John 
Jackson,  March  21st  1691;  John  Harrison,  December 
1st,  1692;  John  Lawrence,  1698;  Peter  Berrian,  1699; 
Zachariah  Mills,  1700;  Thomas  Hicks,  1702:  Thomas 
Cardale,  1703;  Thomas  Jones,  1704;  Elbert  Willett, 
1705;  Thomas  Cardale,  1706;  Thomas  Willett,  1707; 
Cornelius  Willett,  1708;  William  Creed,  1709;  John 
Everett,  May  6th  1710;  Alexander  Baird,  1712;  Benja- 
min Hicks,  1718;  Samuel  Willett,  1720;  Benjamin  Hicks, 
1723;  Thomas  Hicks,  1727;  Adam  Lawrence,  1735; 
Henry  Hicks,  December  15th  1738;  Adam  Lawrence, 
1744;  John  Van  Wyck,  1747;  Adam  Lawrence,  February 
10th  1753;  Thomas  Willett,  1770;  Uriah  Mitchell,  Feb- 
ruary 4th  1784;  Jonah  Hallett,  February  1st  1788;  Dr. 
Daniel  Mirema,  February  4th  1792;  John  Fleet,  Febru- 
ary 4th  1796;  John  B.  Hicks,  February  7th  1800;  James 
Mitchell,  August  nth  1801;  Nicholas  Wyckoff,  February 
22nd  1806;  John  B.  Hicks,  March  15th  1810;  Jonathan 
Howard,  February  8th  1811;  John  B.  Hicks,  March  12th 
1813;  Jonathan  Howard,  February  13th  1815;  Richard 
Cornell,  February  9th  1819;  Bernard  Bloom,  July  10th 
1819;  Samuel  Mott,  February  12th  1825;  also  elected  in 
November  1822,  and  the  following  in  November  of  the 
years  mentioned:  John  Simonson,  1825;  Samuel  Mott, 
1828;  John  Simonson,  1831;  Thomas  Tredwell,  1834;  El- 
bert Tredwell,  1837 ; Jonathan  T.  Furman,  1840;  John  A. 
Searing,  1843;  Isaac  Willetts,  1846;  Robert  S.  Seabury, 
1849;  George  S.  Downing,  1852;  Bernardus  Hendrickson, 
1 85 5 ; Joseph  Curtis,  1858;  Jacob  Platt  Carll,  1861; 
William  Durland,  1864;  George  Durland,  1867;  Armstead 
C.  Henry,  1870;  Charles  A.  Sammis,  1873;  Benjamin  F. 
Rushmore,  1876;  Alonzo  B.  Wright,  1879. 

County  Clerks  were  formerly  clerks  of  the  common 
pleas,  of  the  sessions  and  of  the  higher  courts.  Since 
1821  they  have  been  chosen  at  the  November  elections. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Clerks  of  Queens  county  have  been  designated  as  follows: 
William  Nicoll,  1683;  Andrew  Gibb,  June  20th  1688; 
Daniel  Denton,  December  20th  1689;  Andrew  Gibb, 
March  24th  1691;  James  Clement,  deputy.  December 
1 6th  1693;  Joseph  Smith,  J uly  1710;  Andrew  Clark,  1722; 
Thomas  Jones,  February  28th  1757;  Whitehead  Hicks, 
deputy,  1757;  Samuel  Clowes,  April  30th  1781;  Robert 
Hinchman,  November  1783;  Abraham  Skinner,  February 
4th  1764;  Daniel  Kissam,  March  12th  1796;  Walter 
Furling,  June  10th  1812;  Edward  Parker,  June  6th  1820; 
Samuel  Sherman,  February  4th  1821;  Samuel  Sherman, 
1822  (P.  Potter,  vice  Sherman,  resigned);  John  Simonson, 
1836;  Abraham  D.  Snedeker,  1842;  Abraham  I).  Snede- 
ker,  1845;  John  C.  Smith,  1848;  Martin  I.  Johnson,  1851; 
Monroe  Henderson,  appointed  vice  Johnson,  deceased, 
March  29th  1855;  Stephen  L.  Spader,  1855;  Elisha  B. 
Baldwin,  1858;  Jonah  T.  Hegeman,  1864;  Robert  Bur- 
roughs, 1867;  John  H.  Sutphin  (the  present  incumbent), 
1870. 

District  Attorneys. — The  office  was  created  in  1801. 
Before  that  time  the  attorney  general  or  his  assistant  of- 
ficiated in  our  courts.  Nathaniel  Lawrence  took  the  po- 
sition February  16th  1796,  and  Cadwallader  Colden  Jan- 
uary 1 6th  1798.  In  and  after  1818  the  county  had  its 
own  prosecuting  officer,  taking  the  office  as  follows:  Eli- 
phalet  Wickes,  1818;  William  T.  McCoun,  1821;  Benja- 
min F.  Thompson,  1826;  William  H.  Barroll,  May  3d 
1836;  Alexander  Hadden, 1842;  John  G.  Lamberson,  June 
1 6th  1847;  William  H.  Onderdonk,  1853;  John  J.  Arm- 
strong, 1859;  Benjamin  W.  Downing  (the  present  attorney) 
1866. 

County  Treasurers:  John  Bowne,  1683;  Daniel  White- 
head,  1884-89;  William  Lawrence,  1700;  Cornelius  Wil 
lett,  1714;  Benjamin  Hicks,  1723;  David  Jones,  1732; 
Thomas  Hicks,  1747;  John  Willett;  Valentine  H.  Peters, 
1757;  Daniel  Kissam,  1759;  George  Townsend,  1783;  Mar- 
tin Schenck,  1787;  John  M.  Smith,  1793;  Judge  William 
Ludlum,  1800;  Silvanus  S.  Smith,  1817;  Lawrence  Denton, 
1825;  Platt  Willets,  1836;  Robert  Cornwell,  1848;  Lewis 
W.  Angevine,  1851;  Thomas  H.  Clowes,  1854;  Lewis  W. 
Angevine,  1857;  Charles  A.  Roe,  1867;  George  W.  Ber- 
gen, 1872;  G.  Edward  Carll,  1875;  Francis  B.  Baldwin, 
1878. 

Metnbers  of  Assembly. — Before  the  Revolution  (1691- 
1775):  Thomas  Cornell,  1737-59,  1761-64;  Benjamin 

Hicks,  1725-37;  Isaac  Hicks,  1716-39;  Thomas  Hicks, 
1701,  1702;  Thomas  Hicks  2nd,  1759-61;  John  Jackson, 
1693-1716;  David  Jones,  1737-61,  (speaker)  1745-52; 
Daniel  Kissam,  1764-75;  Nathaniel  Pearsall,  1691;  John 
Robinson,  1691-83;  Zebulon  Seaman,  1759-75;  Jonathan 
Smith  sen.,  1701,  1702;  John  Tallman,  1701,  1709,  1710; 
John  Townsend,  1709,  1710;  John  Treadwell,  1691; 
Daniel  Whitehead,  1691,  1701-3;  Jonathan  Whitehead, 
1704-9;  Thomas  Willett,  1701,  1710-25. 

From  the  Revolution  to  the  present  constitution  (1777 
-1847):  Benjamin  Birdsall,  1775-83;  Stephen  Carman, 
1788,  1819;  Samuel  Clowes,  1789-96;  Benjamin  Coe, 
1777-1806;  Whitehead  Cornell,  1788-98;  Lewis  Cornwall, 
1796,  1797;  Isaac  Denton,  1800;  John  D.  Ditmis,  1802, 
1804;  Daniel  Duryea,  1786;  Philip  Edsall,  1777-82;  John 
Fleet;  1812-14;  Jonah  Hallett,  1800,  1801;  Isaac  Hicks, 
1792,  1793;  John  D.  Hicks,  1820-23;  Elias  Hicks,  1839; 
Jarvis  Jackson,  1826,1827;  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  1833-35; 
Elbert  F.  Jones,  1845;  Henry  F.  Jones,  1829;  Samuel 
Jones,  1786-90;  William  Jones,  1816-26;  John  A.  King, 
1819,  1840;  Benjamin  T.  Kissam,  1820-23;  Daniel  Kis- 
sam, 1796,  179;  Daniel  Kissam,  1808,  1819;  D. 

Whitehead  Kissam,  1786;  Daniel  Lawrence,  1777-83; 
John  W.  Lawrence,  1841,  1842;  Joseph  Lawrence,  1784, 
1785;  Nathaniel  Lawrence,  1791-96;  Francis  Lewis  j r.. 


1788;  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell,  1791;  Abraham  Monfoort, 
1800  03;  Jacobus  Monfoort,  1808;  Robert  Moore,  1798, 
1799;  William  Mott,  1798,  1807;  Timothy  Nostrand,  1822; 
Hendrick  Onderdonk,  1784;  William  Pearsall,  1796,  1798; 
Harry  Peters,  1794;  Joseph  Pettit,  1800-2;  Samuel  Riker, 
1784;  Colonel  John  Sands,  1784,  1785;  John  Schenck, 
1787-91;  Henry  O.  Seaman,  1803-8;  John  W.  Seaman, 
1806-8;  John  L.  Skidmore,  1798,  1801;  Abraham  Skinner, 
1784,  1785;  John  M.  Smith,  1796-99;  Wessell  S.  Smith, 
1847;  Richard  Thorne,  1787;  Nathaniel  Tom,  1781-83; 
Dr.  James  Townsend,  178487;  William  Townsend, 
1808- r 1;  Thomas  Tredwell,  1820-31;  John  Willis,  1846; 
Solomon  Wooden,  1814,  1815;  Samuel  Youngs,  1794; 
Samuel  Youngs,  1843,  1844. 

From  1847  to  date:  Francis  H.  Baldwin,  1870;  George 
E.  Bulmer,  1877  81;  B.  Valentine  Clowes,  1880;  Town- 
send D.  Cock,  1870,  1880;  Isaac  Coles,  1862;  Obadiah 
J.  Downing,  1866;  Charles  T.  Duryea,  1863,  1864;  Henry 
D.  Hall,  1862;  John  S.  Hendrickson,  1858;  David  R. 
Floyd  Jones,  1877,  1878;  John  Keegan,  1878;  Edward 
A.  Lawrence,  1858,  1859;  Henry  S.  Lott,  1863;  Charles 
McNeill,  1864,  1865;  John  B.  Madden,  1868,  1869;  James 
Maurice,  1851,  1866;  Robert  L.  Meeks,  1859;  James  M. 
Oakley,  1871-75;  Alvin  T.  Payne,  1876;  James  B.  Pear- 
sall, 1869,  1870;  William  E.  Pearse,  1879;  John  Pettit, 
1850;  L.  B.  Prince,  1871-75;  James  Rider,  1855;  John 
A.  Searing,  1854;  Francis  Skillman,  1867,  1868;  Sylvanus 
S.  Smith,  1852,  1853;  Wessell  S,  Smith,  1848,  1849;  John 
S.  Snedeker,  1850;  Seaman  N.  Snedeker,  1856;  Stephen 
Taber,  i860,  1861;  John  D.  Townsend,  1861;  William 
Turner,  1865;  William  B.  Wilson,  1867;  William  Jones 
Youngs,  1878,  1880. 

State  Senators. — 1777  to  1846:  De  Witt  Clinton,  1799- 
1802,  1806-11;  Henry  Cruger,  1793-96;  John  D.  Ditmis, 
1817-20;  Elbert  H.  Jones,  1813-15;  David  R.  Floyd 
Jones,  1844-47;  Henry  Floyd  Jones,  1836-39;  Dr.  John 
Jones,  1777,  1778;  Samuel  Jones,  1791-99;  John  A.  King, 
1823;  John  Lawrence,  1788-90;  Jonathan  Lawrence, 
I777'79>  I79°-95i  Andrew  Qnderdonk,  1797;  John 
Schenck,  1793-96,  1799-1806;  John  I.  Schenck,  1828-31; 
Samuel  Townsend,  1784-90. 

From  1847  to  date:  John  Birdsall,  1880,  1881;  William 
Horace  Brown,  1850,  1851;  Townsend  D.  Cock,  1872, 
1873;  Monroe  Henderson,  1862,  1863;  John  A.  King, 
1874,  1875;  Edward  A.  Lawrence,  i860,  1861:  James  M. 
Oakley,  1878,  1879;  L.  Bradford  Prince,  1876,  1877; 
James  Rider,  1856,  1857. 

Delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress  and  Convention: 
Jacob  Blackwell, Joseph  French  (declined), Thomas  Hicks, 
Rev.  Abraham  Reteltas,  Jonathan  Lawrence,  Daniel 
Rapelye,  Joseph  Robinson,  Benjamin  Sands,  Waters 
Smith,  Richard  Thorne,  Nathaniel  Tom,  Dr.  James 
Townsend,  Samuel  Townsend,  Cornelius  Van  Wyck, 
John  Williams,  Zebulon  Williams. 

Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions. — 1801,  to  fix  the 
number  of  senators  and  assemblymen:  De  Witt  Clinton, 
James  Raynor,  John  Schenck,  John  W.  Seaman.  1821, 
to  amend  the  constitution:  Elbert  H.  Jones,  Rufus  King, 
Nathaniel  Seaman.  1788,  to  ratify  the  federal  constitu- 
tion: Stephen  Carman,  Samuel  Jones,  Nathaniel  Law- 
rence, John  Schenck.  1846,  John  L.  Riker.  1867,  to 
revise  the  organic  laws  of  the  State:  Solomon  Townsend. 
1872,  constitutional  commission,  John  J.  Armstrong. 

United  States  Senators. — John  Lawrence,  appointed 
November  9th  1796;  De  Witt  Clinton,  appointed  Febru- 
ary 9th  1802;  Rufus  King,  appointed  February  2nd 
1813,  and  January  3d  1820. 

Representatives  in  Congress. — Thomas  B.  Jackson,  1S37- 


EARLY  SCHOOLS. 


55 


41;  John  Lawrence,  1789-93;  John  W.  Lawrence,  1845- 
47;  James  Lent,  1829-33;  Samuel  Riker,  1807-09,  1813- 
15;  George  Townsend,  1815-19;  Dr.  James  Townsend, 
r 7 9 1 - 93 ; Luther  C.  Carter,  1859-61;  James  W.  Covert, 
1877-81;  John  A.  King,  1849-51;  James  Maurice, 
J^53"55i  Stephen  Taber,  1865-69;  Dr.  William  W.  Valk, 
1855-57;  Perry  Belmont,  1882-84. 

Presidential  Electors. — 1860,  William  C.  Bryant  (at 
large),  John  A.  King  latter  also  in  1872);  1876,  Parke 
Godwin. 

Governor,  John  Alsop  King,  1857,  1858. 

Lieutenant  Governor,  David  R.  F.  Jones;  also  secretary 
of  state  i860,  1861. 


CHAPTER  II. 


EARLY  SCHOOLS  AND  STUDIES THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF 

ACADEMIES. 


land 


or 


T and  long  after  the  settlement  of  Queens 
county  education  was  left  to  take  care  of 
itself.  No  public  recognition  of  its  utility  or 
any  act  enforcing  or  encouraging  it  is  any 
where  recorded.  The  teachers,  or  “ masters  ” 
as  they  were  then  called,  were  usually  single 
men  from  the  “ old  country,”  England,  Scot- 
Ireland.  They  were  itinerants,  hired  for  a 
quarter  or  so  in  one  place  and  then  passing  on  to  another. 
Too  often  they  were  given  to  drink  and  kept  “ blue 
Monday.”  They  were  usually  good  penmen  and  arith- 
meticians. Grammar,  geography  and  history  were  not 
then  thought  of.  They  were  professors  of  the  “three 
R’s,”  Reading,  ’Riting  and  ’Rithemetic.  The  alphabet 
was  taught  the  tyro  by  naming  the  letters  in  the  column 
from  A to  Z,  the  master  pointing  to  each  with  his  pen- 
knife, and  boxing  the  ears  of  dunces  who  could  not  re- 
collect the  names  after  being  told  a score  of  times.  In- 
deed one  or  even  two  quarters  were  often  spent  before 
the  learner  had  mastered  the  alphabet.  The  child  was 
next  put  to  joining  letters,  as  a-b,  ab;  b-a,  ba;  and  thus 
he  went  on  in  his  spelling  book  for  a quarter  more,  wear- 
ing out  the  leaves  as  he  proceeded.  If  he  was  not  a dull 
fellow  at  the  end  of  a year  he  began  to  read,  and  then 
school  life  was  more  enjoyable;  but  the  memory  was 
cultivated  to  the  neglect  of  the  understanding,  and  that 
for  long  years  after;  and  in  some  schools  almost  to  the 
present  time. 

In  these  days  of  academies,  union  schools,  high  schools 
and  institutes  the  modern  schoolboy  loses  the  chance  of 
those  pleasant  reminiscences  of  schoolboy  days  that 
have  been  the  theme  of  many  a sentimental  story.  The 
poetry,  the  romance  is  all  gone  save  in  a very  few  se- 
questered nooks  of  our  county.  In  olden  times  the 
school-house  was  the  least  pretentious  of  all  buildings. 
No  idea  of  ornamentation  or  embellishment  of  any  kind 
seemed  to  occur  to  our  forefathers  in  the  erection  of 


churches  and  school-houses,  yet  around  them  cling  many 
pleasant  and  happy  memories.  Money  paid  out  for 
education  was  paid  too  often  grudgingly.  It  was  felt, 
like  other  taxes,  to  be  a grievance  that  could  not  be 
avoided.  The  school-houses  then  were  not  painted  in- 
side or  out,  nor  were  the  walls  or  ceiling  plastered.  The 
wide  old-fashioned  fire-place  was  after  a while  supplanted 
by  a close  Dutch  stove,  which  strove — sometimes  in  vain 
— to  overcome  the  cold  that  rushed  in  with  the  wind 
through  many  a crevice  in  the  floor  and  wainscot.  The 
wood  for  fuel  was  supplied  in  a loose  way.  Usually  each 
parent  in  rotation  carted  a load,  which  the  larger  boys 
were  expected  to  cut  up  as  wanted  from  day  to  day. 
The  smaller  boys  carried  it  in.  The  fire  was  started  in 
the  morning  by  the  first  comer,  who  borrowed  the  coals 
in  a foot-stove  from  the  nearest  house.  In  cold  weather 
the  boys  huddled  around  the  stove  till  nearly  noon,  when 
the  room  would  begin  to  get  comfortably  warm.  In 
winter,  when  the  larger  boys  (some  of  them  19  or  20  years 
old)  attended  school,  the  larger  girls  staid  at  home;  but 
in  summer  they  went  to  school  with  the  smaller  boys. 
The  girls  were  required  to  sweep  the  school-room  about 
once  a week;  and  once  a month  (or  not  so  often)  there 
was  a grand  scrubbing  time,  the  boys  bringing  the  water 
and  the  girls  cleansing  the  floor  with  brooms.  Two  boys 
with  a pail  suspended  from  a stick  between  them  usually 
troubled  some  neighboring  well  for  water  twice  a day. 

The  marked  peculiarity  of  those  days  was  the  respect 
and  deference  with  which  children  were  taught  to  treat 
their  “ superiors  ” or  elders.  As  soon  as  a respectable 
person  was  seen  approaching  on  the  road  the  boys  and 
girls  arranged  themselves  in  distinct  rows  by  the  road- 
side and  “made  their  manners  ” to  him,  who  returned 
the  salutation  with  an  inclination  of  the  head  and  an  ap- 
proving smile,  often  adding  some  pleasant  words.  One 
of  the  by-laws  of  the  academy  at  Jamaica  (in  1792)  re- 
quired that  “when  the  tutor  or  any  gentleman  comes  in 
or  goes  out  of  the  school-room,  every  scholar  shall  rise 
up  with  a respectful  bow;  and  they  shall  treat  all  men, 
especially  known  superiors,  with  the  greatest  modesty  and 
respect.” 

The  boys  sat  separately,  but  usually  recited  in  one 
class,  so  far  as  classes  were  formed  (which  was  chiefly  in 
spelling  and  reading);  for  in  those  days  classification  was 
hardly  attempted  and  not  so  much  needed  as  at  present, 
for  the  circle  of  knowledge  was  confined  mostly  to  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic.  But  the  limited  range  of  the 
sciences  was  the  cause  of  their  being  well  taught.  The 
old  proverb  said:  “ Beware  of  a man  of  one  book.”  As 
school  books  were  not  various  there  was  but  little  choice, 
and  thus  one  book  was  a text  book  for  successive  gener- 
ations of  children.  Indeed,  one  girl,  who  went  to  a 
boarding  school  in  Brooklyn  in  1812,  afterward  went  to 
Oyster  Bay  Academy  and  found  the  same  text  books  used 
in  both  schools. 

The  elementary  book  used  was  the  primer  (so  named 
from  the  Latin  priniarius,  first  book),  but  as  that  had  a 
scanty  supply  of  spelling  lessons,  and  led  the  learner  too 
abruptly  from  spelling  to  reading  (and  was  originally  in- 


56 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


tended  for  a book  of  religious  teaching),  Dilvvorth’s  spell- 
ing book  took  its  place.  Thomas  Dilworth’s  speller  was 
a good  book  in  its  day,  but  after  the  Revolutionary  war 
Noah  Webster’s  spelling  book  was  gradually  adopted; 
not  that  it  was  better,  but  because  it  was  American. 
Dilworth  was  a pious  teacher  at  VVapping,  in  England, 
about  1740.  He  was  the  author  of  a system  of  book- 
keeping and  an  arithmetic  also,  which  after  a 30-years 
struggle  was  supplanted  by  Nathan  Daboll’s  arithmetic. 

Arithmetic  was  not  taught  in  classes,  but  each  scholar 
plodded  on  by  himself  and  when  his  slate  was  full  of 
sums  he  showed  it  to  the  master.  They  were  then  copied 
into  a “ ciphering  book.”  Originally  the  teacher  alone 
had  the  printed  arithmetic,  which  was  therefore  called 
the  “ Schoolmaster’s  Assistant,”  as  it  supplied  him  with 
examples  and  their  solutions  or  answers.  After  a while 
the  scholars  gradually  for  convenience  bought  their  own 
arithmetics,  which  relieved  the  teacher  of  the  labor  of 
setting  the  scholar’s  sums  on  a slate.  In  many  cases  the 
master  wrote  out  the  wording  of  the  sum  in  the  ciphering 
book,  and  when  the  scholar  had  performed  it  correctly  he 
copied  the  figures  into  the  ciphering  book. 

The  reading  books  were  more  varied.  After  the  easy 
lessons  of  the  spelling  book  had  been  well  learned  there 
came  the  Psalter,  Testament  and  Bible.  The  Old  Testa- 
ment was  for  more  advanced  readers.  The  other  books 
were:  the  Child’s  Instructor,  the  Young  Gentleman  and 
Lady’s  Monitor;  then  came  the  American  Preceptor 
and  Lindley  Murray’s  series  of  readers,  viz.  the  Intro- 
duction, the  English  Reader  and  the  Sequel.  Noah 
Webster  published  a Grammatical  Institute  of  the 
English  language  in  three  parts,  the  spelling  book,  reader 
and  grammar.  Only  the  first  kept  its  ground. 

The  “spelling  class  ” was  a feature  of  those  days.  All 
the  scholars  were  arranged  or  stood  in  a long  room  and 
“ went  up  and  down  ” according  as  they  spelled.  The 
practice  seemed  to  produce  good  spellers  and  fed  the 
ambition  of  the  school  as  nothing  else  did. 

The  “ old  country  ” masters  were  succeeded  by  those 
from  New  England,  who  if  not  so  good  arithmeticians 
were  of  a more  religious  turn  of  mind,  and  introduced 
some  novelties,  such  as  writing  compositions,  the  study  of 
English  grammar  and  elocution.  Some  of  these  knew 
enough  of  music  to  start  singing  schools  and  could  take 
part  in  a prayer  meeting.  In  this  way  many  had  the 
entree  into  respectable  farmers’  families. 

School  usually  commenced  at  8 o’clock  in  summer  and 
9 in  winter,  and,  with  a noon  spell  of  one  hour,  was  let 
out  at  4 p.  m.  An  intermission  or  recess  during  school 
hours  was  not  yet  in  fashion.  When  a boy  wished  to  go 
out  of  doors  he  said  to  the  master:  “ May  I go  out?”  He 
then  passed  out,  first  turning  a “ block  ” that  hung  by  the 
door,  marked  on  its  opposite  sides  “ In,  ” “ Out.” 

Grammar  was  not  taught  in  those  days  intelligently,  for 
the  master  did  not  comprehend  the  science.  He  set  the 
pupil  at  memorizing  the  words  all  the  way  through  the 
book.  The  nature  of  parsing  or  analyzing  was  a mystery 
to  him.  The  scholar  often  could  recite  the  words  of  his 
grammar  by  heart,  and  there  his  knowledge  ended.  There 


was  a treatise  on  grammar  by  questions  and  answers 
printed  at  the  end  of  Dilworth’s  & Webster’s  spelling  books 
but  written  on  the  basis  of  Latin  grammar.  In  the  stat- 
utes of  the  academy  at  Jamaica,  in  1792,  it  is  ordered 
that  “the  text  book  for  English  grammar  shall  be  Web- 
ster’s, to  be  read  or  repeated  by  memory.” 

Navigation  (as  well  as  surveying)  was  taught  in  some  of 
those  old  common  schools,  for  many  of  the  young  men  in 
those  days  went  to  sea,  some  as  supercargoes  and  some 
as  sailors;  some  studied  medicine,  sailed  to  the  West 
Indies,  practiced  there  till  they  accumulated  a fortune, 
and  then  returned  home. 

Latterly  geography  was  taught,  but  almost  always 
without  maps  or  globes,  or  if  maps  were  to  be  found  in 
the  books  they  were  of  one  color,  very  small  and  indis- 
tinct in  boundaries.  The  ponderous  and  clumsy  octavos 
of  Guthrie  and  Salmon  were  the  first  text  books  used.  In 
time  they  were  superseded  by  Morse’s.  Dwight’s  geog- 
raphy by  questions  and  answers  was  used,  and  did  good 
service  as  a reading  book.  Next  came  in  succession 
Willett’s  grammar  of  geography,  Woodbridge  & Willard’s, 
where  the  pictorial  element  was  found  to  be  valuable.  In 
1792  the  use  of  globes  (a  pair  having  been  imported  from 
London),  book-keeping,  oratory,  logic  and  chronology, 
with  Blair’s  “ rhetorick,”  Stone’s  Euclid,  Martin’s  ge- 
ometry, and  Warden’s  mathematics  are  named  as  subjects 
of  study  in  the  academy  at  Jamaica. 

The  sports  of  schoolboy  days  were  ball  playing,  tag, 
puss-in-the-corner,  playing  horse,  racing,  jumping,  hop- 
ping, pitching  quoits,  tetering,  skating,  sliding  on  the  ice, 
running  down  hill  on  sleighs  and  snowballing,  for  then 
we  had  notable  snow  storms.  The  roads  were  drifted  full, 
and  the  fences  covered  with  snowbanks  drifted  in  grace- 
ful curves  and  fantastic  forms  by  the  fickle  winds. 

The  girls  in  summer  had  their  innocent  sports  too.  At 
noon-spell,  if  they  did  not  saunter  over  the  fields  and 
along  the  hedges  for  flowers  and  berries,  they  would  play 
“ keeping  house  and  returning  visits.”  They  had  their 
“ baby  houses,”  enclosed  with  a row  of  stones,  as  may  be 
seen  on  the  roadside  even  at  this  day  in  remote  districts. 
They  also  joined  in  some  of  the  gentler  sports  with  the 
boys.  When  it  rained  they  made  “mud  pies”  along  the 
road. 

The  school-boy  at  his  studies  sat  on  an  oaken  bench 
without  back,  swinging  his  feet  to  and  fro  for  want  of  a 
foot  rest.  The  master  kept  a hickory  whip  or  some 
pliant,  twig  lying  on  his  desk,  which  was  usually  applied 
across  the  back  or  shoulders.  Some  had  a long,  broad 
ruler  called  a “ ferule,”  which  being  smartly  slapped  on 
the  palm  of  the  hand  left  a stinging  sense  of  pain.  The 
more  civilized  punishments,  such  as  standing  on  one  leg, 
holding  out  a billet  of  wood  at  arm’s  length,  wearing  a 
fool’s  cap,  committing  some  lines  to  memory,  or  deten- 
tion after  school  hours  had  not  yet  come  in  vogue. 
Pulling  the  hair,  pinching  the  ear,  or  giving  a fillip  with 
the  middle  finger  were  favorite  punishments  with  some 
masters. 

There  were  then  no  steel  pens,  no  ruled  paper,  no 
ready-made  writing  books.  The  master  had  to  keep  a 


THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  ACADEMIES— RACE  COURSES. 


57 


sharp  knife  to  make,  mend  and  nib  the  pens  made  from 
goose-quills;  also  a leaden  plummet  and  ruler  to  rule  the 
writing  books.  Each  writer  contributed  a penny  to  buy 
a paper  of  Walkden’s  famous  ink  powder,  which,  mixed 
with  a gill  of  vinegar  and  three  gills  of  rain  or  river 
water,  made  a pint  of  ink,  which  was  distributed  in  pewter 
or  earthen  inkstands. 

Beside  these  common  schools,  which  were  pretty 
evenly  dotted  about  the  country,  there  were  in  the  more 
thickly  settled  villages  classical  and  boarding  schools, 
where  boys  could  learn  the  higher  branches  of  education 
and  be  prepared  for  college.  Such  were  kept  at  Hemp- 
stead by  the  successive  rectors  of  the  Episcopal  church 
from  1760  to  1816,  and  at  Newtown  and  Jamaica  also. 
Parish  schools  were  supported  at  irregular  periods  by  the 
help  of  the  British  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts.  In  these  the  church  catechism  was 
taught. 

Thus,  while  the  well-to-do  people  had  their  children 
well  educated,  it  is  to  be  supposed  the  poorer  classes 
grew  up  in  ignorance.  Yet  some  of  them  who  could 
neither  read,  write  nor  cipher  managed  their  business 
very  well  and  prospered,  for  we  know  of  one  who  filled 
the  office  of  sheriff  very  creditably,  and  that  recently. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war  academies  were  incor- 
porated on  the  island — -one  at  Easthampton  in  1784,  one 
at  Flatbush  in  1787  and  one  at  Jamaica  in  1792.  The 
last  was  named  Union  Hall,  from  being  built  by  a joint 
subscription  of  Newtown,  Flushing  and  Jamaica.  At 
Oyster  Bay  an  academy  was  established  in  1802,  with 
Marmaduke  Earle  as  principal.  ' In  1806  Hamilton  Hall 
was  opened  in  Flushing;  in  1818  Christ  Church  Academy 
was  erected  at  Manhasset.  In  1828  the  Flushing  Insti- 
tute was  started  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  That  was 
followed  in,  1840  by  St.  Paul’s  College;  in  1838  by  St. 
Thomas  Hall,  under  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,  and  in  1839  by 
St.  Ann’s  Hall  for  girls,  under  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Schroeder. 

For  female  education  the  facilities  were  limited. 
There  were  indeed  “ dames’  schools  ” scattered  here  and 
there,  under  irresponsible  teachers  and  usually  short- 
lived. They  taught  the  smaller  children  of  both  sexes, 
sewing  and  needle-work  being  sometimes  added.  But 
for  a thorough  education  the  girls  had  to  resort  to  the 
public  schools  or  academies  and  be  classed  with  the  boys. 
The  richer  sort  either  had  teachers  in  their  families  or 
sent  their  daughters  to  select  boarding  schools  in  New 
York  or  Brooklyn,  where  they  could  learn  dancing, 
music,  drawing  and  embroidery,  with  all  other  accom- 
plishments. 

The  first  female  academy  in  Queens  county  was  estab- 
lished at  Jamaica  in  1816,  under  Mrs.  Barnum  and  Miss 
Bartlette,  and  it  has  continued  to  this  day.  Since  then 
private  schools  for  girls  have  rapidly  spread  throughout 
the  county. 

In  1813  the  towns  of  Queens  county  were  divided  into 
school  districts,  with  trustees  who  raised  a sum  at  least 
equal  to  that  given  by  the  State  for  the  support  of  a 
qualified  teacher.  The  supervision  of  the  schools  was 


cumbersome,  each  town  selecting  three  school  commis- 
sioners and  three  inspectors.  The  teacher  by  conniv- 
ance was  often  allowed  (or  soon  forced)  to  take  the  school 
“ on  his  own  hook.” 

In  1843  the  office  of  county  superintendent  of  com- 
mon schools  was  created.  Pierpont  Potter  held  the 
office  till  October  6th  1845,  when  Timothy  Titus  jr.  suc- 
ceeded him.  In  1856,  the  office  of  county  superintendent 
having  been  abolished,  commissioners  of  common  schools 
were  elected.  Soon  after  the  county  was  divided  into 
two  districts. 

The  Queens  County  Sunday-school  Association  was 
formed  in  1871.  The  present  officers  are:  President, 
A.  H Downer;  corresponding  secretary,  Joseph  Bern- 
hard;  treasurer,  Adam  Seabury. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  CRADLE  OF  AMERICAN  HORSE-RACING COURSES  AND 

COURSERS  OF  OLD. 


HE  county  of  Queens  has  been  of  old  famous 
for  its  two  race-courses,  New  Market  and 
Beaver  Pond.  Daniel  Denton  before  1670 
says  : “ Toward  the  middle  of  Long  Island 
lyeth  a plain  16  miles  long  and  4 broad,  where  you 
shall  find  neither  stick  nor  stone  to  hinder  the 
horses’  heels,  or  endanger  them  in  their  races;  and 
once  a year  the  best  horses  in  the  Island  are  brought 
hither  to  try  their  swiftness,  and  the  swiftest  rewarded 
with  a silver  cup,  two  being  annually  procured  for  that 
purpose.”  A London  book  (1776)  says:  “These  Plains 
were  celebrated  for  their  races  throughout  all  the  Colonies 
and  even  in  England.  They  were  held  twice  a year  for 
a silver  cup,  to  which  the  gentry  of  New  England  and 
New  York  resorted.” 

The  first  course  was  established  on  Salisbury  Plains, 
near  the  present  Hyde  Park  station.  Governor  Nicolls 
in  1665  appointed  a horse-race  to  take  place  in  Hemp- 
stead, “not  so  much  for  the  divertisemenl  of  youth  as  for 
encouraging  the  bettering  of  the  breed  of  horses,  which 
through  great  neglect  has  been  impaired.”  Governor 
Lovelace  also  appointed  by  proclamation,  about  1669, 
that  trials  of  speed  should  take  place  in  the  month  of 
May  in  each  year,  and  that  subscriptions  be  taken  and 
sent  to  Captain  Salisbury,  of  all  such  as  were  disposed 
to  run  for  a crown  of  silver  or  the  value  thereof  in  wheat. 
This  course,  named  New  Market  (and  in  1764  called 
“ the  new  course  ”)  from  one  in  England,  was  in  the 
course  of  years  (perhaps  in  1804)  removed  under  the 
same  name  to  a large  level  field  east  of  the  old  court- 
house, and  there  continued  till  about  1821,  when  horse- 
racing was  transferred  to  the  Union  course,  on  the 
western  borders  of  Jamaica,  after  the  passing  of  an  act 
by  the  Legislature  allowing  of  trials  of  speed  in  Queens 


8 


58 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


county  for  a term  of  years,  during  the  months  of  May 
and  October.  In  1834  the  time  was  extended  for  15 
years  more,  the  racing  to  be  between  April  1st  and  June 
15th  and  from  September  1st  to  November  15th  yearly. 
This  course,  over  a mile  in  circuit,  was  on  a level  sur- 
face, with  a nearly  oval  track.  Connected  with  it  was 
a jockey  club  of  above  250  members,  who  contributed 
$20  each  yearly  to  the  “jockey  club  purses.”  This 
course  was  afterward  owned  by  the  “Union  Associa- 
tion,” capital  $100,000,  formed  upon  the  act  of  the 
Legislature  of  August  2nd  1858. 

On  the  27th  of  May  1823  was  run  over  this  course  a 
match  race  of  four-mile  heats  for  $20,000  a side,  between 
“ Eclipse,”  9 years  old,  bred  by  General  Nathaniel  Coles, 
of  Dosoris,  and  carrying  126  pounds,  and  “ Sir  Henry,” 
4 years  old,  carrying  108  pounds,  bred  in  North  Carolina. 
“ Eclipse”  won  in  three  heats.  It  is  supposed  that  $200,000 
was  lost  and  won  on  the  exciting  occasion,  and  that  from 
forty  to  sixty  thousand  people  were  at  the  race.  On  May 
10th  1842  there  was  another  match  for  $20,000  a side  on 
this  course,  between  the  Virginia  horse  “ Boston,”  9 years 
old,  and  carrying  126  pounds,  and  the  New  Jersey  mare 
“ Fashion,”  5 years  old,  and  carrying  1 1 1 pounds.  “ Fash- 
ion ” won  in  two  heats.  F'rom  fifty  to  seventy  thousand 
spectators  were  computed  to  be  present,  including  a 
great  many  ladies. 

There  was  a trotting  course  formed  in  1825  at  Centre- 
ville,  a mile  southeast  of  the  Union  course.  A railroad 
now  runs  through  it.  Here  on  October  4th  1847  “Albany 
Girl  ” was  matched  for  $250  to  perform  100  miles  in  har- 
ness in  10  consecutive  hours.  She  broke  down  after 
traveling  97J4  miles  in  9J4  hours. 

May  31st  1854  the  National  Association  or  “ National 
Race-course,”  with  a capital  of  $250,000,  was  formed  ; 
and  November  26th  1855  the  “ Fashion  Association  ” was 
formed  at  Newtown,  under  the  act  of  the  Legislature  for 
improving  the  breed  of  horses,  passed  April  15th  1854. 

The  “ Fashion  course  ” was  broken  up  in  1865  by  hav- 
ing the  Flushing  Railroad  pass  through  it. 

There  was  a famous  race-course  of  a mile  in  length 
around  Beaver  Bond  in  Jamaica.  The  date  of  its  first 
establishment  seems  unknown  ; but  it  was  before  1757, 
for  in  that  year,  on  June  13th,  the  New  York  subscription 
plate  was  run  for  and  won  by  Lewis  Morris  junior’s 
horse  “ American  Childers.”  These  races  were  held 
spring  and  autumn  yearly  till  or  after  the  close  of  the 
last  century. 

There  were  other  inferior  race-courses;  one  at  New- 
town (1758),  one  (1781)  at  Timothy  Cornell’s  Poles, 
Hempstead,  and  another  at  Captain  Polhemus’s,  New 
Lots,  1778.  There  were  also  several  races  of  the 
“ Huckleberry  Frolic  ” in  Hempstead,  and  they  are  con- 
tinued to  this  day. 

We  annex  some  old  advertisements  which  will  show 
something  of  the  spirit  and  tastes  of  the  earlier  sporting 
characters. 

1 75°>  June  4th. — On  Friday  last  there  was  a great 
horse-race  on  Hempstead  Plains,  which  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  so  many  of  the  city  of  New  York  that  upwards 


of  seventy  chairs  and  chaises  were  carried  over  Brooklyn 
ferry  the  day  before,  besides  a far  greater  number  of 
horses.  The  number  of  horses  on  the  plains,  it  was 
thought,  far  exceeded  one  thousand. — N.  Y.  Postboy. 

1758,  November  10th. — A purse  of  is  to  be  run 

for  at  Newtown  on  December  5th,  the  best  of  three  heats, 
one  mile  each.  Entrance,  one  dollar,  to  be  paid  the  day 
before  the  race  to  Daniel  Betts. — N.  Y.  Mercury. 

1763.  — New  York  Free  Masons’  Purse  of  $100  to  be 
run  for  April  25th,  the  best  two  of  three  heats,  each  heat 
three  times  round  Beaver  Pond,  Jamaica,  each  horse  to 
carry  nine  stone  weight  and  to  be  entered  with  Mr. 
Thomas  Braine,  paying  30s.  entrance.  The  entrance 
money  to  be  run  for  next  day — the  whole  to  be  under 
the  inspection  of  three  Free  Masons. — New  York  Mer- 
cury. 

1764.  — To  be  run  for,  April  12th,  on  the  new  track  on 
Hempstead  Plains  a purse  of  $50,  the  best  of  three  four- 
mile  heats,  each  horse  carrying  nine  stone  and  paying 
50s.  entrance  or  double  at  the  post.  On  Friday  a purse 
of  jQ 20  and  upwards,  free  for  half-bred  horses  only,  six 
years  old  and  under,  carrying  eight  stone,  the  best  of  three 
two  mile  heats.  Horses  to  be  entered  with  Mr.  John 
Comes,  Jamaica.  Not  less  than  three  reputed  horses  to 
start,  and  to  be  subject  to  the  King’s  plate  articles. 
Judges  will  be  appointed  to  terminate  all  disputes. — N.  Y. 
Mercury. 

1764. — New  Market  Races — To  be  run  for,  over  the 
new  course,  Monday  October  8th,  a purse  of  ^50,  free  for 
any  horse  carrying  nine  stone,  the  best  of  three  two-mile 
heats.  On  Tuesday  a purse  of  ^20,  free  for  any  horse 
bred  in  the  province  of  New  York.  Entrance  at  Mr. 
John  Combs,  Jamaica.  Certificates,  under  the  hands  of 
the  breeders,  must  be  produced,  of  the  ages  and  qualifi- 
cations of  the  horses  that  run  on  Tuesday. — N.  Y.  Mer- 
cury. 

1764,  October  9th. — Purse,  ^50. — Races  at  New  Mar- 
ket, by  Mr.  Smith’s  bay  horse  “ Hero,”  Mr.  Thorne’s 
grey  horse  “ Starling,”  and  Mr.  Leary’s  bay  horse  “Old 
England.”  All  imported  from  England.  ‘“Starling” 
gained  the  first  and  second  heats  with  ease. — N.  Y.  Mer- 
cury. 

1765,  March  25th. — To  be  run  for  round  Beaver  Pond, 
at  Jamaica,  Thursday  May  2nd,  a piece  of  plate  of  yT 20 
value,  free  for  any  horse  bred  in  this  government,  carry- 
ing ten  stone.  The  horses  to  start  at  the  distance-post 
and  run  twice  round,  and  as  far  as  the  Tree  the  third 
round,  for  each  heat — the  best  two  of  three  heats.  The 
entrance  money  to  be  run  for  next  day  by  all  but  the 
winning  and  distanced  horses.  Entrance  with  John 
Comes  1 os.,  or  double  at  the  post. — New  York  Mercury. 

1768. — New  Market  Races,  Friday  October  21st;  purse, 
^50.  The  best  of  three  four- mile  heats,  free  for  any 
horse.  Saturday,  a purse  of  ^50  for  four-year-old 
horses;  50s.  entrance.  Horses  to  be  shown  and  entered 
at  the  starting  post  the  day  before  running,  in  presence 
of  the  judges.  Disputes  will  be  decided  by  a majority  of 
the  subscribers  present.  The  winning  horse  each  day  to 
pay  50s.  to  put  the  course  in  order.  No  less  than  three 
reputed  horses  to  be  allowed  to  start,  at  12  o’clock  each 
day. — N.  Y.  Mercury. 

1771,  September  12th. — The  purse  of  J^ioo,  by  the 
Macaroni  Club,  was  run  for  at  New  Market  last  Monday, 
by  Mr.  Delancey’s  horse  “ Lath  ” and  Mr.  Waters’s  horse 
“ Liberty,”  which  was  won  with  great  ease  by  the  former. 
As  a field  could  not  be  made  the  next  day  for  the  purse 
of  ^50,  the  matter  was  postponed  until  the  next  season. 


RACING  IN  THE  LAST  CENTURY— FORESTS. 


59 


1772. — Races — The  Macaroni  purse  of  ^ioo,  at  New 
Market,  June  2nd,  was  won  by  Captain  Delancey’s 
“Bashaw,”  beating  Mr.  Richard  Thorne’s  mare  “ Rain- 
bow,” and  Mr.  Waters’s  “Slouch.”  The  ^50  purse,  next 
day,  was  won  by  Mr.  Waters’s  horse  “ King  Herod,”  who 
beat  Captain  Delancey’s  filly. — N.  Y.  Gazette. 

1778,  October  14th. — The  races  at  Captain  Polhemus’s, 
New  Lots,  are  changed  to  Jamaica.  Purse , 20  guineas. 

1779,  Jamaica  Races , October  26th. — 20  guineas,  3 heats; 
around  Beaver  Pond  course  twice  to  each  heat. 

1779,  November  6th. — New  Market  Races , Hempstead 
Plains,  on  Wednesday;  a purse  of  20  guineas;  the  best 
of  three  two-mile  circular  heats,  free  for  any  horse  ex- 
cept “ Dulcimore.”  Also  a bet  of  100  guineas,  one  two 
mile  heat,  “ Cyrus  ” and  “ Doctor.”  A match  between 
the  noted  horse  “ Dulcimore  ” and  the  roan  gelding 
“ Keltlebander,”  for  400  guineas,  two  miles.  God  save 
the  King! 

1781,  March  14th. — Fifty  Joes'* to  be  run  for  by 
“ Eclipse  ” and  “ Sturdy  Beggar,”  at  Captain  Tim.  Cor- 
nell’s Poles,  Hempstead  Plains,  a single  two-mile  heat. 

1782,  October  19th. — To  be  run  for  around  Beaver 
Pond,  a purse  of  ^50;  the  best  two  in  three  one-mile 
heats,  free  for  any  horse  except  “Mercury,”  “Slow-and- 
Easy”  and  “Goldfinder.”  One  guinea  entrance,  to  be 
paid  at  the  sign  of  the  King’s  Arms,  Jamaica. 

1 783,  June  28th. — To  be  run  for  Wednesday  next 
around  Beaver  Pond,  a purse  of  100  guineas  by  the  noted 
mare  “Calfskin  ” and  the  noted  horse  “Lofty,”  of  Bos- 
ton. 


New  Jersey,  o''er  “Gold  Toes,”  of  New  York,  who  won 
the  first  heat.  On  Thursday  a purse  of  ^47  10s.  was 
run  for  by  six  horses,  and  taken  by  “ Red  Bird.” 
There  were  between  two  and  three  thousand  spectators 
and  no  accident  happened. — N.  V.  Journal. 

1795,  October  31st — At  the  New  Market  course,  on 
Wednesday  last,  was  a match  race  for  $500  by  Mr.  Sea- 
bury’s  horse  “ Polydore  ” and  Mr.  Allen’s  mare  “A’irginia 
Nell.”  The  latter  won.  They  ran  the  two  four-mile 
heats.  The  running  was  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any 
before.  “ Polydore  ” has  traveled  too  much  of  late. — 
N.  Y.  Journal. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  TIMBER  GROWTH  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY — ITS  USES 

THE  NURSERY  GROWTHS. 


HEN  first  visited  by  Europeans  Queens 
county  appears  to  have  been  well  wooded, 
with  occasional  clearings,  except  that 
Hempstead  Plains,  16  miles  long  and  4 
broad,  were  covered  with  a luxuriant 
growth  of  wild  grass  and  a humble  shrubbery  of 
oak  and  other  forest  trees  that  were  mere  dwarfs 


1783. — A match  for  200  guineas,  May  29th,  over  New 
Market  course,  Hempstead  Plains,  between  John  Talman’s 
“ Eclipse  ” and  Jacob  Jackson’s  “ Young  Slow  and  Easy,” 
the  best  two  in  three  four-mile  heats. 

1785,  May  5th. — New  Market  Races — Will  be  run  for, 
on  June  4th,  the  Hunters’  subscription  purse  and  sweep- 
stakes  of  ten  guineas  each.  June  6th — a whip  to  be  run 
for,  presented  by  the  sportsmen  of  the  army  and  navy, 
and  the  name  of  the  winning  horse  to  be  engraved  on  it, 
No  horse  that  has  not  been  a fortnight  in  trainin’g  on 
Hempstead  Course  can  run. 

1785,  October  19th. — Last  Friday  were  the  sweepstakes 
over  Beaver  Pond,  Jamaica.  Heats  one  mile  by 

The  black  horse  “ Ariel,”  - - - - 1 1 

Bay  mare  “ Matchless,”  - - - - 3 2 

The  gelding  “Bloven,”  - - - 4 3 

The  horse  “ Brilliant,”  - - - - 2 4 

The  second  heat  was  admirably  disputed  and  won  by 
a neck,  from  the  mare,  which  was  the  proud  winner  a 
few  months  ago. 

1786.  — Far  Rockaway  Races,  Wednesday  September 
6th,  at  3 p.  M.,  on  that  convenient  and  spacious  ground 
(a  mile  course)  near  Jacob  Hicks’s  inn.  ^20, the  best  three 
of  two-mile  heats.  The  next  day  a ^)io  purse,  the  best 
three  of  one-mile  heats.  No  crossing,  jostling  or  foul 
play  countenanced,  or  if  detected  the  rider  will  be  pro- 
nounced distanced.  J.  H.,  from  a wish  to  gratify  a num- 
ber of  gentlemen  who  visit  his  house,  particularly  sports- 
men, is  induced  to  set  on  foot  so  noble  and  manly  a 
diversion,  and  wishes  the  same  principle  may  excite  gen- 
tlemen to  contribute  to  the  purse. 

1794,  October  8th. — The  Beaver  Por.d  races  took  place 
on  Tuesday  last.  Six  horses  ran  for  the  purse  of  _^ioo. 
“ Polydore,”  of  New  York,  took  the  first  and  second  heat 
and  purse.  On  Wednesday  a purse  of  ^50  was  run  for 
by  seven  horses,  and  taken  by  “ Young  Messenger,”  from 


in  stature.  Denton,  writing  in  1670,  says:  “ The  greatest 
part  of  the  island  is  very  full  of  timber,  as  oaks  white 
and  red,  walnut  trees,  chestnut  trees,  maples,  cedars, 
saxifrage,  beech,  birch,  holly,  hazel,  with  many  sorts 
more.  For  wild  beasts  there  is  bear,  deer,  wolves,  foxes, 
raccoons  and  great  store  of  wild  fowl,  as  turkeys,  heath- 
hens,  quails,  partridges,  cranes,  ducks,  brant,  widgeons, 
pigeons,  teal,  geese  of  several  sorts;  and  on  the  south 
side  lie  great  store  of  whales,  grampuses  and  seals.” 
Two-thirds  of  the  Indians  had  already  become  extinct. 

The  cutting  down  of  trees  has  in  several  places  dimin- 
ished and  even  dried  up  the  primitive  streams.  The 
felling  of  trees  and  clearing  up  woodlands  being  often 
done  in  an  irregular  and  wasteful  manner,  the  several 
towns  soon  found  it  necessary  to  enact  sundry  regula- 
tions. To  illustrate  their  way  of  proceeding  it  will  be 
necessary  to  make  some  extracts  from  the  old  records. 

In  selling  land  to  the  early  settlers  the  Indians  at  Ja- 
maica stipulated  that  one  thing  to  be  remembered  by  the 
whites  was  that  they  should  not  cut  down  trees  “ wherein 
eagles  do  make  their  nests.”  In  1656  it  was  ordered 
that  “ whosoever  fells  trees  in  the  highway  shall  remove 
them.”  All  persons  16  years  of  age  and  upwards  were 
required  in  1674  to  cut  down  brush  about  the  town  or 
forfeit  5 shillings  each  time,  In  1691,  August  5th,  “ it 
is  ordered  that  the  brush  be  cut  off  4 days  in  the  year  by 
every  landholder,  under  penalty  of  3 pence  a day  for  de- 
faulters.” 

At  Oyster  Bay  the  town  voted  (June  30th  1684)  that 
the  townspeople  turn  out  and  “cut  the  brush,  and  that 
there  be  a forfeit  of  5 shillings  per  day  for  each  man  de- 
fective.” In  1686,  February  13th,  the  town  ordered  that 


6o 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


“no  trees  be  cut  down  or  felled  in  the  streets  or  com- 
mon, under  5 shillings  penalty  for  each  tree;  but  any  one 
may  lop  a tree  growing  before  his  door  or  by  his  fence, 
that  may  be  an  annoyance,  provided  he  don’t  kill  the 
tree.”  November  10th  1693  “trees,  saplings,  brush- 
wood fallen  or  cast  upon  or  across  the  road  (whereby 
people  are  forced  to  turn  out  of  the  road,  many  in  much 
danger)  are  to  be  cleared  off  in  3 days;  then  to  be  cleared 
off  entirely  in  20  days  after  the  date  of  such  annoyance, 
under  penalty  of  20  shillings  for  every  tree.” 

In  Newtown  January  30th  1668  the  town  voted  that 
any  inhabitant  might  fall  timber  for  his  own  use  in  unin- 
closed land;  but  none  should  cart  wood  or  timber  for 
strangers  to  the  water  side,  the  forfeit  being  10  shillings 
per  load.  December  2nd  1676,  the  town  ordered  that 
“ no  one  sTiall  transport  timber  except  fire-wood  out  of 
the  town.”  In  Hempstead  it  was  voted  in  1708  that  “ if 
any  person  should  girdle  or  peel  the  bark  of  any  stand- 
ing tree  on  the  undivided  lands  he  shall  pay  6 shillings 
in  money,”  and  in  1812  a committee  was  appointed  “ to 
prevent  undue  waste  of  timber  and  trees  standing  on  the 
common  lands.” 

The  forest  trees  were  cut  down  not  only  for  timber  for 
framing  buildings  and  fuel;  but  also,  after  the  erection 
of  saw-mills,  staves  and  heading  were  shipped  to  the  West 
Indies  to  make  molasses,  rum  and  sugar  hogsheads;  clap- 
boards, shingles,  boards  and  planks  were  in  demand  for 
building  purposes;  ship  timber  was  needed  for  the  ship 
yards  in  New  York  and  Long  Island.  Immense  quantities 
of  wood  were  sent  by  market-boats  to  New  York,  where 
it  was  the  chief  fuel  till  the  introduction  of  anthracite 
coal,  about  1825.  Indeed  the  persistent  clearing  off  of 
woodlands  threatens  to  dry  up  our  streams  and  change  our 
climate.  The  wasteful  consumption  of  wood  in  the  wide 
open  fire-places  of  our  ancestors  can  hardly  be  conceived 
of  by  the  present  generation,  who  sit  in  close  rooms  kept 
warm  by  patent  stoves  day  and  night. 

The  destruction  of  the  native  growth  of  timber  has 
been  one  of  the  causes  promoting  the  nursery  business, 
which  has  grown  to  such  remarkable  dimensions.  The 
different  nurseries  are  treated  of  in  the  histories  of  their 
localities.  The  advantage  of  so  many  nurseries  in  this 
county  is  perceived  in  the  large  number  of  superior  var- 
ieties of  apples  and  pears,  and  still  more  in  the  general 
planting  of  shade  and  ornamental  trees.  Few  counties 
can  compare  with  Queens  in  beautiful  parks  and  door- 
yards,  and  no  house  is  deemed  complete  unless  sur- 
rounded with  handsome  shade  trees  and  evergreens,  in- 
terspersed with  flowering  shrubs  and  beds  of  flowers. 
There  are  few  desirable  shade  trees  indigenous  to  the 
local  forests.  A few  ash,  elm,  tulip  and  liquidamber  or 
sweet  gum  trees  are  found  in  the  woods,  but  the  chief 
supply  must  come  from  other  parts,  as  the  native  oak, 
chestnut  and  hickory  will  rarely  repay  transplanting. 
The  best  variety  that  is  adapted  to  the  soil  of  the  middle 
States,  enduring  winter’s  cold  and  summer’s  drouth,  is 
the  Norway  maple.  Leaving  out  early  in  spring,  bearing 
pretty  yellow  flowers,  it  holds  its  leaves  perfect  until  the 
late  autumn  frosts  gradually  disrobe  it.  The  next  is  the 


silver  or  white  maple,  of  quick  erect  growth,  which  is 
more  planted  than  any  other.  Sycamore  and  sugar  maple 
in  suitable  soil  thrive  well.  The  noble  American  elm — the 
classic  tree  of  New  England — and  basswood  or  American 
linden  have  their  admirers,  and  none  are  of  more  rapid 
growth  or  more  symmetrical  than  the  tulip  tree.  Passing 
on  to  the  evergreens,  it  is  remarked  by  strangers  how 
many  evergreens  are  planted  on  Long  Island.  The  pines, 
erect  and  widespreading,  intermixed  with  Norway 
spruces,  enliven  many  a winter  home  and  rob  stern  win- 
ter of  its  bleakness.  Few  are  the  country  houses  around 
which  the  eveegreens,  in  hedge  or  windbreak,  do  not  defy 
the  northern  blast.  There  is  no  hedge  more  beautiful  than 
the  hemlock,  properly  trimmed.  Arbor  vitaes,  both  Ameri- 
can and  European,  are  largely  planted  for  this  purpose. 
Evergreens  are  often  planted  in  August  and  September, 
but  most  prefer  April  and  May.  Unlike  deciduous  trees, 
their  leaves  evaporate  moisture  continually,  and  if  it  is 
very  dry  soon  after  they  are  planted  they  often  perish, 
with  all  the  care  generally  bestowed  in  their  planting. 
Many  flowering  trees  are  now  planted.  The  varieties  of 
hardy  trees  of  this  description  are  numerous.  The 
Chinese  magnolia  in  full  bloom  is  magnificent;  the  horse- 
chestnuts,  both  white  and  red,  please  the  eyes  of  all;  the 
flowering  thorn,  cherry,  peach  and  plum,  with  the  grace- 
ful new  weeping  willows,  help  to  make  a pleasing  variety, 
and  the  purple  beech  pleasingly  contrasts  with  all  these 
if  arranged  in  good  taste  in  regard  to  effect  arid  color. 


CHAPTER  V. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  QUEENS  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 


HERE  were  three  series  of  fairs  established  in 
succession  in  Queens  county.  The  first  was 
in  1693,  after  the  English  custom:  “To 
remedy  the  inconvenience  of  a want  of  cer- 
tain market  days,  and  that  trade  may  be  bet- 
JEj'  ter  encouraged,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Lsr  colony  of  New  York  enact  that  a public  and  open 
market  be  held  at  Jamaica  every  Thursday  for  sale  or 
barter,  in  gross  or  retail,  of  cattle,  grain,  victuals,  provis- 
ions and  other  necessities,  and  of  all  sorts  of  merchandise, 
from  8 o’clock  a.  m.  till  sunset,  without  payment  of  toll.” 

A fair  at  Jamaica,  beginning  on  the  first  Tuesday  in 
May  and  the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  and  continuing 
four  days,  was  also  established.  A governor  and  ruler  of 
the  fair  was  to  hold  a court  of  pypowder  (as  it  was  called) 
“ to  limit  out  an  open  place  where  horses  and  other 
cattle  may  be  sold,”  to  appoint  a toll  gatherer  to  take 
nine  pence  for  every  horse  sold,  and  to  enter  in  a book 
its  mark  and  color,  and  the  name  and  dwelling  place  of 
the  parties  to  the  bargain. 

In  1728  the  fair  opened  on  May  6th  and  continued 


EARLY  AGRICULTURAL  FAIRS. 


61 


four  days,  during  which  there  were  exposed  for  sale  a 
variety  of  goods  and  merchandise  and  several  fine  horses. 
A lion  also  was  on  show  to  enhance  the  interest  of  the 
occasion.  We  know  nothing  further  of  the  success  or 
continuance  of  this  fair,  except  that  in  May  1774  John 
Rapelye  was  governor  and  superintendent,  and  that 
Robert  Brooks  was  clerk  of  two  fairs  for  Queens  county, 
to  be  held  at  Jamaica  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  May  and 
the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  each  to  continue  four 
days. 

A meeting  for  the  formation  of  an  agricultural  society 
for  Queens  county  was  held  at  the  old  court-house  near 
Mineola  on  November  nth  1817.  Of  this  Lewis  S.  Hew- 
lett was  chairman  and  John  I.  Cromwell  secretary.  Its 
object  was  to  improve  the  method  of  farming,  the  raising 
of  stock  and  rural  economy.  To  the  committee  were 
added  Garrett  Laton,  Major  William  Jones  and  Henry  O. 
Seaman.  The  society  was  organized  June  21st  1819,  by 
electing  Rufus  King  president;  Effingham  Lawrence, 
Singleton  Mitchell  and  William  Jones,  vice-presidents; 
Rev.  David  S.  Bogart,  corresponding  secretary;  Thomas 
Philips,  recording  secretary,  and  Daniel  Kissam,  treas- 
urer. 

The  first  exhibition  was  held  at  the  court-house  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  November  1819.  Premiums  to  the 
amount  of  $200  were  awarded  for  corn,  potatoes,  ruta- 
baga turnips,  cloths,  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  and  one  four- 
year-old  gelding.  No  imported  animal  was  exhibited. 
In  1820  more  persons  were  assembled  at  the  fair  than  on 
any  previous  occasion.  Premiums  were  awarded  (among 
others)  to  Rufus  King  for  the  best  milch  cow,  to  Joseph 
Onderdonk  for  rutabagas,  and  to  Townsend  Cock  for  his 
celebrated  horse  “ Duroc.” 

In  1821  the  exhibition  list  was  increased,  and  premiums 
to  the  amount  of  $369  were  awarded  for  potatoes,  wheat, 
rye,  flax,  barley,  carpets,  mittens,  stockings,  etc.  To 
Henry  Coveft  $10  was  allowed  for  a garden  plough  and 
machines  for  planting  beans  and  sowing  turnip  seed;  and 
to  Garrett  Laton  $10  for  the  most  cloth  made  in  one 
family,  viz.:  202  yards  of  woolen  and  363  yards  of  linen. 
There  was  a varied  display  of  domestic  animals.  At  the 
last  fair  in  1822  specimens  of  cotton  were  exhibited  by 
Colonel  Leverich,  of  Newtown.  Tunis  D.  Covert,  of 
Jamaica  South,  raised  60  hills,  and  Daniel  C.  Coles,  of 
Oyster  Bay,  raised  cotton  sufficient  to  make  20  yards  of 
muslin.  In  addition  to  the  usual  articles,  kidney  pota- 
toes, working  oxen,  Indian  corn  and  linen  sheetings  were 
on  exhibition.  The  premiums  reached  the  sum  of  $263. 50. 
An  address  was  delivered  by  Judge  Effingham  Lawrence, 
who  was  introduced  to  the  audience  assembled  in  the 
court-house  by  a few  prefatory  remarks  from  Rufus 
King,  president  of  the  society.  This  was  the  last  meet- 
ing of  the  society.  It  failed  from  a lack  of  interest  in  the 
farming  community. 

The  present  Queens  County  Agricultural  Society 
originated  at  a meeting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
New  York  State  Agricultural  Society,  held  at  William 
Niblo’s  in  New  York  city  July  21st  1841,  when  a com- 
mittee was  appointed,  of  the  following  persons,  to  solicit 


donations  and  new  members  to  the  society,  and  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  organization  of  an  agricultural  so- 
ciety for  Queens  county:  Newtown , Grant  Thorburn, 
Garret  Cowenhoven;  Flushing , John  W.  Lawrence,  Ef- 
fingham Lawrence;  North  Hempstead , Singleton  Mitchell, 
Robert  W.  Mott;  Oyster  Bay , John  Wells,  Albert  G. 
Carll;  Hempstead , John  Bedell,  Edward  H.  Seaman; 
Jamaica , William  R.  Gracie,  John  Johnson. 

On  October  2nd  1841  a meeting  was  held  at  the  court- 
house. Singleton  Mitchell  was  called  to  the  chair  and 
Albert  G.  Carll  appointed  secretary;  when  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  “ it  is  expedient  to  form  an  agricul- 
tural society  in  this  county,”  and  that  a committee  of  one 
person  from  each  town  be  appointed  to  report  a consti- 
tution. The  chair  appointed  Robert  W.  Mott,  John  G. 
Lamberson,  Effingham  Lawrence,  Thomas  B.  Jackson, 
John  Johnson  and  Albert  G.  Carll.  On  October  9th 
1841  the  society  was  organized,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers: 

Effingham  Lawrence,  president;  George  Nostrand, 
William  Henry  Carter,  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  Platt  Wi'ilets, 
Singleton  Mitchell  and  George  D.  Coles,  vice-presidents; 
Albert  G.  Carll,  corresponding  secretary;  John  G.  Lam- 
berson, recording  secretary;  Daniel  K.  Youngs,  treasurer. 

The  first  circular  was  issued  March  21st  1842,  with 
this, appeal  to  the  people  of  the  county:  “ We  ask  ycu  to 
unite  with  the  society  and  give  it  your  encouragement; 
and  not  let  it  be  said  that  the  farmers  of  Queens  county 
have  not  sufficient  spirit  to  keep  an  agricultural  society 
in  existence.” 

Arrangements  were  made  to  hold  the  first  fair  on 
Thursday  October  13th  1842,  at  Anderson’s  hotel,  in 
Hempstead,  and  Vice-Chancellor  McCoun  was  invited  to 
deliver  the  address.  On  the  appointed  day  a procession 
of  the  Hempstead  band,  clergy,  orator,  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  society  and  citizens  generally  was  formed 
and  marched  from  the  hotel  to  the  Methodist  church, 
which  was  well  filled.  An  ode  composed  by  William 
Cullen  Bryant  was  sung,  prayer  made  and  the  address 
delivered.  The  receipts  for  the  year,  including  $91  given 
by  the  State,  amounted  to  $338,  of  which  about  $250 
was  awarded  in  premiums. 

The  second  fair  was  also  held  at  Hempstead,  October 
17th,  1843,  over  6,000  persons  being  present,  and  another 
of  Bryant’s  odes  was  sung  under  a tent  erected  in  the 
yard  of  the  hotel,  which  proved  much  too  small  for  the 
proper  display  of  the  flowers,  grain,  fruits  and  needle- 
work. The  receipts  were  $368.85,  including  $91  from 
the  State;  about  $350  was  paid  in  premiums.  Daniel 
S.  Dickinson  addressed  the  people,  standing  in  a wagon 
drawn  up  to  the  door  of  the  tent.  At  a sumptuous  din- 
ner, got  up  by  Anderson,  the  orator  was  welcomed  to 
Queens  county  and  his  health  proposed  in  an  eloquent 
speech,  which  was  happily  responded  toby  the  lieutenant 
governor. 

The  third  fair  was  held  at  Jamaica  October  10th  1844. 
The  trustees  and  teachers  were  thanked  for  the  use  of 
Union  Hall  Academy,  where  fruits,  vegetables,  domestic 
articles  and  works  were  displayed.  The  receipts,  includ- 


6 2 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


ing$9i  from  the  State,  were  $410.12.  Gabriel  Furman 
gave  the  address  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  cattle 
grounds  were  on  Union  Hall  street. 

The  fourth  fair  was  held  at  Hempstead,  October 
9th  1845.  A large  tent  and  shed  were  erected  on  a lot 
opposite  the  Episcopal  parsonage.  Owing  to  the  rainy 
weather  the  receipts  were  only  $201.81,  including  $91 
from  the  State.  Henry  W.  Platt  exhibited  56  varieties 
of  apples  and  Jacob  Williams  61.  Some  specimens  of  old 
continental  money  and  an  inkstand  used  by  William 
Penn  were  on  exhibition.  J.  S.  Skinner  made  the  ad- 
dress in  the  open  air. 

The  fifth  fair  was  held  at  Flushing,  October  9th  1846, 
when  and  where  the  American  Institute,  of  New  York, 
held  a plowing  and  spading  match.  There  was  a band 
of  music  from  Governor’s  Island.  The  performers  and 
delegates  rode  through  the  village  in  a wagon  tastefully 
decorated  and  drawn  by  36  yoke  of  oxen.  The  exhibi- 
tion tent  was  decked  with  flowers  from  Flushing’s  far- 
famed  nurseries.  Dr.  Gardiner  gave  the  address  in  the 
Reformed  church.  The  receipts  were  $349.20.  Book 
premiums  were  now  first  given.  Stock  was  allowed  to  be 
sold  after  the  exhibition  was  over. 

The  net  receipts  for  1847-8  were  only  $175.  The  fair 
of  1849,  at  Flushing,  somewhat  improved  the  finances, 
the  receipts  being  $445.27;  but  many  premiums  remained 
unpaid,  and  a voluntary  subscription  had  to  be  taken  up 
to  pay  them. 

A tent  only  50  feet  in  diameter  contained  nearly  all 
the  articles  exhibited  at  Hempstead  in  1850.  The  cattle 
were  put  in  a field  near  the  place  of  exhibition  and  the 
horses  were  shown  on  the  turnpike.  The  receipts  were 
$591.66,  there  having  been  a large  accession  of  members, 
especially  from  Jamaica.  The  fairs  were  held  by  turns 
at  Hempstead,  Flushing  and  Jamaica. 

In  1852,  September  29th,  the  fair  was  held  at  Flushing. 
The  delegation  from  the  American  Institute  and  invited 
guests  rode  from  the  steamboat  wharf  to  the  fair  grounds 
in  a wagon  drawn  by  56  yoke  of  fine  oxen,  with  music, 
under  escort  of  Bragg’s  horse  guards  and  the  Hamilton 
rifles.  The  premiums  consisted  of  231  books,  300  dip- 
lomas, 33  silver  cups,  7 silver  medals,  and  6 silver  butter 
knives,  together  with  cash  premiums,  amounting  in  all 
to  nearly  $800.  The  receipts  were  $445.27.  There  was 
a plowing  match  and  a fine  display  of  flowers  and 
fruits.  The  horses,  decendants  of  “ Eclipse,”  “ Messen- 
ger,” “ Engineer,”  “ Mambrino,”  “ Abdallah,”  &c.,  were 
of  truer  form  and  points  than  those  at  the  State  fair. 

In  1853  premiums  were  offered  for  the  best  loaf  of 
wheat  and  rye  bread  made  by  a girl  under  21  years  of 
age;  also  for  cheese,  quinces,  cranberries,  honey,  silk, 
&c.  There  was  a plowing  match  for  four  premiums. 
On  the  last  day  of  the  fair  there  was  an  auction  sale  of 
stock  (registered  in  a book),  horses,  sheep,  swine  and 
farm  implements.  No  fine-wooled  sheep  had  been  ex- 
hibited for  years. 

In  1854  there  were  three  premiums  offered  for  the  best 
butter  made  by  a girl  under  21.  Badges  and  four  tickets 
of  admission  to  the  grounds  were  furnished  each  member 


on  the  payment  of  $1;  the  price  of  single  tickets  was 
i2l/2  cents.  Those  not  members  were  required  to  pay 
$1  on  entering  articles  for  premiums.  In  1861  ladies’ 
needle-work  was  admitted  free. 

The  receipts  for  the  first  xo  years  were  $4,101.59;  for 
the  second  10  years  $19,096.11.  During  the  succeeding 
4 years  the  gross  receipts  were  $20,071.51;  and  the  fairs 
were  held  on  ground  fenced  in,  with  increased  facilities 
for  the  display  of  stock  and  other  articles. 

On  November  30th  1857  the  society,  having  greatly  in- 
creased its  membership  and  improved  its  finances,  was  in- 
corporated, in  order  that  it  might  hold  real  and  personal 
property  without  taxation,  and  occupy  an  equal  position 
of  respectability  with  its  sister  societies  in  the  State;  its 
object  being  to  encourage  and  improve  agriculture,  hor- 
ticulture and  the  mechanic  arts.  The  corporators  were 
John  Harold,  John  Bedell,  Joseph  Tompkins,  William 
T.  McCoun,  Samuel  T.  Jackson,  Benjamin  W.  Doughty, 
Jeremiah  Valentine,  Uriah  Mitchell,  Samuel  L Hewlett, 
and  James  P.  Smith.  A service  of  plate  was  presented 
to  John  Harold. 

At  the  fair  of  1857  the  president  of  the  society,  John 
A.  King,  and  William  T.  McCoun  rode  through  Jamaica 
to  the  sound  of  music,  in  a wagon  drawn  by  13  yoke  of 
oxen,  followed  by  another  drawn  by  10  yoke  of  oxen. 

On  July  1st  1858  there  was  an  interesting  trial  of  8 
mowing  machines  on  the  farm  of  Valentine  Willis,  near 
Mineola,  amid  a large  concourse  of  spectators.  The  first 
premium  was  given  to  the  Buckeye  mower,  the  second 
to  Jerome’s  combined  mower  and  reaper. 

At  the  fall  fair  held  at  Flushing  September  22nd  1858 
there  were  28  premiums  offered  for  farm  implements. 
The  wagons  containing  the  committee  of  reception  and 
invited  guests  and  Shelton’s  brass  band  were  drawn  by 
about  50  yoke  of  oxen  through  the  principal  streets  of 
the  village,  to  a 10-acre  lot  of  Thomas  Legget  junior, 
which  was  enclosed  with  a high  board  fence.  A quarter- 
mile  track  was  graded  and  roped  in  for  the  exhibition  of 
horses.  A large  tent  was  erected  on  a gentle  eminence. 
On  the  grounds  were  7,000  persons.  The  receipts  were 
$1,405.72,  including  $659.72  for  tickets  sold.  The  pick- 
pockets reaped  a harvest  in  a small  way.  Simon  R. 
Browne  exhibited  20  of  his  fine  horses,  and  E.  A.  Law- 
rence a fat  ox  weighing  2,500  pounds.  Gabriel  Winter 
contributed  a floral  temple.  Drawings  by  pupils  of  the 
Whitestone  school  were  on  exhibition,  also  Duryea’s  corn 
starch;  ground  almonds  and  peanuts  were  grown  by 
George  Lawrence.  The  local  committee  assumed  all  the 
expenses  of  the  fair,  amounting  to  $800. 

In  1859  the  fair  was  held  in  a ten-acre  lot  at  Hemp- 
stead, and  5,000  persons  were  present.  Three  premiums 
were  offered  for  the  best  trotting  horse  and  7 premiums 
for  carriages,  market  wagons  and  harness.  Two  market 
wagons  attached  together,  covered  with  a canopy  of 
sheaves  of  corn,  wheat,  &c.,  and  drawn  by  15  yoke  of 
cattle,  with  banners  and  music,  brought  in  a delegation 
from  Flushing.  About  100  cattle  were  on  exhibition 
and  nearly  as  many  horses.  Jacob  Williams  exhibited 
80  varieties  of  apples  and  pears,  and  Isaac  Hicks  87. 


FAIRS  OF  1860-73. 


63 


On  September  19th  i860  the  fair  was  held  on  land 
of  B.  N.  Creed  at  Jamaica.  There  were  8,000  spectators. 
Premiums  were  offered  for  trotting  horses  and  stoves; 
and  $10  each  for  essays  on  the  agricultural  history  of 
Queens  county,  on  horses  and  on  the  potato  and  its  dis- 
eases. Ladies’  needle-work  and  fancy  work  was  now  ad- 
mitted free  and  admission  tickets  given  the  exhibitors. 
The  horses  “ Enterprise,”  “Jupiter,”  and  “ Abdallah  ” 
received  premiums.  Mr.  Burgess  showed  140  varieties 
of  flowers.  Isaac  B.  Lewis  had  the  greatest  variety  of 
vegetables  and  a pumpkin  of  140  pounds. 

At  the  fair  of  1861  a single  admission  was  fixed  at  15 
cents;  carriage  $2;  no  horses  to  be  hitched  on  the 
grounds.  The  officers  now  wore  crimson  rosettes  and 
the  judges  white  badges. 

In  1862  the  fair  was  held  on  the  Fashion  course,  New- 
town. Admission  tickets  were  raised  to  25  cents,  and  a 
police  force  was  employed.  Premiums  were  offered  for 
the  best  specimens  of  writing  from  any  public  school  in 
the  county.  Premiums  were  offered  for  shorthorns, 
Devons,  Herefords,  Ayrshires  and  Alderneys,  and  other 
than  thoroughbreds.  S.  R.  Bowne  offered  a special  pre- 
mium of  $100  for  the  best  stallion;  and  the  Flushing 
Railroad  Company  $100  for  the  best  trotter  in  harness, 
driven  by  the  owner;  $20  for  the  best  trained  saddle 
horse,  and  $250  for  the  best  pair  of  road  horses. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  Hempstead  on  April 
3d  1866  a paralellogram  of  40  acres  of  plain  lands  near 
Mineola  was  voted  to  the  society  for  a nominal  sum;  but 
to  revert  to  the  town  when  it  ceases  to  be  used  by  the 
society  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture.  This  vote  was 
legalized  by  the  Legislature  April  23d  1867. 

On  June  1 8th  the  board  of  managers  met  to  consider 
plans  and  estimates  for  the  proposed  improvements. 
The  secretary,  John  Harold,  presented  plans  of  buildings, 
which  were  adopted.  On  July  26th  the  first  post  was  set 
and  work  fairly  begun.  Digging  post  holes,  grading, 
carting  lumber,  etc.,  were  so  hurried  on  by  voluntary 
labor  that  the  grounds  in  about  seven  weeks  were  ready  for 
the  fair  held  September  27th  and  28th  1866,  when  there 
were  170  entries  of  horses,  and  trials  of  speed  took  place 
on  the  oval  half  mile  track  on  Thursday,  -Friday  and 
Saturday  afternoons. 

The  gross  receipts  for  the  first  four  years  of  perma- 
nent location  at  Mineola  were  $50,317.23,  of  which  $9,- 
500  was  borrowed  on  interest.  In  addition  to  the  volun- 
tary labor  and  donations  $24,000  was  expended  in  con- 
struction. The  cost  of  the  hall  was  $8,115.32;  of  the 
stalls,  stables,  etc.,  $9,809.47;  of  trees  planted,  $1 16.22. 

The  first  horticultural  exhibition  was  held  on  Friday 
June  2 1st  1867.  A premium  of  $10  was  offered  for  the 
best  collection  of  vegetables  by  a market  gardener. 
There  were  premiums  also  for  strawberries,  flowers, 
spring  vegetables  and  house  plants  in  pots.  Forty  pre- 
miums were  awarded.  The  net  proceeds  of  the-  ladies’ 
festival  amounted  to  $846.75. 

At  the  fall  fa4r  $15  was  offered  for  40  varieties  of 
apples  and  the  best  20  varieties  of  pears. 

The  premium  list  kept  steadily  extending  so  as  to  em- 


brace a greater  and  greater  variety  of  articles.  Figs, 
oranges  and  lemons  were  now  added  to  the  list.  On 
June  23d  1869  a horticultural  show  was  held  of  flowers, 
floral  designs,  etc.  There  were  120  varieties  of  roses 
from  1'.  W.  Kennard,  of  Glen  Cove;  also  fine  grapes, 
lemons,  oranges,  bananas,  and  exotics  from  Brazil.  There 
were  fine  roses  from  William  A.  Burgess;  roses  and  cut- 
flowers  from  Isaac  Hicks  & Sons;  Barbarossa  grapes 
from  Mrs.  Brownson,  and  48  seedling  strawberries  from 
E.  H.  Bogart.  In  1870  hand  lawn-mowers  were  on  ex- 
hibition. The  ladies  held  a festival,  the  net  proceeds  of 
which  ($758.76)  were  applied  toward  liquidating  the  debt 
of  the  society. 

The  fall  fair  of  1869  was  the  best  so  far  held  in  regard 
to  articles  on  show  and  numbers  in  attendance.  There 
were  1 18  entries  of  cattle,  for  which  $365  in  premiums 
was  awarded;  161  of  horses,  for  which  $450  was  awarded; 
70  of  sheep;  206  of  poultry,  for  which  $172  was 
awarded;  88  of  articles  for  the  table,  for  which  $50  was 
awarded;  265  of  needle-work;  280  of  manufactured 
articles;  $101  was  awarded  lor  swine;  $70  for  vege- 
tables; $130  for  carriages;  $281  for  fruits  and  flowers 
The  receipts  from  all  sources  were  $8,785.56;  the  ex- 
penditures were  $8,690.62.  The  total  amount  of  the  so- 
ciety’s indebtedness  was  $1,500. 

At  the  fall  fair,  1870,  $2,049  was  paid  out  in  premiums. 
The  Long  Island  Railroad  usually  conveyed  articles  to 
and  from  the  ground  free  of  charge.  The  fee  for  life 
membership  was  raised  from  $10  to  $25.  The  entrance 
fees  and  carriage  tickets  amounted  to  $3,622.73;  from 
rent  of  ground  and  buildings  $980.85  was  received. 

At  the  horticultutal  show  on  June  14th  1871  Allen  & 
Co.  exhibited  a miniature  garden,  laid  out  with  walks  and 
terraces,  blooming  with  choice  flowers,  and  having  a 
fountain  in  the  center.  Varieties  of  fine  strawberries 
were  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Seaman,  Bogart  & Snedeker, 
and  hot-house  grapes  by  Mr.  Bronson.  There  was  paid 
in  premiums  $233.  The  remaining  grounds  were  now 
fenced  in  with  locust  posts,  rails  fastened  on  hitching- 
posts  for  tying  over  400  teams,  and  a well  was  dug  for 
watering  horses.  The  cost  of  these  improvements  was 
$728.93.  At  the  fall  fair,  besides  the  usual  articles,  there 
were  shown  endless  varieties  of  wines,  cordials,  bread, 
cakes,  jellies,  pies,  preserves,  pickles,  canned  fruits,  etc., 
etc.  The  vegetables  required  for  their  proper  display 
nearly  200  feet  in  length  of  table  room.  For  premiums 
$2,624  was  paid. 

For  the  fall  fair  of  1872  premiums  were  offered  for 
thoroughbred  shorthorned  cattle,  Devons,  Herefords, 
Ayrshires  and  Alderneys,  for  grade  and  native  cattle, 
working  oxen,  working  horses,  matched  and  saddle 
horses,  mules  and  ponies;  foreign  and  native  grapes> 
quinces,  plums,  peaches,  cranberries,  blackberries,  figs, 
oranges,  lemons,  melons,  knitting,  netting,  crochet  and 
fancy  work,  paintings,  musical  instruments,  etc. 

At  the  horticultural  show  in  1873  there  was  a trial  of 
hand  lawn-mowers.  The  premiums  paid  at  the  fall  meet- 
ing amounted  to  $2,541.  The  judges  complained  of  a 
lack  of  correct  pedigrees  of  cattle  and  horses,  the  answers 


(>4 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


from  the  competitors  being  loosely  given— that  it  was  a 
“ Messenger”  mare,  or  a “ Bellfounder,”  “ Hambletonian,” 
“Almack,”  “Abdallah  ” or  “ Eclipse,”  or  simply  a thor- 
oughbred mare.  “ Messenger  ” was  imported  in  1797  and 
died  on  Long  Island  in  1808. 

In  1874  a new  grand  stand  was  erected,  stabling  ac- 
commodations were  increased,  and  the  track  was  im- 
proved, at  a cost  of  $8,482.32,  and  the  society  yet  had  a 
debt  of  $2,0:0.  At  the  fall  exhibition  there  were  130 
entries  of  cattle,  189  of  horses  and  63  of  sheep.  In  swine 
the  Berkshire  took  the  lead.  Nearly  all  the  different 
breeds  of  poultry  were  represented.  A gold  medal  was 
given  A.  Corbet,  of  Hicksville,  for  his  chicken-incubator 
and  artificial  mother.  For  the  bench  show  of  dogs  there 
were  120  entries.  There  was  the  largest  show  ever 
made  in  the  county  of  farm  implements;  $3,814  was  paid 
out  in  premiums. 

In  1875  two  days  were  allowed  for  the  horticultural 
show.  There  was  a grand  plowing  match;  a bench 
show  of  dogs;  the  American  game  of  base  ball  was  played 
by  amateurs,  residents  of  the  county,  for  a silver  ball 
given  by  the  society;  $2,397  was  paid  in  special  premiums. 

In  1876  there  was  a balance  of  $3,007.23  in  the 
treasury.  At  (he  horticultural  exhibition  was  held  a 
“ ladies'  festival,”  which  made  a handsome  contribution 
to  the  funds  of  the  society.  A base  ball  tournament  at- 
tracted much  attention,  as  well  as  the  display  of  horses.  A 
few  of  the  Montauk  and  Shinnecock  Indians  were  present 
as  visitors.  The  crowning  feature  of  the  occasion  was 
the  Centennial  exhibition  of  relics  of  olden  times,  such 
as  old  books,  documents  of  every  kind,  Indian  deeds, 
newspapers,  old-fashioned  implements  of  household  and 
kitchen  furniture,  antiquated  dresses,  needle-work,  swords, 
etc.,  etc.  The  variety  was  endless  and  gave  unbounded 
pleasure  to  the  curious. 

At  the  fall  fair  the  show  of  horses  exceeded  all  pre- 
vious years.  Potatoes  were  injured  by  the  Colorado 
beetle.  Fertilizers  were  put  on  exhibition.  The  receipts 
from  life  members  were  $1,130;  and  $3,689  was  paid  in 
premiums. 

The  total  exhibits  for  1877  were  2,700.  The  premiums 
reached  the  sum  of  $3,813;  the  sum  of  $2,000  was  de- 
posited in  a savings  bank,  leaving  a cash  balance  of 
$2,036.32  in  the  treasurer’s  hands. 

In  1868  a dining  hall  was  built.  The  premium  list  em- 
braced 643  first  prizes  and  rose  to  the  sum  of  $4,487.90. 
From  the  ladies’  agricultural  fete  $113.90  was  realized; 
from  annual  carriage  tickets  $440;  from  rent  of  stands 
$866.49.  The  interest  of  the  horticultural  show  was  en- 
hanced by  an  exhibition  of  school  work,  such  as  compo- 
sitions, maps,  drawing,  penmanship,  etc.,  which  occupied 
one  wing  of  the  hall,  and  received  24  premiums.  The 
novel  feature  of  -the  fair  was  lacrosse,  polo  and  hurdle 
jumping  by  the  Queens  county  hunt.  The  old  grand  stand 
was  razed  and  the  site  seeded  and  set  with  shade  treee. 

In  June  1879  there  was  a field  trial  of  mowing  ma- 
chines. The  proceeds  of  the  ladies’  festival,  $533.74, 
were  deposited  in  a savings-bank.  The  appropriation 
from  the  State  was  $221.81.  A custodian  was  appointed 


to  be  in  constant  daily  attendance  on  the  grounds  through- 
out the  year;  the  track  was  widened  and  remodeled  ^rive- 
ways  and  paths  were  laid  out  and  graded,  and  additional 
s*hade  trees  planted.  At  the  fall  fair  there  was  a mule 
race.  For  a large  number  of  premiums  for  grain  and 
vegetables  there  was  no  competition.  An  automatic 
reaper  and  binder  was  shown.  The  school  exhibit  was 
discontinued  after  this  year.  There  w<  re  16  competing 
teachers  and  143  pupils. 

On  the  night  of  October  29th  1880  ninety-two  horse- 
sheds  were  burned.  An  insurance  of  $6oo- covered  about 
half  the  loss.  The  contract  for  rebuilding  them  24  by 
150  feet,  for  $1,150,  was  awarded  to  H.  C.  Robinson,  of 
Jamaica.  At  the  fall  fair  the  dining  hall  was  better  man- 
aged than  heretofore.  The  ladies’  festival  committee  had 
a credit  of  $831.06  in  the  Roslyn  Savings  Bank.  The 
premiums  paid  out  were  $4,322,  being  $700  less  than  the 
previous  year.  The  balance  in  the  treasury  was  $2,177.- 
64.  The  army  worm,  potato  beetle,  cabbage  worm  and 
an  early  drought  made  a bad  season  for  farmers’  produce. 
The  pleuro-pneumonia  scare  prevented  the  usual  show  of 
cattle.  Dorsetshire  and  Yorkshire  swine  were  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Belmont.  There  were  also  native  and  seedling 
grapes,  a unique  display  of  taxidermy  and  Jersey  marl 
and  artificial  fertilizers.  Premiums  for  a plowing  con- 
test at  the  summer  exhibition  were  offered  to  the  amount 
of  $30,  and  $50  for  bicycling.  There  were  five  com- 
petitors for  the  former  and  ten  for  the  latter. 

The  horticultural  exhibition  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
June  8th  and  9th  1881  was  too  early  for  the  backward  sea- 
son. William  A.  Burgess  had  the  most  roses,  including  the 
Mareschal  Neil;  Albert  Beng  had  a great  variety  of  cut 
flowers;  T.  D.  Cook  had  three  cauliflowers;  Mr.  Barnum 
had  the  greatest  variety  of  vegetables  raised  by  one  ex- 
hibitor: J.  H.  Van  Nostrand  had  peas  in  pod,  cabbage, 
lettuce,  etc.;  E.  P.  Roche  had  over  70  varieties  of  straw- 
berries, one  plant  bearing  over  200  berries.  There  were 
cheeses  from  the  creamery  in  Roslyn. 

The  fall  fair  was  held  September  27th,  28th  and  29th; 
E.  J.  Jerome  was  superintendent  of  the  hall.  The  fourth 
annual  fete  was  held  on  the  evening  of  September  8th. 

The  presidents  of  the  society  have  been  as  follows: 
Effingham  Lawrence,  1841-44;  Singleton  Mitchell,  1845; 
William  T.  McCoun,  1847,  1856;  John  A.  King,  1848; 
D.  R.  F.  Jones,  1858;  Edward  A.  Lawrence,  i860;  Daniel 
K.  Youngs,  1861;  John  C.  Jackson,  1863,  1874;  Samuel 
T.  Taber,  1866,  1869;  Peter  C.  Barnum,  1868;  Charles 
H.  Jones,  1870;  Robert  Willets,  1873;  Horatio  S.  Parke, 
1876;  Thomas  Messenger,  1877;  George  T.  Hewlett, 
1878;  Townsend  D.  Cock,  1879. 

Recording  secretaries:  John  G.  Lamberson,  1842:  Ed- 
ward H.  Seaman,  1843;  John  H.  Seaman,  1854;  Robert 
Willets,  1855;  J.  Howard  Rushmore,  1877. 

Corresponding  secretary,  Albert  G.  Carll,  1841. 

Secretary  and  treasurer,  John  Harold,  1850-72. 

Treasurers:  Daniel  K.Youngs,  1841;  William  Ketcham, 
1846;  John  Harold,  1850;  Benjamin  D.  Hicks,  1873; 
Roswell  Eldridge,  1876;  Samuel  Willets,  1878;  James 
R.  Willets,  1881. 


SUPPORT  OF  THE  UNION. 


65 


CHAPTER  VI. 


QUEENS  COUNTY  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR RECORD  OF  THE 

VOLUNTEERS. 


N the  Southern  States  taking  their  first  meas- 
ures for  withdrawing  from  the  federal  Union 
Queens  county  generally  raised  a dissenting 
voice.  Whenever  a “ peace  meeting  ” was 
advertised  it  was  at  once  pjut  down.  The 
peacemakers  and  friends  of  the  South  were 
y called  “snakes,”  “ copperheads,”  “ secesh  ” and 
the  like,  and  there  were  occasional  family  feuds  growing 
out  of  a diversity  of  opinion.  There  were  many  patriotic 
meetings  and  visible  signs  of  popular  opinion,  such  as 
flag-raisings,  which  inflamed  and  fed  the  war  sentiment. 

When  the  men  were  about  leaving  their  families  and 
setting  out  for  the  seat  of  war  “ soldiers’ aid  societies  ” 
and  “home  relief  associations”  were  formed  to  provide 
for  the  families  of  absent  soldiers.  Hospital  supplies  and 
clothing  were  sent  to  the  Sanitary  Commission  at  Wash- 
ington. Even  the  “ Friends  ” were  active  in  a cause  that 


property  was  stored,  with  intent  to  destroy  it.  They,  how- 
ever, contented  themselves  (on  the  entreaty  of  some 
leading  Democrats)  with  taking  out  some  boxes  of  cloth- 
ing, which  they  broke  open,  piled  in  heaps  and  set  on 
fire.  The  largest  pile,  which  they  derisively  called  “ Mount 
Vesuvius”  was  about  ten  feet  high.  The  woolen  did 
not  readily  burn,  and  much  of  it  was  carried  off  by  Irish 
women  for  their  family  use.  The  loss  was  $3, 446. 28.  It 
consisted  of  210  knit  shirts,  80  pairs  stockings,  30  trow- 
sers,  59  knapsacks,  400  haversacks,  389  blankets,  153 
canteens  and  523  blouses.  The  mob  next  proceeded  to 
McHugh’s  hotel,  where  they  drank  freely  without  cost. 
The  provost-marshal’s  office  was  then  forcibly  entered 
and  furniture  broken  to  pieces.  The  wheel  and  papers 
had  been  removed  that  afternoon  to  a place  of  safety,  and 
Colonel  Rose  with  the  other  officers  had  fled  away. 

Another  draft  began  September  24th  1864,  the  quota 
being  852.  As  much  as  $600  was  offered  for  a recruit. 
Queens  county  paid  for  war  purposes  $1,275,380.82. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Flushing  battery  (see  his- 
tory of  Flushing)  no  military  organizations  were  formed 
in  Queens;  but  volunteers  joined  existing  organizations 
in  this  and  other  States. 

We  append  a record  by  towns  of  Queens  county’s 
volunteers,  compiled  from  official  rolls  at  Albany  and 


held  out  liberty  to  the  slave. 

A camp  of  instruction,  called  “Winfield  Scott,”  was 
formed  on  Hempstead  Plains  and  barracks  for  “ Camp 
Woodhull  ” were  set  up  in  Doughty’s  Grove,  near  Queens. 

All  sojourners  from  the  South  were  put  under  sur- 
veillance and  espionage;  and  resident  citizens  of  doubt- 
ful standing  were  waited  upon  by  rough-hewn  patriots 
and  forced  to  hurrah  for  the  Union  in  order  to  escape 
rude  handling.  A Union  war  meeting  was  held  at  New- 
town, when  a huge  coffin  mounted  on  wheels  was  trundled 
through  the  streets,  labeled  “Newtown  Secession  died 
out  August  29th  1861;”  southern  rebels  and  northern 
traitors  were  alike  denounced. 

There  were  so  many  calls  for  men  to  suppress  the  re- 
bellion that  volunteers  were  at  length  hard  to  be  got  and 
a draft  had  to  be  resorted  to.  The  board  of  enrollment 
included  Colonel  Rose,  who  died  January  12th  1864  and 
was  succeeded  by  Captain  James  A.  Fleury  as  provost- 
marshal,  William  T.  McCoun  was  commissioner,  Drs. 
Prior,  Ordronaux  and  Richardson  were  in  succession 
examining  surgeons.  The  first  draft  for  Queens  county 
was  set  down  for  July  15th  1863,  the  quota  being  1,603; 
but  was  put  off  till  September  2nd.  owing  to  the  Irish 
anti-draft  riot  which  broke  out  at  Jamaica  on  the  even- 
ing of  July  14th.  Its  purpose  was  to  stop  the  draft  which 
was  to  commence  on  the  morcow.  Rumors  of  intended 
violence  were  rife  during  the  day,  and  some  friends  of 
order  felt  disposed  to  arm  themselves  in  defense  of  gov- 
ernment, but  timid  counsels  prevailed,  and  the  village 
was  left  at  the  mercy  of  the  rioters.  About  dusk  they 
began  to  collect.  A.  Hagner  and  H.  W.  Johnson  ex- 
horted them  to  observe  the  laws.  This  was  not  to  their 
taste  and  some  one  cried  out,  “ Now  for  the  clothing.” 
At  once  they  went  to  the  building  where  the  government 


from  other  sources.  Besides  the  abbreviations  which  will 
be  recognized  as  indicating  the  different  ranks  and  arms 
of  the  service,  k.  is  used  for  killed,  w.  for  wounded,  d. 
for  died,  and  pro.  for  promoted. 

FLUSHING. 

Henry  Appel,  29th  N.  Y.;  re-enlisted  in  7th  N.  Y.; 
shot  on  picket  duty  April  4th  ’65.  George  Arnett,  con- 
struction corps,  General  Sherman’s  army.  William  Atch- 
ly,  15th  N.  Y.  bat.  Richard  Atchly,  U.  S.  frigate 
“Sabine.”  William  Baker,  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade  ; 
re-enlisted  May  ’64.  William  E.  Balkie,  34th  N.  Y.  bat  ; 
pro.  lieut.;  w.  four  times.  Peter  Bayerle,  15th  N.  Y art.; 
30  days.  Frederick  Beardsley,  sergt.,  133d  N.  Y.  Peter 
Becker,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  John  Bell,  U.  S.  ship  “Susque- 
hanna; 1st  class  fireman.  John  Bergen,  9th  N.  Y.;  w.  in 
arm  at  Fredericksburg.  Jacob  Bernshiemer,  15th  N.  Y. 
art.;  30  days.  John  C.  Blane,  15th  engineers.  Hiram 
E.  Bonner,  2 1st  C.  M.b.;  disabled  by  protracted  marches; 
August  15th  ’62.  Cornelius  Brett,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M. 
Alonzo  Brown,  145th  N.  Y.  Anthony  Brown,  15th  en- 
gineers; pro.  corp.  and  mail  agent.  Robert  S Browne, 
7th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Moses  E.  Brush,  sergt.  34th  N.  Y.  bat.; 
pro.  lieut.  Alfred  Buckbee,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers.  George 
Buckbee,  15th  N.  Y.  Alfred  S.  Buckbee,  15th  N.  Y.  ; 
pro.  sergt.  Thomas  Cassidy,  79th  N.  Y. ; missing  at 
Gettysburg.  Thomas  Childs,  15th  engineers.  Daniel 
Collins,  37th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Michael  Conlv,  N.  J. 
William  Conners,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.;  at  Fort  Richmond. 
Edward  Cortes,  147th  N.  Y.  bat.  Henry  Conners,  3d 
N.  Y.  John  Connor,  k.  at  Fredericksburg,  ’62.  Ed- 
ward Connor,  1 5th  engineers.  Daniel  Cordier,  15th  N. 
Y.  art.  James  C.  Cornell,  battalion  L,  2nd  cav.;  pro.  sergt. 
November  15th  ’63.  William  Cornell,  139th  N.  Y.;  k. 
at  Cold  Harbor,  June  ’64.  William  Corroy,  1st  lieut., 
17th  N.  Y. ; pro.  quartermaster  in  Sherman’s  army. 
George  Dalwyck,  68th  N.Y.;  pro.  captain.  Peter  Daniels. 
William  Dark.  Charles  Davids;  re-enlisted  in  May  ’64, 
5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade.  Badford  Degroot;  w.  at 
Gettysburg.  Andrew  Deckers,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  w.  May 


9 


66 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


12th  ’64.  James  L.  Denton,  5th  N.  Y.  inf.,  N.  Y.  city; 
transferred  to  146th  N.  Y.  May  5th  ’63.  Joseph  H.  Den- 
ton; w.  at  Gettysburg  and  Pine  Knob.  Jeremiah  Deon- 
den,  2nd  N.  Y.  W.  C.  Dermoody,  67th  N.  Y.;  k.  at 
Spottsylvania  Court-house  May  12th  ’64.  James  E.  Dil- 
lon, seaman.  Joseph  Dickinson;  w.  at  Williamburg. 
Warren  Dodge,  67th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  corp.;  transferred 
to  65th  N.  Y.  bat.  William  Doremus,  2nd  N.  Y.  bat. 
John  Dougherty,  63d  inf.;  k.  at  Antietam.  John 
Doughty,  34th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Doyl,  64th  N.  Y.  Felix 
F.  Doyle,  19th  N.  Y.  Theodore  Drink,  5th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
sergt.  John  F.  Egner,  engineer.  Jacob  Ehm,  15th  N.  Y. 
art.  Thomas  Elliott,  capt.  13th  N.  Y.  M.;  on  duty  at 
Fort  Richmond.  James  Ellis,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers  ; 
pro.  corp.  John  Fanning,  Rhode  Island.  James  Fre- 
ley,  69th  N.  Y.;  d.  December  31st  ’62,  at  Alexandria, 
Va.  Michael  Feeley,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  William  H.  H. 
Field,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  d.  at  Alexandria  September 
12th  ’63.  George  Field,  15th  engineers;  general’s  staff, 
New  York  city.  John  Fink,  15th  (Queens  county)  art.; 
called  out  30  days  to  garrison  Fort  Richmond,  New 
York  harbor.  Charles  Fisher,  3d  Rhode  Island;  pro. 
sergt.;  w.  Ranee  Fitzner,  54th  N.  Y.  inf.  William 
Flood,  15th  engineers;  pro.  quartermaster.  William 
Fogarty;  re-enlisted  May  ’64,  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade. 
George  Oscar  Fowler,  67th  N.  Y.  bat.  George  H.  Fow- 
ler; d.  of  typhoid  fever  January  1st  ’63,  at  Fredericks- 
burg, 15  th  N.  Y.  engineers.  Asa  A.  Fowler, 
sergt.;  k.  at  Fredericksburg,  December  13th  ’62. 
Charles  J.  Freggang,  15  th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Louis 
Fritz,  6th  N.  Y.  Washington  Fowler  ; w.  at  Spott- 
sylvania Court-house  ; died  June  7th  ’64.  John 
Garoay,  29th  N.  J.;  transferred  to  74th  N.  Y. 
Alonzo  Garretson,  lieut.,  2nd  cav. ; pro.  2nd  lieut. ; 
d.  of  disease.  Charles  Glaser,  15th  N.  Y.  art.;  30 
days.  William  Gleason,  67th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Spottsyl- 
vania Court-house.  Robert  Graham.  John  Gray,  lands- 
man on  the  “ Mound  City.”  James  Grier,  74th  N.  Y.; 
pro.  10th  N.  Y.  Michael  Griffin,  25th  N.  Y.  bat.  Albert 
Griffin,  34th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  3d  corp.  and  sergt.  Jacob 
Habel,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  William  H.  Hamilton,  1st  lieut., 
2nd  N.  Y.  Edwin  Harris,  engineer.  Seth  Harpell,  5th 
reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  k.  at  Gettysburg  July  2nd  ’63. 
Stephen  Harris,  6th  N.  Y.  art.  Charles  A.  Harris,  34th 
N.  Y.  art.  Philip  Hartoung,  74th  (Sickles  brigade);  w. 
in  left  leg.  Martin  Hawbeil,  Sickles  brigade.  Charles 
Hawbeil,  1st  cav.  Basil  H.  Hayden,  55th  inf.,  Co.  A; 
pro.  corp.  John  Hearry,  35th  N.  Y.  b.;  pro.  orderly 
sergt.  George  Helmsley,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers.  Frank- 
lin H.  Herr,  34th  cav.  Charles  Hicks,  9th  N.  Y.  John 
Hicks,  Rhode  Island  colored  regiment.  Daniel  Higgins, 
15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  pro.  corp.,  serg.,  2nd  and  1st.  lieut. 
Charles  Horstman,  133d  (Metropolitan);  pro.  corp. 
George  Iduntsman;  d.  Oscar  C.  Jackson,  165th  N.  Y.; 
pro.  capt.  in  4th  U.  S.  colored  cav.  Gilford  Jackson, 
nth  Rhode  Island  bat.  James  Jackson,  Rhode  Island; 
discharged  for  sickness.  Thomas  Jackson,  41st  U.  S. 
James  Johnson,  U.  S.  gunboat  “Naugatuck.”  George 
P.  Johnson,  sailor,  gunboat  “ Naugatuck  ”;  pro.  quarter- 
master; on  duty  in  the  Narrows.  John  J.  Johnson,  15th 
engineers;  pro.  1st  lieut.  May  31st  ’64;  later  rank  brevet 
capt.  Samuel  Johnson,  on  ships  “ Adirondack  ” and 
“ Louisville  ”;  discharged  as  boatswain’s  mate  of  gunboat 
“Sampson.”  Daniel  S.  Johnston,  battalion  L 2nd  cav.; 
pro.  corp.  L.  S.  Johnston,  battalion  L 2nd  cav.;  prisoner 
16  months.  William  H.  H. Johnston,  13th  N.  Y.  Robert 
Johnston,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.;  at  Fort  Richmond.  David 
Johnston,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Isaac  R.  Jones,  9th  N.  Y.; 
pro.  corp.;  taken  prisoner  at  Gettysburg  and  exchanged. 
Cornelius  Kelley,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers  Jacob  Kerrer, 
signal  corps.  Patrick  Kiernan,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro. 


corp.  in  February  ’64.  James  Kiernan,  74th  N.  Y.; 
prisoner  a year.  Herman  Knappe,  38th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
lieut.  Frederick  Knecht,  75th  N.  Y.  Washington  Knights, 
sergt.  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  k.  at  Gettysburg.  Jere- 
miah Lawrence,  12th  111. cav. ; re-enlisted  in  engineer  corps, 
Co.  B.  John  A.  Leek,  15th  engineers;  general’s  staff. 
John  Leonard,  74th  N.  Y.  James  Lewis,  6th  N.  Y.  cav. 
Ebenezer  O.  Lewis;  w.  at  Williamsburg.  Charles  R. 
Lincoln,  1st  lieut.,  2nd  heavy  art.  William  Ludwig,  34th 
bat.;  w.  May  12th  ’64,  Wilderness.  George  Lynch,  12th 
N.  Y.;  transferred  to  5th  (Duryea’s);  prisoner  in  Rich- 
mond 4 months;  re-enlisted.  James  A.  Macdonald,  37th 
N.  Y.  Thomas  McCready;  k.  at  Williamsburg.  Wil- 
liam McGowen,  landsman  on  the  “ Wabash.”  John 
Mahar,  5th  regiment  Sickles  brigade.  Augustus 
Malitan.  Robert  McPherson;  re- enlisted  May  ’64 
in  the  5th  regiment  Excelsior  brigade.  Patrick 
Maloon,  29th  N.  Y.  Michael  Manning.  Edward 
Marks,  112th  N.  Y.;  pro.  1st  sergt.;  transferred  to  3d 
N.  Y.  as  hospital  guard.  Charles  R.  Martin,  gunboat 
“ Lenapee,”  cabin  bov.  John  Martin,  w.  ’62  at  Freder- 
icksburg. Joseph  R.  Merritt,  surgeon,  in  charge  of  U.  S. 
ship  “ Enterprise.”  Charles  Metzger,  15th  N.  Y.  art 
Charles  Michel,  sergt.  U.  S.  sloop  “ Qssipee.”  Frederick 
Muller,  1st  Del.  George  R.  Miller,  17th  N.  Y.  Louis 
Miller,  34th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  corp.  Charles  H.  Miller, 
34th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  quartermaster  sergt.;  discharged  for 
physical  disability  Feb.  25  ’65.  Wilson  T.  Mitchell,  3d 
N.  J.;  w.  twice.  John  F.  B.  Mitchell,  1st  lieut.  2nd  N.Y. 
cav.;  pro.  capt.  Charles  Munson,  27th  Conn.  David 
Munson,  6th  N.  Y.  art.  Martin  Nex,  k.  at  Williamsburg. 
P.  B.  Nichols,  139th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Cold  Harbor  June  ’64. 
Peter  D.  Noe,  74th  N.  Y.  Frederick  W.  Obernier,  46th 
N.  Y.  bat.  John  Omerhavser,  sergt.  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M. 
Henry  Parks,  15th  N.  Y.  John  H.  Pell,  5th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
capt.  4th  N.  Y.  August  Pfropfe,  15th  N.  Y.  art.;  30 
days.  George  Plitt,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  William  Plost,  2nd 
N.Y.  bat.;  disabled  by  a fall.  Silas  Post,  15th  engineers; 
general’s  staff.  Edward  and  John  Poole,  14th  Rhode 
Island.  William  Prince,  9th  N.  Y.;  commissioned  1st 
lieut.  in  159th  Jan.  1 ’64;  lieut.  of  ordnance  in  General 
Sheridan’s  corps;  capt.  Mar.  31  ’65;  w.  twice;  discharged; 
joined  regular  army  Feb.  ’64;  d.  Dec.  18  ’80.  Christian 
Prireth,  15th  N.  Y.  art.;  30  days.  George  H.  Quarterman, 
capt.  74th  N.  Y.;  pro.  major  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade 
May  5 ’62;  served  twelve  years  in  State  militia;  w.  at 
Williamsburg.  Harris  H.  Rapayice,  165th  cav.;  pro.  asst, 
steward.  Daniel  Reinkeimer,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  Michael 
Reena,  74th  N.  Y.,  “Excelsior  brigade”  John  Revels, 
8th  Penn,  cav.;  w.  in  right  arm  and  hip.  Philip  Rober, 
15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Charles  Robinson,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers. 
Thomas  Robinson,  capt.  34th  N.  Y.  bat.  Graham  Rob- 
inson, 22nd  N.  Y.  Charles  A.  Roe,  67th  N.  Y.  bat. 
Thomas  Roe,  6 1 st  N.  Y. ; drummer.  Jacob  Roemer, 
lieut.  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  capt.  Dec.  2 ’64;  pro.  major; 
w.  four  times.  Carl  Rudwick,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.  William 
Rudwick,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  corp.  John  Russell, 
sergt.  i2thU.  S.  inf.;  in  regular  service  15  years,  including 
Mexican  war.  William  J.  Ryerson,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro. 
corp.;  w.  William  W.  Sands,  sergt.  61st  N.  Y.;  w.  in 
leg  at  Fredericksburg,  ’62.  Levi  • Saumons.  Patrick 
Savage,  w.  at  Fredericksburg,  ’62.  Jacob  Schafer,  61st 
N.  Y.  Peter  Schafer,  1st.  N.  Y.  bat.  Adolf  Schmid, 
2nd  lieut.  45th  N.  Y.;  pro.  capt.;  k.  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  Otto  Schrader,  sergt.  2nd  N.  Y.  independent 
bat.;  transferred  to  hospital  July  23  ’63.  Leopold 
Schreiber,  15th  N.  Y.  art.;  30  days.  Charles  Schroeder, 
34th  independent  bat.;  pro.  capt.;  died  in  service. 
Henry  Schulz,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  Franklin  Schulz,  79th  N. 
Y.;  k.  in  ’63  at  Fort  Anderson.  David  Schulz,  71st  N. 
Y.  Willington  Schyler,  nth  R.  I.  bat.  John  Schyler, 


QUEENS  COUNTY’S  VOLUNTEERS. 


67 


4th  U.  S.  inf.  John  Scott,  74th  N.  Y.;  w.  John  Shultz, 
15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  James  S.  Sidney,  corp.  15th  N.  Y. 
S.  M.;  on  duty  at  Fort  Richmond.  Charles  Smith,  5th 
reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w.  at  Wapping  Heights  and 
Gettysburg.  Charles  D.  Smith,  5th  reg.  Excelsior 
brigade;  d.  September  14  ’63,  of  wounds  received  at 
Gettysburg.  Joseph  B.  Smith,  sergt.,  170th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
lieut.  March  1 ’64.  Thomas  Smith,  15th  inf.;  pro. 
capt.;  drowned  at  Fort  Richmond.  George  G.  Smith, 
nth  U.  S.  cav.;  pro.  corp.  heavy  art.  Alfred  Smith, 
15th  engineers.  George  D.  Smith,  2nd  division  25th 
army  corps.  George  P.  Smith,  15th  engineers.  Samuel 
Smith,  sailor  on  revenue  cutter  station.  Theodore  A. 
Smith,  sailor.  John  Smith,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  James 
P.  Smith;  k.  at  Williamsburg.  William  C.  Smith,  67th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  orderly  sergt,  and  transferred  to 
65th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Wilderness  January  ’64.  John 
Snyder,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.  John  Snyder,  26th  N. 
Y.  William  H.  Snyder,  74th  N.  Y.;  w.  in  both 
thighs  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3 ’64.  Edwin  A.  Snyder, 
2nd  Penn,  reserve.  Frank  Somers,  63d  N.  Y.  Louis 
Spanengberg,  20th  N.  Y.  bat.  Thomas  C.  Spilletts, 
sergt.,  5th  N.  Y.  art.  John  Stader,  15th  N.  Y.  art.  Jo- 
seph Starkings,  gunner’s  mate,  gunboat  “ Sanford.” 
Michael  Straner,  15th  N.  Y.  art.;  in  garrison  at  Fort 
Richmond.  Henry  Stebbins,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  William 
H.  Steele,  sergt.;  pro.  1st  lieut.  and  capt.  William  J. 

M.  Steele;  injured  in  spine.  Joseph  Stillwago,  lieut. 
15th  N.  Y.  M.;  served  at  Fort  Richmond.  Alexander 
Stuter,  52nd  N.  Y.;  d.  at  Salisbury,  in  October  ’64. 
William  H.  Terry,  sergt.  40th  N.  Y.;  k.  October  7 ’64, 
before  Richmond.  Frank  Texido,  10th  N.  Y.  city; 
served  time  and  re-enlisted  August ’64.  Henry  Thomas, 
U.  S.  gunboat  “ Crusader.”  David  Thompson.  John 
Thornill,  5th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  corp.  Wallace  Thurston, 
sailor.  Charles  W.  Townsend,  sergt.;  k.  at  Port  Hudson, 
’63.  John  Townsend,  61st;  drummer  boy;  pro.  corp., 
2nd'  lieut.  and  1st  lieut.  Albert  Townsend,  2nd  cav.; 
pro.  1st  lieut.  Fanning  C.  Tucker,  7th  N.  Y.  M.;  pro. 
capt.  103d  N.  Y.  Louis  Tucker.  William  Tucker. 
John  H.  Van  Wyck,  colored  regiment.  Pdchard  Vedders, 
34th  N.  Y.  bat.  Jeremiah  Vandeberg,  176th  N.  Y.;  w. 
at  Brashear  City.  La.,  in  1863.  Thomas  Wallace,  34th 

N.  Y.  bat.  David  B.  Waters,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Thomas 
W.  Webb,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Charles  B.  Westcott. 
Thomas  White.  Daniel  Williams,  74th  N.  Y. ; taken 
prisoner;  w.  at  Spottsylvania.  Charles  Wilson,  corp. 
158th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  Pine  Knob,  Ga. 
John  Wirtz,  nth  Conn.;  pro.  sergt.;  re-enlisted  in  3d  N. 
Y.  independent  bat.  Walter  Wood.  James  Wood,  37th 
N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  3d  sergt.;  w.  at  Wilderness,  May  5 ’64. 
John  Wren,  gunner  on  the  “Neptune.”  Robert  C. 
Wright,  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  k.  near  Appomat- 
tox Court-house.  Israel  Youngs,  15th  N.  Y.  en- 
gineers. William  F.  Youngs,  5th  reg.  Excelsior 
brigade,  sergt.;  w.  at  Wapping  Heights.  Frederick 
Zimmerman,  sergt.  3d  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  2nd.  lieut. 

HEMPSTEAD. 

Henry  Abrams  junior,  128th  N.Y.  Levi  Abrams,  158th 
N.  Y. ; lost  leg  before  Petersburg.  William  Abrams,  1st 
N.  Y.  Gilbert  Abrams,  40th  N.  Y,;  k.  at  Fair  Oaks. 
Medadoc  Alfeno,  47th  N.  Y.  William  Allum,  102nd  N. 
Y.  A.  J.  Bagot,  2nd  art.  Frank  Baker.  Alfred  Bald- 
win. Jacob,  Selah,  Stephen  and  Valentine  Baldwin, 
119th  N.  Y.  Moses  A.  Baldwin,  lieut.  119th  N.  Y.;  k. 
at  Mill  Creek  Gap.  Treadwell  Bedell;  k.  at  Pine  Knob, 
Ga.  Abram  Bennett,  marine,  taken  prisoner  and  par- 
oled on  the  “Pacific.”  E.  Birdsall,  127th;  w.  twice  in  hip. 
George  Bithmuller,  3d  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w.  in  arm 


at  Gettysburg.  George  H.  Bowker,  flag  officer,  navy. 
Sydney  Bowker,  5th  N.  Y.  light  bat.  Elijah  Brower, 
2nd  U.  S.  art;  missing  in  battle  before  Richmond.  James 
V.  Burdett,  119th  N.Y.  Halstead  Burnett  Walter 
Byers,  Siraonick.  Henry  Camps,  color  sergt.,  119th  N. 
Y.;  k.  at  Gettysburg.  Benjamin  Carman,  1st  N.  Y. 
John  Carman,  159th  N.  Y.  John  Carmen,  119th  N.  Y., 
Co.  H.  William  Carmen,  119th  N.Y.  Frederick  Car- 
penter, 98th  N.  Y.;  re-enlisted.  Segust  Carpenter,  121st 
N.  Y.  Benjamin  Carpenter.  George  Carpenter,  4th  N. 
Y.  art.  Tredwell  Chesser.  Charles  Cleck,  119th  N.  Y. 
Edward  Clowes,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  John  Combs,  119th. 
George  W.  Conaway,  48th  N.  Y.  Isaac  Conway,  3d  reg. 
Excelsior  brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg.  John  J.  Coombs, 
132nd  N.  Y.  Michael  Cooney,  2nd  N.  Y.  Samuel 
Cooper,  119th  N.  Y.  Edward  Cooper.  John  Cornelius, 
119th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.  John  H.  Cornelius,  139th  N.Y. 
John  H.  Cornell,  158th  N.  Y. ; pro.  sergt.  Edward  and 
Nicholas  Cornell,  158th  N.  Y.  Nelson  Cornell,  13th  N. 
Y.  bat.  Evert  Cornell,  ship  “ Tallapoosa.”  John  Cor- 
nell, ship  “ Itasca.”  Daniel  Cornwell,  119th.  Samuel 
D.  Cornwell,  10th  N.  Y.  cav.  John  Cosgrove,  Lincoln 
cav.  Charles  Coss.  William  and  Enery  E.  Coster,  14th 
Rhode  Island,  Co.  L.  W.  Covert,  4th  art.  Bedell 
Covert,  4th  art.  George  Craft,  1st  Maryland.  A.  De 
Mott,  1 1 6th  N.  Y.  Benjamin  Denton,  158th  N.  Y. 
Benjamin  Dermott,  119th  N.Y.  Samuel  De  Witt,  1 19th. 
Joseph  Dosher,  25th  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  com.  sergt.  James 
Darsey,  119th  N.  Y.  Joseph  Doxey,  48th  N.  Y.;  dis- 
charged for  sickness.  Alexander  Dunlap,  navy.  Moore 
Dunlap,  5th  III.  cav.  John  V.  Dunn;  k.  in  Wilderness. 
John  Duryea,  102nd  N.Y.  R.  C.  Duryea,  capt.  5th  art.;k. 
at  Fort  Pickens  ’62.  Tunis  Dykeman,  102nd  N.  Y. 
George  Elders,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Theodore  Evans,  Riker’s 
Island.  Matthew  Finnecane,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers. 
Herbert  Fryer.  John  M.  Gardiner,  1st  N.  Y.  art. 
Jonathan  Gardner,  4th  N.  Y.  John  Gilbert;  w.  at  Brandy 
station,  Va.,  June  6 ’63.  Thomas  F.  Gilbert,  119th  N. 
Y.  Ephriam  Granger,  139th  N.  Y.  William  J.  Hall,  4th 
N.  Y.  bat.  John  Hart.  Lewis  Hanshback,  15th  N.  Y. 
art.  Samuel  Harnard,  4th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  corp. 
Henry  Hedges.  Joseph  Hedges;  a.  at  Atlanta  July  25  ’64. 
Epenetus  Hendrickson;  w.  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  July 
6 ’63.  John  Henderson,  28th  N.  Y.  Eliphalet  Hen- 
drickson, adjt.  Joseph,  Peter  and  John  Hendrickson, 
158th  N.  Y.  Daniel  Hendrickson,  90th  N.  Y.  N.  J. 
Hewlett,  119th  N.  Y.  George  Hewlett,  119th  N.Y. ; pro. 
sergt.  B.  Hewlett,  38th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Hicks,  78th, 
Co.  B.  Harmon  Hicks,  119th  N.  Y. ; k.  at  Nashville. 
William  H.  Hoemen,  95th  Penn.  Lewis  Hohorst, 
173d  N.  Y.  Thomas  Horan,  43d  N.  Y.  David  V.  Hor- 
ton, 12th  N.  J.  Simon  and  Jacob  Hubug,  139th  N.  Y. 
George  Hubug,  54th  N.  Y.  Peter  Hubug,  69th  N.  Y. 
Franklin  Hubs,  145th  N.  Y.  C.  J.  Hultse,  1st  art.  W. 
E Hultse,  158th.  H.  Hultse,  90th.  Richard  Hultz. 
158th,  Co.  D.  James  M.  Jackson,  Philadelphia.  Lewis 
Jackson.  Lewis  Jackson,  1 ith  R.  I.  Dr.  Edgar  Jackson,  d. 
May ’64.  Henry  Jackson.  Chas.  Jackson,  20th  U.S.  Morris 
Jackson.  Gilbert,  Sands  and  John  Jackson,  20th  U.  S. 
Andrew  Jackson,  158th  N.  Y.  Richard  Jackson,  5th  N. 
Y.  John  Jackson,  119th  N.  Y.  Charles  Jackson,  1st  N. 
Y.  mounted  rifles.  Lewis  Jarvis,  14th  Rhode  Island. 
Edward  Jarvis,  71st  N.  Y.  Samuel  Jarvis,  20th  U.  S. 
colored.  Lorenzo  Johnson,  ship  “Unadilla.”  Charles  N. 
Johnson,  26th  colored  regiment.  F'rank  Johnson,  20th 
regiment.  C.  Johnson,  119th;  w.  in  lung.  Thomas  and 
Epenetus  Johnson,  1st  N.  Y.  mounted  rifles.  Edward  and 
William  F.  Johnson,  139th  N.  Y.  Abram  Johnson.  Sam- 
uel Jones,  165th  N.  Y.  Albert  Jones,  127th  N.  Y. 
George  Keep.  Barney  Kelley,  119th  N.  Y.  Edward  H. 
Kellogg,  39th  N.  Y.  b.;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  James  Leaman, 


68 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Chris.  Lemkens.  47th  N.  Y.  Henry  Lemkens,  158th  N. 
Y.  John  Lemkens,  119th  N.  Y.  Josiah  Lewis,  N.  Y.; 
pro.  sergt.  Smith  Lewis,  159th  N.  Y.  William  Lock- 
wood,  129th  N.  Y.  L.  Losee,  ship  “Catskill.”  W.  H. 
McNiel,  13th  cav.;  pro.  1st  lieut.  John  McGuire.  J.  T. 
Magee,  139th;  teamster.  William  McConnard,  139th. 
Cornwell  McMana.  James  McCarty,  129th  N.  Y.  Eu- 
gene V.  Marsh,  119th  N.  Y. ; w.  at  Mill  Creek  Gap.  Abram 
N.  Martin,  navy,  2nd  class  fireman.  James  G.  Martin, 
4th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  V.  Matthews,  158th.  Augustus 
Matti,  ship  “Newbern.”  H.  Mead,  4th  art.  A.  W.  Mead, 
4th  art.;  pro.  sergt.  J.  R.  Mead,  139th.  John  Miller, 
9th  N.  J.  John  Miller,  20th  U.  S.  colored.  — Morrell, 
71st  N.  Y.  Wilson  Moore,  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w. 
at  Gettysburg.  Martin  Mott,  118th  N.Y.  Dandridge  Mott, 
119th  N.  Y.;  k.  at  Pine  Knob,  June  16th  ’64.  Cyrus 
Mott.  Joseph  Mott,  4th  art.;  captured  at  Ream’s  Station, 
Aug.  19th  ’64.  Richard  D.  Mott,  5th  N.Y.  George 
Mott,  1st  N.  Y.  John  E.  Mowbray,  ship  ‘Ariel”;  pro. 
corp  George  W.  Murray,  7th  N.  Y.;  re-enlisted  Oct. 
15th  ’61,  1st  N.  Y.  M.  R.;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  Dec.  30th  ’64.. 
— Murray,  71st  N.  Y.  Joseph  Myers,  87th  N.  Y. 
Charles  Neebe,  40th  N.  Y.  Charles  Noon,  75th  N.  Y. 
Martin  Noon.  John  Noon.  William  Noon;  w.  at  Brandy 
Station,  Va.,  June  6th  ’63.  John  W.  Nostrand,  158th 
N.  Y.  Theodore  Nostrand,  119th  N.  Y.  Francis  O’Riley, 
5th  art.  William  and  John  H.  Pearsall,  139th  N.  Y. 
Bates  Pearsall,  15th  N.  Y.  Hallet  Pearsall,  90th  N. 
Y.  Lewis  Pettit,  158th,  Co.  D;  w.  in  neck,  Feb. 
29th  ’64.  Alanson  Pettit.  William  H.  Pettit,  73d  N. 
Y.,  Co.  A.  William  H.  Place,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.; 
pro.  sergt.  Thomas  Place,  ist  N.  Y.  mounted  rifles. 
Joshua  Place;  pro.  sergt.  Walter  Plumb;  taken  pris- 
oner at  Gettysburg.  Mordecai  Post,  28th  art;  pro. 
sergt.  Martin  Post,  navy,  on  the  “Santiago.”  Isaac  J. 
Post,  4th  N.  Y.  art.  William  R.  Powell,  ist  N.  Y.  mounted 
rifles;  pro.  corp.;  shot  in  abdomen  in  ’62.  William  Pray; 
pro.  clerk  of  quartermaster’s  department.  Henry  Rad- 
ford, 119th  N.  Y.;  captured  at  Gettysburg;  confined  at 
Belle  Isle,  Richmond.  C.  F.  Raynor,  119th  N.  Y.;  miss- 
ing before  Richmond.  A.  J.  Raynor,  139th.  Elijah  Ray- 
nor; d.  at  White  House,  Va.,  June  2nd ’64.  James  B. 
Raynor,  4th  art.;  transferred  to  ship  “Ariel;”  pro.  mate. 
William  H.  Raynor,  158th  N.  Y.  Tredwell  Rempser, 
48th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Isaac  Renyon,  7th  N.  Y. 
Albert  Rhodes,  95th.  W.  William  Rhodes,  119th. 
John  Rider,  129th  N.  Y.  William  H.  Ric’er,  40th 
N.  Y;  k.  in  Wilderness,  May  ’64.  James  Ritchie, 
145th  N.  Y.  Charles  D.  Robins,  102nd  N.  Y.  Jere- 
miah Robins,  15th  N.  Y.  Richard  Robins,  3d  N.  J. 
cav.  Jacob  Robbins.  Joseph  Russ,  25th  N.  Y.  cav. 
George  Rverson,  127th  N.  Y.  John  Ryker,  119th  N.  Y. 
Will  iam  H.  Seaman,  119th;  pro.  1st  lieut.  Davis  Seaman, 
139th.  George  Seaman,  1581I1  N.  Y.;  died  in  service. 
Daniel  Seaman,  119th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Settle,  139th  N.Y. 
Henry  Shaw,  158th  N.  Y.  David  Shaw,  101st  N.  Y. 
James  Shaw,  158th  N.  Y.  John  Skiliskorn,  70th  N.  Y.; 
k.  at  Williamsburg.  Charles  Smith,  139th  N.  Y.  Josiah 
Smith,  4th  N.  Y.  A.  J.  Smith,  ist  N.  Y.;  transferred  to 
13th  cav.  Asa  Smith,  missing  before  Richmond.  J.  H. 
Smith,  56th.  Charles  Smith,  4th  art.  M.  Smith,  corp., 
ship  “Ariel.”  E.  R.  Smith,  158111;  taken  prisoner  July 
5 ’63,  at  Newbern,  N.  C.  W.  H.  Smith,  139th;  d.  ’62. 
Thomas  V.  Smith,  Harris  cav.;  pro.  lieut.  Charles  E. 
Smith,  2nd  N.Y.  cav.  John  H.  Smith,  119th  N.  Y.;  w. 
Henry  Smith,  133d  N.  Y.;  w.  in  foot  at  Spottsylvania 
Court-house;  Chauncey  Smith,  119th  N.  Y.;  transferred 
to  10th  Rhode  Island  reserve  bat.;  veteran.  Samuel 
Smith,  w.  at  Gettysburg.  Gershom  Smith,  Co.  F 75th 
N.Y.  Moses  Smith,  119th  N.  Y.;  missing  at  Pine  Knob, 
Ga.  John  Smith.  John  Southard,  64th.  E.  B.  South- 


ard, 119th;  w.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  Pine  Knob,  Ga. 
Charles  Southard,  119th  N.Y.  John  F.  Speedling,  119th 
N.  Y.;  captured  at  Gettysburg;  held  at  Belle  Isle.  Ben- 
jamin Sprague,  119th  N.  Y.  Freeman  Sprague,  7th  N.Y. 
William  Stoothoof,  67th  N.  Y.;  discharged  for  wounds. 
Samuel  Stringham,  158th  N.  Y.  Joseph  Thurston,  158th 
N.  Y.  Andrew  Thurston,  40th  N.  Y.  Elias  H.  Ticknor, 
1 27th  N.  Y.  Edmond  W.  Townsend,  monitor  “ Catskill.” 
Charles  Triquot,  40th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Fair  Oaks,  ’62.  The- 
odore Tupper,  119th  N.  Y.;  captured  at  Gettysburg;  con- 
fined at  Belle  Isle.  Joseph  Underhill,  ship  “ Hydrachy,” 
executive  officer.  Samuel  W.  Valentine,  40th  N.  Y.;  w. 
at  Fair  Oaks,  ’62.  John  Vanderwater  jr.,  14th  N.  Y.; 
discharged  in  Mar.  ’63,  having  consumption.  Valentine 
and  Andrew  Vanderwater,  14th  N.  Y.  Edgar  H.  Van- 
derwater, 2nd  sergt.  66th  N.Y.;  transferred  to  159th  N.Y.; 
pro.  2nd  lieut.  Edgar  Verity,  56th  N.  Y.  J.  Walker, 
119th.  George  Warren,  1 19th  N.  Y.  George  T.  Warren, 
captured  at  Gettysburg  and  confined  at  Belle  Isle.  David 
Warren,  13th  Penn.  cav.  Carman  Watts,  61st  N.  Y. 
Elbert  Watts,  158th  N.  Y.  William  S.  Weeks,  w.  at 
Brandy  Station,  Va.,  July  6 ’63.  John  West,  25th  N.  Y. 
Thomas  H.  Wheeler,  4th  heavy  art.;  transferred  to  ship 
“ Malvern  ” June  27th;  pro.  ensign.  Francis  White, 13th 
N.  Y.  John  White,  43d  N.  Y.  Washington  White,  1 19th 
N.  Y. ; w.  at  Pine  Knob.  Charles  E.  Williams,  145th,  Co. 
K.  Peter  Williams,  19th  N.  Y.  H.  Williams,  115th  cav. 
David  Wilson,  119th  N.  Y.  James  Wilson,  119th;  dis- 
charged for  sickness.  Charles  Wilson,  119th  N.Y.  Wil- 
liam Wright.  J.  H.  Wright,  119th. 

JAMAICA. 

John  W.  Abrams,  38th  N.Y.;  w.  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and 
Pine  Knob,  Ga.  Richard  Allen,  139th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Cold 
Harbor,  May  31  ’64.  Theodore  Anthony,  20th  U.  S. 
Thomas  Baker,  4th  art.  James  Barmore,  47th  N.  Y. 
Edward  Bayard,  20th  N.  Y.  bat.  Edgar  Baybss,  158th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.;  w.  in  hip  September  28  ’64,  at  Chapin’s 
Farm.  William  Beatty,  87th  N.  Y.,  Co.  E;  pro.  orderly 
sergt.  Robert  Beatty,  139th  N.  Y.,  Co.  A ; w.  in  hip 
before  Richmond,  May  31  ’64;  a year  in  hospital  at 
David’s  Island.  William  Bedell,  90th  N.  Y.  David  O. 
Bell,  Mozart  reg.;  w.  and  captured  at  Fredericksburg  ; 
pro.  sergt.  major.  George  R.  Bennett,  90th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
2nd  lieut.  December  12  ’61  ; capt.  August  12  ’62.  Wil- 
liam H.  Bennett,  40th  N.  Y.;  d.  at  Georgetown,  April 
’62.  Alfred  S.  Buckbee,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  pro. 
sergt.  in  September  ’64.  George  M.  Bennett,  2nd  lieut., 
40th  N.  Y.;  pro.  ist  lieut.  November  4 ’61;  k.  at  Fair 
Oaks.  Isaac  Bennett,  28th  N.  Y.  bat.;  w.  in  thigh  in  the 
New  York  riot.  Jacob  Bennett,  28th  N.  Y.  Alonzo 
Bennett,  158th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  in  May  ’65.  William 
H.  Bennett,  15th  engineer  brigade.  George  W.  Bennett, 
67th  N.  Y.;  pro.  orderly  sergt.;  k.  at  Fredericksburg, 
December,  10  ’62.  Samuel  Bensen,  30th  Conn.  J.  H. 
Berdway,  38th  N.  Y. ; k.  at  Williamsburg.  James  Ber- 
nier, 90th  N.  Y.  George  H.  Black,  ship  “ Vermont;  ” 
pro.  ship’s  clerk.  Alfred  Blacksion,  ship  “ North  Caro- 
lina.” James  Blacksion.  John  H.  Blue,  ist  Mass,  heavy 
art.;  pro.  drum  major.  Alexander  Bogart,  48th  N.  Y. 
James  Boyd,  139th  N.  Y.;  disabled  by  wound.  Thomas 
Brady,  65th  N.  Y.  engineers.  Henry  Bremer,  Co.  B, 
57th  N.  Y.;  had  his  leg  broken  at  the  battle  of  Ream's 
station.  Richard  Brush,  Mogart  reg.  William  A.  Buck- 
bee,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  pro.  corp.  Patrick  Buckley, 
U.  S.  ship  “Nigara.”  J.  Budway,  38th  N.Y.;  k.  at 
Chancellorsville.  Addy  Burtis,  71st  N.  Y.  Thomas 
Callahan,  27th  N.  Y.  M.  Richard  M.  Campbell,  90th 
N.  Y.  David  M.  Campbell,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  pro. 


UNION  SOLDIERS  FROM  QUEENS. 


sergt.  August  5 ’63;  2nd  lieut.  September  22  ’64;  1st 
lieu t.  December  3 ’64;  quartermaster.  John  Caren, 
42nd  N.  Y.;  pro.  1st  sergt.  February  4 ’63.  John  R. 
Carpenter,  13th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  sergt.  in  October  ’61.  E. 
L.  Carr,  ship  “Ellis;”  pro.  marine  on  board  the 
“Hunchback;  ” was  on  the  “ Ellis  ” when  blown  up  by 
Lieutenant  Cushing.  Cornelius  D.  Chapman,  127th  N. 
Y.  William  H.  Cheiring,  41st  U.  S.  colored.  James 
Clary,  40th  N.  Y.  George  Coles,  41st  U.  S.  colored. 
William  S.  Cogswell,  col.  by  brevet;  served  under  Sher- 
man. George  E.  Cogswell,  165th  N.  Y.;  d.  April  16  ’63. 
John  M.  Cock.  William  H.  Coles,  Sickles  brigade. 
Daniel  Combs,  158th  N.  Y.  Andrew  Conklin,  13th  N. 
Y.  S.  M.  Frederick  Conner,  8th  Conn.  Patrick  Cosgrove, 
5th  N.  Y.  George  W.  Coventry,  40th  N.  Y.;w.  at  Fair 
Oaks.  George  A.  Creed,  40th  N.  Y.  George  T.  Craw- 
ford, 5th  Pa.  cav.;  k.  on  picket  ’63.  George  W.  Cutn- 
mings,  13th  N.  Y.  cav.;  w.  Leonard  Denton,  ensign. 
Charles  A.  Denton,  13th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Jacob  Dormus, 
65th  N.  Y.  Peter  Dornett,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers.  Bar- 
tolama  Dose.  Isaac  Doughty,  1st  mate  of  the  “ Hussar.” 
David  P.  Doughty,  sergt.  90th  N.  Y.  Lewis  Dubois,  5th 
heavy  art.,  Brooklyn;  pro.  sergt.  and  2nd  lieut.  Henry 
Dutcher;  k.  at  Fredericksburg.  Charles  F.  Dunham,  8th 
art.  Benjamin  Duryea,  169th  N.  Y;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  in  May 
’65.  John  Egan,  126th  Ohio;  pro.  colonel’s  orderly.  Patrick 
Eagan,  47th  N.  Y.  Thomas  English,  47th  N.  Y.;  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability.  Alfred  Finn,  46th  N. 
Y.  John  Flemming,  165th  N.  Y.  J.  C.  Fowler,  frigate 
“Roanoke.”  William  Y.  and  John  A.  Fox,  15th  N.  Y. 
William  Fryer,  145th  N.  Y.  Jacob  Cinders,  15th  N.  Y. 
engineers.  Abram  Golder,  56th  N.  Y.  James  Gordon, 
90th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  and  sergt.  John  Gotinburgh, 
100th  N.  Y.  Henry  E.  Gotleb,  capt.,  40th  N.  Y.  James 
Gough,  9th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Graham,  bat.  C.  N.  Y.  V. ; 
discharged  for  disability.  Jacob  Durell  Harris,  29th 
Conn.;  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  John  B. 
Harrison,  warrant  officer,  ship  “ Emma.”  John  Hart, 
construction  corps;  slightly  w.  in  foot.  Edward  Hart; 
k.  before  Richmond,  May  31  ’64.  John  Hatterick,  1st 
N.  Y.  cav. ; w. ; taken  prisoner  in  the  Wilderness.  George 
Hawkhurst,  4th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  Edward  Hays.  Sam- 
uel Henderson,  ship  “ Sciola.”  George  Henderson,  15th 
N.  Y.  engineers.  Rushmore  Henderson.  Abram  Hen- 
drickson, 158th  N.  Y.  Hendrick  Hendrickson,  38th  N. 
Y.  A.  D.  M.  Hendrickson,  90th  N.  Y.  William  Wright 
Hendry,  5th  N.  Y.;  w.  in  shoulder  and  neck  August  ’62. 
Thomas  G.  Hendry,  165th  N.  Y.;  quartermaster’s  clerk. 
John  Hensler,  158th  N.  Y.  George  Hertenstein,  90th 
N.  Y.  Edward  Hill,  5th  N.  Y.;  w.  in  head;  discharged 
for  sickness.  Lewis  W.  Hockensten,  38th  N.  Y. ; k.  at 
Chancellorsville.  William  Hoffman,  Berdan’s  sharp- 
shooters. Jacob  Housworth,  57th  N.  Y.;  discharged  on 
account  of  heart  disease.  William  Henry  Hull,  139th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  in  April  ’65.  Benjamin  Samuel  Hurst, 
90th  N.  Y.  John  Hutchinson,  158th  N.  Y.;  Gabriel  Ip- 
sel.  5th  N.  Y.  cav.  John  K.  Jackson,  26th  N.  Y.  Theo- 
dore P.  Johnson,  38th  N.  Y.  John  Johnson,  Duryea’s 
zouaves;  d.  September  7 ’62  at  Alexandria.  Joseph 
Kautz,  47th  N.  Y.  M.  John  Kelley,  3d  U.  S.  inf.;  pro. 
sergt.  James  A.  Kilburn,  158th  N.  Y.;  k. ; color  bearer 
and  sergt.  Warren  M.  Kipp,  orderly,  17th  N.  Y.  Oliver 
Kip;  d.  at  Douglass  hospital  May  '63.  Henry  Kraker, 
46th  N.  Y.;  pro.  orderly  sergt.;  in  twenty-one  battles; 
w.  over  left  eye.  Patrick  Larkins,  15th  engineer  corps. 
Henry  E.  Lester,  17th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  and  sergt. 
Charles  A.  Lester,  ship  “Pensacola”;  pro.  fireman. 
John  James  Lindsay,  102nd  N.  Y.;  w.  in  breast.  William 
W.  Lindsay,  102nd  N.  Y.;  w.  in  thigh.  Jacob  H.  Lewis, 
15th  engineer  corps;  pro.  ist  class  tinsmith.  William  J. 
Lodge,  71st  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Morris  Lowey,  121st  N.  Y. 


69 


Isaac  Lowey,  6th  N.  Y.;  discharged  on  acct.  of  wd.  in 

hand.  Terrence  Lyons,  ship  “Augusta.” Mc- 

Canna,  67  th  N.  Y.;  w.  at  Fair  Oaks.  William 
James  McGee,  98th  battalion.  Barney  McGin- 
nis, nth  N.  Y.  William  G.  Mangan,  ist  lieut.,  5th  Conn.- 
capt.,  major  and  brevet  lieut.  col.  Julius  W.  Mason’ 
lieut.  2nd  U.  S.  cav.;  w.  at  Bull  Run;  pro.  rst  lieut.  5th 
regular  cav.  February  ’62.  Joseph  W.  May,  158th  N. 
Y.;  pro.  sergt.,  sergt.  major  and  2nd  lieut.  John  Miller, 
103d  N.  Y.  Abram  G.  Mills,  165th  N.  Y.;  pro! 
2nd  lieut.  in  October  ’63.  Leander  E.  Monroe,  90th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.;  w.  in  thigh  October  17  ’64, 

at  Cedar  Creek.  Charles  H.  Monroe,  ship  “ Con! 
necticut.”  Stephen  Morning,  47th  N.  Y.  Andrew 
Napier,  165th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.  and  ist  lieut.; 
w.  in  thigh  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  Apr.  ’64.  Abraham 
Neal,  158th  N.  Y.  Richard  W.  Neal,  158th  N.  Y. ; pro. 
corp.  John  Neat,  38th  N.  Y.,  Harris  light  cav.  Thomas 
Neat,  38th  N.  Y.  Charles  Newman,  66th  N.  Y.  Joseph 
Niblo,  171st  N.  Y.  William  E.  Oakey,  127th  N.  Y. 
Joseph  M.  Oakley,  ist  lieut.  12th  N.  Y.  Joseph  H.  Oaks, 
15th  N.  Y.;  k.  at  Pine  Knob,  Ga.  Benjamin  O’Donnell! 
15th  N.  Y.  engineers.  James  O’Neill,  159th  N.  Y.  Charles 
A.  Parks,  sergt.  90th  N.  Y.  James  Paul,  38th  N.  Y. 
DeMott  Pearsall,  ship  “ Hartford.”  George  Potter.  Pat- 
rick Potterson,  U S.  ship  “ Dunsmore.”  Edward  T. 
Powell,  32nd  Mass.;  w.  at  Mine  Run  on  picket  duty  May 
31  ’64.  Isaac  Powell,  1 6th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.,  bat.  E.  John 
W.  Rapelye,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  d.  Mar.  j6’64.  Rich- 
ard Rhodes,  navy.  Augustus  Rich,  20th  N.  Y.  cav. 
Thomas  S.  Rider,  40th  N.  Y.;  pro.  2nd  lieut.  William  J. 
Robinson,  56th  N.  Y.  Abraham  F.  Robinson,  87th  N.  Y. ; 
pro.  corp.  July  28  ’63.  Joseph  Root,  15th  N.  Y.engineers. 
Christopher  Savage,  69th  N.  Y.  M.  Diedrick  Schirhorst, 
132nd  N.Y.  Fred.  Schriber,  133d  N.Y.  Frank  Seidorff, 
sergt.  nth  N.Y.  M.  James  Shaw,  158th  N.Y.  Michael 
Shaw.  Adolph  Shoels,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  Charles 
Smith,  capt.  158th  N.  Y.  James  B.  Smith,  15th  N.  Y. 
engineers.  William  M.  Smith,  71st  N.  Y.;  d.  Feb.  3 ’64. 
William  Smith,  lieut.  4th  reg.  Sickles  brigade.  B.  C.  D. 
Smith,  34th  bat.;  pro.  corp.  George  F.  Smith,  ship 
“ Roanoke;”  pro.  asst,  engineer.  Edwin  V.  B.  Smith, 
ship  “Whitehead;”  for  gallant  conduct  appointed  acting 
master’s  mate  Oct.  19 ’63;  received  a letter  from  Hon.  Gid- 
eon Welles,  secretary  of  the  navy,  transmitting  a medal  of 
honor  for  gallant  conduct  at  Franklin,  Va.  Dominican 
Snideker,"  13th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  Albert  J.  Spaulding,  3d  N.Y. 
Franklin  V.  Sprague,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  George 
Starkey,  158th  N.  Y.  George  C.  Stoddart,  15th  N.  Y.  en- 
gineers; pro.  sergt.  Bernard  Swartz,  54th  N.  Y.  John 
Sweeney.  Robert  Tew,  20th  independent  bat.  Silas 
Thompson,  158th  N.  Y.,  Co.  C.  George  E.  Tilley,  15th 
N.  Y.  engineers;  pro.  sergt.  June  18  ’63;  2nd  lieut.  Dec. 
17  ’64.  Sylvester  Townsend,  30th  Conn.  J.  G.  Under- 
hill, navy.  Alfred  Valentine,  158th  N.  Y.  Edmund  S. 
Valentine,  ist  Wis.  cav.  Eugene  V.  Van  Ness,  ist  N.  J. 
cav.;  pro.  orderly  on  staff  by  General  Gregg.  Charles 
N.  Van  Nostrand,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers.  Alfred  Van 
Nostrand,  90th  N.  Y.,  Co.  A.  Barker  Van  Vorhees, 
acting  master  of  the  ship  “ Lackawanna;”  pro.  acting 
lieut.  John  Wagner,  31st  N.  Y.  Samuel  Watson,  29th 
Conn.  Simeon  Watts,  158th  N.  Y.  T.  P.  Watts,  38th 
N.  Y.  J.  T.  Watts,  ship  “ Sonoma.”  David  J.  Weeden, 
132nd  N.Y.;  pro.  sergt.  Thomas  Weeks,  2nd  N.Y.  An- 
drew Weeks.  Caesar  Weeks.  A.  J. Wilkinson,  15th  N.  Y. 
engineers;  pro.  sergt.  June  17  ’63;  ist  lieut.  Apr.  7 ’64. 
Louis  Williams,  38th  N.  Y. ;*  captured  at  Bull  Run  and 
confined  in  Libby  prison.  William  W.  Wood,  107th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Stephen  Wood,  Co.  E 175th  N.  Y. 
William  Wood,  Co.  A 139th  N.  Y.  Henry  O.  Woodruff, 
90th  N.  Y. ; pro.  sergt. 


70 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


NEWTOWN. 

John  Adamson.  David  J.  Ammermore,  15th  N.  Y. 
Samuel  Baldwin  15th  N.  Y.;  pro.  staff  officer.  Charles 
Baldwin,  15th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.  John  Baudldin,  5th 
heavy  art.  William  Barnes,  w.  before  Petersburg  June 
16  ’64.  Abner  Bartlett,  47th  N.  Y.  William  Bedell,  k. 
in  battle.  John  A.  Burdet,  13th;  w.  in  both  knees  at 
Fair  Oaks.  Herman  Beyer,  pro.  hospital  steward;  w.  in 
left  leg.  Charles  E.  Bisbee,  2nd  Mass.  Joseph  Board, 
65th  N.Y.  William  E.  Bragan,  pro.  sergt.;  pro.  rapt,  for 
bravery  at  Kelley’s  Ford.  Daniel  F.  Bragan,  sergt.  9th 
N.  Y.  cav. ; w.  at  Winchester.  Townsend  Bragan,  6th 
N.  Y.  Joseph  Brakenbury,  73d  N.Y.  George  W.  Brown, 
16th  111.;  pro.  2nd  lieu t.  Thomas  Brown,  155th  N.  Y. 
Louis  Brumer,  3d  light  bat.;  k.  at  Petersburg  Sep.  20’ 64. 
John  Bulander,  44th  N.Y.  Thomas  M.  Burke,  w.  Tim- 
othy Burns,  1st  N.  Y.  engineers.  George  W.  Burtis,  4th 
Metropolitan;  k.  by  accident  at  Franklin  Aug.  22  ’64. 
William  FI.  Butler,  47th  N.  Y.  James  Campbell,  Berdan’s 
sharpshooters;  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  John 
Cannon,  N.  Y.  Thomas  Carle,  51st  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp. 
John  Carle,  10th  N.  Y.  Washington  J.  Cherry,  133d  N. 
Y. ; pro.  corp.  Alonzo  Child,  5th  N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  corp. 
John  R.  Chown,  2nd  asst,  engineer  ship  “Saco.”  Peter 
Conroy,  139th  N.  Y. ; w.  at  Chatham’s  farm  Sep.  29  ’64, 
losing  leg.  Underhill  J.  Covert,  10th  N.Y.  bat.;  pro.  2nd 
lieut.  William  R.  Cummings,  capt.  13th  heavy  art. 
Henry  Dailey,  15th  N.  Y.  John  Day,  15th  engineers. 
George  W.  Delaney,  14th.  Joseph  B.  Denton,  capt.  87th 
N.  Y.  John  R.  Dewitt,  71st  N.  Y.  Benjamin  Dingfield, 
2nd  Virginia;  w.  at  Bull  Run;  d.  at  Georgetown,  D.C.,  Sep. 
20  ’62.  John  L.  Dody,  asst,  surgeon  57th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
surgeon  Mar.  1 ’62.  John  Doherty,  62nd  N.  Y,;  pro. 
sergt.;  w.  twice.  John  Donely.  Henry  Dorax,  2nd  N.Y. 
heavy  artillery.  James  and  William  Duffey,  15th  heavy 
art.  John  Duffey,  69th  heavy  art.;  k.  at  Bull  Run.  Mar- 
tin Duggan,  69th  N.  Y. ; pro.  sergt.;  w.  at  Fredericksburg 
and  Chancellorsville.  John  H.  Evans,  127th  N.  Y.  C.  L. 
Everett,  2nd  Conn.;  pro.  sergt.  John  Farrell,  127th  N.Y. 
Peter  J.  Fay,  fireman  on  the  “General  Meigs.”  Wil- 
liam R.  Fisher,  133d  N.  Y.  William  E.  Fisher,  capt. 
nth  N.  Y.  George  W.  Fisher,  nth  N.  Y. ; pro. 
sergt  and  lieul.  Thomas  J.  Fisher,  nth  N.  Y. ; pro. 
sergt.  Michael  Foley.  Daniel  Folk,  corp.  3d  N.  Y. 
art.;  pro.  lieut.  Daniel  Frawley,  15th  engineers.  Wil- 
liam Frawley,  145th  N.  Y.;  w.  and  d.  June  4 
’63.  Frederick  Freman,  68th  N.  Y.  John  Gaffney, 
51st  N.  Y.;  w.  in  neck  in  the  Wilderness.  John 
Gardiner,  40th  N.  Y.;  prisoner  11  days.  Daniel 
A.  Garrett,  15th  engineers.  Henry  Gerby,  39th  N.  Y ; 
w.  in  arm  at  the  second  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Thomas 
Gillispie.  George  Goswell,  3d  col.  Joseph  Gough,  87th. 
John  H.  Gower,  i33d.N.  Y.  James  Grant,  66th  N.  Y. 
John  M.  Groves,  103d  N.  Y.  James  H.  Hallett,  ship 
“ Hartford.”  John  Hampson,  Hawkins  Zouaves.  Wil- 
liam V.  Hannan,  5th  heavy  art.;  quartermaster’s  clerk. 
Henry  Hanson,  2nd  mate  of  the  “ Northern  Light.” 
Philip  Harty,  ship  “ Primrose.”  William  Hawkhirll 
124th  N.  Y. ; k.  May  3 ’63.  Philip  Heine,  7th  N.  Y 
Robert  Henry,  13th  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.  William  Hill 
173d  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Samuel  Holdworth,  15  engineers- 
John  H.  Holman;  discharged  for  disability.  William 
H.  Howe,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers;  pro.  sergt.  William 
Hunter  1st  N.  Y.  Andrew  Jackson,  30th  111.;  w.  at 
Fredericksburg.  Charles  Jackson,  13th  heavy  art;  dis- 
charged for  disability;  re-enlisted  in  Sickles  brigade., 
John  Jenkins.  15th  N.  Y.  James  Johnson,  127th  N.  Y. 
Samuel  Katon.  Thomas  Kearney,  138th  N.Y.  David 
Keeze,  15th  N.  Y.  Matthew  Kennedy,  51st  N.  Y.  Alex- 
ander Kenny,  16th.  Calvin  B.  King,  127th  N.  Y.  Ear- 


nest Klein,  39th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.  Christian  Kirabler, 
145th  N.  Y.  George  Kniffin.  Samuel  F.  Knight,  15th 
N.  Y.;  w.  in  arms.  Frank  Kraps,  54th  N.  Y.  Edward 
Lehmone,  147th  Penn.;  discharged  for  physical  disabil- 
ity. Charles  H.  Lewis,  15th  N.  Y.;  pro.  capt.  Got- 
fried  Link,  Co.  F,  2nd  N.  H.  bat.  John  Low,  139th  N. 
Y.  Hans  Lukens,  4th;  pro.  color  sergt.  Louis  Lukens, 
58th  N.Y.  Robert  J.  Marks,  8th  Pa.  cav.;  d.  of  wounds 
February  5 ’64.  Alexander  Maloney,  lieut.;  pro.  capt. 
Patrick  McCardle;  ship  “ Union.”  Thomas  McCormick, 
99th  N.  Y.  James  McCormick,  10th  Tenn.  James 
McGrady,  86th  N.Y.  Thomas  McGuire,  ship  “Semi- 
nole.” James  McHighley,  158th  N.  Y.  James  McKenna, 
15th  engineers.  John  S.  McKinley,  1st  N.Y.  col.  Michael 
McKenny,  ship  “ Florida.”  John  McWilliams,  1st  N.  Y. 
cav.  Jeremiah  Manahan,  67th  N.  Y.  Emory  Marsh, 
commissary  sergt.,  14th  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  1st  lieut.  Fred- 
erick Masser,  45th  N.  Y.  William  H.  Mead,  138th  N. 
Y.  Daniel  Merrell,  3d  Pa.  Frederick  Miller,  4th  N.  Y. 
Reuben  Munson.  186th  N.  Y.  Frederick  Munez,  59th 
N.  Y.  Thomas  Murray  junior,  13th  Penn,  cav.;  pro.  or- 
derly sergt.  Thomas  Newport,  66t’n  N.  Y.  Joseph  D. 
Newton,  2nd  assistant  engineer,  ship  “ Glaucus.”  Thomas 
Parsons,  5th  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  sergt.  Daniel  Z.  Payntar, 
1st  reg.  Berdan’s;  shot  before  Yorktown  April  7 ’62. 
John  D.  Pettit,  6th  heavy  art.;  pro.  sergt.  John  Phelan, 
73d  N.  Y.  George  Phillips,  47th  N.  Y.  Joseph  Pod- 
more,  2nd  111.  John  Podmore,  79th  N.  Y.  John  Powrie, 
15th  N.  Y.  Anthony  Quiss,  15th  N.  Y.  James  Randell, 
158th  N.  Y.  Rudolph  Ray,  102nd  N.  Y.  John  B.  Ray. 
Daniel  Reed,  1st  N.  Y.  art.  Edward  Regney,  25th  N. 
Y.  William  Rhoades,  William  Rhoades  junior,  and  John 
R.  Rhoades,  15th  N.  Y.  Samuel  H.  Rich,  1st  mate  of  the 
“Northern  Light.”  A.  Robertson,  81st  N.  Y.  Samuel 
Roden,  15th  N.  Y.  Louis  Rodiger,  38th  N.  Y.  Alanson 
Ross,  corp.;  pro.  sergt.  William  Ross,  3d  Conn.;  severely 
w.  in  left  leg.  William  Scott.  Frederick  Seinka,  20th 
N.  Y.  William  Seiniker,  127th  N.  Y.  Augustus  Severin, 
36th  N.  Y.  Albert  Shears,  ship  “ Sabine.”  Samuel  E. 
Shonnard,  1st  Long  Island;  supposed  to  have  died  at 
Salisbury  prison.  George  W.  Slater,  176th  N.  Y.  Patrick 
Smith,  88th  N.  Y.  John  S.  Smith,  zouaves;  k.  at  Bull 
Run.  Jesse  H.  Smith,  136th  N.  Y. ; pro.  sergt.  William 
H.  Smith,  173d  N.  Y.  George  Smith,  1st  N.  Y.  cav.; 
shot  in  left  leg.  Stephen  Spratt,  123d  N.  Y.  Alexander 
Spratt,  150th  N.  Y.  David  Steer,  ship  “ Pawnee.”  Phelan 
Steer,  ship  “ Tallapoosa.”  Frank  Sullivan,  52nd  N.  Y. 
Allison  Sutton,  4th  Metropolitan;  pro.  corp.  ; taken 
prisoner.  Henry  S.  Thompkins;  w.  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg. Thompson  Thompson,  1st  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  sergt. 
William  Thompson,  66th  N.  Y.  Manuel  A-  W.  Town- 
send, ship  “ Buckthorn.”  John  Tuston,  regulars.  Joseph 
Uhlicren,  69th  N.  Y.  Joseph  I.  Van  Alst,  158th  N.  Y. 
William  Voysey,  51st  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  W.  Warren. 
Isaac  P.  Weaver,  173d  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.  Oscar  J.  Wells, 
1st  fire  zouaves.  James  P.  Wells,  24th  cav.  George  and 
William  Wheeler;  w.  in  Wilderness.  Martin  Willis;  cap- 
tured at  Williamsburg  May  5 ’62.  Adolphus  White,  9th 
N.  Y. ; w.  in  the  arm  at  South  Mills.  Henry  White,  chief 
engineer,  ship  “Ella.”  Robert  T.  Wild  junior,  ship 
“ Seneca.”  William  Willis,  surveyor.  Martin  Willis, 
capt.  74th  N.  Y. ; pro.  brevet  major.  Benjamin  Wood- 
bury, 15th  N.  Y.  Edward  C.  Wright,  21st  N.  Y. ; w.  in 
the  second  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  with  loss  of  right 
leg.  Doctor  George  J.  Wright,  physician,  ship  “Galena.” 

NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 

Julius  Anderson,  “North  Carolina.”  Charles  W.  Baxter, 
5th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Birchell,  145th  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.  Al- 
exander Bond,  119th  N.  Y.  James  Brennan,  8th  N.  J. 


SOLDIERS  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 


7i 


David  Brook;  k.  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  Feb.  ’64. 
Thomas  Burton,  15th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.  John  Burton; 
d.  of  wounds  received  at  Chancellorsville;  pro.  lieut. 
Henry  Campbell,  civil  engineers.  Theodore  Coles,  assist- 
ant quartermaster.  John  Collan,  158th  N.  Y.  John  Col- 
ler,  32nd  N.  Y.  Alfred  Copley;  k.  at  Bull  Run.  Richard 
Colter.  William  Corry,  lieut.  John  Crampton,  5th  art. 
Robert  Crawford,  145th  N.  Y.  Andrew  Crooker,  5th 
N.  Y.  Jeremiah  Davis,  Harris  cav.;  taken  prisoner  and  ex- 
changed. John  L.  De  Witt,  pro.  teamster;  d.  July  21  ’64. 
John  H.  De  Mott.  Daniel  De  Witt,  5th  N.  Y.  Edward 
Dickerson,  Harris  cav.;  pro.  sergt.  Samuel  Dodge,  133d 
N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Frank  Doremus,  34th  N.  Y.  art.  John 
Dougherty,  107th  N.  Y. ; k.  at  Atlanta  Aug.  5 ’64.  Obadiah 
Downing,  lieut.  Harris  cav.;  pro.  capt.;  captured  in  a 
raid  by  Sheridan;  confined  in  Libby  prison.  John  Dud- 
ley, 40th  N.  Y.  Charles  Edwards,  20th  N.  Y.  James  H. 
Fox,  17th  N.  Y.  Joseph  Francis;  k.  at  Sharpsburg.  Wil- 
liam FI.  Gibson,  37th  Ohio.  William  H.  Grady,  5th  art. 
Thomas  Grady.  James  H.  Hall,  “North  Carolina.”  Alfred 
Hall,  5th  N.  Y.  Henry  A.  Harris,  5 th  N.  Y.  William 
H.  and  Alfred  A.  Hayden,  34th  bat.  James  O.  Hearne; 
k.  at  Spottsylvania.  William  Hendrickson,  1 5 1 h N.  Y. ; 
pro.  sergt.  Elbert  M.  Hendrickson;  d.  of  wounds  re- 
ceived Sept.  26  ’63;  Harris  cav.  William  and  John  Hew- 
lett, 5th.  Abram  Hutchings,  sergt.  119th  N.  Y.  Jacob 
H.  Johnson,  Harris  cav.  Dick  Jones,  31st  N.  Y.  Jack- 
son  Jones,  R.  I.  George  W.  Kiersted,  sergt.,  145th  N.  Y. 
James  Legan,  5th  art.  Jordan  Lewis  jr,  1st  Pa.  George 
H.  Lewis,  26th  N.  Y.  Henry  B.  Mcllvaine,  1st  lieut.  5th 
N.  Y.  art.;  pro.  major;  lieut.  col.  Daniel  McLaughlin, 
145th  N.  Y.  John  Mackey,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  James 
Mahar,  2nd  N.  J.  cav.  Denis  Maloney,  176th  N.  Y;  pro. 
commissary  sergt.  Willet  Miller,  15th  N.  Y.  engineers; 
pro.  sergt;  d.  May  31  ’65.  Elbert  Miller,  N.  Y.  engineers. 
George  Mothersole,  15th  N.  Y.  Edward  B.  Mott,  5th 
N.  Y.  art.  Michael  Nolan,  145th  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.  Fred- 
erick Nolan,  145th  N.  Y.  Alfred  Noon,  119th  N.  Y. 
Benjamin  Nostrand,  5th  art.  — O’Hearn;  k.  near  Spott- 
sylvania. Joseph  Onderdonk,  59th  N.  Y.;  d.  Sept.  17  ’64. 
William  Paine,  26th  U.  S.  colored.  James  Perry,  5th 
reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg.  William  Pro- 
vost, 159th  N.  Y.;  pro.  major.  Henry  Radcliffe,  25th  N. 
Y.  art.  Augustus  Roily.  Charles  S.  Ruland,  13th  N.  Y 
cav.;  pro.  teamster.  William  H.  Seaman,  5th  Excel- 
sior brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg.  John  K.  Seaman. 
John  Shaw,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Silas  Shaw,  Harris  cav. 
William  K.  Smith,  N.  Y.  engineers  Daniel  Smith. 
5th  N.  Y.  Thomas  Smith,  Harris  cav.  Townsend 
Smith,  N.  Y.  engineers.  Stephen  Smith,  5th  N.  Y. 
William  Sobey,  5th  art.  Andrew  Speedling,  119th; 
discharged  on  account  of  ill  health.  William  H.  Speed- 
ling,  119th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  Henry  Sticklin,  158th  N. 
Y.  Robert  Stuart,  lieut.  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  drowned  July 
30  ’63.  Jordon  Stuyvestant,  5th  N.  Y.  Tames  Silbey, 
119th  N.  Y.  John  W.  Tyson,  74th  N.  Y.  John  Tyson, 
5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg.  Elbert 
Van  Wielan,  139th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  and  sergt.  Jacob 
Van  Wielan,  1 6th  N.  Y.  engineers.  John  Van  Wielan, 
2nd  N.  Y.  P.  A.  and  John  Verity,  15th  N.  Y.;  pro. 
sergts.  Walter  D.  Verity,  5th  art.  James  Verity,  15th 
N.  Y.  William  Walker,  145th  N.  Y.  William  Welling- 
ton, 34th  N.  Y.  bat.  Thomas  Whitmore;  d.  of  wounds 
received  at  Fredericksburg,  ’63.  Benjamin  Willis,  capt., 
119th  N.  Y.;  pro  major  and  col.  William  H.  Wood,  2nd 
N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  sergt.;  prisoner  14  months.  Samuel 
Wood;  d.  in  Wilson’s  raid.  Aaron  R.  Wood,  14th  Rhode 
Island.  William  Wooden,  26th  U.  S.  colored. 

OYSTER  BAY. 

George  A.  Appleford,  4th  N.  Y.  art.  Joseph  Apple- 


ford,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Willington  Appleford,  1 6th  N.  Y.; 

w.  in  hand.  Armstrong,  Harris  cavalry;  adjutant 

of  recruits.  Joseph  Atkins,  159th  N.  Y.;  discharged  for 
disability.  Edwin  Bailey,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  Edward 
Bailey,  15th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  James  Baker,  2nd  N.  Y. 
cav.  William  Baker,  17th  N.  Y.,  Co.  B.  Henry  Baker, 
2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  David  Baldwin,  122nd  N.  Y.  Silas 
Bendar,  159th  N.  Y.  Edward  Bennett,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav. 
William  L.  M.  Berger,  1st  N.  Y.;  pro.  assistant  adjt.  gen. 
John  Birdsall,  capt.,  13th  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  major,  ftffer- 
son  Braunch,  159th  N.  Y. ; pro.  lieut.  Charles  Broom- 
ley,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  lost  toes  of  both  feet.  James  H. 
Brower,  2nd  N.  J.  cav.  Josiah  C.  Brownell,  Harris 
light  cav.  (2nd  N.  Y.);  captured  in  a raid  by  Sheridan. 
James  W.  Burtis,  col.,  5th  reg.  Sickles  brigade;  w.  at 
Fair  Oaks,  ’62.  Edward  Burton,  2nd  N.  Y.  John  W. 
Campbell  jr.,  2nd  N.  Y.  (Harris  light  cav.);  pro.  2nd 
lieut.  John  Casey,  47th  N.  Y.  inf.  John  Chester. 
John  Coats.  George  W.  Cock,  5th  Conn.  Alfred  Cock, 
2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Butler  Coles,  22nd  N.  Y.;  pro.  2nd 
lieut.  Alexander  Conklin,  26th  N.  Y.  Edward  Cooper, 
2nd  N.  Y.,  Co.  A.  Joseph  J.  Craft.  Philip  Darley, 
107th  N.  Y.  John  Davis  jr.,  12th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt. 
Toothill  Dayton.  Isaac  Devoe,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav. ; captured 
at  the  Rapidan,  June ’63;  paroled  February  ’64.  Ben- 
jamin Dickerson,  12th  N.  Y.  George  Dickerson,  2nd  N. 
Y cav.  Stephen  Dodge,  119th  N.  Y.  Patrick  Donal- 
son,  5th  N.  Y.  art.  Joseph  Donaly,  165th  N.  Y.  (2nd 
zouaves).  Henry  Dougherty,  14th  regulars.  Daniel  L. 
Downing;  k.  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  June  6 ’63.  Ben- 
jamin Dumire,  15th  heavy  art.  Charles  Dumire,  3d  N. 
Y.  George  Duryea,  lieut.,  5th  (Duryea’s)  zouaves;  pro. 
lieut.  col.;  w.  at  Chickshinny.  Henry  Duryea,  2nd  N. 
Y.  (Harris  light)  cav.;  paroled  from  Libby  prison  Feb- 
ruary ’64.  Edwin  Earl,  Duryea’s  zouaves;  pro.  to 
quartermaster’s  department.  Michael  Fayah,  “ Hart- 
ford.” Henry  Fisher,  1 8th  N.  Y.,  Co.  D.  John  Flinks- 
man.  Pearsall  P.  Forkey,  1st  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  sergt. 
George  W.  Francis.  Jacob  Kittle  Garribadi;  pro.  capt. 
George  Germain,  3d  assistant  engineer;  ship  “ Vander- 
bilt.” Joseph  Gibbons,  2nd  N.  Y.  (Harris  light)  cav. 
James  Golden,  20th  N.  Y.  bat.  Ephraim  Golden,  2nd 
N.  Y.  cav.  William  Gramer,  sergt.,  Harris  light  cav. 
Uriah  Hall,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.;  discharged  for  disability 
Feb.  1 ’65.  Henry  Hall.  George  W.  Hall,  20th  N.  Y. 
colored  inf.;  discharged  for  disability.  John  I’.  Hall. 
John  Hall,  95th  N.  Y.  inf.;  w.  in  foot.  James  Harris, 
10th  N.  Y.  cav.  James  Harrold,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  w.  in 
left  arm  Feb.  ’64.  John  Harper,  20th  colored,  Co.  FI. 
Sherman  Hartt,  159th  N.  Y.  William  Hawthorn,  2nd 
cav.  John  Healey,  13th  engineer  corps.  Rutgers  Hege- 
man,  114th  bat.;  pro.  corp.;  w.  with  a poisoned  ball. 
Andrew  Hegeman,  107th  N.  Y.  Elbert  Hegeman,  13th 
N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  lieut.  and  capt,;  taken  prisoner  ’64. 
Harris  Heggler,  127th  N.  Y.  Charles  Fleleuss,  127th  N. 
Y.;  lost  right  arm.  L.  Hendrickson,  145th  N.  Y.  David 
Hendrickson,  monitor.  David  Hert,  pro.  master’s  mate. 
Charles  Hecks,  Berdan’s  sharpshooters,  Co.  II.  George 
Hill,  51st  rifles.  Henry  Hoogland,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Tim- 
othy Jackson,  20th  N.  Y.  colored  inf.  James  Jay.  Leon- 
ard W.  Jerome,  26th  N.  Y.  cav.  Lewis  Johnson,  159th 
N.  Y.  Joseph  Johnson,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Charles  John- 
son, ship  “Cyane.”  John  B.  Johnson,  5th  Conn,  inf.; 
pro.  corp.  Collin  J.  Johnson,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  William 
P.  Kay,  3d  asst,  engineer.  William  Lattan,  Berdans, 
sharpshooters;  pro.  corp.  Jordan  Layton,  2nd  N.Y.  cav.; 
pro.  quartermaster’s  clerk.  James  Luke,  95th  N.  Y.  Nel- 
son and  John  McGregor,  127th  N.  Y.  William  McKee. 
John  P.  Mackey,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  discharged  for  disability. 
Clarence  Malier,  26th  colored.  F'rancis  B.  Mallaby 
ship  “Vanderbilt.”  Jacob  L.  Mayber,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav. 


72 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Wait  Michell,  41st  N.  Y.  John  Henry  Miller,  paroled 
from  Libby  prison  Feb.  ’64.  Townsend  C.  Miller.  Peter 
and  Frost  Miller.  Andrew  Mingo.  Morgan  Murphy, 
102nd  N.  Y.;  discharged  for  disability.  James  N.  Nash, 
6th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.  David  Potter,  ship  “ Minnesota;” 
pro.  steward.  Cornelius  Powell,  5th  N.  Y.  art.  Andrew 
Powell,  145th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  William  H.  Prentiss, 
4th  N.  Y.;  discharged  for  disability  in  Mar.  ’65.  James 

R.  Rtmsen,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Ferris  Renade,  5th  N.  Y. 
heavy  art;  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  James 
Roach,  navy.  John  Roach,  13th  N.  Y.  cav.  Henry 
Samrnis,  2nd  N.Y.  cav.  Charles  Schmidt,  1 6th  N.  Y.  cav. 
Stephen  Seaman  j r.,  2nd  N.Y.  cav.  Edward  S.  Seaman, 
2nd  N.  Y .cav.  Thomas  Sheridan,  ship  “ Cayuga.”  David 
Shotwell,  1 2 1 st  N.  Y.;  w.  in  left  leg.  William  J.  Siebout, 
2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  James  Silbey,  5th  N.  Y.  heavy  art. 
Matthew  Siper,  117th  N.  Y.,  Co.  G.  David  Smith,  2nd 
U.  S.  colored  inf.  Treadwell  Smith,  26th  N.  Y.  John 
Smith,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Charles  Somers,  w.  at  Gettysburg. 
Henry  Speek,  103d  N.  Y.  Henry  Springer.  2nd  N.  Y. 
cav.  Dr.  William  W.  Strew,  resigned  in  Oct.  ’63.  John 
Taylor,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  1st  sergt.  Thomas  Thomp- 
son and  John  Thornton,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Thomas  Thurs- 
son,  6th  N.  Y.  heavy  art,  Chdrles  Tilby.  Patrick  Tol- 
mey,  31st  N.  Y.  John  W.  Turner,  90th  N.  Y.  Augustus 
Tyrrel,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  D.  J.  Underhill.  Edward  Val- 
entine, monitor.  Napoleon  Valentine,  1st  N.  Y.  cav  ; 
1st  sergt.  James  Vernon  jr.,  Harris  cav.;  k.  at  Brandy 
Station  June  9 ’63.  John  Vinney,  5th  N.  Y.  Alfred  S. 
Walters,  107th  N.  Y.;  d.  Jan.  28  ’64.  John  Wanser,  2nd 
N.  Y.,  Co.  B.  John  Webster,  ship  “Keystone  State.” 
Isaac  Weeks,  11th  heavy  art.;  pro.  corp.  Samuel  M. 
Weeks,  lieut.  Harris  cav.  William  Weeks,  132nd  N.  Y. 
inf.  Washington  Weeks,  1st  N.  J.  cav.  James  Wester- 
ville, 2nd  N.  Y.  cav.  Edwin  R.  Whitney,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav. 
Abram  Wicklin,  158th  N.  Y.  Clinton  Williams.  Andrew 
Wilson,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav. 

OTHERS. 

Benjamin  Areson;  w.  before  Richmond  May  31  ’64. 
James  A.  Betts,  6th  Conn.;  captured  at  Winchester  and 
confined  in  Salisbury  prison.  W.  H.  Clark;  captured 
aboard  the  “ Morning  Light,”  Sabine  Pass,  July  ’64,  and 
held  26  months  at  Camp  Ford,  Texas.  Nathaniel  Coles, 
13th  N.  Y.  cav.  W.  J.  Conn,  6th  Mass.;  d.  at  Washing- 
ton August  9 ’64.  Asahel  Cox;  w.  June  19  ’64,  before 
Petersburg.  Skillman  Cornwell;  w.  before  Richmond, 
’64.  Horatio  Dalton;  re  enlisted  March  ’64  in  98th  N. 
Y.  John  Dodge;  w.  at  Aldie,  Va.  Henry  Dutcher. 
Zebulon  B.  Flowers,  159th  N.  Y.;  d.  of  wounds  received 
at  Bayou  Teche  April  14  ’63.  St.  M.  Fosdick;  cap- 
tured March  30  ’63.  William  Goodman,  5th  reg.,  Ex- 
celsior brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg.  William  Goodwin; 
w.  at  Wapping  Heights  and  d.  S.  Heasly;  w.  before 
Petersburg.  Thomas  W.  Howard,  9th  N.  Y. ; pro.  lieut.; 
vv.  at  Gettysburg.  John  Kershaw;  w.  at  Spottsylvania. 
Charles  Lerdwig;  w.  June  19  ’64,  before  Petersburg.  W. 
Markland;  w.  before  Petersburg  June  19  ’64.  Edward 
McCoy,  5th  reg.  Excelsior  brigade;  w.  at  Gettysburg. 
Michael  McDonald,  119th  N.  Y. ; w.  at  Mill  Creek  Gap, 
Ga.  Conrad  Mayer;  w.  before  Petersburg  June  19  ’64. 
Absalom  Mead;  missing  before  Richmond  June  ’64. 
Thomas  B.  Mott,  corp.,  119th  N.  Y.;  w.  in  both  legs  at 
Gettysburg.  Frank  Palfrey;  w.  in  the  Wilderness,  ’64. 

S.  Parr;  w.  in  the  Wilderness,  ’64.  Philip  Range,  119th 
N.  Y. ; w.  at  Mill  Creek  Gap,  Ga.  Cnarles  E.  Roseville; 
severely  w.  at  Gettysburg.  George  W.  Rudyard,  sergt., 
119th;  k.  June  5 ’64.  John  Sawyer;  k.  at  Pine  Knob, 
Ga.  Wright  Schenck;  w.  at  Pine  Knob.  Benjamin  Sea- 
man; w.  September  ’64.  Stratton  V.  Smith,  39th  Mass.; 


captured  August  19  ’64;  d.  November  16  ’64,  at  Salisbury 
prison.  Charles  Shruder,  119th;  w.  at  Mi.ll  Creek  Gap, 
Ga.  Charles  Stubbs;  k.  September  ’64.  O.  J.  Townsend, 
capt.,  Harris  cav.;  taken  near  Richmond,  ’64.  Erastus 
Webster;  k.  at  Pine  Knob,  Ga.  David  Wilson;  w.  at 
Gettysburg.  Alfred  M.  Wood,  col.  14th  N.  Y.  S.  M.  ; 
w.  and  captured  at  Bull  Run.  Joseph  Wright;  w.  at  Pine 
Knob,  Ga.  C.  Wright;  re-enlisted  in  March  ’64  in  89th 
N.  Y. 

For  ready  reference  we  add  a recapitulation  of  those 
who 

DIED  IN  THE  SERVICE. 

FLUSHING. 

Henry  Apple,  corp.  1st  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.;  shot  on 
picket  duty.  Burton  Belansee,  surgeon  U.  S.  A.;  died  at 

his  post  of  yellow  fever  at  Morehead  City,  ’64.  

Biskie.  John  W.  Byrd,  9th  N.  Y. ; d.  at  Washington  Oct. 
20  ’61.  James  Byrns,  74th  N.  Y.;  d.  Dec.  29  ’64,  in 
Flushing.  John  Carroll,  61st  N.  Y. ; d.  in  Oct.  ’63  at 
Suffolk  Hospital.  Thomas  Conner,  61st  N.  Y.  Benjamin 
Covert,  2nd  N.  Y.  art.;  d.  Nov.  26  ’62  at  Falmouth.  Wil- 
liam J.  Cown,  d.  Aug.  8 ’64,  at  Arlington  Hospital.  Wil- 
liam N.  Daniels,  2nd  lieut.  53d  N.  Y. ; pro.  1st  lieut.;  w. 
at  Spottsylvania  May  12  ’64;  d.  at  Washington  June 
13  ’64.  William  C.  Domidey,  67th  N.  Y.;  pro.  1st  lieut. 
and  capt.;  k.  at  Spottsylvania.  John  Dougherty,  sergt. 
63d;  d.  of  wounds  received  at  Antietam.  James  E. 
Eldred,  74th  N.  Y. ; d.  Aug.  4 ’64  in  Georgia.  Charles 
Erling,  nth  Mass.  John  Feeley,  69th  N.Y.  bat.;  d.  at 
Washington  Dec.  2 ’62.  Joseph  Fobiskie,  131st  N.  Y.; 
d.  at  New  Orleans  Aug.  15  ’63.  George  H.  Fowle,  15th 
engineers;  d.  at  Falmouth  Jan.  ’63.  Asa  A.  Fowler, 
sergt.  61st  N.  Y.  bat.;  k.  at  Fredericksburg  Dec.  13  ’62. 
George  W.  Fowler,  67th  N.  Y.  bat.;  pro.  corp.;  d.  May 
6 ’64,  at  Alexandria.  Thomas  M.  Grady,  Sickles  brigade; 
d.  at  Fredericksburg  May  ’63.  Seth  Harpell,  174th  N.Y.; 
d.  at  Gettysburg  July  2 ’63.  Benjamin  Harpell,  158th 
N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  and  sergt.;  k.  in  front  of  Richmond 
Oct.  2 ’64.  John  Wesley  Hirsman,  2nd  Rhode  Island;  d. 
of  camp  fever  at  New  Orleans  Aug.  1 ’64.  George  W. 
Huntsman,  5th  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.;  d.  at  Alexandria  Sept. 
4 ’62.  Patrick  Hurley,  navy;  d.  of  consumption  at  Ma- 
rine Hospital  Nov.  15  ’63.  Thomas  H.  Jenkins,  navy;  d. 
Feb.  5 ’65  at  Brooklyn  Hospital.  Robert  Karz,  58th  bat.; 
d.  in  Sept.  ’62  near  Winchester.  Washington  C.  Knight, 
74th;  pro.  sergt.;  k.  at  Gettysburg  July  2 ’63.  Philip 
Maher.  John  Mara,  99th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.;  died  at 
Richmond  Feb.  28  ’64.  Martin  Moore,  5th  N.  Y.;  d.  of 
starvation  at  Andersonville  in  Mar.  ’64.  Edward  L. 
Murray,  69th  N.  Y. ; d.  of  camp  fever  and  starvation  at 
Salisbufy  prison  Dec.  n ’64.  Henry  Neimer,  4th  N.  Y.; 
d.  Feb.  8 ’64  at  Alexandria.  Martin  Mix,  74th  N.  Y. ; 
d.  May  5 ’62  at  Williamsburg.  Samuel  C.  Portner,  shot 
at  New  Orleans.  Joseph  Rierstead,  2nd  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.; 
d.  Dec.  13  ’62  at  Falmouth.  Charles  D.  Rossiter,  1st 
lieut.  33d  N.  Y.;  w.  in  the  last  battle  at  Fredericksburg; 
d.  in  May  ’63.  David  Shultz,  78th  N.  Y.;  k.  at  Fort 
Sanderson  Nov.  29  ’63.  Charles  D.  Smith,  74th  N.  Y. ; 
w.  July  2 ’63  at  Gettysburg;  d.  Sept.  14  ’63  at  Flushing. 
George  A.  Steele,  22nd  Mass.;  k.  at  Cold  Harbor  June 
3 ’64.  Jergen  Steenberg,  34th  N.  Y.  bat.;  d.  in  ’63.  John 
Stonebanks,  15th  N.  Y.  S.  M.;  d.  at  Fort  Richmond  July 
’64.  George  Vix,  29th  N.  Y. ; k.  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  ’62.  Lorenzo  D.  Wood,  67th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.; 
d.  Aug.  15  ’63.  John  Worth,  sergt.  34th  bat.;  d.  at 
Alexandria,  Va.,  in  ’62.  Adam  Worth.  Robert  C. 
Wright,  74th  N.  Y. ; d.  April  7 ’65,  near  Richmond.  Val- 
entine C.  Yeric,  58th  bat.;  d.  in  Aug.  ’62  at  Sperryville. 


QUEEN’S  UNION  SOLDIERS. 


73 


HEMPSTEAD. 

William  Ackley,  139th  N.  Y.;  September  29  ’64,  at 
Chapin’s  Farm.  Daniel  Andrews,  102nd  N.  Y.;  at  At- 
lanta, September  26  ’64.  Treadwell  Bedell,  119th  N.  Y.; 
June  16  ’64,  at  Brooklyn  navy  yard.  Smith  Carman, 
78th  N.  Y.  George  Carman,  158th  N.  Y.  Sylvester 
Carmen,  5th  heavy  art.;  July  1 ’64,  at  Petersburg,  Va. 
Walter  W.  Carpenter,  119th  N.  Y. ; k.  at  Gettysburg, 
July  ’63.  Michael  Conner,  19th  N.  Y.;  at  Georgetown 
hospital.  Thomas  Cornell,  1st  N.  Y.;  December  31  ’61. 
Joseph  Doxey,  119th;  in  ’64,  at  Petersburg.  John  V. 
Dunn,  May  31  ’64,  at  Hanover  Court-house,  Va.  Jere- 
miah Fryer,  5th  N.  Y.;  in  ’62,  at  Marietta,  Ga.  William 
S.  Golden,  4th  art.;  May  19  ’63,  in  Virginia.  Joseph 
Hedges,  July  25  ’64,  at  Atlanta.  Elbert  M.  Hendrick- 
son; September  26  ’63,  at  Whitesford,  Va.  Harman 
Hicks,  119th  N.  Y.;  at  Nashville,  Tenrv,  June  22  ’65. 
Samuel  B.  Hicks.  Thomas  Holmes;  February  27  ’63. 
Newbury  Jackson,  20th  colored;  June  ’64,  in  Louisiana. 
Alanson  Jackson,  nth  R.  I.;  ’64,  at  Yorktown,  Pa. 
William  Johnson,  20th  colored;  July  ’64.  B.  F.  Lasea, 
139th  N.  Y. ; September  27  ’64,  at  Bermuda  Hundred, 
Va.  William  H.  Lloyd,  126th  N.  Y.;  at  Harper’s  Ferry, 
Va.  Peter  McMana,  90th  N.  Y.;  in  ’63,  at  Gettysburg. 
Samuel  Mathews,  56th  N.  Y.;  September  20  ’64,  at  Beau- 
fort, S.  C.  W.  R.  Mead,  4th  art.;  May  19  ’64,  at  Spott- 
sylvania.  Joseph  Mott,  6th  art.;  October  13  ’64,  at 
Salisbury.  Cantridge  D.  P.  Mott,  119th  N.  Y.;  June  16 
’64,  at  Pine  Mountain.  William  Noon,  Harris  light  cav. 
William  F.  Painter,  1st  Conn,  cav.;  of  typhoid  fever, 
September  2 ’64,  at  Hempstead.  Benjamin  B.  Phillips, 
sergt.,  4th  M.  R.;  September  20  ’64,  at  Andersonville. 
John  H.  Pray;  February  3 ’64,  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y.  E. 
R.  Raynor,  139th  N.  Y.;  June  10  ’64,  at  White  House. 
Henry  Roach,  1st  N.  Y.;  December  13  ’62.  Charles  E. 
Roswell,  119th  N.  Y.;  July  3 ’63,  at  Gettysburg.  Isaac 
Smawlin,  131st  N.  Y.;  November  9 ’63,  at  Baton  Rouge. 
William  H.  Smith,  139th  N.  Y.;  October  14  ’62,  at  White 
House.  Asa  Smith,  4th  art.;  June  25  ’64  at  Petersburg. 
Vandewier  Smith,  139th  N.  Y.;  k.  on  picket  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  Va.,  June  2 ’62.  Samuel  Smith,  navy;  Sep- 
tember 27  ’64,  at  Key  West.  John  Sowen,  119th  N.  Y. 
Frank  Stillwell,  67th  N.  Y.  William  Storry,  ist  N.  Y. 

M.  Daniel  Van  Wicklen,  158th  N.  Y.;  May  22  ’65,  at 
Point  of  Rocks,  Va.  George  Wells,  1st  L.  C.;  May  27 
’64,  at  Petersburg,  Va. 

JAMAICA. 

John  Almac,  5th  N.  Y.  John  Asaph,  871I1  N.  Y.;  Feb. 
8 ’62,  at  Washington.  Jacob  D.  Bennett,  40th  N.  Y.; 
pro.  sergt.;  k.  May  5 ’64,  in  Wilderness.  Richard  Brush 
jr.,  orderly  sergt,  48th  N.  Y.;  June  1 ’64,  at  Jamaica. 
James  Clemington,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  Oct.  10  ’63,  at 
hospital  in  Virginia.  George  E.  Cogswell,  sergt.  165th 

N.  Y.;  April  16  ’63,  at  Camp  Parapet,  New  Orleans. 
William  A.  Collins,  6istN.  Y.;  pro.  capt.;  k.  May  5 ’64, 
at  the  Wilderness.  George  T.  Crawford,  pro.  corp.  5th 
N.  Y.;  July  21  ’63,  at  Front  Royal.  Elias  Dewitt,  31st 
Conn;  Aug.  ’64,  at  Petersburg,  Va.  Alex.  S.  Fosdick, 
165th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.;  d.  July  1 ’63,  at  New  York. 
Stephen  Fosdick,  158th  N.  Y.;  Oct.  14  ’64,  at  New  Or- 
leans. Benjamin  Frederick,  158th  N.  Y.;  at  Norfolk, 
Va.  Patrick  Hoey,  102nd  N.  Y.;  July  19  ’62,  at  Jamaica. 
John  Johnson,  5th  N.  Y.;  Sept.  7 ’62,  at  Alexandria,  Va. 
James  A.  Kilbourn,  158th  N.  Y. ; pro.  corp.  and  color 
bearer;  died  April  2nd  ’65,  at  Petersburg,  Va.  Felix 
McAleary,  69th  N.  Y.;  k.  at  Chancellorsville.  John 
McCann,  90th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.  and  orderly  sergt.;  k.  in 
the  2nd  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Alexander  McCremi,  6th 
N.  Y.  cav.;  died  on  the  field  June  3 ’64,  at  Jones  Bridge, 


near  Richmond,  Va.  Benjamin  Meeker,  109th  N.  Y.; 
Dec.  17  ’64,  at  Petersburg,  Va.  Nathaniel  Nostrand, 
158th  N.  Y.;  April  28  ’65,  at  Newbern,  N.  C.  John  H' 
Oake,  15th  N.  Y.;  pro.  sergt.;  died  July  15  ’64,  at  City 
Point.  William  Parmage,  Wilson’s  zouaves;  pro.  sergt.; 
died  at  San  Rosa  Island.  John  Penoa.  Thaddeus  Pot- 
ter, 165th  N.  Y. ; Dec.  23d  ’63,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  of 
typhoid  fever.  Charles  Snell,  39th  N.  Y.;  died  Oct.  5th 
’64,  of  hard  treatment  while  a prisoner  at  Charleston, 
S.  C.  George  Valentine,  ist  Wis.  cav.;  Aug.  ’64,  at  Ja- 
maica. Pierre  V.  Van  Ness,  167th  N.  Y.;  pro.  lieut.  Dec. 
27  ’62;  died  Dec.  29  ’62,  at  Falmouth,  Va.  George  L. 
Van  Wicklin,  99th  N.  Y. ; Oct.  5 ’62,  at  Key  West.  Ed- 
ward W.  Walton,  119th  N.  Y.;  Feb.  16  ’63,  at  City 
Point,  Va. 

NEWTOWN. 

William  H.  Bedell,  147th  N.  Y.  Louis  Brummer,  5th 
bat.;  k.  at  Petersburg,  September  3,  64.  Thomas  M. 
Burke,  1 6th  N.  Y.  heavy  art.;  at  Baltimore,  March  14 
’65.  George  W.  Burtiss,  4th  Metropolitan.  JohnDuffey; 
k.  at  Bull  Run.  Michael  Fose.  William  Frawley,  145th 
N.  Y.  Michael  Garrwick.  William  Hawkhurst,  124th 
N.  Y.  John  S.  Vitty;  at  Bull  Run. 

NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 

John  C.  Pollite,  44th  Mass.;  at  Roslyn,  L.  I.,  in  ’61. 
Charles  Wanson,  118th  N.  Y.;  pro.  corp.;  d.  in  ’62,  in 
Virginia.  Erastus  Webster,  119th  N.  Y.;  pro.  orderly; 
d.  in  ’64,  in  Georgia.  Lanson  E.  Wicks,  14th  R.  I.;  at 
New  Orleans,  July  n ’64. 

OYSTER  BAY. 

Samuel  Althouse,  20th  N.  Y.  colored;  at  Riker’s  Island, 
February  16  ’64.  Henry  Althouse,  20th  N.  Y.  colored. 
Thomas  Appleford,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  December  ’64,  at 
Harper’s  Ferry.  Charles  Baker,  corp.  4th  N.  Y. ; Feb- 
ruary 20  ’64,  at  Baltimore.  Alfred  Barlon,  2nd  N.  Y. 
cav.;  August  9 ’63.  Thomas  Bolton,  90th  N.  Y.  Van 
R.  Brush,  102nd  N.  Y.  Augustus  Bullman;  July  ’62. 
John  Burton,  orderly  sergt.,  40th  N.  Y.;  June  4 ’61. 
James  Butler;  d.  while  a prisoner  at  Andersonville,  of 
starvation.  Charles  Coleman,  20th  zouaves.  John 
Dempsey,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  February  ’65.  Levi  Devoe, 
5th  N.  Y.  art.;  July  4 ’64,  at  Harper’s  Ferry.  William 
Dodge,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  September  13  ’64,  at  Chat- 
tanooga. Daniel  Dourney,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  June  17  ’63, 
at  Aldie,  Va.  Benjamin  Hall,  Sickles  brigade;  Septem- 
ber 1 ’62.  John  Hall,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  at  Harper’s 
Ferry.  James  Henry,  33d  Mass.;  June  ’64.  William 
Hicks,  ist  N.  Y.,  Co.  H;  September  1 ’61.  Charles  E. 
Layton,  2nd  N.'  Y.  cav.;  in  Virginia,  of  typhoid  fever. 
Thomas  Layton,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  in  Queens  county. 
James  Mott,  5th  N.  Y.  art.;  at  Salisbury.  John  Powell, 
145th  N.  Y.;  September  ’62.  Cornelius  Remser,  2nd  N. 
Y.  cav.;  July  12  ’64,  of  starvation,  at  Andersonville. 
James  Sheridan,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  corp.;  d.  February 
’63,  in  Queens  county.  Henry  Southard,  102nd  N.  Y.; 
August  ’63,  at  Annapolis  hospital.  Cornelius  Stillwell, 
102nd  N.  Y.;  May  8 ’63,  at  Yorktown.  Adolphus  Tor- 
rey,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  September  ’62.  William  H.  Town- 
send, 2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  September  ’64,  at  Petersburg. 
Oliver  Valentine,  Excelsior  brigade;  pro.  sergt.;  k.  at 
Gettysburg,  July  ’62.  Samuel  Vennor,  20th  N.  Y.  cav.; 
died  while  a prisoner  in  South  Carolina.  John  Verity, 
Excelsior  brigade;  July  2 ’64,  at  Gettysburg.  James 
Vernon,  2nd  N.  Y.  cav.;  pro.  corp.;  died  at  Brandy 
Station,  in  June  ’63.  Alfred  Waters,  145th  N.  Y.;  Au- 
gust ’62.  Charleton  Weeks,  ist  N.  Y. ; February  ’63. 


10 


TOWN,  VILLAGE  AND  CITY  HISTORIES. 


THE  TOWN  AND  VILLAGE  OF  FLUSHING. 


HE  first  half  of  the  seventeenth  century  was 
crowded  with  incidents  and  events  of  the 
gravest  importance  to  the  history  of  the 
world  at  large;  and  in  no  quarter  of  the 
globe  was  this  more  noticeably  the  case  than  on 
the  Western  hemisphere.  The  previous  century 
had  given  an  impetus  to  the  spirit  of  adventure, 
and  to  commercial  enterprises,  that  even  the  disasters 
attending  the  Spanish  colonies  or  the  almost  ceaseless 
warfare  in  Europe  had  failed  to  check;  and  there  had 
sprung  up  in  the  hearts  of  thousands,  proscribed  and  ex- 
iled for  their  religious  views,  the  hope  that  on  the  shores 
of  America  was  to  be  found  a haven  of  spiritual  peace 
and  freedom  from  persecution.  That  this  feeling  was 
prudently  fostered  by  one  or  two  of  the  European  powers 
is  well  known  to  the  readers  of  history,  and  in  this  wise 
and  liberal  course  the  States-General  of  Holland  were  so 
far  the  leaders  as  justly  to  entitle  that  country  to  the 
grateful  memories  of  those  who  to-day  enjoy  the  sunlight 
of  free  thought  in  this  land  of  the  free;  and  it  may  be 
well  to  remark  here  that,  although  we  shall  have  occasion 
to  censure  the  arbitrary  acts  of  local  officials,  there  is  no 
evidence  that  such  acts  were  other  than  the  unauthorized 
officiousness  of  a governor,  and  there  is  much  to  prove 
that  his  course  was  not  dictated  by  orders  from  the  home 
government,  but,  rather,  was  severely  censured. 

The  writer  is  inclined  to  differ  from  many  American 
historians  as  to  the  influence  of  certain  events  on  the  na- 
tional character,  and  to  believe  that  to  the  Dutch  settle- 
ments under  the  Prince  of  Orange  is  due  an  equal  if  not 
a greater  effect  on  the  character  of  our  institutions  than 
can  be  traced  to  any  contemporaneous  colony.  Ante- 
dating the  Massachusetts  settlements  nearly  a quarter  of 
a century,  the  Dutch  possessions  had  become  influential 
when  that  of  Plymouth  Rock  was  still  struggling  against 
the  disadvantage  of  a sterile  forest-covered  sod  and 
fighting  hostile  tribes  of  Indians;  and  but  eighteen  years 
elapsed  after  the  landing  of  the  “ Mayflower  ” before  the 
growth  of  New  Amsterdam  had  extended  to  the  locality 


whose  history  this  article  narrates,  and  the  first  settler  of 
Vlissingen  staked  out  a home  at  the  head  of  the  bay- 
That  these  first  settlers  were  Englishmen  does  not  in. 
validate  our  claims  as  regards  the  Dutch,  as  they  were 
English  refugees,  who  came  from  their  temporary  resi- 
dence in  Holland,  to  which  they  had  been  driven  because 
of  their  creed,  belonging  as  they  did  to  the  community 
of  Friends  or  Quakers.  There  is  little  doubt,  however, 
that  the  love  of  their  native  land  proved  too  strong  for 
their  allegiance  to  the  Dutch  government,  and  wras  a 
prominent  factor  in  the  final  transfer  of  Long  Island  to 
the  British;  one  of  the  instances,  not  infrequent,  where 
English  intolerance  and  injustice  became  the  cause  of 
her  profit,  and  one  which  confirms  the  belief  that  the 
author  of  the  famous  adage  “ Honesty  is  the  best  policy  ’» 
was  not  a Briton,  or,  if  he  was,  that  he  did  not  draw  the 
inspiration  for  his  proverb  from  a perusal  of  British  his- 
tory. 

Settlement  and  Acquisition  of  Land. 

The  best  attainable  data  place  the  first  settlement  on 
Flushing  Bay  at  about  1643,  and  in  the  next  seven  years 
the  number  of  settlers  had  increased  by  additions  of 
Friends. from  Holland,  and  several  who  were  accredited 
as  coming  from  the  Massachusetts  colony,  and  who  were 
driven  here  by  the  practical  operation  of  the  strange  in- 
terpretation placed  on  their  boasted  motto  “ Freedom  to 
worship  God,”  by  the  proprietors  of  that  colony. 

The  oldest  official  document  throwing  light  on  the  first 
settlement  of  this  place — Vlissingen,  as  it  was  then  called, 
after  a village  in  Holland  in  which  the  English  refugees 
had  lived,  and  of  which  name  Flushing  is  a corruption — is 
dated  in  1645,  and  is  a charter  for  a town,  granted  by 
Governor  Kieft  and  found  embodied  in  a confirmation 
granted  by  the  State  of  New  York  in  1782.  The  original 
manuscript,  including  a renewal  granted  by  English  au- 
thority in  1685,  was  lost  in  the  destruction  of  the  town’s 
records  by  fire  in  1789;  and  on  the  24th  of  February 
1792  an  exemplification  of  Flushing  patent  was  issued  by 


THE  FLUSHING  CHARTER. 


75 


Attorney-General  James  Graham,  which  is  now  on  file  in 
the  town  hall.  The  English  renewal  of  Governor  Kieft’s 
charter  was  by  Governor  Dongan,  in  the  name  of  James 
II.,  the  reigning  king  of  England.  The  tract  in  question 
was  granted,  according  to  the  governor’s  announcement, 
in  1666  to  John  Lawrence,  alderman  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  Richard  Cornell,  Charles  Bridges,  William  Law- 
rence, Robert  Terry,  William  Noble,  John  Forbush,  Elias 
Doughty,  Robert  Field,  Edward  Farrington,  John  Mars- 
ton,  Anthony  Field,  Philip  Udall,  Thomas  Stiles,  Benja- 
min Field,  William  Pidgeon,  John  Adams,  John  Hinch 
man,  Nicholas  Parcell,  Tobias  Feakes  and  John  Bowne 
as  patentees,  for  and  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  their 
associates,  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Flushing,  their  heirs,  successors  and  inhabitants,  forever, 
and  was  described  as  follows: 

“All  that  Certaine  Town  in  the  North  Riding  of  York- 
shire upon  Long  Island  called  by  the  name  of  Flushing, 
Scituate,  lying  and  being  in  the  north  side  of  said  island; 
which  said  hath  a Certaine  tract  of  land  belonging  there- 
to, and  bounded  westward  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  a 
creeke  upon  the  East  River  known  by  the  name  of  Flush- 
ing Creeke,  and  from  thence  including  a certain  neck  of 
land  called  Tuesneck,  to  run  Eastward  from  the  head  or 
middle  whereof  a Line  is  to  be  run  South  East;  in  length 
about  three  miles  and  about  two  miles  in  breadth  as  the 
Land  hath  been  surveyed  and  laid  out  by  virtue  of  an 
order  made  at  the  General  Meeting  held  at  the  town  of 
Hempstead  in  the  month  of  March  one  thousand  six 
hundred  and  sixty  four;  then  that  there  may  be  the 
same  lattitude  in  Breadth  on  the  South  Side  as  on  the 
North,  to  run  in  two  direct  Lines  Southward  to  the 
middle  of  the  hills,  as  is  directed  by  another  order  made 
of  the  General  Meeting  Aforesaid;  which,  passing  East 
and  West  as  the  two  are  now  marked,  is  the  Bounds  be- 
tween the  said  Towns  of  Flushing  and  Jamaica;  for  the 
greatest  parte  of  which  said  tract  of  Land  and  premissess 
there  was  heretofore  a Pattent  granted  from  the  Dutch 
Governor  William  Kieft,  bearing  date  the  tenth  day  of 
October  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty  five,  Stilo 
Novo , unto  Thomas  Farrington,  John  Lawrence,  John 
Hicks  and  divers  other  Patentees,  their  Successors,  As- 
sociates and  assignes,  for  them  to  improve,  manure,  and 
settle  a competent  number  of  familyes  there  upon.” 

The  document  then  recites  that  on  the  14th  of  April 
1684  Elias  Doughty,  Thomas  Willett,  John  Bowne,  Mat- 
thias Harvey,  Thomas  Hicks,  Richard  Cornell,  John 
Hinchman,  Jonathan  Wright,  and  Samuel  Hoyt,  agents 
of  the  freeholders  of  the  town  of  Flushing,  to  perfect 
their  title,  bought  from  certain  Indians  who  claimed  their 
territory,  “ all  the  lands,  situate,  lying  and  being  on  the 
North  Side  of  Long  Island,  called  and  knowne  by  the 
name  of  Flushing,  within  Queens  County,  the  first 
bounds  whereof  begin  to  the  West  with  Flushing  Creeke, 
to  the  South  by  Jamaica  Line,  to  the  East  by  Hempstead 
Line,  and  to  the  North  with  the  Sound,  for  and  in  con- 
sideration of  a valuable  sume  then  received.” 

It  is  further  stated  that  the  inhabitants  of  Flushing  and 
Jamaica  agreed  upon  their  boundaries  as  follows:  “ That 
from  the  foot  or  bottome  of  the  hills  upon  the  South  side 
the  Town  of  Jamaica  shall  have  Seven  Score  Rodd  upon 
a direct  and  straight  point  unto  the  hills  in  all  places 
from  the  Eastermost  Bounds  of  Jamaica,  being  at  a 


marked  Walnut  tree  upon  Rockie  hill,  standing  upon  the 
West  Side  of  the  Road  between  Flushing  and  Hemp- 
stead, to  the  Westermost  Bounds  of  Jamaica  and  Flush- 
ing in  the  hills;”  also  that  “ by  another  Certaine  Writing 
or  agreement,  dated  the  last  day  of  June  one  thousand 
six  hundred  eighty  four,  made  by  Elias  Doughty,  John 
Seaman,  Thomas  Willett  and  John  Jackson,  the  Bounds 
between  the  towne  of  Flushing  and  Hempstead  are  to 
begin  at  the  middle  of  the  bay,  where  Capt.  Jacques  runn 
the  line,  and  to  hold  the  same  until  it  comes  to  the  land 
Called  by  the  name  of  the  Governor’s  Land,  and  then 
from  the  South  side  of  the  Governor’s  Land  towards  the 
End  of  the  plaine  to  the  former  markt  tree  that  stands  in 
the  Hollow,  and  to  run  from  thence  upon  a direct  line 
unto  the  RockyTiill  Westerly,  where  Carts  usually  goe  to 
Flushing;”  also  that  the  patentees  and  their  associates 
“ have,  according  to  the  Custom  and  Practice  in  this 
Province,  made  several  divisions,  allottments,  distinct 
settlements  and  improvements  of  severall  pieces  and  par- 
cells  of  the  above  recited  tract,”  and  that  application  had 
been  made  to  the  governor  by  Joseph  Smith  and  Jonathan 
Wright  for  a confirmation  of  the  patent.  In  view  of  these 
facts  Governor  Dongan  issued  the  following: 

“ Now,  for  a Confirmation  unto  the  present  Freeholders 
and  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Towne,  their  heirs  and  As- 
signs, in  the  Quiett  and  peaceable  possession  and  enjoy- 
ment ot  the  aforesaid  Tract  of  Land  and  premises, 
KnotvYee  that,  by  virtue  of  the  Commission  and  Author- 
ity, 1 have  ratified,  Confirmed  and  Granted  unto  Thomas 
Willett,  John  Lawrence  Seignor,  Elias  Doughty,  Richard 
Cornell,  Moriss  Smith,  Charles  Morgan,  Mary  Fleake, 
Wouter  Gisbertson,  John  Masten,  John  Cornelis,  John 
Harrison,  Denius  Holdron,  John  Hinchman,  William 
Yeates,  Joseph  Thorne,  John  Lawrence  Junior,  Matthias 
Harveye,  Harmanus  King,  John  Farrington,  Thomas 
Williams,  Elisabeth  Osborn,  Joseph  Havyland,  John 
Washborne,  Aaron  Cornelis,  John  Bowne,  William  Noble, 
Samuel  Hoyt,  Madeline  Frances  Barto,  John  Hoper, 
Thomas  Ford,  John  Jenning,  John  Embree,  Jonathan 
Wright,  Nicholas  Parcell,  William  Lawrence,  Richard 
Townly,  Edward  Griffin  Junior,  John  Lawrence  at  the 
Whitestone,  Henry  Taylor,  Jasper  Smith,  Richard  Wilday, 
Thomas  Townsend,  John  Thorne,  Anthony  Field,  John 
Adams,  Richard  Stockton,  James  Whittaker,  Hugh  Cop- 
perth waite,  Richard  Chew,  James  Clement,  Margaret 
Stiles,  Samuel  Thorne,  Thomas  Hedges,  William  Hav- 
iland,  Thomas  Hicks,  John  Terry,  David  Patrick,  James 
Feake,  Thomas  Kimacry,  Phillip  Udall,  Thomas  Davis, 
Edward  Farrington,  Thomas  Farrington,  Matthew  Far- 
rington, John  Field,  Joseph  Hedger,  John  Talman,  Wil- 
liam Gael,  William  White,  Elisabeth  Smith,  Thomas 
Partridge,  William  Hedger  and  Benjamin  Field,  the  pres- 
ent freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Towne  of 
Flushing,  their  heires  and  Assignes  for  Ever,  all  the 
before  recited  tract  and  parcell  or  neck  of  land  set  forth, 
limited  and  bounded  as  aforesaid  by  the  aforementioned 
patent,  Indian  deed  of  sale,  and  agreements;  together 
with  all  and  singular  the  houses,  Messuages,  Tenements, 
Fencings,  Buildings,  Gardens,  Orchards,  Trees,  Woods, 
Underwoods,  Highways  and  Easements  whatsoever  be- 
longing or  in  any  ways  appertaining  to  any  of  the  afore 
recited  tract,  Parcell  or  neck  of  land,  divisions,  Allott- 
ments and  settlements  made  and  appropriated  before  the 
day  and  date  hereof.  * * * And  as  for  and  concern- 

ing all  and  every  such  parcell  or  parcells,  tract  or  tracts 
of  Land  and  Meadow  Remainder  of  the  Granted  prem- 


?6 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


issess  not  yet  taken  up  or  appropriated  to  any  particular 
person  or  persons  before  the  day  of  the  date  hereof,  to 
the  use  and  behoof  of  the  purchasers  above  recited  and 
to  their  heires  and  assigns  for  Ever,  to  be  Equally  divided 
in  proportion  to  the  above  recited  Inhabitants  and  Free- 
holders aforesaid  and  to  their  respective  heires  and  as- 
signes  for  Ever,  without  any  let,  hindrance  or  molestacion, 
to  be  had  or  reserved  upon  pretence  of  joint  tenancy  or 
survivorship,  or  anything  herein  Contained  to  the  Con- 
trary in  anywise  notwithstanding:  To  be  holden  of  his 
Most  Sacred  Majesty,  his  heires  and  successors,  in  free 
and  Common  Socage,  according  to  the  tenure  of  East 
Greenwich  in  the  Kingdom  of  England,  Yielding  there- 
fore and  paying  Yearely  and  Every  Yeare  an  acknowl- 
edgement or  Quit-rent  to  his  Majesty,  his  heires  and  suc- 
cessors as  aforesaid,  or  to  such  officer  or  officers  as  shall 
by  him  or  them  be  appointed  to  receive  the  same,  at  New 
Yorke,  in  lieu  of  all  services  and  demands  whatsoever,  Six- 
teen bushels  of  good  Marchantable  winter  wheate  on 
Every  five  and  twentieth  day  of  March.” 

Attached  to  this  is  the  official  indorsement  of  George 
Clinton,  governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  bearing  the 
date  of  February  24th  1792  and  the  great  seal  of  the 
State;  well  named,  as  it  is  nearly  half  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness and  three  and  one  half  inches  in  diameter,  made  of 
wax  and  covered  with  paper. 

Subsequent  events  seemed  to  prove  that  the  charter 
granted  by  Governor  Kieft  was  one  which,  while  it  fully 
guaranteed  the  freedom  of  its  recipients  from  any  more 
burdensome  exactions  than  the  patent  confirmed  by  the 
British  governor,  was  a source  of  annoyance  to  Kieft’s 
successor  in  office,  as  the  sturdy  independence  of  the 
patentees  led  them  to  resist  any  encroachments  of  the 
governor  upon  their  vested  rights  and  to  refuse  to  render 
to  the  colony  any  assistance  other  than  that  nominated  in 
the  bond. 

The  Indians  mentioned  in  the  above  instrument  were 
the  chiefs  of  the  Matinecock  tribe,  once  very  numerous 
and  whose  principal  settlements  within  the  town  limits 
were  at  Little  Neck  and  Bayside,  at  which  places  they 
“ dried  ” oysters  and  clams  for  winter  use,  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  wampum  of  a very  superior  quality^ 
which  was  the  circulating  medium  of  the  locality  for 
many  years.  In  fact  the  Matinecocks  operated  the  first 
mint  ever  opened  on  the  island,  and,  though  its  raw  ma- 
terial was  not  intrinsically  valuable,  yet  the  coin,  even 
though  made  of  sea  shells,  was  the  natural  progenitor  of 
the  “ fiat  money  ” idea  that  is  now  attracting  attention 
among  financiers.  So  full  a description  of  this  tribe  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  volume  that  no  more  space  need 
be  devoted  to  the  subject  in  this  article,  further  than  to 
say  that  here  as  elsewhere  the  edict  “ Move  on  ” was 
early  enforced,  and  that  the  annals  of  the  period  of  which 
we  are  now  writing  make  but  slight  allusion  to  them.  It 
is,  however,  a credit  to  the  pioneers  of  Flushing  that  they 
conceded  to  the  poor  red  man  some  title  to  the  soil;  and 
that  though,  as  Mandeville  relates,  the  price  paid  for  the 
fee  simple  was  only  one  axe  or  its  equivalent  for  each  fifty 
acres,  yet  the  present  owners  of  the  soil  can  trace  their 
titles  untainted  by  the  robbery  by  which  so  much  of  the 
landed  wealth  of  America  was  wrested  from  the  aborig- 
ines. The  extensive  vlaies  or  salt  meadows  were  proba- 


bly among  the  inducements  which  led  the  agricultural 
people  by  whom  the  town  was  settled  to  locate  here,  as 
within  four  years  after  the  date  of  the  charter  a writer 
described  the  town  as  a handsome  village,  tolerably 
stocked  with  cattle. 

Civil  Troubles. 

The  earliest  date  of  any  event  of  importance  to  the  new 
town  is  January  17th  1648,  when  John  Townsend,  Ed- 
ward Hart,  Thomas  Styles,  John  Lawrence  and  John 
Hicks  were  summoned  to  appear  before  Governor  Stuy- 
vesant  and  council  on  January  23d  as  “ the  principal  per- 
sons who  resist  the  Dutch  mode  of  choosing  sheriffs,  pre- 
tending it  is  against  the  adopted  course  in  the  fatherland, 
and  who  refuse  to  contribute  their  share  of  the  mainten- 
ance of  the  Christian,  pious  Reformed  minister,  and  if 
they  refuse,  to  be  apprehended  and  prosecuted  by  the  at- 
torney-general. ” This  was  the  first  symptom  of  resist- 
ance to  Stuyvesant’s  bigotry  and  oppression.  Another 
entry  from  the  court  records  is  as  follows: 

“April  8th  1648. — Thomas  Hall,  an  inhabitant  of 
fflishingen,  in  New  Netherland,  being  accused  that  he  pre- 
vented the  Sheriff  of  fflishingen  to  do  his  duty  and  exe- 
cute his  office  in  apprehending  Thomas  Heyes,  which 
Thomas  Hall  confessed  that  he  kept  the  door  shut  so 
that  noe  one  might  assist  the  Sheriff,  demands  mercy  and 
promise  he  will  do  it  never  again  and  regrets  very  much  that 
he  did  so.  The  director  general  and  Council  doing  Jus- 
tice condemn  the  said  Thomas  Hall  in  a fine  of  25 
guilders,  to  be  applied  at  the  discretion  of  the  council.” 

On  the  22nd  of  April  1655  Thomas  Saul,  William 
Lawrence  and  Edward  Farrington  were  appointed  magis- 
trates from  a list  of  persons  nominated  by  the  town;  and 
Tobias  Feake  was  appointed  sheriff. 

The  sentence  of  Henry  Townsend  (who  had  been  a 
highly  respected  resident  of  the  town,  then  living  in  Ja- 
maica, or  Rudsdorp  as  it  was  called  by  the  Dutch)  on  the 
15th  of  September  1647  for  having  called  together  con- 
venticles aroused  the  freedom-loving  people  of  both 
towns  to  unite  in  a remonstrance,  dated  December  27th 
in  the  same  year,  and  resulted  in  the  arrest  of  Sheriff 
Feake,  Magistrate  Farrington  and  Town  Clerk  Edward 
Hart.  Feake  was  degraded  from  office  and  sentenced  to 
banishment,  or  to  pay  a fine  of  two  hundred  guilders. 
Farrington  sued  for  and  obtained  pardon,  and  on  a peti- 
tion from  Hart,  who  showed  that  he  was  only  acting  in 
the  matter  as  a scrivener,  he  was  excused  on  payment  of 
costs.  Town  meetings  were  then  forbidden  “ except  for 
highly  interesting  and  pressing  reasons,”  and  in  an  order 
of  March  26th  1658  Governor  Stuyvesant,  after  bestow- 
ing his  formal  pardon  on  the  town  for  its  “ mutinous 
orders  and  resolutions,”  says:  “ In  future  I shall  appoint 
a sheriff  acquainted  not  only  with  the  English  and  Dutch 
languages,  but  with  Dutch  practical  law;  and  in  future 
there  shall  be  chosen  seven  of  the  most  reasonable  and 
respectable  of  the  inhabitants,  to  be  called  tribunes  and 
townsmen,  whom  the  sheriff  and  magistrates  shall  consult 
in  all  cases;  and  a tax  of  twelve  stiver  sper  morger  is 
laid  on  the  inhabitants  for  the  support  of  an  orthodox 


FLUSHING  AND  THE  GOVERNOR— BUSINESS  BEGINNINGS. 


77 


minister,  and  such  as  do  not  sign  a written  submission 
to  the  same  in  six  weeks  may  dispose  of  their  property 
at  their  pleasure  and  leave  the  soil  of  this  government.” 
This  was  in  direct  violation  of  the  town  charter,  which 
gave  the  people  the  right  of  choosing  their  own  civil 
officers,  and  full  liberty  of  conscience;  yet  so  ob- 
stinate had  the  sturdy  old  Knickerbocker  become,  in  his 
attempt  to  establish  a State  church,  that  he  did  not  allow 
that  trifling  circumstance  to  affect  his  course  in  the  least. 
His  enmity  toward  the  English  settlers,  dating  back  to 
the  protest  of  1653,  in  which  John  Hicks  and  Tobias 
Feake  represented  the  town,  led  to  an  arbitrary  exercise 
of  his  power.  This,  although  unsustained  by  the  home 
government,  destroyed  the  sympathy  for  and  loyalty  to 
the  States-General  on  the  part  of  many  who  were  in- 
clined to  be  grateful  for  past  favors;  and  in  1662  Flush- 
ing became  one  of  the  English  towns  which  in  conven- 
tion at  Hempstead  offered  their  allegiance  to  the  British 
colony  of  Connecticut.  It  was  accepted  by  that  colony, 
and  steps  were  taken  to  protect  the  newly  acquired  ter- 
ritory from  the  claim  of  its  late  masters.  The  new  asso- 
ciation proved,  in  many  respects,  unsatisfactory.  The 
authors  of  the  Blue  Laws  seemed  inclined  to  regard 
their  new  friends  rather  in  the  light  of  vassals  than 
equals;  and  the  enforcement  of  the  Duke  of  York’s  claim 
on  Long  Island,  by  its  capture  by  the  British  in  1664, 
was  welcomed  by  the  English-born  residents,  and  toler- 
ated by  the  Dutch  and  French,  as  an  epoch  that  must 
restore  their  chartered  rights. 

The  tyrannical  theories  that  proved  the  ruin  of  the 
Stuarts  were  then  in  full  force,  and  the  instruments  of 
their  power  in  America  were  chosen  to  carry  them  into 
effect.  The  inhabitants  of  Yorkshire,  as  the  island  was 
then  called,  saw  no  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  on 
a speedy  recognition  of  their  rights,  but  were  soon  in  a 
position  of  passive  hostility  to  the  governor;  in  1666  the 
wealthy  and  scholarly  William  Lawrence  was  arrested 
and  fined  heavily  for  seditious  language,  and  four  years 
later  Governor  Lovelace  ordered  the  protest  of  the  town 
against  the  unauthorized  exactions  of  his  government 
publicly  burned  on  the  court-house  square  at  Jamaica. 

Growth  of  Population  and  Business. 

An  important  event  of  this  period  was  the  settlement 
hereof  a small  number  of  Huguenot  families,  who,  driven 
from  France  by  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes, 
had  found  a temporary  refuge  in  Holland,  and,  at  the 
advice  of  the  authorities  there,  made  part  of  a cargo  of 
emigrants  who  located  in  different  parts  of  the  Dutch 
possessions.  There  are  no  traces  of  their  participation 
in  local  politics,  but  to  this  day  their  old  homes  are 
marked  by  the  bell  pear  and  lady  apple  trees  set  out  by 
them,  and  their  introduction  of  these  and  other  fruits 
from  sunny  France  gave  an  impetus  to  horticulture  that 
has  led  to  results  of  the  greatest  importance.  Love  of 
their  native  land  was  their  peculiar  characteristic;  and 
when,  after  a residence  of  some  twenty  years,  a change 
of  administration  made  their  return  safe,  they,  with  but 
few  exceptions,  took  advantage  of  the  earliest  opportunity 


to  dispose  of  their  estates  here,  and  once  more  turn  their 
faces  toward  their  own  vine-clad  hills.  The  only  names 
of  these  settlers  that  have  come  down  to  us  are  Jean 
Apree,  Jean  Gienon,  Fre  Braton,  De  Wilde,  Esmond  and 
Embre,  the  last  of  whom  was  the  founder  of  the  Ernbre 
families  of  Flushing  and  of  Chester  county,  Pa;  the 
others  not  appearing  in  the  annals  of  this  locality  at  a 
later  date  than  1690. 

In  1672  Flushing,  by  a vote  of  its  town  meeting,  re- 
fused to  assist  in  the  repair  of  the  forts  on  the  coast, 
giving  as  a reason  therefor  that  any  such  concession 
heretofore  made  by  the  people  had  been  claimed  as  a 
right  by  the  governor,  whose  excessive  taxation  and  dis- 
regard of  the  good  of  his  Majesty’s  subjects  had  become 
intolerable. 

The  year  1673  witnessed  the  recapture  of  New  York 
by  the  Dutch,  and  the  acquiescence  of  Flushing  in  its 
results.  Francis  Bloctgoct  was  chosen  magistrate,  and 
in  March  1674  a commission  was  given  by  the  governor- 
general  to  him  as  chief  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Dutch 
nation  residing  in  the  villages  Vlissingen,  Heemstede, 
Rusdorp  and  Middleburgh,  and  the  places  belonging  to 
these  districts;  by  which  he  is  commanded  to  communi- 
cate to  said  inhabitants  that  they  on  the  first  notice  of 
the  enemy’s  arrival,  or  on  the  arrival  of  more  ships  than 
one,  shall  at  once  march  well  armed  toward  the  city. 

The  peace  of  1674  restored  Flushing  to  the  British, 
and  up  to  1680  no  important  political  events  transpired. 
In  that  year  the  town  voted  to  Governor  Dongan  a gift 
of  land  adjoining  a tract  that  had  been  given  to  him  by 
one  of  the  neighboring  towns.  In  1690  occurred  the 
usurpation  of  Leisler,  whom  the  people  of  Flushing  re- 
fused to  recognize,  despite  a display  of  force  made  by 
him  with  a view  of  intimidating  them.  The  closing 
years  of  the  century  were,  except  for  religious  difficul- 
ties, unmarked  by  any  event  of  especial  interest.  Trade 
had  been  opened  with  New  York,  by  means  of  large 
boats,  the  first  of  which  was  owned  by  a man  who 
started  a small  barter  store  at  the  landing.  It  was  a large 
canoe,  purchased  from  the  Indians  at  Bayside,  and  it  is 
said  to  have  been  able  to  carry  a hogshead  of  molasses 
and  eight  or  ten  persons  at  one  time.  The  early  products 
of  the  locality  were  wheat,  tobacco,  Indian  corn,  and 
live  stock;  while  the  oysters  and  clams  that  abounded  in 
the  bays  and  inlets  proved  a godsend  to  a class  too  un- 
settled in  character  to  devote  themselves  to  the  pursuits 
of  agriculture.  Business  alliances  were  being  formed  in 
the  city  that  laid  the  foundation  of  some  of  the  most 
noted  commercial  and  monetary  interests  of  New  York, 
and  the  seventeenth  century  closed  on  a people  alive  to 
their  own  rights,  enterprising  and  sagacious,  and  success- 
ful in  a pecuniary  point  of  view  to  an  extent  rarely  wit- 
nessed in  the  first  half  century  of  a colony’s  existence.  One 
reason  for  this  was  that  the  first  settlers  were  not  poor 
in  the  sense  in  which  the  word  usually  applies  to  immi- 
grants. It  was  not  penury  but  persecution  that  drove 
them  here;  and  the  fact  that  the  Lawrences,  Bownes, 
Hickses  and  others  were  what  in  those  days  were  termed 
wealthy  men  aided  largely  in  building  up  the  young  settle- 


78 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


ment.  Two  of  the  landmarks  of  that  century  remain, 
carefully  guarded  by  the  citizens  of  the  village — one  the 
old  Bowne  house,  a solidly  built  frame  house,  erected  by 
John  Bowne  in  1 66 x , the  other  the  Friends’  meeting- 
house, built  in  1695.  Besides  the  names  of  the  patentees 
Henry  Onderdonk  jr.  furnishes  the  following  list  of 
heads  of  families  in  the  town  at  different  times  from  1645 
to  1698: 

Poulas  Amerman,  Thomas  Applegate,  Derrick,  John 
and  Elbert  Areson,  Anthony  Badgley,  Cornelius  Barne- 
son,  William  Benger,  Rudolf  Blackford,  George  Blee, 
John,  Elizabeth  and  Francis  Bloodgood,  Bernardus 
Bevon,  Dirick  Brewer,  Moses  Brown,  Lyman  Bumptill, 
Francis  Burto,  Widow  Cartright.  William  Chadderton, 
John  Clement,  Rebecca  Clery,  Nathaniel  Coe,  William 
Danford,  Obadiah  Dewitt,  Lawrence  Douse,  Sarah  and 
Francis  Doughty,  Deborah  Ebell,  John  Esmond,  Edward 
Feake,  John  Firman,  William  Fowler  Weaver,  William 
Fowler  Carpenter,  John  Furman,  John  Forbosh,  John 
Genung,  John  Gelloe,  John  Glover,  Lorus  Haff,  Thomas 
Hall,  Garrit  Hansom,  Edward  Hart,  John  Harrington, 
John  Harrison,  Matthias  Haroye,  John  Heeded,  Gerrit 
Hendricks,  Powell  Hoff,  Benjamin  Hubbard,  Nathan 
Jeffs,  Josiah  Jenning,  John  Jores,  George  Langley, 
Madalin  Lodew,  John  Man,  Michael  Millner,  William 
Owen,  Elias  and  Joseph  Palmer,  Mary  Perkins,  Arthur 
Powel,  Edward  Rouse,  Abraham  Rich,  Thomas  Runbey, 
John  Ryder,  Walter  Salter,  Henry  Sawtell,  William  Sils- 
bee,  Nicholas  and  Robert  Snether,  Mary  Southick, 
Thomas  Stevens,  William  C.  Stiger,  Richard  Stocton, 
Samuel  Tatem,  Dr.  Henry  Taylor,  John  and  Robert 
Terry,  Simon  Thewall,  Richard  Tindall,  Edward  Van 
Skyagg,  Ellen  Wall,  William  Warde,  Richard  Weller, 
Richard  Wilday,  Thomas  Willde,  Martin  Wiltse. 

The  population  of  the  town  in  1700  could  not  have 
been  far  from  five  hundred,  including  slaves,  of  which 
there  were  about  forty.  The  settlements  were  Flushing, 
Whitestone,  Lawrence’s  Neck  and  Bay  Side.  A block- 
house had  been  built  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Union 
street  and  Broadway  in  Flushing  village;  it  was  known 
as  the  Guard-house,  and  was  used  as  an  arsenal  and  for 
the  temporary  detention  of  criminals  on  the  way  to  the 
county  jail.  Grist-mills  were  built  on  several  of  the 
streams.  A regular  disciple  of  Esculapius,  Dr.  Henry 
Taylor,  had  settled  here.  A road  to  Brooklyn  by  the 
head  of  the  vlaie  through  Jamaica  was  opened  and  used 
to  some  extent,  but  for  general  purposes  canoes  and 
pirogues  down  the  East  River  were  the  connecting  links 
with  New  York,  and  a taste  for  commercial  ventures  by 
water  was  growing  which  has  since  led  to  important  re- 
sults. During  the  first  half  of  this  century  several  small 
potteries  were  established.  The  Prince  nursery  was 
opened,  and  in  1745  an  Episcopal  church  was  founded, 
which  was  chartered  by  Governor  Golden  as  St.  George’s 
Church  in  1761,  and  a church  edifice  erected  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

Religious  Persecutions  and  Controversies. 

The  pioneers  of  Flushing,  having  felt  the  keen  blasts  of 
proscription  and  outlawry  for  their  religious  views,  sought 
Long  Island  as  a permanent  refuge,  relying  on  the  known 
liberality  of  the  government  of  Holland,  which  had  pur- 
chased for  its  subjects  the  prize  of  religious  liberty  at  a 


terrible  cost  of  blood  and  treasure,  and  was  inclined  to 
accord  the  privileges  it  had  gained  to  the  oppressed  of 
every  nation.  It  was  therefore  with  surprise  and  alarm 
that  the  people  of  Vlissingen  found  that  within  three 
years  after  the  grant  of  their  charter  the  Dutch  governor 
sought  to  enforce  arbitrary  and  uncalled  for  restrictions 
upon  them,  as  well  as  to  force  on  them  the  maintenance 
of  a Reformed  clergy. 

The  governor  having  arranged  for  the  support  of  a 
State  church — that  of  Holland — by  the  taxation  of  the 
people,  the  Quakers  refused  to  submit,  urging  the  plea 
that  the  law  was  one  binding  their  consciences;  and,  see- 
ing in  this  rebellion  against  his  authority,  the  arbitrary 
Dutchman,  despite  the  fact  that  his  country  had  always 
allowed  the  largest  liberty  to  the  consciences  of  its  people, 
commenced  a system  of  proscription  and  persecution. 

The  arrest  of  John  Townsend,  Edward  Hart,  Thomas 
Styles,  John  Lawrence  and  John  Hicks,  in  1648,  was 
followed  by  a series  of  petty  persecutions,  culminating 
September  15th  1657  in  the  arrest  and  punishment  of 
Henry  Townsend,  who  was  condemned  to  pay  a fine  of 
_,A8  Flanders  for  having  called  together  Quaker  meetings. 
This  aroused  the  indignation  of  the  people  of  Jamaica 
and  Flushing,  and  at  a large  assembly  they  adopted  the 
following  spirited  remonstrance  to  Governor  Stuyvesant: 

“ Right  Honorable — You  have  been  pleased  to  send 
up  unto  us  a certain  prohibition  or  Command  that  we 
should  not  retaine  or  entertaine  any  of  those  people 
called  Quakers,  because  they  are  supposed  to  be  by  some 
seducers  of  the  people.  For  our  part  we  cannot  Con- 
demn them  in  this  Case,  neither  can  we  stretch  out  our 
hand  against  them  to  punish,  banish  or  persecute  them; 
for  out  of  Christ  God  is  a Consuming  fire,  and  it  is  a 
fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God. 
Wee  desire  therefore  in  this  Case  not  to  judge,  least  we 
be  judged,  neither  to  Condemn  least  we  be  Condemned; 
but  rather  let  every  man  stand  or  fall  to  his  own  Maister. 
Wee  are  commanded  by  the  Law  to  do  good  unto  all 
men,  Especially  to  those  of  the  household  of  Faith. 
And  though  for  the  present  we  seem  to  be  insensible  of 
the  law  and  the  Lawgiver,  Yet  when  death  and  the  law 
assault  us,  if  wee  have  our  advocate  to  seeke  who  shall 
plead  for  us  in  this  case  of  conscience  betwixt  God  and 
our  own  souls,  the  powers  of  this  world  can  neither  as- 
sest  us  neither  excuse  us;  for  if  God  justifye  who  can 
condemn  ? and  if  God  Condemn  there  is  none  can  justi- 
fye. And  for  those  Jealousies  and  suspicions  Which 
some  have  of  them,  that  they  are  destructive  unto  Magis- 
tracy & Ministerye  [this]  Can  not  bee;  for  the  magistrate 
hath  the  sword  in  his  hand  and  the  minister  hath  the 
sword  in  his  hand — as  witnesse  those  two  Great  Examples 
which  all  magistrates  and  ministers  are  to  follow,  Moses 
and  Christ,  whom  God  raised  up,  maintained 
and  defended  against  all  the  Enemies  both  of 
Flesh  and  Spirit,  and  therefore  that  which  is 
of  God  will  stand  and  that  which  is  of  man 
will  come  to  nothing.  And  as  the  Lorde  hath  taught 
Moses,  or  the  Civil  Powers,  to  give  an  outward  liberty  in 
the  state  by  the  law  written  in  his  hearte  for  the  good  of 
all,  and  can  truly  judge  who  is  good,  who  is  evil,  who  is 
true  and  who  is  false,  and  can  pass  definite  sentence  of 
life  or  death  against  that  man  which  rises  up  against  the 
fundamental  law  of  the  States-General;  Soe  he  hath  made 
his  ministers  a savour  of  life  unto  life  and  a savour  of 
death  unto  death.  The  laws  of  Love,  Peace  and  Liberty 
in  the  State  extending  to  Jews,  Turks  and  Egyptians,  as 


RELIGIOUS  PERSECUTIONS  AND  CONTROVERSIES. 


79 


they  are  considered  the  sonnes  of  Adam,  which  is  the 
glory  of  the  outward  state  of  Holland,  soe  Love,  Peace 
and  Liberty  extending  to  all  in  Christ  Jesus  Condemns 
hatred,  War  and  Bondage;  And  because  our  Saviour 
saith  it  is  impossible  but  that  offences  will  come,  but  woe 
unto  him  by  whom  they  Cometh,  our  desire  is  not  to  of- 
fend any  of  his  little  ones  in  whatsoever  form,  name  or 
title  hee  appears  in,  whether  Presbyterian,  Independent, 
Baptist  or  Quaker,  but  shall  be  glad  to  see  anything  of 
God  in  any  of  them,  desiring  to  doe  to  all  men  as  wee 
desire  that  all  men  should  do  unto  us,  which  is  the  true 
law  both  of  church  and  state,  for  our  Saviour  saith  this  is 
the  law  and  the  prophets.  Therefore  if  any  of  these  said 
persons  come  in  love  unto  us  we  cannot  in  conscience  lay 
violent  hands  upon  them,  but  give  them  free  egresse  and 
regresse  into  our  Town  and  houses  as  God  shall  persuade 
our  consciences.  And  in  this  we  are  true  subjects  both  of 
Church  and  state,  for  we  are  bound  by  the  law  of  Cod 
and  man  to  doe  good  unto  all  men  and  evil  to  noe  man. 
And  this  is  according  to  the  pattent  and  charter  of  our 
Towne,  given  unto  us  in  the  name  of  the  States-Generall, 
which  we  are  not  willing  to  infringe  and  violate,  but 
shall  hold  to  our  pattent  and  shall  remain  your  humble 
subjects  the  inhabitants  of  Vlissingen. — Written  this  27th 
of  December  in  the  year  1657,  by  mee 

Edward  Hart,  Clerk. 
Tobias  Feake,  William  Noble,  Nicholas  Parsed,  William 
Thorne  signior,  Michael  Milner,  William  Thorne  junior, 
Henry  Townsend,  Nicholas  Blackford,  George  Wright, 
Edward  Terk,  John  Foard,  Mirabel  Free,  Henry  Bamtell, 
John  Stoar,  Nathe  Cole,  Benjamin  Hubbard,  Edward 
Hart,  John  Maidon,  John  Townsend,  Edward  Farring- 
ton, Philip  Ed,  William  Pidgion,  George  Blee,  Elias 
Doughtie,  Antonie  Field,  Rich’d  Horton,  Nathaniel  Coe, 
Robert  Field  sen.,  Robert  Field  jr.,  Tobias  Feake,  the 
Sheriff. 

The  governor,  not  disposed  to  listen  to  such  Scriptural 
admonition,  caused,  as  has  been  stated,  the  arrest  of  the 
supposed  leaders  in  the  meeting  and  continued  his  course. 
Henry  Townsend  was  fined  ^jioo  Flanders  for  lodging 
Quakers  again  and  again,  which  he  unconditionally  con. 
fessed;  the  town  government  was  changed  and  for  five 
years  the  arbitrary  course  was  continued,  culminating  in 
the  arrest  of  John  Bowne  for  attending  Quaker  meetings 
He  refused  to  pay  the  fine  of  ^25  Flanders,  was  thrown 
into  prison,  and  after  being  kept  there  for  about  a year 
was  transported  to  Holland  for  the  welfare  of  the  com 
munity  and  “ to  crush  as  far  as  possible  that  abominable 
sect,  who  treat  with  contempt  both  the  political  magis- 
trates and  the  ministers  of  God’s  holy  Word,  and  endeavor 
to  undermine  the  police  and  religion.” 

On  presenting  his  case  to  the  West  India  Company  at 
Amsterdam  they  declined  to  favor  such  arbitrary 
measures,  and  treated  him  in  the  most  conciliatory  man- 
ner; and  in  their  next  dispatch  rebuked  Stuyvesant  as 
follows: 

“Although  it  is  our  desire  that  similar  or  other  sectarians 
may  not  be  found  there,  yet,  as  the  contrary  seems  to  be 
fact,  we  doubt  very  much  whether  rigorous  proceedings 
against  them  ought  not  to  be  discontinued;  unless  indeed 
you  intend  to  check  and  destroy  your  population,  which 
in  the  youth  of  your  existence  ought  rather  to  be  en- 
couraged by  all  possible  means.  Wherefore  it  is  our 
opinion  that  some  connivance  is  useful,  and  that  at  least 
the  consciences  of  men  ought  to  remain  free  and  un- 
shackled. Let  every  one  remain  free  as  long  as  he  is 


modest,  moderate,  his  political  conduct  irreproachable, 
and  as  long  as  he  does  not  offend  others  or  oppose  the 
government.  This  maxim  of  moderation  has  always  been 
the  guide  of  our  magistrates  in  this  city,  and  the  conse- 
quence has  been  that  people  have  flocked  from  every 
land  to  this  asylum.  Tread  thus  in  their  steps  and  we 
doubt  not  you  will  be  blessed.” 

This  message  had  the  effect  of  moderating  the  gover- 
nor’s zeal  and  rendering  inoperative  his  orders  dated  in 
1 66 r , wherein  he  forbade  the  holding  of  any  religious 
services  other  than  those  of  the  Reformed  Church,  on 
penalty  of  a fine  of  fifty  guilders  on  each  person  attend- 
ing— the  fine  to  be  increased  with  each  violation  and  the 
fourth  conviction  to  be  visited  with  exemplary  punish- 
ment. 

The  change  from  Dutch  to  British  rule  in  1664  brought 
no  relief,  and  in  1667  we  find  that  William  Bishop  had 
“spoken  seditious  words  at  a publique  meeting  of  ye 
Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of  Fflushing  on  ye  3d  of  this 
instant  month.”  The  complainant  was  one  Captain 
Richard  Betts,  who  declared  that,  after  the  governor  had 
offered  to  furnish  the  people  with  powder  and  take  fire- 
wood in  exchange  for  it,  he  heard  Bishop  say  that  there 
was  “another  cunning  trick.”  Bishop  confessed  the 
discourtesy,  and  was  sentenced  to  be  made  fast  to  the 
whipping-post,  “ there  to  stand  with  rodds  fastened  to 
his  back  during  the  sitting  of  the  court  of  Mayor  and 
Aldermen,  and  from  thence  to  be  carryed  unto  the  Com- 
monGoole  [jail],  until  further  order.” 

On  the  30th  of  October  1701  Samuel  Haight,  John 
Way  and  Robert  Field  petitioned  in  behalf  of  themselves 
and  other  Quakers  of  Queens  county,  setting  forth  that 
they  were  refused  the  right  to  vote  in  local  affairs  be- 
cause they  would  not  take  the  oath.  It  is  not  known 
what  effect  this  petition  had,  but  it  is  certain  that  the 
Duke  of  York,  in  his  instructions  to  Governor  Dongan, 
gave  most  explicit  instructions  to  molest  no  one  by 
reason  of  differing  opinions  on  matters  of  religion. 

It  was  not  until  a much  later  date  that  this  bigoted 
persecution  ceased;  for  we  find  that  on  the  29th  of 
November  1702,  at  a half-yearly  meeting  of  the  Quakers 
at  Flushing,  the  missionary  preacher,  Samuel  Bownas, 
was  arrested  and  required  to  give  bail  in  the  sum  of  two 
thousand  pounds,  the  court  expressing  its  willingness  to 
accept  his  own  recognizance  for  one-half  the  amount. 
He  refused,  saying,  “ If  as  small  a sum  as  three  half- 
pence would  do,  I should  not  do  it,”  and  was  consequently 
sent  to  jail.  On  the  28th  of  December  the  court  met, 
and  his  case  was  presented  to  the  grand  jury,  who  re- 
turned the  bill  “indorsed,  ‘ Ignoramus’ .”  The  presid- 
ing judge  was  very  angry  and  uttered  severe  threats 
against  the  jury,  when  James  Clement,  of  Flushing, 
promptly  administered  a scathing  rebuke.  They  were 
sent  back  to  reconsider  the  case,  and  again  returned  the 
same  reply.  They  were  then  dismissed  and  the  unfortun- 
ate Quaker  remanded  to  prison.  A Scotch  shoemaker 
living  near  the  jail,  although  a churchman  himself,  sym- 
pathized with  Bownas  and  taught  him  to  make  and  re- 
pair shoes,  and  thus  afforded  him  a means  of  securing 
many  comforts  by  his  own  exertions;  for  he  succeeded, 


8o 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


as  he  relates  in  his  diary,  in  earning  fifteen  shillings  a 
week.  During  his  imprisonment  he  was  visited  by  the 
Indian  king  and  three  of  his  chiefs,  who  were  puzzled  to 
know  why  he  should  be  so  punished  if  he  worshiped  the 
same  Great  Spirit  as  did  the  other  pale-faces,  and  why 
they  should  shut  him  up  and  leave  bad  white  men  at 
large.  In  the  autumn  of  1703  the  court  again  as- 
sembled and  the  case  was  presented  to  another  grand 
jury,  who  returned  the  papers  indorsed,  as  before, 
“ Ignoramus .”  On  the  next  day  he  was  liberated  and 
“ a large  body  of  dear  friends  had  him  with  them  in 
a kind  of  triumph  !”  He  had  spent  eleven  months 
in  jail. 

It  was  not  until  the  stirring  events  of  the  French  wars 
drove  petty  interference  with  the  rights  of  the  people 
out  of  the  minds  of  the  English  governors  that  those  who 
refused  to  favor  the  Episcopal  mode  of  worship  were 
allowed  much  peace.  Fines,  illegal  assessments,  im- 
prisonment and  banishment  were  the  arguments  em- 
ployed, and  finally  a plan  was  adopted  the  cool  malevo- 
lence of  which  was  worthy  of  a Machiavelli.  No  mar- 
riages were  to  be  recognized  save  those  performed  by  the 
Church  of  England,  and  persons  married  by  other  forms 
were  to  be  arrested  for  adultery,  which  was  actually 
done  in  some  cases;  so  that  in  the  court  records  of  those 
days  an  indictment  or  charge  of  adultery  is  more  likely 
to  1 e an  evidence  of  the  accused’s  membership  in  the 
society  of  Friends  than  of  his  moral  obliquity. 

Mandeville,  in  his  “ Flushing,  Past  and  Present,”  has 
a list  of  sums  taken  from  Quakers  December  1st  1756. 
pursuant  to  two  acts  of  the  Assembly  of  the  province  of 
New  York.  It  includes  the  following  names  and 
amounts:  John  Thorn,  £ 2 ; James  Burling,  jQ 2 ; James 
Bowne,  ^2;  Benjamin  Doughty,  £2;  Stephen  Hedger, 
jQ 2 ; Daniel  Bowne,  jQ 2 ; James  Persons,  jQ 2 ; Daniel 
Lathurn,  £ 2 ; Samuel  Thorne,  jQ 2 ; Caleb  Field,  ^2; 
John  Thorne,  jQi. 

The  result  of  the  persecution  was  what  has  been  the 
case  for  all  time;  the  proscribed  sect  grew  and  has  never 
been  without  a place  of  meeting  and  the  means  of  grace, 
while  the  churches  upheld  by  the  sword  of  man  failed  to 
find  a hold  on  the  hearts  of  the  people  until  after  that 
sword  had  been  withdrawn. 

Incidents  of  Trade  and  Agriculture. 

The  old  account  book  of  John  Bowne,  commenced  in 
1656  and  carried  down  by  his  son  Samuel  to  1702,  affords 
an  amusing  and  instructive  view  of  the  primitive  habits 
and  simple  wants  of  the  people  of  their  day,  and  a few 
extracts  from  its  pages  will  at  least  serve  as  a contrast  to 
some  of  the  extensive  monied  operations  with  which  many 
of  the  citizens  of  Flushing  at  the  present  are  familiar. 
Bowne  was  an  enlightened  and  thrifty  farmer,  served  as 
county  treasurer  in  1683,  and  in  1691  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly.  He  is  believed  to  have  acted  as  a sort  of 
agent  for  his  neighbors,  or  as  a merchant  on  a small  scale, 
keeping  up  a correspondence  with  merchants  in  “Man- 
hattans,”  as  New  York  was  then  called;  and  he  made  and 
sold  cider  extensively  for  the  times,  shipping  it  to  his  old 


friend  William  Penn,  the  founder  of  Philadelphia,  -who 
once  paid  him  a visit  here. 

When  this  account  book  was  commenced  paper  money 
was  unknown  and  coin  very  scarce.  Wampum  oj  “ se 
want,”  as  the  Dutch  called  it,  was  the  measure  of  values 
and  payments  were  also  made  in  labor,  beaver  skins,  pro- 
duce (called  “country  pay  ”)  and  the  like.  Tobacco, 
however,  seemed  to  have  a cash  value,  and  was  eventually 
adopted  as  the  medium  of  exchange.  Weights,  measures 
and  values  were  given  in  Dutch.  Henry  Onderdonk  jr. 
has  explained  them  as  follows:  “A  guilder,  marked  g., 
seems  to  be  about  6 pence;  a stiver,  marked  st.,  a farth- 
ing. The  precise  value  is  not  very  clear,  but  20  stivers 
make  a guilder.  The  skepel  was  about  3 pecks;  the 
anker,  4 gallons;  the  much,  about  a gill.  Dutch  and 
English  weights  and  measures  differed  though  sometimes 
called  by  the  same  names.” 

The  most  striking  entries  in  this  old  business  record, 
with  their  dates,  are  as  follows: 


1656. — R.  Stockton  dr.,  Salt  I lent  you,  2 of  our  little 
kettlefuls. 

1658,  May  5. — John  Ford  dr.  for  1 bushels  peas,  3 
days  work  at  harvest,  when  I shall  call  him. 

1 659, — Nich.  Parcells  dr.,  117  good,  substantial  5-hole 
chestnut  posts;  also  the  rending  out  of  200  rails.  1668. 
— Dr.  for  a scythe  I sold  him  for  to  cleave  me  out  400 
good  rails,  I finding  the  timber. 

1660,  Dec.  5. — Due  me  from  father,  £ 2 14s.,  to  be  paid 
in  threshing  of  wheat  at  7d.  a bushel,  and  stubbing  of 
ground  at  i6d.  an  acre,  or  as  I think  it  worth. 

1661,  May  30. — Sarah  Cornwellis  (Cornelius)  hired  with 
me  to  do  one  year’s  service  for  70  guilders  in  wampum 
pay  ($8.40).  Humphrey  Trimble  cr.  one  day’s  work,  30 
stivers;  1 day  at  harvest,  2 guilders,  due  him  in  wampum. 

1663,  June. — Wm.  Orins  has  3 lbs.  sheep’s  wool  for 
shoeing  and  bleeding  of  my  mare  one  whole  year;  one 
pint  of  liquor,  is.  6d. ; about  a lb.  bacon,  6d. ; one  cheese, 
is.  3d.  A quire  of  white  paper  to  John  Houlden, 
schoolmaster,  is.  6d.  Sami.  Mills,  dr.  one  day’s  mowing 
for  2 combs;  2 combs  at  2 pecks  wheat.  A.  Cornelius, 
dr.,  half  b.  wheat  for  2 combs. 

1667.  — I sent  to  Covert  by  Joseph,  the  boatman  (Feb.) 
3 skepels  of  peas  for  brother  Underhill  and  one  for  my- 
self. 

1668.  — I bo’t  at  Govert’s  8 lbs.  of  sugar,  at  a guilder  a 
lb.  In  1667  I owed  Govert  within  a few  stivers  of  100 
guilders. 

1668. — Bought  of  David  the  turner,  one  winch  for  a 
wheel,  2g.;  6 chairs  and  a bottom  for  an  old  chair  at 
5 8g.,  to  be  paid  at  the  crop  in  peas  at  5g.  a skepel,  or 
Indian  corn  at  4g.  a skepel  at  York;  or  in  hogs,  fat  or 
lean,  if  we  can  agree.  Agreed  with  David  for  what 
chairs  I will  at  4g.  apiece  for  the  bigger,  and  5ost.  for 
the  children’s,  to  be  paid  in  lean  hogs  before  winter  (as 
they  are  worth  with  us)  upon  sewant  account.  John 
Sprong  being  to  act  for  them.  If  we  can’t  agree  he  is  to 
choose  one  man  and  I another  to  make  the  price  be- 
tween us. 

1670. — Two  quarts  liquor  at  3 pecks  wheat,  3s.  9d. 
Rum  at  harvest,  3s.  Load  of  thatch  at  half  a day’s 
work.  Henry  Gardner  owes  for  a can  of  vinegar  10s. 
John  Sprong’s  hogshead  of  tobacco  is  paid  for  by  6 
loads  of  hay. 

1672,  Dec — John  Marston,  dr.  Three  loads  hay 
from  the  south;  for  the  hay,  carting  and  stacking,  in  all, 
-£ 4 . July. — Bought  a deerskin  from  the  shoemaker  at 
2 skepels  of  peas;  cotton  wool  at  iod.  a pound;  sugar  at 


JOHN  BOWNE’S  ACCOUNT  BOOK. 


81 


iod.  a pound.  [It  will  be  noticed  that  the  accounts  are 
now  kept  in  English  money.]  Jane  Chatterton  dr.,  9 lbs. 
sugar  at  6d.  a lb.;  wheat,  4s.  a bushel.  John  Feke  dr., 
by  3 days  riding  in  the  woods  to  seek  his  stray  mare,  15s. 
if  ever  she  be  found. 

In  1668  there  is  a memorandum  of  his  account  as  col- 
lector of  taxes.  As  they  were  usually  paid  in  produce 
there  was  either  a town  barn,  or  the  collector  furnished 
storage,  charging  for  it.  In  1684  he  sums  up  an  item  of 
his  business  as  county  treasurer,  as  follows:  “Waste  of 
corn  (by  shrinkage),  7s.  6d. ; Indian  corn  lost  in  measure, 
203.;  carting  corn  in  Flushing,  7s.  6d. ; to  chamber-room 
for  corn,  20s.;  collector’s  salary,  14s.  4d.” 

1674,  March. — Hay-dust  sold  Dr.  Taylor,  12  bush,  at 
is.  a bush.  May. — A fat  cow,  £ 4 3s.  4d.,  to  Mynard, 
the  shoemaker. 

1675,  Oct. — John  Baylie,  8 lbs.  wool  for  so  much  flax, 
Dutch  weight. 

1676,  — N.  Sneden  dr.,  8 good  cider  barrels,  with 
broad  hoops,  for  a cross-cut  saw;  a washing  tub  for 
a file. 

1678. — Abm.  Ogden  cr.,  weaving  31  yards  of  linen,  at 
8d.  a yard;  29  yards  woolen,  at  7d.  a yard;  3 days  reap- 
ing, at  2s.  6d.  a day. 

1680,  Nov.  27. — Dorothy  Bowne  went  to  Mary  Willis’s. 
Her  things  are:  8 handkerchiefs,  3 white  and  one  black 
hood,  8 caps,  3 pair  sleeves,  5 headbands,  4 aprons,  2 
pair  stockings,  2 new  shifts,  4 petticoats,  2 waistcoat^. 

1680.  — Account  of  charges  tor  John  Clay  in  his  sick- 
ness and  at  his  burial;  2 oz.  cloves  and  mace,  4s.;  ij^  oz. 
nutmegs,  2s.  2d.;  6 lbs.  currants,  4s.  6d. ; 25  lbs.  sugar, 
9s.  4/4d.;  2 galls,  rum,  6s.;  6 lbs.  butter,  3s.;  coffin,  6s. 

1681.  — Due  Edw.  Burling,  6 bush.  Indian  corn  or  one 
barrel  cider,  which  he  pleaseth.  Due  John  and  Elias 
Burling,  cr.  by  ringing  pair  of  wheels,  15s.  August. — I 
sold  Geo.  Lambert  a mare  for  ^5  in  money  and  a mus- 
tard bowl;  and  a grey  mare  to  John  Newbold  for  ^3  5s. 
Old  England  money. 

1683. — Wm.  Penn  dr.,  4 barrels  boiled  cider,  at  30s. 
each;  3 barrels  raw  cider,  at  15s.  each;  36  bush,  hay- 
dust,  at  2S.  a bush. 

1683. — Martha  Joanna’s  30  weeks’  schooling  and  what 
else  is  paid  for  by  a red  petticoat  to  E.  C.  (Elisabeth 
Cowperthwaite  ?) 

1685. — John  Adams  cr.  by  making  28  rods  of  stone 
wall  at  is.  6d.  a rod;  4 days  cutting  thatch,  10s;  2^2 
days  walling,  6s.;  dressing  2 cows,  4s.;  for  30  shingles,  9d. 

1687. — Maria  Feake,  dr.,  canoeing  and  carting  home  3 
loads  hay,  16s.;  cr.,  making  10  shifts,  15s.;  3 petticoats, 
ios.;  2 weeks  spinning,  10s.;  making  5 shirts  and  knit- 
ting 2 pair  stockings.  [This  woman  was  the  deserted 
wife  of  Tobias  Feake,  the  ex-sheriff,  who  ran  away  to 
Holland  with  another  woman,  to  the  great  scandal  of  the 
community.  She  kept  a farm,  tried  to  pay  his  debts, 
and  raised  a family  of  his  children,  retaining  the  respect 
of  all  her  neighbors.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  prices  paid 
for  her  work  were  large,  compared  to  the  prevailing  rates 
of  men’s  wages.  It  was  probably  the  good  old  Quaker’s 
way  to  cover  up  a charitable  act  and  relieve  her  from  the 
humiliation  attending  a direct  gift.]  April  20 — Jona. 
Wright,  for  cart  hire,  1 day  reaping  or  mowing.  For  6 
pecks  oats,  in  reaping  to  satisfy  me  in  reason;  3 days 
mowing  for  one  pair  worsted  hose.  Chas.  Mordan,  dr., 
for  hay  and  fodder,  one  good  day’s  mowing  or  reaping. 
A doz.  almanacs,  4s.;  neck  of  veal,  6d. 

1687. — Dr.  Simon  Cooper,  cr.,  for  letting  Daniel’s 
blood,  is.;  wormseed,  is.;  two  journeys  from  Oyster 
Bay  to  Flushing,  24s.;  5 plasters,  5s.;  7 doz.  pills,  14s.  ; 
2 bottles  cordials,  ios.;  salve  and  cere-cloth,  3s.;  a purge, 
2S.  6d.;  drawing  a tooth,  is.  Paid  Dr.  Taylor  for  com- 
ing to  let  James’s  blood,  3s.  6d. 


1690.  — Declined  Ri.  Stockton’s  proposal  for  all  his 

housing  lands  and  conveniences  thereto  belonging  [at 
Bay  Side],  70  acres  or  more  at  home  and  2 ten-acre  lots 
and  2 twenty-acre  lots  at  a mile  or  two  distance,  with  so 
much  meadow  as  may  yield  20  or  25  loads  of  hay  a year, 
price  £t,°o.  16  half-ankers  of  boiled  cider  for  half  of  2 

oxen.  I bought  of  Wm.  Dearing  a negro  girl  Betty  for 
^23  in  silver,  j£  12  in  hand  and  ^11  next  month. 

1691.  — Account  of  linen  in  John  Bowne’s  house:  New 
diaper,  4 tablecloths,  one  doz.  napkins,  one  doz.  towels, 
fine  sheets  6,  and  2 cotton  sheets,  4 coarse  linen,  2 fine 
tow,  2 bolster  cases,  9 fine  pillow-biers,  4 coarse  ones; 
small  linen:  4 cravats,  5 handkerchiefs,  5 neck  cloths,  8 
caps,  7 bands;  woolen,  bedding,  &c.:  8 coverlets,  12 
blankets,  3 feather  beds,  5 bolsters,  4 large  do.,  4 pillows, 
other  pillows,  9 in  all;  six  good  chaff  beds,  2 sets  of 
curtains;  pewter:  9 platters,  4 new  basons,  8 plates,  5 
porringers,  4 salts,  one  flagon,  2 tankards,  one  pot,  2 
chamber-pots,  2 doz.  spoons,  2 saucers;  3 brass  candle- 
sticks, 2 pair  scales. 

1693.  — Dinner  and  wine  for  7 men  (in  N.  Y.),  ios.  6d.; 
one  best  pair  yarn  hose,  4s.;  pair  mittens,  is.  3d. 

1694.  — The  cooper  is  to  make  me  60  good  barrels  for 
cider,  tight  and  sizeable,  at  2od.  each,  the  timber  already 
got,  he  providing  what  is  yet  wanting,  to  be  paid  J/i  in 
cash  and  2/i  in  cider  at  12s.  6d.  a barrel  now,  and  ios.  a 
barrel  from  the  press,  he  finding  casks. 

In  1695  a school  bill  is  stated  as  follows:  Wm.  and 
Thos.  Richardson,  dr.  to  John  Urquhart  for  4 weeks 
diet,  £1  17s.  6d.,  and  for  writing  and  cyphering,  8 weeks 
at  is.  3d.  a week  for  both;  teaching  John  to  read,  10 
weeks  at  6d.  at  week;  leather  for  his  breeches,  9s.  cd.  ; 
Yt.  yard  osenbrigs,  iod.;  one  ounce  silk,  4s.  6d. 

So  large  a number  of  entries  have  been  reproduced  that 
the  reader  can  gain  a general  idea  of  the  prices  of  nearly 
all  classes  of  mechanical,  agricultural  and  professional 
labor  that  found  a market  in  those  primitive  times. 

The  French  and  Revolutionary  Wars. 

The  hostilities  between  the  French  and  English  at- 
tracted much  attention,  and  Queens  county  was  called  on 
to  furnish  a regiment  of  militia,  to  which,  of  course, 
Flushing  contributed  her  quota.  During  the  administra- 
tion of  Governor  George  Clinton  this  place  was  his  res- 
idence, and  that  fact  brought  the  most  prominent  of  its 
citizens  into  a more  close  relationship  with  the  surround- 
ings and  associates  of  a high  official  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment than  they  would  otherwise  have  been,  and  may 
have  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  their  policy  at  a later 
date.  The  transfer  of  the  scene  of  conflict  to  the  Cana- 
dian frontier  and  the  successful  termination  of  the  French 
war  brought  relief  and  joy  to  the  people  of  this  vicinity, 
whose  location  made  them  particularly  exposed  to  danger 
had  a French  fleet  entered  the  sound.  A newspaper 
clipping  reads  as  follows:  “November  17th  1759. — A 
great  celebration  was  held  at  Flushing  over  the  reduction 
of  Quebec,  that  long-dreaded  sink  of  French  perfidy  and 
cruelty.  An  elegant  and  sumptuous  entertainment  was 
served,  at  which  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  town 
were  present.  Toasts  celebrating  the  paternal  tenderness 
of  our  most  gracious  sovereign,  the  patriotism  and  integ- 
rity of  Mr.  Pitt,  the  fortitude  and  activity  of  the  generals, 
&c.,  were  drunk  with  all  the  honors.  Every  toast  was 
accompanied  by  a discharge  of  cannon,  which  amounted 


11 


82 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


to  over  ioo.  In  the  evening  a bonfire  and  splendid  il- 
luminations.” 

Lieutenant  Governor  Cadwallader  Colden  owned  and 
occupied  the  place  now  known  as  the  Brower  property, 
called  by  him  Spring  Hill.  He  retired  to  it  on  the  ap- 
pointment of  Andros,  and  died  there,  September  20th 
1776.  His  son  David  figures  somewhat  in  the  events  of 
the  Revolution,  as  a strong  and  active  loyalist. 

The  people  of  Flushing  united  with  their  fellow  col- 
onists in  resenting  and  protesting  against  the  aggressions 
of  the  mother  country,  but  when  rebellion  was  decided 
upon  by  the  colonies  many  felt  that  nothing  could  be 
gained  and  much  lost  by  precipitate  action.  The  open- 
ing act  of  the  Revolutionary  drama  was  the  pursuit  of 
one  Zacharias  Hood,  a stamp  officer,  to  the  residence  of 
Lieutenant  Governor  Colden , where  he  had  taken  refuge, 
by  a party  of  Liberty  Boys  from  New  York,  accompanied 
by  their  sympathizers  in  this  vicinity.  The  badly  fright- 
ened revenue  officer  was  ordered  out,  placed  in  a car- 
riage, escorted  to  Jamaica,  and  made  to  take  an  oath  of 
loyalty  to  the  colonies,  and  then  with  three  cheers  the 
party  disbanded.  This  was  on  December  5th  1765.  The 
events  of  1776  and  1777  were  peculiarly  trying  to  the  in- 
habitants. Families  were  divided,  some  of  the  younger 
members  joining  Woodhull’s  Continentals,  while  the 
older  members  clung  to  the  cause  of  King  George. 
Marriages  with  families  in  England,  the  large  property 
interests  involved,  the  long  stretch  of  unprotected  sea- 
coast,  and  the  non-combative  principles  of  the  Quaker 
population,  are  all  to  be  considered  in  judging,  at  this 
day  of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  toryism  of  a great  por- 
tion of  the  people  of  Queens  county,  and  should  have 
their  weight  with  the  unprejudiced  reader. 

The  abortive  campaign  of  1776,  resulting  in  the  defeat 
of  the  colonial  forces  at  Brooklyn,  led  to  the  occupancy 
of  this  portion  of  the  territory  by  a part  of  General 
Howe’s  army,  DeLancy’s  brigade  being  quartered  in  a 
district  extending  through  Jamaica  and  Flushing,  and  so 
placed  as  to  guard  the  roads  and  protect  the  island  from 
invasion  from  Connecticut.  A large  body  of  Hessians 
was  quartered  in  this  town,  many  of  them  being  billeted 
at  the  houses  of  the  citizens,  who  were  not  entirely 
unacquainted  with  foreign  soldiers,  as  some  of  them  had 
boarded  French  prisoners  of  war  in  1656-58.  The  head- 
quarters of  the  quartermaster  were  at  the  Aspinwall 
homestead;  other  officers  were  quartered  at  the  old 
Bowne  house,  a stone  house  south  of  the  cemetery,  and 
the  Bowron  place  on  Whitestone  avenue.  The  old 
Quaker  meeting-house  was  used  at  various  times  for  a 
hospital,  for  a guard  house,  and  for  storing  hay.  Troops 
were  encamped  at  Fresh  Meadows,  near  the  Duryea 
place,  on  the  Bowne  property  near  the  Manhasset  road, 
and  in  a barn  on  the  Hoagland  farm.  Loyalists  from 
the  mainland  flocked  here  in  considerable  numbers  as 
refugees,  and,  in  turn,  any  one  suspected  of  strong  sym- 
pathy with  the  cause  of  the  colonists  soon  found  it 
advisable  to  leave.  * 

During  the  early  years  of  the  war  but  little  loss  was 
sustained  by  the  well-known  predatory  proclivities  of  the 


Hessians,  and  the  inhabitants  soon  learned  to  make  good 
such  losses  by  reports  to  the  proper  quarters.  The 
influence,  however,  of  the  forced  association  with  the 
degraded  mercenaries  was  deeply  felt,  and  did  much  to 
weaken  the  sympathy  with  the  royal  cause;  and  there  is 
but  little  doubt  that  the  people  of  Flushing  were  heartily 
glad  to  speed  the  parting  guest  when  the  evacuation  of 
New  York  withdrew  the  British  army  from  their  soil. 

In  a pecuniary  sense  the  British  invasion  was  proba- 
bly a profitable  one,  as  the  officers  paid  promptly  and 
liberally  in  gold  for  their  requisitions,  and  the  increased 
demand  for  farm  products  for  the  army  here  and  at  New 
York  was  a source  of  considerable  revenue.  There  were, 
however,  m;.ny  individual  instances  of  rapine;  not  all, 
however,  chargeable  to  the  enemy,  as  the  Connecticut 
whaleboats  made  frequent  incursions  by  night  and, 
under  the  protection  of  letters  of  marque  from  the  federal 
authorities,  degenerated  at  last  to  mere  pirates,  robbing 
friend  and  foe  alike. 

A few  of  the  more  interesting  incidents  of  the  five 
years’  experience  of  Flushing  with  a foreign  army  have 
been  gleaned  from  the  records  of  those  days,  published 
works  and  the  recollections  of  old  settlers. 

On  the  4th  of  April  1775  an  annual  town  meeting 
elected  John  Talman  a deputy  to  the  convention  which 
was  to  form  a Provincial  Congress.  He  was  present  at 
the  convention  and  acquiesced  in  its  action.  On  May 
22nd  of  the  same  year  a county  meeting  at  Jamaica 
elected  Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  Neck,  and  Nathaniel 
Tom,  a captain  of  militia,  deputies  to  another  colonial 
convention.  Hicks,  who  was  chosen  to  represent  Hemp- 
stead, declined  to  serve,  as  he  was  “ informed  that  the 
people  wished  to  remain  in  peace  and  quiet.”  Captain 
Tom  afterward  joined  the  continentals.  The  county 
committee  appointed  as  a sub-committee  for  Flushing 
John  Talman,  John  Engles,  Thomas  Rodman,  Thomas 
Thorne,  Edmund  Pinfold  and  Joseph  Bowne.  In  No- 
vember 1775  a county  election  was  held  to  decide  the 
question  of  sending  deputies  to  Congress,  and  Flushing 
decided  against  the  measure,  as  did  the  county  at  large. 
Next  followed  the  raid  of  Colonel  Heard  in  January  1776, 
for  the  purpose  of  disarming  loyalists  and  seizing  the 
ringleaders.  He  visited  this  town  and  seized  some  arms. 

The  Flushing  committee  were,  although  in  the  minor- 
ity, not  entirely  idle;  for  when  Rev.  C.  Inglis,  rector 
of  Trinity  Church  in  New  York,  found  it  necessary  to 
retire  to  this  place  after  Washington’s  entry,  a meeting 
of  the  committee  discussed  the  propriety  of  seizing  him; 
and  so  alarmed  his  friends  that  they  removed  him  to  some 
more  retired  quarters,  and  kept  him  secluded  for  some 
time. 

Capt.  Archibald  Hamilton  was  summoned  by  Congress 
to  show  cause  why  he  should  be  considered  a friend  of 
the  American  cause;  he  expressed  his  love  of  country, 
but  said  he  could  not  unsheath  his  sword  against  his 
king,  or  against  his  brother  and  other  near  relations  in 
the  British  armies.  He  was  paroled,  and,  violating  his 
parole,  became  an  active  tory  officer. 

June  24th  1776  Cornelius  Van  Wyck  of  this  town  was 


FLUSHING  OCCUPIED  BY  THE  BRITISH. 


83 


elected  one  of  the  representatives  in  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, and  Congress  granted  ^200  to  Flushing  for  the 
care  of  Whig  refugees  who  had  been  driven  from  New 
York  and  had  become  objects  of  the  town  charity. 

The  first  entry  of  British  troops  was  about  2 o’clock 
on  a fine  day  in  the  last  of  August  1776,  when  a body  of 
light  horse  galloped  into  the  village  and  inquired  at 
Widow  Bloodgood’s  for  her  sons.  On  being  told  they 
had  already  fled  one  of  the  troop  seized  a firebrand  and 
threatened  to  burn  the  house,  but  was  prevailed  on  to 
desist.  Thomas  Thorne,  James  Burling  and  one  Van- 
derbilt were  arrested  and  carried  off  to  the  prison  ship, 
the  first  named  dying  there.  Congressman  Van  Wyck 
was  also  seized  and  sent  to  the  new  jail.  Most  of  the 
leading  Whigs  had  already  fled  on  hearing  of  the  battle 
of  Brooklyn.  Many  of  them  afterward  returned  and  ac- 
cepted the  protection  of  the  British.  Capt.  Nathaniel  Tom 
accepted  the  captaincy  of  a company  of  continentals 
raised  at  Kingston,  and  fought  through  the  war,  after- 
ward dying  at  Kingston  at  the  age  of  73  years.  The  71st 
Highlanders  were  the  first  troops  quartered  at  or  near 
the  village.  Before  the  battle  of  White  Plains  one  wing 
of  the  army  passed  through  Flushing  to  Whitestone,  and 
on  the  12th  of  Octobercrossed  over  to  the  mainland.  It  is 
said  to  have  occupied  half  a day  in  passing  a given  point. 
The  road  from  Hempstead  and  Jamaica  was  constantly 
traversed  by  bodies  of  troops  carrying  supplies  from  the 
landing  at  Whitestone,  and  it  was  in  opening  a lane  to 
shorten  the  distance  that  the  name  Black  Stump  was 
given  to  the  locality,  the  intersection  of  this  improvised 
route  with  the  highway  being  marked  by  the  charred  and 
blackened  stump  of  a tree.  The  farmers  were  impressed 
as  cartmen,  but  usually  fairly  paid  for  their  services. 
After  the  occupancy  of  the  town  a system  of  signals  was 
established  by  which  alarms  were  transmitted  from  Nor- 
wich Hill  to  Beacon  Hill,  thence  to  Whitestone  and  so 
on  to  New  York.  An  alarm  pole  was  set  up  where  the 
old  Methodist  church  stood.  It  was  wound  with  straw 
and  terminated  in  a tar  barrel. 

Some  idea  of  the  profitable  market  for  farm  produce 
can  be  gained  from  a general  order  of  Howe,  which  fixed 
the  price  of  fuel  and  food  to  prevent  extortion,  and  also 
made  offers  for  forage.  Walnut  wood  was  made  ^5  per 
cord;  all  other  wood  £ 4 . The  wood  of  proprietors  re- 
fusing. to  sell  to  boatmen  at  moderate  prices  was  to  be 
seized  and  confiscated.  The  price  of  wheat  was  fixed  at 
12  shillings  per  bushel  of  58  lbs.;  wheat  flour,  35  shillings 
per  cwt.;  rye,  20s.;  corn,  17s.  Farmers  were  ordered  to 
make  a return  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  quantity 
they  had  and  how  much  they  required  for  their  own  use. 
In  a requisition  for  forage  September  10th  1778,  the 
prices,  delivered  at  Flushing  or  Brooklyn,  were  stated  as 
follows:  Upland  hay  8s.,  salt  hay  4s.,  straw  3s.  per  cwt.; 
corn  1 os.,  oats  7s.  per  bushel;  carting  or  boating  2s.  6d. 
per  ton.  Forage  of  delinquents  to  be  taken  without  pay. 

In  the  last  month  of  1778  Archibald  Hamilton  was  ap- 
pointed commandant  of  the  militia  of  Queens  county, 
and  aide-de-camp  to  Governor  Tryon,  despite  his  parole 
of  two  years  previous.  It  was  to  this  perjured  official 


that  many  of  the  indignities  suffered  by  the  people  were 
due.  The  officers  of  the  regular  army  had  been  careful 
to  avoid  offense,  and  had  punished  depredations  severely. 
Under  Hamilton  there  were  a body  of  Maryland  loyal- 
ists and  what  was  known  as  the  Royal  American  regi- 
ment quartered  in  this  vicinity,  and  their  depredations 
were  in  many  instances  unnoticed  if  not  even  sanctioned 
by  him.  He  was  a passionate,  ill-bred  tyrant,  and  within 
a short  time  after  his  appointment  a number  of  respecta- 
ble citizens  entered  complaints  to  Governor  Tryon  against 
him.  Among  the  complainants  were  the  following: 
Thomas  Kelley,  who  alleged  that  Hamilton  entered  a 
house  where  he  was,  and,  because  he  did  not  remove  his 
hat,  beat  him  over  the  head  and  repeated  the  offense 
soon  after;  John  Willet,  who  remonstrated  with  him  for 
sending  a negro  to  steal  his  fence  rails,  and  was  chased 
into  his  yard  by  the  gallant  officer,  who  endeavored  to 
run  him  through  with  his  sword,  and  called  God  to  wit- 
ness that  he  would  cut  in  pieces  any  one  who  opposed 
him;  James  Morrel,  who  was  wounded  by  him;  Walter 
Dalton,  who,  having  been  arrested  for  no  offense,  was 
knocked  down  twice  with  a heavy  club,  and  after  being 
put  under  guard  was  followed  to  the  road  by  the  colonel 
and  struck  “ with  about  thirty  blows,  which  disabled  him 
from  labor  for  some  weeks  ”;  and  eight  others  who  made 
affidavits  to  similar  outrages.  The  governor  ordered 
David  Colden  to  investigate  the  matter,  but  no  punish- 
ment was  inflicted,  and  Hamilton  had  the  impudence,  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  to  petition  for  the  privilege  of  citizen- 
ship. It  was  refused,  however,  and  he  set  sail  for  England 
in  1783. 

Benedict  Arnold’s  legion  lay  for  a time  near  Black 
Stump.  The  Hessians  were  from  the  Jager  corps — a 
higher  order — and  were  quartered  on  the  north  side  for 
three  winters.  Sir  Robert  Pigot’s  38th  regiment  was 
quartered  at  Fresh  Meadows. 

Mandeville  relates  that  civilians  when  passing  the  offi- 
cers’ quarters  were  required  to  dismount  and  proceed  on 
foot  until  a certain  distance  had  been  passed. 

Samuel  Skidmore,  near  Black  Stump,  was  shot  through 
a window.  No  traces  of  the  perpetrator  were  found. 
Some  of  Fanning’s  tories  entered  the  house  of  Willet 
Bowne  at  night,  and,  tying  him  to  his  bed-post,  tortured 
him  by  holding  a candle  to  the  tips  of  his  fingers,  to  in- 
duce him  to  disclose  where  his  money  was  hidden.  He 
however,  remained  firm,  and,  fearful  of  discovery,  they 
were  compelled  to  leave  without  having  attained  their 
object.  The  old  Quaker  recognized  his  assailants,  but 
out  of  mercy  for  them  never  revealed  their  names.  James 
Bowne  was  awakened  one  night  by  a disturbance  at  his 
barnyard,  and  on  raising  his  window  received  a musket 
ball  in  his  arm. 

Recruits  to  a tory  regiment,  " the  Prince  of  Wales’s, 
Loyal  American  Volunteers,  quartered  at  the  famous  and 
beautiful  town  of  Flushing,”  were  given  ^5  bounty  and 
promised  100  acres  of  land  on  the  Mississippi,  and  were 
thus  drawn  in  squads  of  twenty  or  more  from  the  New 
England  colonies — many  of  them  jailbirds  and  des- 
perate characters. 


84 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


In  1780  Yankee  whaleboats  from  New  Rochelle 
visited  Bay  Side,  and  plundered  several  houses,  among 
the  rest  that  of  John  Thurman,  a New  York  merchant. 
In  1781  Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  Neck,  was  robbed  of 
his  law  books  and  a large  amount  of  personal  property  ; 
and  later  in  the  summer  eight  of  these  boats  made  a land- 
ing at  Bay  Side,  but,  finding  the  tory  militia  on  the  look- 
out, the  crews  re-embarked  without  a contest. 

On  the  20th  of  April  1782  a party  of  soldiers  with 
their  faces  blackened  attacked  James  Hedger,  shot  him 
dead  in  his  bedroom,  and  robbed  him  of  ,£200  in  coin 
and  a large  amount  of  clothing  and  silver  plate.  Col. 
Hamilton  offered  ,£150  reward  for  the  detection  of  the 
criminals,  and  £100  and  free  pardon  to  any  accomplice 
who  would  give  the  necessary  evidence.  It  was  this 
offer  probably  that  induced  a soldier  named  Perrot  to 
confess  that  the  crime  was  committed  by  himself  and 
five  other  members  of  the  38th  and  54th  regiments.  The 
other  guilty  men,  suspecting  Perrot,  attempted  to  escape, 
but  three  of  them  were  arrested  at  Lloyd’s  Neck  and 
brought  back  to  Flushing  village,  where  their  regiments 
had  been  stationed.  They  were  then  taken  to  Bedford — 
the  quarters  of  their  regiments  at  that  time — tried,  and 
two  of  them  hanged  on  a chestnut  tree  in  the  presence 
of  the  entire  brigade,  the  notorious  Cunningham  and  his 
mulatto  acting  as  executioners.  Hedger  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  grist-mill  located  on  the  J.  P.  Carll  prop- 
erty, about  four  miles  east  of  Flushing  village,  and 
lived  with  his  sister,  a Mrs.  Palman,  in  a house  near  the 
mill.  He  had  once  before  been  awakened  by  a noise, 
and  found  two  men  choking  his  sister.  In  a hard  fight 
he  beat  them  off,  killing  one  and  marking  the  other  in 
the  face  with  shot.  The  wounded  man  was  arrested  at 
Southold,  found  to  be  a British  soldier,  and  punished  by 
the  infliction  of  999  lashes;  and  the  body  of  his  com- 
panion was  hanged  in  a iron  frame  on  a gibbet  on  the 
Hempstead  Plains. 

The  people  of  the  town,  despite  the  murder  of  Hed- 
ger, seem  to  have  been  pleased  with  the  conduct  of  the 
regiments  named  above,  as  on  their  departure  an  address 
was  presented  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  Bruce,  of  the 
54th  regiment,  who  was  in  command,  thanking  him  for 
his  vigilant  attention,  the  honor  and  politeness  of  his 
officers,  and  the  orderly  behavior  of  the  men.  This 
paper  was  signed  by  forty-seven  of  the  prominent  citizens. 

The  house  of  Benjamin  Areson,  at  Fresh  Meadows,  was 
robbed  by  some  of  Simcoe’s  tories,  who  beat  Areson 
severely  and  kept  Benjamin  Nostrand  and  his  father 
under  guard  until  the  house  was  rifled.  Three  of  them 
were  afterward  identified,  but  Simcoe  declined  to  punish 
them.  Mr.  Areson  had  a new  house  unfinished  when 
the  Jagers  encamped  at  Frame’s  farm.  They  tore  it 
down  to  use  in  building  their  barracks.  Fences  were 
destroyed  without  mercy,  and  when  the  army  left  there 
were  but  few  fence  rails  to  be  found  for  miles  around 
their  encampments,  and  the  loss  inflicted  by  the  reckless 
waste  in  felling  tracts  of  timber  was  a serious  one;  as, 
although  some  compensation  was  received,  it  was  by  no 
means  adequate. 


The  7th  of  August  1782  witnessed  the  only  visit  ever 
made  to  Flushing  by  a royal  personage.  On  that  day 
Prince  William  Henry,  afterward  King  William  IV.,  in 
company  with  Admiral  Uigby,  presented  a stand  of  colors 
to  the  king’s  American  dragoons,  under  Colonel  Thomp- 
son, at  their  camp  on  the  James  Lawrence  place,  not  far 
from  Bay  Side.  The  young  prince  was  at  that  time  a vol- 
unteer on  board  the  Admiral’s  flagship  “Prince  George.” 

The  old  guard-house  at  Flushing  was  torn  down  by  the 
soldiers  and  burned  for  fuel.  Perhaps  the  most  satis- 
factory fire  that  occured  was  the  burning  of  Colonel 
Hamilton’s  residence,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  the 
Mitchells  on  Whitestone  avenue,  on  Christmas  eve,  1780. 
Everything  it  contained  was  destroyed — “ elegant  furni- 
ture, stock  of  provisions,  various  sorts  of  wine,  spirits  in- 
tended for  the  regalement  of  his  numerous  friends,  the 
military,  and  other  gentlemen  of  the  neighborhood,  at 
this  convivial  season”.  It  might  have  been  saved  had 
not  his  folly  in  storing  a cask  of  cartridges  and  a lot  of 
loose  gunpowder  in  the  garret  been  known,  and  prevent- 
ed any  exertions  to  save  it.  It  is  believed  that  some  one 
who  had  been  wronged  by  his  brutality  took  this  method 
of  avenging  himself.  If  so  it  was  quite  effectual,  as 
Hamilton  suffered  severely  by  the  loss,  and  when  he  was 
compelled  to  emigrate  his  farm  was  found  to  be  heavily 
mortgaged. 

In  1780  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Napier,  wife  of  Captain  Napier, 
who  was  absent  with  the  fleet  on  the  Charleston  expe- 
dition, died  at  the  residence  of  Jeremiah  Vanderbilt, 
aged  only  twenty-three  years,  leaving  two  infant  daugh- 
ters. Her  remains  were  deposited  in  a vault’  on  Gover- 
nor Colden’s  place,  attended  by  the  officers  of  three  reg- 
iments. She  was  said  to  have  been  an  estimable  lady, 
and  loved  by  all  who  knew  her.  This  is  the  only  record 
attainable  of  any  of  the  families  of  British  officers  at  this 
place,  although  it  is  understood  that  many  of  the  officers 
were  accompanied  by  their  wives  and  children;  while  a 
certain  number  of  the  privates  and  non-commissioned 
officers  were  allowed  to  be  accompanied  by  their  wives, 
who  acted  as  laundresses  and  in  other  capacities  about 
the  officers’  quarters. 

The  fort  at  Whitestone  was  an  important  strategic 
point.  It  was  located  east  of  the  creek,  on  a bank  at 
Bogart’s  Point,  and  the  redoubt,  which  Mandeville 
attributes  to  Washington’s  troops,  was  probably  a part 
of  the  defenses.  There  is  no  evidence  that  any  fortifica- 
tion of  this  locality  was  attempted  by  the  American 
commander. 

The  exit  of  the  troops  was  as  sudden  as  their  entrance. 
A writer  says:  “ In  the  morning  the  place  was  crowded, 
and  barns  all  full;  now  all  are  gone,  and  it  seems  quite 
lonesome.” 

There  followed  the  usual  day  of  reckoning.  Every 
insolent  act,  harsh  word  or  instance  of  treachery  had 
been  treasured  by  the  Whigs,  and  no  sooner  had  the 
courts  opened,  in  1784,  than  they  were  thronged  with 
suitors  seeking  damages  against  the  tory  residents. 
David  Colden,  to  whose  influence  more  than  that  of  any 
other  was  due  the  ill-timed  loyalty  of  the  town,  p'eti- 


RAVAGES  OF  THE  HESSIAN  FLY— DESTRUCTION  OF  TOWN  RECORDS. 


tioned  for  the  rights  of  citizenship,  but  in  vain;  his 
beautiful  estate  was  confiscated,  and  he  joined  the  tory 
hegira  to  Nova  Scotia.  A large  number  of  farms  and 
residences  changed  hands,  and  a new  class  of  settlers 
took  the  place  of  those  who,  although  they  had  enriched 
themselves  in  many  instances,  had  done  so  at  the  expense 
of  their  country. 

One  of  the  most  serious  blows  which  befell  the  farmers 
here  and  elsewhere  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and 
thought  to  be  traceable  to  it,  was  the  almost  total 
destruction  of  the  wheat  crop  by  the  ravages  of  the 
Hessian  fly,  which  is  believed  to  have  been  brought  to 
the  island  in  grain  imported  for  the  British  troops  from 
Germany.  Flushing  had  become  famous  for  its  wheat, 
and  the  loss  was  keenly  felt  here.  That  it  was  serious 
can  readily  be  seen  from  the  fact  that,  while  in  1777 
wheat  flour  was  rated  at  35s.  per  cwt.,  the  price  list 
made  out  by  the  commanding  general  in  December 
1779,  which  contained  the  prices  at  which  farmers  must 
sell  their  surplus  produce,  rates  it  at  80s.  per  cwt.,  and 
offers  26s.  per  bushel  for  wheat.  When  the  pest  was  at 
its  worst  one  of  the  Burlings,  who  at  that  time  owned  a 
grist-mill  and  farm,  saw  some  southern  wheat  on  board  a 
coasting  vessel  at  New  York,  and,  actuated  by  a desire 
to  experiment  with  it,  purchased  a few  bushels,  and 
sowed  it.  Of  the  success  of  his  experiments  the  New 
York  Packet  of  July  20th  1786  says: 

“The  insect  that  has  destroyed  the  wheat  many  years 
past  continues  to  spread,  but  it  has  no  effect  on  the 
white-bearded  wheat  raised  on  Long  Island.  This  wheat 
was  brought  here  from  the  southward  during  the  war, 
and  a few  bushels  sown  by  a Flushing  farmer  grew  well, 
and  afforded  a fine  crop.  He  kept  on,  and  has  supplied 
his  neighbors.  It  grows  twenty  bushels  to  the  acre,  and 
weighs  over  sixty  pounds.  It  is  of  a bright  yellow  color, 
and  makes  fine  flour.  The  straw  is  harder,  and  resists 
the  poison  of  the  fly,  and  supports  the  grain,  while 
bearded  and  bald  wheat  were  cut  off.” 

Thus  it  will  be  noticed  a Flushing  farmer  makes  dis- 
coveries that  save  the  wheat  culture  of  the  entire  coun- 
try. Apropos  of  this,  the  writer,  when  a child,  heard 
his  grandfather  relate  how,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  sent  by  his  neighbors,  central  New  York  farmers, 
from  the  Genesee  valley  to  Long  Island,  to  test  the  truth 
of  the  story  that  had  reached  them,  that  the  farmers  on 
the  island  had  found  a wheat  that  would  ripen  in  spite 
of  the  “ fly;”  and  that  on  his  return  he  took  with  him  a 
quantity,  which  he  believed  to  be  the  first  amber  winter 
wheat  ever  sowed  in  central  or  western  New  York. 

The  most  important  event  of  the  closing  years  of  the 
last  century  was  the  destruction  of  the  town  records  by 
the  burning  of  the  residence  of  the  clerk,  Jeremiah  Van- 
derbilt. It  was  set  on  fire  by  Nellie,  a slave  girl  belong- 
ing to  Capt.  Daniel  Braine,  who  had  been  hired  to  work 
in  the  family,  and  who,  conceiving  a dislike  for  her  new 
mistress,  took  this  way  to  revenge  the  fancied  injury. 
She  was  arrested  in  company  with  Sarah,  one  of  Vander- 
bilt’s slaves,  and  on  their  own  confession  they  were  sen- 
tenced to  be  hanged.  Sarah  was  afterward  reprieved  on 
condition  that  she  be  removed  from  the  island.  Nellie 


85 


was  hanged  at  Jamaica,  after  having  been  in  jail  fifty 
weeks.  Aaron  Burr,  then  attorney-general  for  the  State, 
conducted  the  prosecution. 

The  celebration  of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution, 
held  August  13th  1788,  was  another  interesting  incident, 
participated  in  by  many  prominent  men  from  New  York, 
and  lasting  an  entire  day  and  evening.  In  1790  General 
Washington  dined  here,  and  was  enthusiastically  re- 
ceived, and  in  1792  the  people  co-operated  with  the  citi- 
zens of  Jamaica  in  raising  funds  to  found  an  academy  at 
the  latter  place. 

No  untoward  event  marred  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  the  people,  and  the  tide  of  improvement  had  set  in 
that  was  destined  to  make  of  the  little  hamlet  an  im- 
portant village,  and  to  found  thriving  villages  where  but 
an  isolated  farm  house  then  stood.  The  population  had 
grown  to  an  aggregate  of  1,818,  and  commercial  ventures 
with  foreign  parts,  as  well  as  a coastwise  trade  with 
Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  had  been  carried  on 
to  some  extent. 

Old  Families  and  Prominent  Citizens. 

The  VanZandts. — Walter  Barrett’s  “ Old  Merchants  of 
New  York  ” contains  so  complete  a history  of  the  several 
generations  of  this  substantial  Knickerbocker  family  that 
any  mention  of  the  progenitors  of  the  last  Wynant  Van 
Zandt  would  be  superfluous  here.  Intermarried  with 
some  of  the  best  of  the  old  Huguenot  families  in  the  last 
century,  the  survivors  of  the  Van  Zandts  possess  the 
sterling  qualities  of  both  the  Plollandish  and  Huguenot 
stocks. 

The  first  of  the  name  to  reside  in  this  town  was  Wynant 
Van  Zandt,  born  in  New  York,  August  1 ith  1767,  and 
for  many  years  a member  of  the  mercantile  house  of  Law- 
rence & Van  Zandt.  He  served  as  an  alderman  of  the 
first  ward  from  1802  to  1806,  and,  as  one  of  the  building 
committee  who  erected  the  City  Hall,  protested  against 
the  use  of  colored  stone  in  the  rear  of  that  building, 
urging  upon  his  colleagues  the  belief  that  in  a few  years 
the  city  would  extend  far  beyond  the  hall,  and  that  then 
their  parsimony  would  be  ridiculed.  His  “wild  ideas,” 
as  they  were  called,  were  laughed  at  by  the  other  aider- 
men,  and  the  brown  stone  was  used.  When  it  was  pro- 
posed to  make  the  width  of  Canal  street  sixty  feet  he 
pleaded  for  one  hundred  feet,  and  it  is  due  to  his  efforts 
that  this  important  thoroughfare  is  wide  enough  to  ren- 
der traffic  on  it  possible.  He  married  Maria  Allaire 
Underhill,  of  Westchester  county,  by  whom  he  had  eleven 
sons,  several  of  whom  are  still  living.  Although  he  had 
been  for  many  years  an  attendant  at  the  old  Dutch 
church,  under  which  lie  buried  nearly  all  the  Van  Zandts 
for  generations,,  later  in  life  he  became  attached  to  Bishop 
Hobart,  purchased  a pew  in  Trinity  church,  and  had  a 
vault  built  near  the  McDonough  monument,  in  which 
were  buried  his  father,  the  old  alderman,  who  died  in 
1814,  his  business  partner  William  Lawrence,  and  several 
others.  He  became  a vestryman  in  Trinity,  serving 
from  1806  to  18 1 1. 

About  the  year  1813  he  purchased  the  Weeks  farm  at 


86 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Little  Neck,  and,  erecting  on  it  a handsome  mansion,  re- 
moved there  with  his  family,  and  in  this  beautiful  home 
passed  the  remainder  of  an  active  and  useful  life.  His 
residence  here  was  marked  by  acts  of  liberality  and  pub- 
lic spirit;  and  his  death,  which  occurred  November  31st 
1831,  when  he  was  sixty-three  years  old,  deprived  the 
town  of  Flushing  of  one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  He 
is  buried  in  a vault  under  Zion’s  church,  where  also  lie 
his  wife  and  several  of  his  children;  and,  although  no 
memorial  stone  was  erected  for  him,  the  church  itself  is 
a sufficient  and  enduring  monument.  One  of  his  sons, 
Henry,  resided  on  a part  of  the  old  homestead  until  his 
death,  since  which  time  his  widow  has  continued  to  make 
it  her  home.  The  only  other  representatives  of  the 
family  here  are  VVynant  Van  Zandt’s  widow  and  his 
youngest  daughter,  who  married  the  late  Peter  Munford, 
a New  York  merchant,  and  who  occupies  a pleasant 
place  in  Flushing,  and  with  whom  her  mother  makes  her 
home. 

Francis  Lewis,  the  only  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  who  was  identified  by 
residence  with  the  people  of  Queens  county,  was  a 
native  of  Landaff  in  South  Wales,  and  was  educated  at 
Westminster.  Born  in  1713,  he  decided  on  entering 
mercantile  life  when  of  age,  and  in  1735  converted  his 
patrimony  into  money  and  sailed  for  New  York,  and 
from  thence  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  engaged  in 
business.  Two  years  later  he  returned  to  New  York, 
and  he  became  one  of  the  great  ship-owners  of  his  time, 
whose  successful  ventures  were  the  real  groundwork  of 
Great  Britain’s  jealousy  of  her  colonies.  Led  by  his 
business  interests  to  travel,  he  visited  Russia  and  other 
parts  of  Europe,  and  was  twice  shipwrecked  off  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  As  a supply  agent  for  the  British 
army  he  was  taken  prisoner  at  Fort  Oswego  when  it  was 
surprised  by  Montcalm,  was  carried  to  Montreal,  and 
from  there  to  France.  After  his  liberation  he  returned 
to  New  York  to  find  the  conflict  between  the  colonies 
and  the  mother  country  already  practically  commenced; 
and,  joining  heartily  in  Revolutionary  movements,  he 
was  in  1775  unanimously  elected  a delegate  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  where  his  business  experience,  execu- 
tive talent  and  knowledge  of  commerce  made  him  a 
valuable  member.  At  the  next  session  he  with  his 
fellow  patriots  signed  the  paper  to  the  maintenance 
of  which  they  pledged  “ their  lives,  their  fortunes  and 
their  sacred  honor.”  Having  some  time  previous  pur- 
chased a country  seat  at  Whitestone  he  removed  his 
family  to  it  in  1776,  and  then  entered  actively  upon  the 
performance  of  duties  of  importance  with  which  he  had 
been  entrusted  by  Congress,  one  branch  of  which  was 
the  importation  of  military  stores,  in  which  he  expended 
the  bulk  of  his  large  fortune,  and  for  which  he  was  never 
repaid.  Hardly  had  his  family  been  settled  at  their 
home  in  Whitestone  before  they  were  visited,  in  the  fall 
of  1776,  by  a body  of  British  light  horse,  who  plundered 
his  house,  wantonly  destroyed  his  extensive  and  valuable 
library,  and,  taking  Mrs.  Lewis  a prisoner,  retained  her 
several  months,  without  a change  of  clothes  or  a bed  to 


rest  on.  Through  the  influence  of  Washington  she  was 
released,  but  with  her  health  so  broken  by  the  abuses 
she  had  suffered  that  she  drooped  and  died — another 
victim  to  English  chivalry  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
Mr.  Lewis  resided  here  until  1796,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  property  and  retired  to  New  York,  where  he  died 
December  30th  1803,  in  his  90th  year. 

Cadwallader  D.  Colden,  the  only  son  of  David  Colden, 
was  born  at  the  family  mansion,  “ Spring  Hill,”  in  Flush- 
ing, April  4th  1769,  and  attended  school  at  Jamaica. 
Only  15  years  of  age  when  his  father’s  estate  was  forfeited 
for  treason,  he  was  too  young  to  have  taken  any  very  de- 
cided stand  on  the  political  opinions  of  that  day,  but  not 
too  young  to  feel  an  ardent  love  for  his  native  country. 
Although  he  accompanied  his  father  to  England  in  1784, 
where  he  attended  a classical  school  near  London,  he 
found  means  in  1785  to  return  to  New  York,  and  entered 
the  office  of  Richard  Harrison,  a prominent  lawyer.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1791,  practiced  at  Poughkeep- 
sie five  years,  and  then  returned  to  New  York,  where  he 
was  soon  after  made  district  attorney.  Young  as  he  was 
he  soon  became  a prominent  rival  of  such  men  as  Har- 
rison, Hamilton,  Livingston  and  Jones,  and  for  many 
years  he  was  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  the  specialty 
of  commercial  law.  In  1812  he  commanded  a regiment 
of  volunteers,  and  was  active  in  assisting  in  building  the 
forts  and  harbor  defenses  about  the  city.  He  served  a 
term  in  Congress,  and  was  afterward  in  the  State  Senate, 
where  he  became  one  of  the  most  efficient  promoters  of 
the  Erie  Canal  and  a warm  and  faithful  friend  of  De  Witt 
Clinton.  Mr.  Colden  died  in  1834,  at  Jersey  City.  He 
was  a descendant  of  the  Willett  family  of  Flushing,  and 
one  of  whose  birth  within  their  borders  the  people  of 
the  town  have  a right  to  feel  proud. 

Dr.  John  Rodman  was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  his  broad  brimmed  hat  and 
Quaker  costume  were  familiar  to  the  people  of  this  and 
adjoining  towns.  His  charges  were  moderate,  but  by 
combining  agriculture  with  the  practice  of  his  profession 
he  was  enabled  to  leave  his  family  comfortably  endowed. 
At  his  death,  in  1731,  the  Society  of  Friends  entered  on 
their  records  a euology  of  his  consistent  deportment  and 
fidelity. 

The  Lowerree  Family  are  supposed  to  belong  to  the 
old  Huguenot  colony,  who  settled  here  about  1660.  The 
name  occurs  infrequently  in  any  of  the  early  records, 
and  family  traditions  are  indistinct.  It  can,  however,  be 
traced  by  continuous  residence  for  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years.  During  the  present  century  one  of 

the  family  was  a prominent  merchant.  Lowerree 

was  the  first  president  of  the  Flushing  Gas  Company, 
and  Frank  G.  is  proprietor  of  the  Broadway  stables. 
There  are  many  persons  of  that  name  in  the  town. 

The  Embree  name  is  also  identified  with  the  Huguenot 
settlements,  the  first  of  the  name  coming  first  to  New 
Rochelle,  and  then  to  Flushing.  Never  very  numerous, 
the  representation  of  the  family  has  been  worthy  of  its 
sires.  In  past  generations  they  intermarried  with  the 
Lawrences  and  Bownes,  and  became  Quakers  in  faith 


s«o  • 

CCjsui 

t;JO 

O>0  fk 

wt  *3 
QQt 
^ o S 


CD 


•o^co 


J 

UJ 

Q 

05 

> 

< 

DO 


< . 


I-  * 
DC  < 
ui  O 
n , 
o U 

£t  X 

Q- I- 


W S 
* z 

a! 

> o 

< z 

h X 


z 

X 

o 


z 

o 

in 

$ 

LjJ 

> 


£ <u 

Sk  “ 
oii,  y 

tgkj  5 

Sk3  > 
o >o  O 

v-tj  • o 

S^«0JU 

< 

'IGICO^I > 
Oi 


OLD  FAMILIES  AND  PROMINENT  CITIZENS. 


89 


and  practice.  The  only  representative  of  the  name  now 
known  to  the  writer  as  a resident  of  Flushing  is  Robert 
C.  Embree,  a gifted  New  York  lawyer. 

Colonel  Isaac  Corsa  was  a gallant  soldier  of  the  French 
and  Indian  wars.  He  served  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Queens  county  troops,  and  by  his  shrewdness  in  advising 
and  gallantry  in  building  and  manning  a battery  at  a 
particular  point  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  securing  the 
surrender  of  Fort  Frontenac.  Retiring  to  his  farm  in 
Flushing  he  resigned  his  commission.  In  1776,  having 
been  accused  of  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  King  George,  he 
was  arrested  by  a committee  of  Congress,  and  paroled. 
He  remained  at  home  a quiet  spectator  during  the  war, 
and  died  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  80  years.  His  only 
daughter  married  John  Staples,  of  New  York  city. 

The  Valentines  were  early  settlers  in  Queens  county, 
none,  however,  appearing  in  Flushing  until  after  the  time 
of  the  Revolution.  Jeremiah  settled  on  the  Black  Stump 
road,  near  Jamaica  village,  in  1800,  and  twelve  years 
later  removed  to  the  farm  in  this  town  now  owned  by  his 
son  Thomas.  He  was  a native  of  Suffolk  county,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Brooks,  of  Flushing,  and  had  seven  children, 
but  two  of  whom  are  now  living — one  a daughter,  who  mar- 
ried John  M.  Stearns,  of  Brooklyn,  the  other  Thomas, 
who  married  Cornelia  Cornell,  of  Flushing.  Jeremiah 
Valentine  was  for  many  years  a magistrate  and  justice  of 
sessions  in  the  county,  superintended  the  building  of 
Christ’s  Church,  Brooklyn,  and  was  a director  of  the  Wil- 
liamsburg Savings  Bank.  Captain  John  Valentine  was 
born  on  Long  Island  about  1740,  and  was  a soldier  in  the 
Revolution.  He  was  at  one  tim.e  a prisoner  in  a house 
that  stood  where  the  Main  street  depot  now  stands  in 
Flushing.  He  was  the  father  of  the  mother  of  Edwin 
Powell.  The  last  named*  the  oldest  resident  of  White- 
stone,  was  born  on  his  farm  in  1809,  where  his  father, 
William  Powell,  was  born  in  1783.  John  Powell  jr., 
father  of  William,  was  born  on  Long  Island  in  1740.  John 
Powell,  father  of  John  Powell  jr.,  born  in  1705,  was  also 
born  on  Long  Island.  John  Powell  jr.  in  1780  moved  0.1  to 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Edwin  Powell. 

The  Havilands,  Benjamin,  Joseph  and  William,  settled 
here  prior  to  1680,  the  names  of  the  last  two  appearing 
on  the  list  of  patentees  of  1685.  But  little  is  known  of 
the  families,  except  that  in  some  instances  they  became 
prominent  in  wealth  and  mercantile  enterprise.  The 
best  known  member  of  the  family  in  this  town  during  the 
present  century  was  William,  who  for  about  fifty  years 
was  a farmer  at  Little  Neck,  and  died  there  about  1840, 
leaving  six  children.  Mrs.  Maria  Smith  is  the  only  rep- 
resentative of  the  eldest,  whose  name  was  Roe. 

The  Walters  brothers,  Henry,  Samuel  and  John,  were 
settlers  in  the  east  end  of  the  town,  in  the  Little  Neck 
district,  prior  to  the  Revolution,  and  Henry  served  in 
Young’s  militia,  under  Hamilton.  John  had  a son  Ben- 
jamin, born  February  22nd  1755,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Valentine.  They  had  eleven  children.  One  of  their 
sons,  Charles,  was  born  in  1801,  and  married  in  1832  to 
Elizabeth  Roe.  They  had  a son  and  daughter,  Charles 
W.  and  Mary  (now  Mrs.  Hendrickson),  who  are  the  only 


representatives  of  that  branch  of  the  family  now  here. 
Samuel  Walters,  a brother  of  Benjamin,  enlisted  from 
Flushing  in  the  war  of  1812,  served  at  Fort  Greene,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  and  pensioned. 

The  Farringtons , once  prominent  in  Flushing,  des- 
cended from  Edward  Ffarrington,  a brother-in-law  of 
John  Bowne.  Mandeville  relates  that  in  his  will,  dated 
April  14th  1673,  he  bequeaths,  after  the  decease  of  his 
wife  Dorothy,  to  his  “ eldest  son  John  all  his  housing, 
land,  orchard,  gardens  in  the  town  of  Fflushing,  etc  , to 
returne  to  ye  next  heire  male  of  the  blood  of  ye  Farring- 
tons and  soe  from  generation  to  generation  forever.’ 
It  seems  that  even  Quaker  humility  did  not  wipe  out  the 
pride  of  race,  and  prejudice  in  favor  of  primogeniture, 
and  it  is  a somewhat  singular  proof  of  the  greater  effi- 
ciency of  American  habits  and  customs  that  the  writer 
fails  to  find  a single  person  in  Flushing  of  that  name 
even  remotely  interested  in  the  old  estate  that  was  to  be 
so  carefully  kept  in  the  family. 

The  Thornes  trace  their  ancestry  on  the  island  back 
to  William  Thorne  jr.,  who  was  the  original  owner  of  an 
estate  at  what  is  now  Willett’s  Point,  which  for  many 
years  was  called  by  his  name.  His  family,  large  and 
respectable,  were  prominent  citizens  of  Flushing  many 
years:  some  of  them,  settling  in  adjoining  towns,  became 
active  patriots  during  the  Revolution,  and  Thomas 
Thorne,  who  was  one  of  the  Whig  committee  of  Flushing, 
was  seized  by  the  British  on  their  first  visit  here  and 
ended  his  days  in  the  prison  ship. 

The  Hicks  Family  descend  from  Robert  Hicks  (a  des- 
cendant of  Sir  Ellis  Hix,  who  was  knighted  by  the  Black 
Prince  at  the  battle  of  Poictiers,  in  1356),  who  came  to 
America  in  the  ship  “Fortune,”  landing  November  nth 
1621  at  Plymouth.  He  settled  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  and 
in  1642  two  of  his  sons,  John  and  Stephen,  came  to  Long 
Island,  the  former  being  one  of  the  original  patentees  of 
Flushing,  and  active  in  public  affairs.  His  son  Thomas 
drove  out  the  Indians  from  Little  Neck,  and  settled 
there.  The  family  were  early  identified  with  the  fortunes 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  to  which  many  of  them  still 
adhere.  Elias  Hicks,  the  famous  preacher  and  founder 
of  the  Hicksite  branch  of  that  body,  is  a prominent 
instance.  In  1880  Miss  Anna  L.  Hicks  and  Mrs.  A.  W. 
Cock,  of  Flushing,  were  among  the  most  prominent  rep- 
resentatives of  the  family  in  the  town. 

The  Cornell  Family. — This  name  is  variously  written. 
We  meet  it  in  early  records  as  Cornhill,  Cornwell  and 
Cornell,  according  to  the  ignorance  or  indolence  of  the 
scribe.  Onderdonk  classes  the  family  under  the  name  of 
Cornwell,  and  is  probably  correct.  The  progenitors  in 
this  country  seem  to  have  been  three  brothers,  who  joined 
one  of  the  early  Massachusetts  expeditions,  and  afterward 
scattered;  one  settling  in  Connecticut,  anotherin  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  the  third,  Richard,  coming  to  Flush- 
ing about  1643  and  being  one  of  the  patentees  here, 
and  for  many  years  a magistrate.  His  descendants  be- 
came numerous,  scattered  throughout  the  country,  and 
seem  to  have  evinced  a taste  for  public  life  both  military 
and  civil.  The  old  pioneer  was  a consistent  Quaker,  and 
so  were  many  of  his  descendants. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


William  Hallet,  one  of  the  first  sheriffs  of  Flushing, 
had  a singularly  checkered  career.  In  1655  he  was  a 
planter  near  Hell  Gate,  and  was  driven  from  home  and 
his  house  and  plantation  laid  waste  by  the  Indians. 
He  fled  to  Flushing,  and  was  appointed  sheriff;  but  lost 
his  position  the  following  year,  and  was  fined  ^50  for 
allowing  a Baptist  preacher  to  hold  meetings  in  his  house. 
The  people  petitioned  for  and  obtained  a remission  of 
the  fine.  He  seems  to  have  been  a builder,  as  the  records 
show  that  he  was  the  contractor  on  the  first  “ session 
house”  or  court-house  built  in  Jamaica.  The  family  af- 
terward became  prominent  in  Newtown.  S.  J.  Hallet  was 
the  only  known  representative  of  the  family  in  Flushing 
when  this  sketch  was  written. 

Michael  Millner  was  the  pioneer  inn-keeper  of  this 
town,  and  it  was  at  his  house  town  gatherings  were  held. 
Hare  the  people  met  to  protest  against  Stuyvesant’s 
proscription  of  the  Quakers,  and  for  allowing  what  it 
would  seem  he  could  not  well  prevent,  were  he  so  dis- 
posed, Millner  was  punished. 

The  Bloodgoods  are  of  purely  Knickerbocker  origin, 
Francis  Bloctgoct  being  the  earliest  settler  of  the  name 
in  Flushing,  and,  being  recognized  by  the  Dutch  authori- 
ties as  “ chief  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Dutch  nation  re- 
siding in  the  villages  of  Vlissingen,  Heemstede,  Ruds- 
dorp  and  MiddleborL,”  was  made  their  commander  and 
ordered  to  march  with  them  toward  the  city  should  a hos- 
tile fleet  appear  in  the  sound.  This  was  in  1674.  In  the 
year  previous  he  was  made  a magistrate,  was  one  of  the 
privy  council  who  advised  with  the  governor  on  the  sur- 
render of  the  territory  to  the  English,  and  was  appointed 
a commissioner  to  visit  the  Sweedish  settlement  on  the 
Delaware.  Of  his  immediate  descendants  but  little  can 
be  learned,  although  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  some  one 
of  the  name  has  ever  since  resided  in  Flushing.  Two  of 
his  grandchildren,  Abram  and  James,  were  left  orphans 
under  the  care  of  a relative;  but  preferring  to  make  their 
way  in  the  world  for  themselves  emigrated  to  Albany, 
where  they  became  successful  business  men  and  amassed 
handsome  fortunes.  Abraham  was  born  in  Flushing,  in 
1741.  He  became  also  a merchant  in  Albany,  and  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Lynott,  one  of  whose  daughters  by  a former 
husband  became  the  wife  of  the  celebrated  Simeon  De 
Witt.  Abraham  Bloodgood  was  for  years  a councilman 
of  the  city,  was  a member  of  the  convention  that  ac- 
cepted the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  one  of 
the  famous  ten  who,  in  the  old  Vanden  Heyden  house, 
founded  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State.  He  left 
four  sons,  the  younger  of  whom,  Joseph,  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1806,  and  was  appointed 
trustee  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  New 
York  in  1811.  Invited  by  a large  number  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Flushing  to  settle  here,  he  came 
to  this  village  in  1812,  and  was  for  many  years  an  em- 
inent physician  and  a public  spirited  citizen.  He  died 
March  7th  1851,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  had  twelve 
children,  four  daughters  and  eight  sons.  Isaac,  a prom- 
inent merchant,  is  now  living  in  Flushing.  Mrs.  G.  R. 
Garretson  is  a descendant  of  the  branch  of  the  family 


claiming  continuous  residence  here,  and  resides  on  the 
old  home  farm,  now  in  the  heart  of  the  village,  in  a house 
dating  back  to  the  early  part  of  the  last  century. 

The  Lawrence  Family  trace  their  patronymic  back  to 
the  ancient  Romans,  claiming  that  from  some  of  the 
Laurentii  of  that  noble  race  descended  their  English  an- 
cestry; of  whom  the  first  named  in  the  Doomsday  Book 
was  Sir  Robert  Lawrence,  of  Ashton  Hall,  who  in  1119 
planted  the  banner  of  the  Cross  on  the  battlements  of 
St.  Jean  d’Acre,  and  received  for  his  gallantry  the  honors 
of  knighthood  and  a coat  of  arms  from  Richard  the  Lion- 
hearted,  the  latter  of  which  was  in  use  (as  a seal)  by  the 
family  in  America  for  many  years.  Three  brothers  of 
this  family,  William,  John  and  Thomas,  came  to  Long 
Island  about  the  year  1643,  and  the  first  two  were  among 
the  patentees  of  Flushing  recognized  by  Governor  Kieft 
in  1645.  John,  although  an  owner  of  land  here,  removed 
to  New  York,  where  he  became  an  alderman,  mayor, 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  and  member  of  his  Majesty’s 
council.  William  became  the  largest  landed  proprietor 
in  Flushing,  settling  at  Tew’s  Neck  (afterward  called 
Lawrence’s),  now  College  Point.  He  was  a magistrate 
under  the  Dutch  government  in  1655,  held  a military 
commission  under  the  British,  and  was  in  the  magistracy 
of  the  “ north  riding.”  He  was  a man  of  marked  abil- 
ity, active  in  public  affairs,  and  a fair  type  of  the  old 
fashioned  country  gentleman.  His  second  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Smith,  of  Mishaquaked,  L.  I.,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1664.  He  died  in  1680,  and  his  widow  married 
Sir  Philip  Carteret,  governor  of  New  Jersey.  She  was  a 
woman  of  more  than  ordinary  endowments;  she  was 
acting  governor  during  Sir  Philip’s  absence  in  Europe, 
and  many  of  the  important  acts  of  that  period  were 
“ passed  under  the  administration  of  Lady  Elizabeth 
Carteret.”  Elizabeth,  New  Jersey,  is  named  after  her. 
From  this  and  a previous  marriage  of  William  Lawrence’s 
descended  the  Flushing  family  of  that  name. 

Bernard  Sprong  was  an  early  resident  of  Jamaica, 
where  he  was  born  in  1727 , and  where  he  died  in  1779, 
leaving  three  children,  the  oldest  of  whom,  his  namesake, 
entered  the  employ  of  John  Jacob  Astor.  The  second 
son,  Daniel,  married  Ida  Van  Law  and  settled  in  Flush- 
ing, where  he  became  a farmer.  Of  his  five  children 
David  was  run  over  and  killed  while  a student  of  Union 
Hall;  two  daughters  died  without  issue,  and  John  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Robinson,  by  whom  he  had  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Ida  A.  Foster  was  the  oldest,  and  is 
now  the  only  one  on  the  island. 

The  Colored  Population. 

The  early  growth  of  material  wealth  in  this  part  of  the 
island  was  marked  by  the  accession  of  considerable  prop- 
erty in  slaves,  and  historians  agree  in  the  conclusion  that 
the  pioneers  of  Queens  and  Suffolk  made  kind  and  in- 
dulgent masters,  and  that,  in  fact,  the  kindheartedness  of 
the  Hollanders  and  Quakers  was  rather  a bar  to  the  main- 
tenance of  a state  of  discipline  sufficient  to  make  slavery 
a pecuniary  success.  Instances  of  cruelty  there  were; 
but  they  are  rare,  while  the  fact  remains  that  any  elements 


THE  COLORED  PEOPLE  OF  FLUSHING. 


9i 


of  discord  to  which  we  may  allude  were  sown  among  the 
faithful  slaves  by  a class  of  idle,  dissolute  freedmen  from 
other  localities,  who  were  drawn  here  by  the  supposition 
that  the  well  known  sympathy  of  the  Friends  for  their 
race  would  show  them  the  means  of  securing  the  blessings 
of  liberty  without  its  cares  and  responsibilities.  The 
emancipation  of  the  slaves  left  them,  in  the  main,  res- 
idents of  their  old  homes,  and  where  they  were  worthy  of 
the  confidence  of  their  former  owners  the  relation  of 
master  and  servant  was  practically  unchanged.  The 
Friends,  under  the  teachings  of  Fox,  were  led  by  their 
fine  sense  of  justice  and  humanity  to  be  the  pioneers  in 
the  matter  of  schools  for  the  negroes,  and  funds  were 
early  contributed  for  their  education,  and  the  lady  mem- 
bers of  the  society  were  active  in  the  work.  Churches  of 
the  denominations  whose  devotional  exercises  best  com- 
ported with  the  emotional  nature  of  the  race  were  estab- 
lished early  in  the  century,  and  Flushing  at  that  time  of- 
fered special  inducements  for  the  retention  of  a class  of 
people  fond  of  gaiety,  and  not  ambitious  to  become  either 
wealthy  or  famous.  Old  residents  relate  that  from  1820 
to  1825  this  element  of  the  population  had  grown  so  nu- 
merous and  become  so  aggressive  that  the  streets  were 
filled  with  them  at  night,  and  a system  of  out-door  dances, 
equivocal  serenades  and  barbecues  became  so  frequent 
that  they  proved  a serious  annoyance  to  the  staid  citizens 
who  believed  that  “ nights  were  made  to  sleep  in.”  Town 
ordinances  and  the  mild  expostulations  of  their  Quaker 
friends  proved  alike  unavailing;  but  ingenuity  will  over- 
come all  obstacles,  and  the  spirit  that  was  to  restore 
peace  to  the  streets  of  this  ancient  village  was  moving, 
not  in  the  placid  bosoms  of  the  russet-clad  Quaker,  but 
in  the  restless  brain  of  Young  America.  Parties  of  young 
men  gathered  on  the  outskirts  of  these  noisy  conclaves, 
and  nightly  disturbed  their  harmony  with  volleys  of  stale 
eggs  and  other  disagreeable  missiles,  gaining  the  name  of 
the  “ Rotten  Egg  Club.”  The  remedy  was  effectual; 
peace  reigned  in  Flushing,  and  the  dusky  orgies  were 
transferred  from  the  public  squares  to  the  shanties  of 
Crow  Hill  and  Liberty  street. 

From  that  time  to  the  present  the  colored  population 
has  in  the  main  proved  quiet  and  orderly,  and  supplied  a 
place  in  domestic  service.  A few  have  become  clergy- 
men, lawyers  and  small  dealers,  while  a considerable 
number  have  found  employment  in  minor  positions  in  the 
New  York  custom-house  and  post-office.  They  have  two 
churches,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Baptist;  and,  although 
poor  in  this  world’s  goods,  evince  that  keen  interest  in 
devotional  exercises  that  is  to  so  great  an  extent  a race 
characteristic.  . Education  not  being  a prerequisite  for 
the  performance  of  pastoral  duties,  their  preachers  are 
often  found  following  the  Pauline  practice  of  working 
with  their  own  hands  in  humble  avocations. 

The  institution  of  slavery  antedated  the  earliest  settle- 
ments on  the  island,  and  not  only  were  African  servants 
brought  from  Holland,  but  families  who  came  from  New 
England  imported  Indians,  who  were  either  prisoners  of 
war  or  the  children  of  those  who  had  been.  The  earliest 
mention  of  slaves  found  in  any  of  the  old  historical  works 


is,  however,  in  the  Colonial  History  of  New  York,  Yol. 
II.,  page  158,  where  it  is  written  that  this  part  of  the 
island  “ produces  from  the  servants’  labor  corn,  beef, 
pork,  butter,  tobacco  and  staves,  which  they  exchange 
for  liquors  and  merchandise.” 

On  the  court  records  of  1726  is  an  account  of  the  ex- 
ecution of  “ Samuel,  a colored  man  of  Flushing,  for 
burglary  committed  in  that  place.” 

Although  nothing  in  the  general  conduct  of  the  slaves 
in  this  locality  had  indicated  any  feeling  of  insubordina- 
tion, yet  the  year  1741  was  a period  of  anxious  uncer- 
tainty and  general  suspicion.  The  “ negro  plot  ” in  New 
York  had  been  discovered  and  many  slaves  executed  ; 
and  in  Kings  and  Queens  counties  a number  of  arrests 
were  made,  but  no  sufficient  cause  was  found  to  imperil 
the  colored  people  or  their  masters  in  Flushing. 

On  the  20th  of  May  1756  two  slaves  belonging  to  Ber- 
nardus  Ryder  and  Benjamin  Fowler  were  drowned  in 
Flushing  Bay  while  fishing. 

An  advertisement  in  the  New  York  Postboy  of  April 
14th  1760  reads  as  follows:  “ Ran  away  from  Bernardus 
Ryder,  Flushing,  a negro  man  named  Caesar,  aged 
twenty-five;  this  country  born,  not  a right  black — has  a 
little  of  the  yellowish  cast;  a pretty  lusty  fellow;  talks 
good  English;  if  frightened  stutters  very  much;  has  lost 
one  of  his  front  teeth;  had  on  a light-colored  Devon- 
shire kersey  coat,  a soldier’s  red  jacket,  breeches  and 
hat,  and  a pair  of  old  shoes.  40s.  reward  if  taken  on  the 
island,  or  ^3  if  taken  off  the  island.” 

In  1788  a New  York  paper  contained  the  following 
non-committal  item:  “ Michael,  a negro  man  slave  of 
John  Allen,  of  Flushing,  died  by  chance-medley  and 
misadventure  from  a correction  he  appeared  to  have  from 
some  person  unknown.”  Onderdonk  appends  this  note: 
“ Allen  had  lost  money,  and  severely  flogged  the  negro, but 
could  not  extort  a confession.”  This  is  the  only  instance 
of  brutality  recorded  in  the  annals  of  Flushing. 

During  the  last  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
stand  taken  by  the  Quakers  against  slavery,  and  the 
visits  of  free  negroes,  many  of  whom  were  at  that  time 
employed  on  American  vessels,  had  stirred  up  a desire 
for  freedom  which  led  to  many  attempted  and  some  suc- 
cessful escapes.  On  May  10th  1791  the  Daily  Advertiser 
contained  the  following:  “$20  Reward.  Ran  away 
from  Flushing  two  negro  men!  One  Aaron,  the  prop- 
erty of  Jeremiah  Vanderbilt,  who  had  on  fustian  trowsers 
and  wool  hat,  and  is  a good  boatman;  the  other,  Poly- 
dore,  the  property  of  Francis  Lewis,  who  wore  a blue 
cloth  jacket  and  breeches,  woolen  stockings  and  wool 
hat.”  They  stole  a boat  and  went  up  the  sound,  as  was 
supposed. 

Although  they  were  well  treated,  and  perhaps  better 
off  in  that  respect  than  their  fellow  serfs  in  other  States, 
the  desire  for  personal  liberty  had  become  to  some 
extent  general  among  the  slaves,  if  we  may  judge  from 
advertisements  which  were  published  from  time  to  time. 

How  far  this  feeling  rendered  them  insubordinate  we 
find  little  besides  the  instance  just  stated  to  prove,  but  it 
must  have  had  a powerful  influence  in  securing  the 


92 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


acquiescence  of  the  masters  in  the  steps  taken  by  the 
State  toward  emancipation.  Freed  from  slavery  they 
have  generally  remained  in  the  locality,  and  their  de- 
scendants become  orderly  members  of  the  working 
classes,  with  an  occasional  instance  where  genius  has 
risen  superior  to  caste  and  the  unfortunate  tyranny  of 
circumstances,  and  become,  to  some  extent,  prominent. 
There  are  still  living  in  the  place  some  who  were  held  in 
bondage  when  young. 

Rise  and  Growth  of  the  Nursery  Business. 

The  Prince  Nurseries. — The  climate  and  the  soil  of 
this  town  being  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  propagation  of 
trees  and  plants,  the  success  attained  by  the  Huguenot 
settlers  in  introducing  the  fruits  of  their  native  province 
led  English  gardeners,  who  had  settled  here,  to  experi- 
ment in  horticulture,  with  such  results  that  William 
Prince  in  1737  laid  out  a tract  of  land  in  the  village  and 
devoted  it  first  to  the  propagation  of  fruit  trees,  after- 
ward extending  his  efforts  to  the  growth  and  introduc- 
tion of  shade  trees,  of  which  the  Lombardy  poplar  is 
believed  to  have  been  one.  The  lack  of  forest  trees 
on  the  island  made  his  venture  a popular  one,  and  we 
find  him  circulating  the  following  notice,  dated  Septem- 
ber 2 1 st  1767:  “For  sale  at  William  Prince’s  nursery, 
Flushing,  a great  variety  of  fruit  trees,  such  as  apple, 
plum,  peach,  nectarine,  cherry,  apricot  and  pear.  They 
may  be  put  up  so  as  to  be  sent  to  Europe.  Captain 
Jacamiah  Mitchell  and  Daniel  Clements  go  to  New  York 
in  passage  boats  Tuesdays  and  Fridays.’’  This  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  first  nursery  in  the  country.  At 
the  time  of  writing  this  a part  of  the  old  grounds  was 
still  open  to  the  school  children,  who  have  termed  the 
field  “ the  wild  nursery,”  and  who  roam  there  during 
the  summer,  gathering  stray  blossoms  from  plants  once 
rare  and  choice,  or  weaving  garlands  from  the  parti- 
colored foliage.  The  extension  of  Prince’s  business  to 
the  culture  of  shade  and  ornamental  trees  is  first  noticed 
in  an  advertisement  in  the  New  York  Mercury  of  March 
14th  1774:  “ William  Prince  at  his  nursery,  Flushing 
landing,  offers  for  sale  one  hundred  and  ten  large  Caro- 
lina magnolia  flower  trees,  raised  from  the  seed — the 
most  beautiful  trees  that  grow  in  America — 4s.  per  tree, 
four  feet  high;  fifty  large  catalpa  flower  trees,  2s.  per 
tree;  they  are  nine  feet  high  to  the  under  part  of  the  top, 
and  thick  as  one’s  leg;  thirty  or  forty  almond  trees,  that 
begin  to  bear,  is.  and  6d.  each;  fifty  fig  trees,  2s.  each; 
two  thousand  five  hundred  white,  red  and  black  currant 
bushes,  6d.  each;  gooseberry  bushes,  6d.;  Lisbon  and 
Madeira  grape  vines;  five  thousand  Hautboy  Chili  large 
English  and  American  strawberry  plants;  one  thousand 
five  hundred  white  and  one  thousand  black  mulberry 
trees;  also  Barcelona  filbert  trees,  is.  The  Revolution- 
ary war  put  a stop  to  the  conduct  of  any  business  requir- 
ing free  communications,  and  we  find  Mr.  Prince  adver- 
tising for  sale  30,000  grafted  cherry  trees  for  hooppoles. 
A return  of  peace  brought  with  it  increased  trade  to 
make  good  the  depredations  of  the  soldiery,  as  well  as  to 
stock  the  orchards  of  those  who  for  seven  years  past  had 


paid  more  attention  to  the  science  of  war  than  the  pur- 
suits of  horticulture,  and  in  1789  the  nurseries  had  ob- 
tained a reputation  that  induced  General  Washington, 
then  President  of  the  United  States,  to  visit  them.  In 
his  diary  for  October  10th  of  that  year  is  the  following: 

“ I set  off  from  New  York,  about  nine  o’clock,  in  my 
barge,  to  visit  Mr.  Prince’s  fruit  gardens  and  shrubberies 
at  Flushing.  The  vice-president,  governor,  Mr.  Izard, 
Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Jackson  accompanied  me. 
These  gardens,  except  in  the  number  of  young  fruit  trees, 
did  not  answer  my  expectations.  The  shrubs  were  trifling 
and  the  flowers  not  numerous.”  It  should  be  remem- 
bered that  General  Washington’s  estimate  was  that  of  a 
man  familiar  with  the  more  luxurious  vegetation  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  first  notice  of  the  Lombardy  poplar  occurs 
in  1798,  when  Mr.  Prince  advertises  10000  of  them, 
from  ten  to  seventeen  feet  in  height.  They  grew  rapidly 
and  became  for  years  a popular  shade  tree,  long  avenues 
of  them  being  planted  in  all  parts  of  the  island,  and 
their  leaves  gathered  for  fodder  for  sheep  and  cattle  by 
many.  In  1806  they,  however,  received  their  death 
blow,  as  it  was  then  claimed  that  they  harbored  a poison- 
ous worm,  and  they  were  cut  down  in  many  cases  and 
burned  for  fuel.  Thompson,  in  his  History  of  Long 
Island,  relates  that  when  the  British  troops  entered 
Flushing  in  1777  General  Howe  ordered  a guard  to  be 
stationed  for  the  protection  of  these  gardens  and  nursery. 
Originally  confined  to  an  area  of  eight  acres  the  Linnsean 
Botanic  Gardens,  as  they  have  been  termed,  were  en- 
larged by  Mr.  Prince  in  1792,  to  cover  the  space  of 
twenty-four  acres;  and  under  the  management  of  his 
son  during  the  early  part  of  the  century  to  more  than 
sixty  acres,  employing  a force  of  about  fifty  men  in  their 
best  days. 

Thus  from  a small  beginning  has  grown  up  what  has 
been  for  the  past  half  century  the  most  important  in- 
dustry of  Flushing,  employing  a considerable  force  of 
intelligent  men,  and,  what  is  perhaps  of  still  more  im- 
portance, deserving  the  credit  of  having  educated  a large 
number  of  the  best  landscape  gardeners  and  horticultur- 
ists in  the  State.  The  great  value  of  the  lands  used  for 
nursery  purposes  here,  and  the  springing  up  of  the  forest 
tree  business  in  western  New  York,  has  led  the  nursery- 
men of  Flushing  to  abandon  that  branch  of  the  business 
for  the  more  lucrative  one  of  ornamental  shrubbery, 
plants  and  cut  flowers.  No  better  view  of  the  business 
as  it  now  exists  can  be  given  than  by  sketching  the  his- 
tory of  such  nurseries  and  greenhouses  as  are  now  in 
operation. 

The  Parsons  Nurseries. — Among  the  marked  men  of 
Flushing  in  the  generation  now  passed  away  was  Samuel 
Parsons,  of  whom  De  Witt  Clinton  once  remarked  that 
he  had  never  met  another  man  so  truly  courteous  with- 
out compromising  a single  Christian  principle.  The  men- 
tal training  given  by  his  classical  education  was  supple- 
mented by  a knowledge  of  French,  his  fluency  in  which 
was  gained  by  constant  association  with  the  French  emi- 
grees,  who  were  welcome  guests  at  his  father’s  house. 
Retiring  from  business  with  a liberal  income,  his  benev- 


HORTICULTURE  IN  FLUSHING. 


93 


olence  abounded  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability,  and  in 
conferring  a favor  he  made  himself  the  one  obliged.  Al- 
though a minister  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  his  liberality 
in  thought  to  all  denominations  was  well  known.  His 
sincere  and  fervent  piety,  earnest  and  continual  desire 
for  the  spiritual  improvement  of  those  among  whom  his 
lot  was  cast,  and  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life  make  his 
memory  valued  among  those  now  living  who  recollect 
him.  Foremost  among  the  advocates  of  public  improve- 
ments, his  fondness  for  trees  induced  him  to  commence 
a system  of  street  planting,  which,  continued  by  his  sons, 
has  made  Flushing  noted  for  the  beauty  of  its  streets. 
The  same  taste  led  him  to  fix  • upon  the  nursery 
business  for  his  sons,  and  in  1838  to  commence  the  busi- 
ness, which,  with  some  changes,  has  been  continued  since 
his  death,  in  1841.  Passing  at  that  date  into  the  hands 
of  his  sons  Samuel  B.  and  Robert  B.  it  was  continued  un- 
til 1872,  during  which  time  it  had  grown  steadily.  When 
the  greatest  demand  for  grapevines  sprang  up,  in  1862, 
lasting  until  1865,  they  increased  their  facilities  for  cul- 
tivation until  their  annual  production 'in  this  one  branch 
of  the  business  amounted  to  over  800,000  vines  annually. 
They  became  the  only  growers  in  this  country  of  rhodo- 
dendrons and  hardy  azaleas  and  went  largely  into  the 
culture  of  camelias.  When  the  demand  for  dwellings 
made  large  inroads  upon  the  nursery,  and  a single  one  of 
its  acres  sold  for  $10,000,  Samuel  B.  Parsons,  seeing  no 
future  in  that  village  for  the  proper  extension  of  the 
business  for  which  his  sons  had  been  trained,  decided  in 
1872  to  remove  his  share  of  the  firm’s  stock  to  some 
lands  which  he  owned  on  Kissena  Lake,  the  picturesque 
character  of  which  particularly  fitted  them  for  an  orna- 
mental nursery.  He  hoped  also  to  prove,  as  he  has  suc- 
cessfully done,  that  plants  grown  in  an  exposed  locality, 
open  to  all  winds,  possess,  in  their  hardiness,  an  addi- 
tional value.  At  the  same  time  he  reserved  for  himself 
the  southern  part  of  the  old  nursery.  To  this  new  land 
there  accompanied  him  his  two  sons  and  J.  R.  Trumpy, 
the  successful  propagator  for  the  old  firm,  whose  genius 
and  skill  are  well  known. 

The  Kissena  Nurseries,  as  they  are  called,  are  managed 
as  a limited  company,  under  the  name  of  the  Parsons  & 
Sons  Company,  of  which  Samuel  B.  Parsons  is  president. 
Continuing  the  propagation  of  the  class  of  specialties  for 
which  the  old  house  was  noted,  they  commenced  gather- 
ing from  foreign  countries  all  the  ornamental  plants  and 
trees  which  could  be  obtained  ; especially  from  Japan, 
whence  by  the  aid  of  Thomas  Hogg,  the  well  known  col- 
lector, they  were  furnished  with  a variety  rich,  perfectly 
hardy,  and  containing  many  sorts  unknown  in  Europe. 
Of  these  the  Japan  maples  are  conspicuous  by  their 
beauty,  dwarf-like  character,  and  thorough  hardiness. 
One  or  two  of  these  are  grown  elsewhere  in  this  country, 
and  several  in  Europe;  but  the  entire  collection  of 
twenty-four  varieties  can  only  be  found  in  Japan  and  in 
the  Kissena  Nurseries.  The  great  variety  of  this  gene- 
ral collection  is  described  in  a catalogue  just  issued. 
Some  idea  of  its  extent  can  be  gained  from  the  fact  that 
an  order  recently  filled  for  an  arboretum  being  made  at 


Menlo  Park  by  ex-Governor  Stanford,  of  California,  in- 
cludes over  sixteen  hundred  varieties. 

As  a writer  for  the  press  Mr.  S.  B.  Parsons  has  since 
1840  attained  a reputation  for  both  literary  ability  and  a 
knowledge  of  landscape  gardening  that  has  made  his 
pen  sought  for  by  such  publishers  as  the  Harpers,  and 
led  to  the  republication  of  his  articles  in  some  of  the 
best  European  magazines.  His  first  published  volume, 
“The  Rose,  its  History,  Culture,  etc.,”  was  issued  in 
1856,  by  Wiley  & Halsted,  and  met  with  so  favorable  a 
reception  that  it  was  reissued  in  an  enlarged  and  im- 
proved form  in  1869,  by  Orange  Judd  & Co.,  as  “ Par- 
sons on  the  Rose.”  It  has  found  its  way  to  thousands 
of  American  homes,  and  done  much  to  aid  the  growth  of 
a love  for  the  beautiful.  His  son  Samuel  has  also  be- 
come known  as  a writer  for  Scribner  and  others,  and  be- 
coming a partner  with  Mr.  Calvert  Vaux  in  the  profes- 
sion of  landscape  gardening  carries  to  it  a knowledge  of 
trees  rarely  found  among  landscape  artists.  The  other 
son,  George  H.,  whose  education  like  that  of  his  brother 
has  been  practical  as  well  as  classical,  has  recently  been 
engaged  by  the'  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railway  Com- 
pany to  organize  a system  of  improvements  on  their  lands 
in  Colorado. 

The  junior  member  of  the  old  firm,  Robert  B.  Parsons, 
retained  the  northern  part  of  the  old  grounds,  including 
the  office  and  greenhouses  on  Broadway,  and  since  the 
dissolution  has  conducted  a large  business  in  the  special- 
ties of  the  old  house,  to  which  he  has  recently  added  the 
extensive  culture  of  roses  and  cut  flowers,  for  which, 
owing  to  the  large  number  of  greenhouses,  the  nursery 
is  well  adapted.  Located  in  a convenient  portion  of  the 
village,  the  nurseries  of  R.  B.  Parsons  & Co.  will  well  enter- 
tain a visitor,  who  will  find  there  some  curiosities,  among 
them  a magnificent  weeping  beech,  unequaled  in  the 
country. 

The  writer  has  been  inclined  to  devote  more  space  to 
the  histories  of  these  nurseries  and  those  who  are  and 
have  been  identified  with  them  than  he  would  have  done 
did  not  every  step  in  their  progress  mark  the  value  of 
proper  training  and  refined  tastes  in  this  as  in  other 
business  enterprises.  At  present  they  represent  the 
combined  taste  and  skill  of  three  generations,  and  the 
influences  that  have  gone  out  from  them  and  educated 
the  tastes  of  others  cannot  be  overestimated. 

John  Henderson  s Floral  Gardens , occupying  some 
sixteen  acres  on  Parsons  avenue,  were  opened  in  1867. 
The  owner,  a native  of  London  and  descended  from  two 
generations  of  English  florists,  came  to  America  in  1854, 
commenced  business  in  a small  way  in  Jersey  City,  be- 
came part  owner  of  The  Oaks,  and  is  now  the  most  ex- 
tensive cultivator  of  cut  flowers  in  the  vicinity.  His  ex- 
tensive establishment  comprises  twenty-four  greenhouses, 
averaging  one  hundred  feet  long,  warmed  by  four-inch 
hot  water  pipes,  of  which  there  are  two  and  three-fourths 
miles,  heated  by  fifteen  large  furnaces,  consuming  annu- 
ally four  hundred  tons  of  coal.  Twelve  rnen  are  em- 
ployed and  the  sales  for  1880  comprised  some  700,000 
choice  flowers,  of  which  more  than  400,000  were  roses. 


94 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  products  of  these  greenhouses  are  all  handled 
through  the  New  York  city  agency  at  940  Broadway,  and 
sold  in  bulk  to  retailers  and  bouquet  makers.  Among  the 
specialties  originated  by  Mr.  Henderson  are  the  Bouvar- 
dia  Elegans,  Tuba  Rose  Pearl,  the  new  dwarf  camelia 
and  Carnation  Snowden,  the  new  dwarf  white  carnation. 

The  Exotic  Gardens , on  Broadway  near  the  Town 
Hall,  were  opened  by  John  Cadness,  and  purchased  by 
Leavitt  & Lawlor.  Their  greenhouses  are  devoted  to 
the  culture  of  cut  flowers,  and  the  firm  suppliesjhejocal 
demand  for  bouquets  and  funeral  and  bridal  pieces. 
The  gardens  and  hotbeds  are  also  devoted  Jo  supplying 
the  local  demand  forjearly  plants,  and  a fair  business  is 
done  in  potted  flowering  plants.  The  location  of  the 
grounds  is  convenient,  and  the  new  proprietors  are  young 
men  of  enterprise  and  ambition. 

G.  E.  Garrettson,  seedsman,  has  the  only  seed  farm  in 
Flushing.  It  comprises  about  one  hundred  acres,  and  is 
on  the  Jamaica  road,  about  a mile  from  the  village.  Mr. 
Garrettson  was  a pupil  of  Grant  Thorburn,  and  was  after- 
ward with  Prince  & Co.  He  established  his  present 
business  on  a small  scale  in  1836,  and  for  many  years 
did  a large  and  flourishing  trade.  Increased  competition 
has,  however,  induced  him  to  curtail  its  dimensions,  and 
it  is  now  confined  to  the  supply  of  his  old  customers, 
and  the  sale  of  seeds  in  bulk.  Mr.  Garrettson  married 
a daughter  of  Daniel  Bloodgood,  and  lives  on  the  old 
Bloodgood  homestead,  which  has  been  in  the  family 
since  1673. 

The  Oaks , at  Bayside,  was  first  opened  as  a nursery 
by  a member  of  the  Hicks  family,  and  was  afterward 
owned  by  Lawrence  and  since  his  proprietorship  by 
Henderson  & Taylor.  The  estate  has  an  area  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres,  on  which  are  twenty-four 
greenhouses,  covering  an  acre,  warmed  by  hot  water 
pipes,  employing  fourteen  men,  and  with  a trade  in 
plants  and  cut  flowers  of  about  $12,000  annually.  The 
present  owner,  John  Taylor,  is  a native  of  England,  and 
the  estate,  aside  from  the  value  of  its  hothouse  products, 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  town,  if  not  in  Queens  county. 

Burial  Places. 

The  oldest  burial  grounds  known  in  the  town  are  those 
of  the  Lawrence  family,  at  Bayside;  the  Skidmores,  at 
Fresh  Meadows,  and  the  Friends’  meeting-house.  We 
have  some  trace  of  the  date  of  the  Friends’  ground  being 
set  apart,  as  a record  of  that  society  shows  that  in  1695 
they  raised  money  by  a subscription  for  the  purpose  of 
fencing  in  their  burial  ground.  On  this  no  stone  was 
allowed  to  mark  the  graves,  and  when  one  sister  evaded 
the  rules  in  spirit  by  planting  a tree  at  the  head  of  her 
husband’s  grave  a stern  old  Quaker  dug  it  up  and  de- 
stroyed it.  Besides  these  the  Parsons  and  Loweree  fami- 
lies have  private  grounds.  An  old  cemetery  is  connected 
with  St.  George’s,  and  the  Catholics  have  a consecrated 
ground  connected  with  St.  Michael’s  church. 

The  rapid  growth  of  population  at  Flushing  made  it 
necessary  to  agree  upon  some  site  for  a village  cemetery 
large  enough  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  locality  for  gene- 


rations to  come,  and  capable  of  improvement  to  any 
extent  deemed  advisable.  An  association  was  incorpo- 
rated in  1853,  and  purchased  a plot  of  twenty-one  acres  in 
a pleasant  part  of  the  town,  about  one  and  a half  miles 
from  the  village,  in  the  vicinity  of  Kissena  Lake.  Here 
the  funds  received  from  fees  and  from  the  sale  of  lots 
have  been  largely  expended  in  beautifying  the  place,  and 
added  to  this  the  large  expenditures  made  by  the  owners 
of  burial  plots  have  been  sufficient  to  make  the  cemetery 
one  of  the  finest  on  the  island.  The  association  will 
take  entire  charge  of  a funeral  when  desired,  furnishing 
carriages  and  attendants,  and  has  a scale  of  prices  for 
such  funerals.  This  course  has  been  adopted  to  prevent 
exorbitant  charges  by  undertakers  and  liverymen,  as 
well  as  to  prove  of  service  in  cases  where  the  deceased 
has  no  near  friend  capable  of  assuming  such  charge. 

WHITESTONE. 

This  village — one  of  the  earliest  settled  points  in 
the  town  of  Flushing — has  a name  of  equal  antiquity; 
it  having  been  named  from  a large  white  stone  or  rock 
which  lies  off  the  point  where  the  tides  from  the  sound 
and  the  East  River  meet.  During  the  popularity  of 
De  Witt  Clinton  a vote  of  the  citizens  at  a public 
meeting  named  the  village  Clintonville;  but  the  old 
name  still  clung  to  it,  and  when,  in  1854,  a post-office 
was  established  it  was  given  the  old  familiar  title.  A. 
Kissam  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  present  incum- 
bent of  the  office  is  Oliver  Taff. 

The  place  was  one  of  no  business  importance  up  to 
1853,  and  in  the  year  1800  there  were  but  twelve  houses 
within  a circuit  of  a mile.  The  date  at  which  the  village 
first  took  any  decisive  advance  was,  as  has  been  said, 
1853,  at  which  time  John  D.  Locke  & Co.,  a firm  of 
eastern  manufacturers,  established  a manufactory  of  tin, 
japan  and  copper  ware,  which  employed  several  hundred 
hands,  and  is  still  the  most  important  business  enterprise 
in  the  place. 

Here  was  the  home  of  Francis  Lewis,  one  of  the  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  on  his  farm 
here  General  Morgan  Lewis,  afterward  governor  of  New 
York,  passed  his  youthful  days.  During  the  early  years 
of  the  present  century  a ferry  was  established  here — its 
other  terminus  being  Throgg’s  Neck  and  the  principal 
business  done  the  transfer  of  cattle.  It  was  under  the 
charge  of  Henry  Kissam  for  fourteen  years.  Sailboats 
were  employed.  In  1856  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to  revive  the  ferry. 

The  rapid  increase  in  population  rendered  necessary 
prompt  and  liberal  action  in  educational  and  religious 
matters,  and  John  D.  Locke,  who  took  up  his  residence 
here  at  the  time  of  founding  his  factory,  has  been 
foremost  in  good  works,  and  a public  spirited  citizen, 
without  whose  assistance  the  progress  made  would  have 
been  impossible. 

The  shore  at  this  place  presents  many  attractions  as  a 
place  of  residence,  and  since  about  1825  a considerable 
number  of  elegant  mansions  have  been  erected  by  gentle- 


INSTITUTIONS  OF  WHITESTONE. 


95 


men  from  New  York  city  and  from  the  southern  States — 
some  of  which  are  now  the  homes  of  prominent  business 
and  professional  men  whose  offices  are  in  New  York. 

The  first  store  in  the  town  is  said  to  have  been  near 
the  landing  here,  and  at  this  place  watchmen  were  sta- 
tioned by  order  of  the  colonial  authorities  during  the 
French  war. 

Beds  of  potter’s  clay  were  found  here,  some  of  suffi- 
cient purity  to  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  tobacco 
pipes,  which  industry  was  carried  on  to  a small  extent 
during  the  first  half  of  the  last  century.  An  advertise- 
ment dated  March  31st  1835  reads:  “ The  widow  of 
Thomas  Parington  offers  for  sale  her  farm  at  Whitestone, 
opposite  Throgg’s  Point.  It  has  20  acres  of  clay  ground 
fit  for  making  tobacco  pipes.”  Another  of  May  31st 
1835:  “ Any  person  desirous  may  be  supplied  with  vases, 
urns,  flower  pots,  etc.,  to  adorn  gardens  and  tops  of 
houses,  or  any  other  ornament  made  of  clay,  by  Edmond 
Annely  at  Whitestone — he  having  set  up  the  potter’s 
business  by  means  of  a German  family  that  he  bought, 
who  are  supposed  by  their  work  to  be  the  most  ingeni- 
ous that  ever  arrived  in  America.  He  has  clay  capable 
of  making  eight  different  kinds  of  ware.” 

locke’s  factory. 

John  D.  Locke  began  business  November  17th  1827, 
in  the  manufacture  of  plain  tinware,  japanned  ware,  toys, 
planished  ware,  stamped  ware  and  trimmings,  the  factory 
being  located  in  Brooklyn.  In  1845  the  business  was 
removed  to  Whitestone.  There  are  18  buildings  devoted 
to  the  various  branches  of  the  enterprise,  and  the  works 
occupy  a block.  The  average  number  of  employes  is 
from  300  to  350.  The  business  has  increased  almost 
constantly  from  the  date  of  its  establishment,  and  is  now 
growing  rapidly.  Mr.  Locke  has  a very  large  domestic 
and  a considerable  export  trade,  most  of  the  goods  ex- 
ported being  shipped  to  Germany.  A South  American 
trade  is  about  being  established,  and  the  reputation  of 
the  products  of  the  factory  is  such  that  they  will  in  time 
be  introduced  in  most  of  the  leading  markets  of  the 
world.  The  goods  are  manufactured  for  the  trade.  The 
business  is  carried  on  under  the  personal  supervision  of 
the  proprietor,  and  the  affairs  of  the  office  and  the  ac- 
counts are  managed  by  his  son  Frank  M.  Locke.  The 
New  York  office  and  salesrooms,  at  44  Cliff  street,  are 
under  the  supervision  of  Aubin  G.  Locke,  another  son 
of  the  proprietor. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The  initial  number  of  the  Whitestone  Herald  was  issued 
by  the  Whitestone  Herald  Publishing  Company,  with 
John  Steren  as  editor,  May  24th  1871.  A few  months 
later  Mr.  Steren  was  succeeded  by  Charles  W.  Smith,  the 
present  editor  of  the  Flushing  Journal , who  continued 
at  the  helm  until  February  1875.  The  Whitestone  Print- 
ing Company  was  then  formed;  the  paper  changed  hands 
and  was  controlled  by  George  W.  Van  Siclen  until  March 
1878,  when  it  was  purchased  by  W.  S.  Overton,  under 
whose  control  the  paper  entered  upon  an  era  of  prosper- 


ity and  has  become  a valuable  property.  It  is  Democratic 
in  politics  but  is  chiefly  devoted  to  local  interests. 

The  College  Point  Mirror,  published  at  Whitestone  by 
W.  S.  Overton,  was  established  in  the  spring  of  1879  by 
the  present  publisher,  with  C.  B.  Westervelt  as  editor. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Overton  assumed  edi- 
torial charge  of  the  paper.  The  Mirror  is  independent 
politically,  with  a leaning  toward  Democratic  principles. 
Its  aim  is  purely  to  aid  the  best  interests  of  the  villages 
and  the  town  whence  it  derives  the  greater  part  of  its 
patronage. 

GRACE  CHURCH. 

The  services  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  were 
first  held  in  Whitestone,  regularly,  about  1840,  in  a 
building  erected  by  Samuel  Leggett  and  others,  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends.  All  religious  denominations 
were  allowed  the  use  of  this  building,  and,  accordingly, 
soon  after  its  erection  several  members  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  church  and  others  residing  in  the  place 
who  preferred  the  services  of  that  church  requested  the 
rectors  of  the  neighboring  parishes  to  hold  services  in 
the  new  building  as  often  as  practicable.  Among  the 
clergymen  who  united  in  maintaining  the  services 
of  the  Episcopal  church  for  several  years  succeeding  the 
above  date  were  the  rectors  of  St.  George’s  church, 
Flushing,  Rev.  Henry  M.  Beard,  D.  D.,  of  Zion  church, 
Little  Neck,  the  late  Rev.  W.  A.  Muhlenberg,  D.  D., 
at  that  time  president  of  St.  Paul’s  College,  at  College 
Point,  and  other  clergymen  who  were  professors  in  the 
institution,  among  whom  we  may  mention  Rev.  Mr.  Van 
Bokelyn,  and  Rt.  Rev.  J.  B.  Kerfoot,  D.  D.,  late  bishop  of 
the  diocese  of  Pittsburgh.  Several  students  of  St.  Paul’s 
College,  who  were  preparing  for  the  university,  also  ren- 
dered very  efficient  service  at  this  place  as  lay  readers 
and  teachers  in  the  Sunday-school. 

In  1855  .the  same  building  in  which  services  had  been 
previously  held  was  rented  of  the  executors  of  Mr.  Leg- 
gett, and  Whitestone  became  a regularly  organized 
mission  of  St.  George’s  Church,  Flushing.  Services  were 
now  regularly  held  by  Rev.  William  Short,  assistant 
minister  of  St.  George’s  Church,  with  the  understanding 
that  his  field  of  labor  should  be  especially  within  the 
limits  of  the  village  of  Whitestone.  The  building  in 
which  the  congregation  worshiped  was  occupied  for  a 
period  of  nearly  six  years. 

The  connection  with  the  parish  of  St.  George’s,  Flush- 
ing, was  dissolved  September  6th  1858,  when  the  parish 
of  Grace  Church,  Whitestone,  was  duly  organized  and 
the  following  officers  elected  : Abraham  B.  Sands  and 
John  D.  Locke,  wardens;  Abraham  Bininger,  A.  H.  Kis- 
sam,  Henry  Lowerree,  Henry  Smith,  Peter  F.  Westervelt, 
Griffith  Rowe,  Charles  H.  Miller  and  John  Barrow,  ves- 
trymen. 

At  a meeting  of  the  vestry,  held  September  12th  the 
same  year,  the  Rev.  William  Shortt,  the  minister  in 
charge,  was  chosen  rector.  Owing  to  an  increased  pros- 
perity of  the  parish  a very  eligible  site  was  purchased, 
and  the  corner  stone  of  a new  church  edifice  was  laid  with 


96 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


the  usual  ceremonies  Maly  ist  1858.  The  new  church, 
handsomely  and  tastefully  built  of  brick,  and  estimated 
to  have  cost  about  $6,000,  was  completed  and  opened  for 
service  November  8th  i860. 

Rev.  William  Shortt  continued  his  ministrations  in  the 
parish  until  May  31st  1865,  when  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  resign.  In  June  following  a call  was  extended  to 
Rev.  B.  H.  Abbott,  of  Carbondale,  Pa.,  who  accepted  and 
soon  entered  upon  the  rectorship  of  the  parish. 

The  same  year  two  additional  lots  adjoining  the  church 
property  were  purchased  and  a Sunday-school  building 
was  erected.  Rev.  Mr.  Abbott  continued  his  services  as 
rector  until  April  3d  1877.  In  the  following  December 
Rev.  Joseph  H.  Young  was  called  to  the  parish,  and  at 
once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  rectorship.  He  re- 
signed April  28th  1879. 

In  July  of  the  same  year  a call  was  extended  to  the 
Rev.  William  F.  Dickinson,  M.  D.,  rector’s  assistant  to 
the  Rev.  J.  R.  Davenport,  D.  D.,  New  York  city,  who 
entered  upon  his  duties  August  ist  1879  and  is  the  pres- 
ent incumbent. 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

The  M.  E.  church  of  Whitestone  was  organized  March 
28th  1850,  and  the  building  was  erected  the  same  year, 
at  a cost  of  $1,200.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  V. 
Abbott.  From  1855  to  1857  Rev.  Mr.  Fitch,  principal 
of  public  schools  at  Flushing,  preached  here  on  Sunday 
evenings,  and  Orange  Judd,  of  Flushing,  had  charge  of 
the  Sunday-school.  In  1858  Rev.  David  Tuthill  was  ap- 
pointed pastor,  but  he  left  within  the  year,  going  to 
Arizona  as  a missionary.  In  1859  Rev.  D.  A.  Goodsell 
was  appointed.  Since  that  time  the  history  of  the 
church  has  been  that  of  a struggle  for  maintenance 
against  adverse  circumstances. 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH. 

There  is  a Catholic  church  in  Whitestone,  which  is 
under  the  charge  of  Father  Connolly.  The  house  of 
worship  was  formerly  used  by  Protestant  denominations. 
These  facts  are  all  the  writer  has  been  able  to  learn  re- 
garding this  church. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  Whitestone  Hook  and  Ladder  and  Bucket  Com- 
pany was  organized  July  21st  1871,  with  Thomas  A. 
Harris  as  foreman,  John  D.  Scott  as  assistant  foreman, 
Charles  Garrison  as  secretary  and  Nicholas  Doscher  as 
treasurer.  There  were  sixteen  members.  The  present 
membership  is  about  thirty-five.  James  L.  Coffin  is 
foreman,  James  Murphy  first  assistant  foreman,  Charles 
Unger  second  assistant  foreman,  Wilbur  Whittaker  secre- 
tary and  Alfred  Wilmot  treasurer.  A.  G.  Montgomery 
is  chief  engineer  of  the  department.  J.  G.  Merritt  and 
Joseph  Winkler  are  assistant  engineers.  Captain  Thomas 
A.  Harris,  who  was  prominent  in  the  organization  of  the 
company,  was  for  many  years  a member  of  the  old  New 
York  volunteer  fire  department. 

The  German  Rifles  is  a military  organization,  Captain 


A.  Martens  commanding.  It  has  been  in  existence 
seven  or  eight  years.  The  first  captain  was  C.  Omman- 
heiser. 

The  Liederkranz,  a German  musical  society,  was  organ- 
ized in  the  fall  of  1880  and  has  about  a dozen  members. 
John  Seitz  is  the  leader. 

COLLEGE  POINT. 

This  village  is  on  the  northwestern  part  of  the  tract  of 
land  known  on  the  early  charts  as  Tew’s  Neck,  afterward 
as  Lawrence’s  Neck,  and  which  for  more  than  a century 
formed  the  estate  of  the  celebrated  William  Lawrence 
and  his  descendants.  Here  the  elder  Lawrence  main- 
tained for  many  years  the  hospitable  manners  and  courtly 
dignity  of  an  English  gentleman  of  his  day,  and  took  part 
in  colonial  matters  of  importance  with  a freshness  and 
vigor  that  made  him  a marked  man. 

After  the  close  of  the  Revolution  a part  of  this  estate 
fell  on  the  market,  and  a tract  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  was  bought  by  Eliphalet  Stratton,  for  ^500. 

But  little  of  interest  occurred  here  prior  to  the  erection 
of  St.  Paul’s  College  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  1846.  This 
institution  was  intended  for  the  education  of  young  men 
for  the  ministry  of  the  Episcopal  church.  The  buildings 
were  still  incomplete,  although  accommodations  had  been 
provided  for  about  one  hundred  students,  when  the  death 
of  the  founder  put  a stop  to  the  enterprise,  and  in  the 
settlement  of  his  estate  the  building  passed  into  other 
hands.  It  has  since  been  occupied  by  private  residences, 
the  chapel,  however,  being  still  devoted  to  religious  uses. 

During  Dr.  Muhlenberg’s  residence  here  he  built,  at 
his  own  expense,  a plank  walk  across  the  meadows  to 
Flushing,  and  in  1855  a causeway  was  constructed  con- 
necting the  two  villages. 

The  history  of  the  place  is  that  of  a rapidly  growing 
manufacturing  village.  In  1854  Conrad  Poppenhusen, 
a German  manufacturer,  erected  here  a large  factory, 
called  the  Enterprise  Works,  for  the  manufacture  of  hard 
rubber  knife  handles,  toilet  articles  and  other  specialties. 
This  establishment  has  employed  as  many  as  five  hun- 
dred hands,  and  its  success  has  led  to  the  immigration  of 
a class  of  German  factory  operatives,  among  whom  other 
manufacturers  have  found  it  easy  to  obtain  the  class  of 
labor  they  required,  and  have  accordingly  sought  this  as 
a location  for  their  works.  In  1880  the  village  formerly 
called  Strattonsport,  now  incorporated  as  College  Point, 
contained  the  works  of  the  Enterprise  Company,  the 
New  York  India  Rubber  Comb  Company,  Funcke’s 
College  Point  Ribbon  Mills,  the  Germania  Ultramarine 
Works,  and  the  extensive  brewery  of  Hirsch  &:  Herman, 
with  a goodly  population,  mostly  of  German  and  Swiss 
nationality. 

Many  of  those  whose  property  is  invested  in  manu- 
facturing interests  here  are  residents  of  the  village,  and 
a number  of  city  business  men  have  built  fine  residences 
here. 

About  the  year  1852  the  daughter  of  Eliphalet  Stratton 
sold  that  part  of  his  estate  now  included  in  the  village, 


COLLEGE  POINT— ITS  CHURCHES. 


97 


for  $30,000,  retaining  180  acres  in  the  family;  thus  the 
original  investment  of  about  $6  per  acre  yielded  for  the 
portion  sold  more  than  forty  times  that  amount. 

To  the  Poppenhusen  family  is  due  the  building  of  the 
New  York,  Flushing  and  North  Shore  Railroad,  and 
many  acts  of  public  spirit  in  local  affairs,  that  have  done 
much  to  build  up  and  beautify  the  place  and  increase  the 
value  of  property. 

The  College  Point  post-office  was  established  in  1857, 
with  H.  Zuberbier  as  postmaster.  Ferdinand  Gentner  is 
the  present  incumbent. 

The  railway  station  was  erected  in  1868,  and  is  a sub- 
stantial brick  building,  two  stories  high,  100  feet  long  by 
25  wide,  containing  baggage,  express  and  telegraph  offices, 
two  spacious  waiting  rooms  and  a restaurant.  The  first 
station  agent  was  Julius  Buhl,  who  had  charge  of  all  the 
offices  in  the  building  for  a year.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Eliza  Sea,  with  Lizzie  Miller  as  ticket  agent,  and  she  by 
C.  R.  Englehardt,  who  was  followed  by  Wilson  Lowerree 
of  Whitestone,  the  present  agent,  who  was  appointed  in 
1874.  Miss  Miller  was  succeeded  as  ticket  agent  by  Misses 
Alcburger  and  Banks;  the  last-named  in  1873  by  Anna 
Schiller,  the  present  ticket  seller  and  telegraph  operator. 

The  village  is  well  supplied  with  beer  gardens  and 
places  of  a similar  character,  and  is  often  a place  of 
Sunday  resort  for  military  and  civic  societies  from  New 
York  and  elsewhere,  who  discourse  in  the  “liquid  gut- 
turals” of  the  Fatherland,  while  they  enjoy  the  sea 
breezes  and  the  foam  from  College  Point  lager;  much  to 
the  annoyance  of  the  class  of  citizens  who  deprecate  the 
advent  of  “ a continental  Sabbath,”  and  to  the  grief  of  at 
least  one  of  the  former  historians  of  Flushing.  The  large 
foreign  element  here  demands  a lax  interpretation  of  ex- 
cise laws,  and  has  heretofore  been  strong  enough  to 
practically  enforce  its  view. 

Like  most  German  villages  College  Point  takes  a deep 
interest  in  educational  matters.  Several  private  board- 
ing schools,  taught  by  German  professors  and  devoted 
largely  to  teaching  music  and  languages,  are  well  sus- 
tained; and  choral  societies  and  saengerbunds  are  a pop- 
ular avenue  for  social  intercourse  and  the  cultivation  of 
the  national  taste  for  music.  The  Germans  of  this  place 
in  proportion  to  their  ability — the  large  majority  of  them 
being  poor  factory  operatives — have  contributed  liberally 
for  the  support  of  religion. 

The  place  is  well  adapted  to  ship  building  purposes, 
and  at  the  time  this  article  was  written  negotiations  were 
pending  for  the  establishment  of  a yard  by  an  exper- 
ienced builder  from  the  east  end  of  the  island. 

This  port  is  the  terminus  of  the  People’s  line  of  steam- 
boats running  to  and  from  New  York,  and  during  the 
summer  is  a stopping  point  for  the  East  River  passenger 
boats,  which,  with  the  convenient  railroad  facilities  af- 
forded by  the  North  Shore  road,  render  it  convenient 
of  access  to  parties  doing  business  in  New  York,  and 
tend  to  encourage  immigration. 

CHURCH  HISTORY. 

St.  Paul's  Free  Chapel  was  built  by  a number  of  the 


friends  of  religious  interests  at  College  Point  and  else- 
where The  Flushing  Bible  Society  had  for  several  years 
employed  a colporteur,  a Mr.  Caldwell,  at  this  place;  but 
decided  in  1859  to  discontinue  his  services.  A Sunday- 
school  having  been  started  by  him,  and  growing  rapidly 
in  attendance,  being  held  at  the  district  school-house,  it 
was  determined  to  erect  a free  chapel,  hoping  that  such 
an  effort  would  crystallize  the  different  elements  of  relig- 
ious faith  here,  and  encourage  assistance  from  more  fa- 
vored localities.  W.  O.  Chisholm,  F.  A.  Potts,  C.  W. 
Whitney,  Spencer  H.  Smith,  W.  H.  Stebbins  jr.,  and 
H.  A.  Bogert  became  a committee  to  carry  out  the  pro- 
ject. Mr.  Poppenhusen  generously  donated  a plot  of 
ground,  and  nearly  $3,000  was  raised  by  subscription. 
The  building  was  completed  January  1st  i860. 

St.  Fidelis  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  built  at  College 
Point  in  1856,  the  corner  stone  having  been  laid  in  July, 
and  the  dedication  occurring  on  the  1st  of  November, 
Bishop  Loughlin,  of  the  diocese  of  Brooklyn,  officiating. 
The  church  is  a frame  building,  seventy-five  by 
thirty-three  feet.  The  founder  of  the  parish  was  Rev. 
Joseph  Huber,  a native  of  Austria,  who  was  ordained  at 
Albany  in  1853  and  served  as  assistant  pastor  of  Holy 
Trinity  Church  of  Brooklyn  until  he  was  sent  to  this 
place  to  organize  a parish,  which  now  consists  of  perhaps 
one  hundred  and  fifty  families,  about  equally  divided  be- 
tween the  English  and  German  speaking  residents.  The 
Sunday-school  is  in  charge  of  Father  Huber  and  a Miss 
Delaney  and  has  an  average  attendance  of  sixty.  A week 
day  school,  with  about  seventy-five  scholars,  in  charge  of 
a secular  teacher,  who  is  the  church  organist,  and  St. 
Fidelis  Society — a co-operative  relief  association  of  about 
forty  members,  of  which  Jacob  Becker  is  president — are 
the  principal  auxiliaries  to  the  work  of  the  church. 

One  of  the  most  imposing  events  in  the  history  of  St. 
Fidelis  Church  was  the  celebration  of  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  pastor’s  ordination,  which  occurred  on 
May  2 1 st  1878,  in  the  presence  of  Bishop  Loughlin, 
seventy  priests  and  a host  of  friends.  The  church  build- 
ing is  located  on  Fifteenth  street,  near  High. 

The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  (unaltered 
Augsburgian  confession)  is  named  St.  Johannes,  and 
stands  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  avenue  and  Fourteenth 
street.  Some  members  of  the  Lutheran  Trinity  Church 
in  Ninth  street.  New  York,  Rev.  Th.  J.  Brohrn,  had 
moved  to  Strattonsport,  and  Mr.  Brohm  came  and 
preached  at  their  request  to  the  German  settlers  in  the 
new  place.  On  March  15th  1857  the  first  regular  meet- 
ing was  held  and  an  organization  formed.  There  were 
six  members,  viz.:  H.  Bannewitz,  V.  Dissen,  P.  Illers, 
E.  Grube,  C.  Otto  and  J.  Hebei.  They  are  all  still 
residents  of  the  vicinity  except  Mr.  Dissen,  who  moved 
away.  The  first  services  were  held  in  the  public  school- 
house.  G.  Loeber,  a nephew  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brohm, 
organized  a school,  and  preached  Sundays  until  the  end 
of  the  year  1857,  when  he  received  a call  to  Chicago. 
About  this  time  the  building  of  a church  was  resolved 
upon,  money  was  collected  among  the  members,  as  well 
as  among  friends  in  New  York,  Flushing  and  vicinity, 


98 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and  a building  for  church  and  school  purposes  was  com- 
menced. The  walls  and  roof  of  the  church  were  erected 
and  the  school-house  was  finished,  in  which  through 
the  winter  Sunday  services  were  held.  In  1858  Rev.  A. 
Heitmuller  was  called  to  be  pastor  of  the  congregation. 
The  inside  of  the  church  was  then  finished,  and  on  the  4th 
of  July  the  building  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Th.  Brohm. 
Rev.  Mr.  Heitmuller  remained  until  March  1861,  when 
he  was  called  to  Elyria,  Ohio,  which  call  he  accepted. 
In  September  following  Rev.  Julius  Renz,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Ind.,  accepted  a call  and  became  minister.  He  staid 
until  June  1863.  In  May  1864  Rev.  A.  Ebendrik  was 
called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the  congregation.  He 
accepted  and  still  serves.  In  1879  the  church,  25  by  36 
feet  in  size,  proved  too  small,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
make  an  addition  of  20  feet  to  the  length  of  it,  which 
was  accomplished.  The  congregation  has  no  Sunday 
school  of  the  kind  common  in  this  country,  but  every 
Sunday  afternoon  a public  catechization  of  the  young 
people  is  held  by  the  pastor. 

In  1876  a lot  adjoining  the  church  was  bought  and  a 
parsonage  built  upon  it. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  only  public  school  in  this  part  of  the  town  at  the 
commencement  of  the  present  century  was  held  in  a 
small  red  school-house  near  the  sound.  John  McDer- 
mott, who  taught  here  for  several  years,  was  one  of  the 
first  teachers,  if  not  the  first,  in  Whitestone.  The  build- 
ing becoming  inconvenient  in  size  and  location  a new 
one  was  decided  on,  and  on  May  1st  1818  a lease  from 
Hewlett  Kissam,  of  a lot  45  by  20  feet,  was  granted  to 
the  district  at  a rental  of  three  dollars.  On  this  a small 
plain  building  was  erected  at  a cost  of  $250.  The  first 
trustees  were  John  L.  Franklin,  William  Powell  and 
Hewlett  Kissam.  This  building  was  in  use  about  twenty 
years.  The  first  to  teach  in  it  was  Thomas  R.  Starkins. 
Among  the  pupils  who  attended  were  Joseph  Harris, 
James  Fowler,  George  L.  Smith  and  Edwin  Powell — now 
among  the  most  honored  citizens  of  the  town  of  Flushing. 

In  1838  the  school  had  grown  too  large  for  its  building 
and  it  became  necessary  to  remove  to  the  basement  of 
what  is  now  the  Catholic  church;  a building  owned  at 
the  time  by  Samuel  Leggett,  which  is  spoken  of  else- 
where, and  the  use  of  which  was  donated  to  the  board 
by  the  philanthropic  owner.  Hon.  B.  W.  Downing  and 
William  Thickett  were  teachers  here  for  some  time. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Leggett  his  executor  decided 
to  charge  rent  for  the  basement,  which  fact,  added  to  the 
dampness  of  the  rooms,  led  to  an  effort  to  build  a suit- 
able school-house.  This  was  met  by  an  attempted  se- 
cession of  the  part  of  the  district  near  Bayside,  which, 
after  a long  struggle,  was  foiled;  and  a new  building  was 
erected  in  what  was  then  the  central  portion  of  the  vil- 
lage, at  a cost  of  $800.  The  first  term  of  school  taught 
there  was  under  the  care  of  William  Thickett. 

Until  the  year  1857  the  school  was  supported  by  the 
payment  of  part  tuition  by  the  parents,  John  D.  Locke 
very  generously  paying  a dollar  for  every  child  who  at- 


tended from  the  families  of  the  employes  in  his  large 
factory.  On  the  t 6th  of  April  in  the  year  last  named  a 
special  law  was  obtained,  making  tuition  absolutely  free 
and  providing  for  a board  of  education.  This  law  went 
into  effect  June  1st  1857.  Charles  A.  Roe,  Aaron  C. 
Underhill,  W.  H.  Schemerhorn,  Edwin  Powell  and 
Thomas  Leggett  jr.  were  appointed  the  first  board  of 
education.  Under  this  system  the  school  has  continued 
prosperous.  In  1873  the  building  then  in  use  by  the 
schools  was  purchased  by  the  village  council,  who  re- 
modeled it  into  a town  hall.  The  board  then  erected 
the  present  building,  a two-story  brick  structure  con- 
taining nine  rooms,  seven  of  which  are  separated  by 
sliding  panels.  Its  entire  cost  was  about  $13,000.  The 
schools  are  now  consolidated  into  a union  graded  school, 
taught  by  seven  teachers  and  with  an  average  attendance 
of  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred.  The 
managers  of  the  school  state  that  its  relations  with  the 
community  are  harmonious,  and  its  reputation  good. 

A school  known  as  Leisemann’s  Institute  from  a small 
beginning  grew  to  be  quite  well  known  and  successful. 
Three  or  four  years  ago  it  was  purchased  by  Adolph  Von 
Uerhtritz,  the  present  manager.  Otto  Fuerst  established 
a boys’  school,  called  Fuerst’s  Institute,  about  1874, 
which  he  conducted  until  his  death  in  1879.  Mrs. 
Clark’s  private  school  is  one  of  the  local  educational 
enterprises  of  the  present  time. 

THE  COLLEGE  POINT  BREWERY. 

The  brewing  interests  of  this  place  have  been  among 
its  most  important  business  enterprises.  The  first  one 
was  started  by  Nicholas  Centner,  a German,  who  came 
from  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1854,  and  opened  a place  on 
Sixth  avenue,  between  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  streets, 
which  was  discontinued  in  1856. 

The  most  important  of  them,  however,  has  been  the 
establishment  founded  in  1868  by  Adolph  Levinger  & 
Co.,  who  came  here  from  New  York  city.  The 
buildings  are  on  Eleventh  street,  built  of  brick,  and  oc- 
cupy a space  two  hundred  feet  square,  with  storing  vaults 
below  having  a capacity  of  fifty  thousand  barrels,  which 
is  the  annual  capacity  of  the  brewery.  In  1872  the 
property  was  purchased  by  Jacob  Hirsch,  of  New  York, 
who  removed  here  with  his  family  in  1878.  He  has 
added  to  the  buildings  an  ice-house,  erected  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  street,  where  the  summer’s  supply  of  ice 
— 5,000  tons — is  annually  stored.  On  the  first  of  July 
1880  George  Herman,  of  Brooklyn,  purchased  an  inter- 
est, and  the  brewery  is  now  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  Flirsch  & Herman.  About  forty  men  and 
twelve  teams  are  employed  constantly,  and  .he  products 
of  the  brewery  have  acquired  a wide  demand  among  the 
lovers  of  the  Teutonic  beverage  in  many  of  the  markets 
of  the  world,  large  quantities  being  bottled  and  shipped 
to  Australia  and  other  antipodal  parts. 

SOCIETIES — THE  HOSE  COMPANY. 

Harmonie  Soricfy. — This  is  the  oldest  society  at  College 
Point.  It  was  organized  August  24th  1855,  and  incor- 


COLLEGE  POINT  SOCIETIES. 


99 


porated  in  1874.  It  owns  a good  library,  including  a 
great  number  of  music  books;  its  hall  is  provided  with  a 
stage.  The  charter  members  were  Dr.  Weitzel,  F.  A. 
Zoeller,  Frederick  Busch,  Gottlieb  Schwieger,  C.  F.  Simon, 

G.  A.  Fritz,  F.  G.  Meyer,  H.  Glaser  and  Peter  Buhl. 
The  first  officers  were:  C.  F.  Simon,  president;  F.  A. 
Zoeller,  vice-president:  Peter  Buhl,  secretary ; H.  Glaser, 
secretary;  G.  A.  Fritz,  treasurer;  Dr.  Weitzel,  F.  G.  Meyer 
and  H.  Glaser,  finance  committee. 

The  successive  presidents  have  been  C.  F.  Simon, 

H.  Zuberbier,  J.  H.  Rehlander,  Alexander  Brehm,  C. 
Glaeckner,  C.  Schiller  and  Matthias  Conrad.  The  of- 
ficers in  1880  were:  Matthias  Conrad,  president;  Moritz 
Roesler,  vice-president;  J.  Neumann,  secretary;  Ernst 
Foeller,  assistant  secretary;  Eugene  Luthi,  librarian ; F. 
Hohn,  assistant  librarian;  N.  Beiderlenden,  treasurer; 
G.  Golsner,  G.  Schubert,  C.  Schmidt,  P.  Wacker,  Anton 
Klarmann,  Nicholas  Rosenbauer  and  C.  Koppmeier,  ex- 
ecutive committee;  Albert  Steinfeld,  director.  The 
membership  is  eighty- three.  Regular  meetings  are  held 
the  first  Sarurday  of  each  month,  and  singing  lessons 
given  every  Saturday  evening  in  Gaiser’s  Hall.  The 
property  of  the  society  is  valued  at  $2,500. 

Union  Hose  Company , No.  1,  was  organized  February 
17th  1857,  with  the  following  first  officers  and  original 
members  : Messrs.  Haubeil,  foreman;  Hebei,  assistant 
foreman;  Meier,  treasurer;  Schrell,  secretary;  Kannewitz, 
Winter,  Corell  and  Wuerz.  The  successive  foremen  have 
been  Messrs.  Grossman,  Nicholas  Cauzet,  Feldhaus, 
Henize,  M.  Jorch,  F.  Funk,  A Ruebsamen,  H.  Mueller, 
C.  Bauer,  J.  Becker,  J.  Wieners,  Philip  Lebknecher, 
Nicholas  Becker,  J.  Strauss  and  F.  Koch.  The  present 
(1881)  officers,  besides  the  foreman,  are  : Alvis  Reiss, 
assistant  foreman;  M.  Braentigam,  treasurer;  H.  Geiger, 
secretary.  Meetings  are  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
each  month  in  the  Turn  Hall. 

Society  Krakehlia. — This  is  the  name  of  a singing  so- 
ciety organized  August  15th  1858,  with  F.  Trunk,  Theo- 
dore Feldhaus,  John  Meyer,  Richard  Lutters  and  Robert 
Lutters  as  members.  F.  Trunk  was  the  first  president  ; 
W.  Kaufman,  vice-president;  Richard  Lutters,  secretary; 
W.  Mehus,  treasurer,  and  Jacob  Blank,  musical  director. 
F.  Trunk  was  president  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
W.  Mehus,  C.  Regity,  A.  Rausch,  W.  Mehus,  C.  Krum- 

me, Lieber,  R.  Lutters,  Philip  Rattman  (five 

years),  F.  Lutters  (three  years),  James  Blank  and  Jacob 
Huber,  the  present  incumbents  (1881).  The  other 
officers  at  that  time  were:  Philip  Lebknecher,  vice-pres- 
ident; H.  Dana,  secretary;  F.  W.  Mehus,  treasuier;  C. 
Doering,  librarian;  C.  Dicker  and  J.  Steinbeck,  archi- 
vists; C.  F.  Haas,  director.  Meetings  are  held  at  Krae- 
mer’s  hall  every  Saturday  evening  at  eight.  The  objects 
of  the  society  are  vocal  culture  and  social  amusement. 
It  has  a good  library. 

Alarvin  Lodge , No.  252,  I.  O.  O.  F.  was  organized 
October  26th  1870,  with  the  following  named  first  officers 
and  charter  members  ; William  O.  Duval,  N.  G.;  Wil- 
liam Heinge,  V.  G.;  F.  W.  Grell,  secretary;  F.  Lutters, 
treasurer,  and  C.  Stender.  The  following  members  have 


been  elevated  to  the  chair  of  noble  grand  : William  O. 
Duval,  William  Heinge,  F.  W.  Grell,  F.  Lutters,  H. 
Kraemer,  J.  F.  Wieners,  Charles  Marse,  A.  Jackers,  F. 
Buckley,  Joseph  Blank,  T.  Miller,  Matthew  Frees,  Eu- 
gene Luthi,  'F.  W.  Dackendorf,  F.  Ewers,  Charles  Frey- 
gang,  F.  Hunold,  William  Grimm,  H.  Kraemer,  and  P. 
Matz. 

The  officers  in  1881  were:  A.  K.  Hunter,  N.  G.;  John 
Kraemer,  V.  G.;  F.  W.  Dackendorf,  secretary,  F.  Ewers, 
treasurer:  John  Friedman,  C.;  H.  Williams;  W.;  Jacob 
Williams,  S.  W. ; William  Heinge,  R.  S.;  William  Grimm, 
L.  S.;  A.  Jacobs,  chaplain.  Meetings  are  held  at  8 p.  m. 
Wednesdays,  at  the  Poppenhusen  Institute. 

Deutsche  Rhein  Lodge , No.  287,  D.  O.  H. — This  so- 
ciety was  organized  September  22nd  1872,  and  meets 
every  Tuesday  evening  at  Turn  Hall.  Its  charter  mem- 
bers were  : Henry  Horn,  Jacob  Huber,  John  Mangier, 
Moritz  Levinger,  H.  Kugelberg  and  P.  Hoffman.  The 
first  officers  were  : John  Brehm,  O.  B.;  John  Mangier, 
U.  B.;  Moritz  Levinger,  secretary;  H.  Kugelberg,  trea- 
surer; H.  Horn,  accountant.  The  successive  presiding 
officers  have  been  John  Mangier,  Jacob  Huber,  H. 
Horn,  Henry  Dana,  Joseph  Dackendorf,  H.  Decker,  F. 
A.  Mueller,  F.  Lutters,  William  Knote,  Karl  Klein, 
Augustus  Meyer,  John  Rech,  John  Schmidt  and  H. 
Grosskurth.  The  officers  in  1881  were:  H.  Grosskurth, 
Ex.-B.;  John  Weitzel,  O.  B.;  F.  Dackendorf,  U.  B.;  F. 
Lutters,  secretary;  Henry  Decker,  treasurer;  Frank 
Reindel,  accountant. 

The  Sick  Relief  Association  of  College  Point  was  or- 
ganized February  nth  1873.  The  charter  members 
were  Carl  Haubeil,  Michael  Braentigam,  Daniel  Barth, 
Gottfried  Mahler,  Mahler,  Fr.  Hetzer,  Nicholas  Rosen- 
bauer, George  Hoffman,  Nicholas  Cauzet,  August  Ken- 
dell. 

The  first  officers  were:  Carl  Haubeil,  president; 
Michael  Braentigam,  vice-president;  Gottfried  Mahler, 
secretary;  Daniel  Barth,  assistant  secretary;  Nicholas 
Rosenbauer,  treasurer. 

The  singing  society  Alpenroesli  was  organized  January 
nth  1880.  The  charter  members  were  A.  Noetzli,  J. 
Graefli,  E.  Luthi,  J.  Duerenberger,  Th.  Dannacher,  Th. 
Bollier,  M.  Bollier,  J.  Wagner,  G.  Benz,  E.  Frey,  William 
Recher,  J.  Hertner. 

The  first  officers  were:  A.  Noetzli,  president;  J.  Graefli, 
secretary;  E.  Luthi,  vice-president. 

The  presiding  officers  to  this  time  have  been  A.  Noetzli, 
E.  Luthi  and  J.  Graefli. 

The  officers  in  1881  were:  J.  Graefli,  president;  J. 
Duerenberger,  vice-president;  Th.  Bollier,  secretary; 
William  Cooper,  treasurer;  A.  Steinfeld,  director. 

Singing  lessons  are  taken  every  Monday  evening. 

This  society  received  a silver  goblet  as  a prize  at  the 
international  singing  festival  in  bjewark  in  August  1881. 

The  Germania  Sick  Relief  Association  was  organized 
July  5th  1881,  with  the  following  charter  members:  John 
Wahl,  George  Seibert,  John  Haunfelder,  Seb.  Pickel, 
Nicholas  Neu,  August  Kersten,  Max  Eisner.  The  first 
officers  were:  John  Wahl,  president;  George  Seibert, 


13 


IOO 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


vice-president;  John  Haunfelder,  first  secretary;  Fer- 
dinand Schneier,  second  secretary;  Nicholas  Neu, 
treasurer. 

The  officers  in  1881  were:  Jacob  Mueller,  president; 
George  Hoffmann,  vice-president;  Michael  Schaefer, 
first  secretary;  August  Kendell,  second  secretary;  Fr. 
Landes,  treasurer;  Conrad  Schmidt,  Heinrich  Meyer, 
Fr.  Kutger,  finance  committee;  August  Kersten,  Jacob 
Ehm,  John  Schuetter,  trustees. 

BAYSIDE. 

Bayside,  a pleasant  line  of  handsome  villas  and  sub- 
stantial farm  houses,  was  settled  very  soon  after  the  first 
immigration  to  Flushing.  Here  the  Indians  lived  on 
friendly  terms  with  the  whites  until  the  edicts  of  the 
Dutch  governor  required  their  disarmament,  when  they 
drifted  to  the  south  side  of  the  island.  Dr.  John  Rod- 
man,  an  eminent  Quaker  physician  and  minister,  lived 
here  some  forty  years,  and  died  in  1731,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  family  were  some  of  them  residents 
till  long  after  the  Revolution;  and  one  of  them,  John 
Rodman,  recovered  in  1787  a judgment  against  the  in- 
famous Hamilton  of  ^2,000  for  the  wanton  destruction 
of  his  spruce  timber  by  the  tories,  who  were  quartered 
here  during  his  administration.  The  fine  view  of  the 
sound  and  the  healthfulness  of  the  locality  made  it  known 
as  an  eligible  locality  for  country  residences,  and  in 
Revolutionary  times  some  of  its  residents  were  New  York 
business  men.  The  larger  proportion  of  the  property 
owners  are  of  that  class,  including  a number  of  retired 
professional  men  and  a few  Southern  families.  It  is  and 
probably  always  will  be  a country  home;  and  as  the  sur- 
veyed village  plot  contains  some  five  thousand  building 
lots  there  will  be  ample  room  for  years  to  come  for  all 
who  are  attracted  by  its  many  advantages.  The  enter- 
prise and  refinement  of  the  residents  of  Bayside  have  led 
to  important  improvements. 

THE  UNION  FREE  SCHOOL. 

This  school  was  organized  from  school  district  No.  2, 
which  now  has  a population  of  about  one  thousand.  The 
date  of  its  establishment  is  January  15th  1864.  The 
building,  which  was  erected  in  i860,  is  on  leased  ground 
on  the  property  of  James  Cain;  but  the  sum  of  $1,000 
was  voted  in  1880  for  the  purchase  of  a site,  and  steps 
are  being  taken  to  select  a more  convenient  location  and 
one  fully  under  control  of  the  school  board. 

Hon.  Luther  C.  Carter  was  the  first  president  of  the 
board,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until  his  removal  to 
New  York.  The  school  has  two  carefully  selected  li- 
braries, one  of  which,  containing  some  four  hundred 
volumes,  was  the  gift  of  President  Carter. 

Three  teachers  are  employed;  the  school  is  graded, 
and  the  reports  for  1880  show  a school  population  of 
300,  with  a registered  attendance  of  170.  The  total 
valuation  of  the  district  is  $460,500,  and  the  tax  rate 
averages  twenty-five  cents  to  $100. 

The  board  of  education  for  1881  consisted  of  John 


W.  Harway,  James  W.  Cain,  Abraham  Bell,  John  Strait- 
ton  and  John  W.  Ahles. 

THE  BAYSIDE  LITERARY  SOCIETY. 

In  November  1868  the  late  Edward  R.  Sheffield 
organized  an  educational  society,  and  it  was  named 
after  the  place.  Its  object  was  mutual  improvement  in 
reading,  recitations  and  debate.  Its  meetings  were  held 
weekly  during  the  winter  season,  at  the  school-house, 
and  a large  membership  was  attained.  In  1872,  the 
older  members  having  mainly  withdrawn,  the  school 
board  refused  to  allow  the  society  the  further  use  of  the 
school-house,  which  was  perhaps  the  very  thing  needed 
to  quicken  it  into  life  again.  Meetings  were  held  that 
winter  at  the  homes  of  the  members  and  others,  and  on 
February  7th  1873  articles  of  incorporation  were  obtained 
by  Eugene  C.  Roe,  James  W.  Cain,  James  O’Donnell,  T. 
Whitney  Powell  and  Frank  C.  Bouse  as  trustees  for  the 
Bayside  Literary  Society — an  organization  for  the  pur- 
pose of  encouraging  home  talent  and  the  cultivation  of 
the  art  of  debating,  as  well  as  for  literary  and  scientific 
purposes  generally. 

A fine  plot  of  ground,  one  hundred  feet  square,  was 
donated  to  the  society  by  Messrs.  Straitton  & Storm,  and 
on  Decoration  day  1874  the  corner  stone  of  a hall  was 
laid  by  Robert  Willets,  president,  in  presence  of  a large 
gathering  of  people.  Hon.  L.  Bradford  Prince  delivered 
an  address,  and  an  important  work  was  pleasantly  and 
safely  inaugurated.  On  the  16th  of  October  of  the  same 
year  the  building  was  completed  and  formally  opened. 
Bands  and  glee  clubs  from  adjacent  villages  discoursed 
music,  and  Hon.  B.  W.  Downing,  Hon.  L.  B.  Prince,  J.  W< 
Covert,  Eugene  C.  Roe  and  M.  D.  Gould  made  short 
and  appropriate  addresses,  congratulating  the  people  on 
the  successful  completion  of  Bayside  Literary  Hall. 

The  trustees  of  the  institution  in  1881  were  John 
Straitton,  John  W.  Harway,  James  W.  Cain,  Frederic 
Storm  and  William  Ahles. 

RELIGIOUS  MOVEMENTS. 

Some  years  since  a feeble  effort  was  made  to  establish 
a class  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination,  which 
resulted  in  failure.  On  the  completion  of  Bayside  Liter- 
ary Hall  its  trustees  voted  its  use  to  any  and  all  religious 
denominations  who  would  make  an  effort  to  establish  reg- 
ular services  on  Sunday.  Immediately  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  hall  St.  George’s  P.  E.  Church  of  Flushing  ac- 
cepted the  offer  and  established  here  a Sunday-school 
and  mission,  under  the  care  of  George  R.  Vandewater, 
lay  reader,  then  in  the  theological  seminary,  now  rector 
of  a prominent  church  in  Brooklyn.  The  meetings,  which 
at  first  were  largely  attended,  are  still  conducted,  and 
with  the  Sunday-school  form  the  only  local  religious 
interest. 

Some  time  about  the  year  1861  the  Society  of  Friends 
contributed  a fund  with  which  they  erected  a small  frame 
building  on  land  the  use  of  which  was  donated  to  them 
by  Mrs.  Bell,  and  opened  a school,  which  they 
supported  until  1877,  when,  the  necessity  for  it  having 


BAYSIDE— LITTLE  NECK— WILLET’S  POINT. 


ior 


ceased  by  reason  of  the  excellent  character  of  the  public 
schools,  it  was  abandoned. 

PROMINENT  RESIDENTS. 

Messrs.  Straitton  & Storm,  of  New  York,  who  built 
here  country  seats  for  themselves  and  homes  for  some 
eighteen  or  twenty  families  of  the  skilled  workmen  in 
their  great  cigar  factory,  have  recently  introduced  the 
Holly  water  system,  by  an  arrangement  with  the  village 
of  Flushing  which  permitted  the  tapping  of  one  of  its 
mains,  and  during  the  past  year  have  effected  a thorough 
system  of  sewerage  on  an  improved  plan,  which  applies 
to  all  of  their  buildings  here  and  adds  materially  to  their 
value  from  a hygienic  stand  point. 

James  Cain,  a well  known  and  active  Democratic  poli- 
tician in  the  last  generation,  came  to  Long  Island  in  1828, 
engaging  in  farming  and  the  milk  business  on  land  now 
covered  by  parts  of  Fifth  avenue  and  Bergen  Streep 
Brooklyn,  and  at  one  time  tilled  land  within  two  blocks 
of  where  the  City  Hall  now  stands.  He  afterward  oc- 
cupied the  place  known  as  Washington’s  headquarters, 
the  farm-house  on  which  was  built  in  1692.  For  twenty- 
three  years  he  supplied  a milk  route  in  New  York,  and 
during  eighteen  years  of  that  time  claimed  that  he  had 
never  failed  to  serve  his  customers  twice  daily.  In  1852 
he  became  a resident  of  Bayside,  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  he  died,  and  took  a general  interest  in  political 
matters,  though  never  as  an  office-seeker  or  in  any  official 
position.  He  died  December  7th  1880,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  seventy-six  years. 

LITTLE  NECK. 

Little  Neck,  in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  the  town, 
on  a bay  of  the  same  name,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
localities  in  the  town  from  an  archaeological  point  of  view. 
The  vast  quantity  of  clams  and  oysters  found  here  made 
it  a favorite  residence  of  the  Indians,  and  here  much  of 
the  wampum  used  by  the  Five  Nations  was  said  to  have 
been  manufactured.  Traces  of  Indian  occupancy  are 
frequent,  and  a large  variety  of  relics  has  been  unearthed 
in  the  vicinity.  The  part  now  known  as  Douglaston  was 
first  settled  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeemh  century 
by  Thomas  Hicks,  who,  assisted  by  a party  of  adherents 
from  the  mainland,  drove  off  the  Indians  and  forcibly 
seized  their  lands.  This  is  perhaps  the  only  part  of  the 
town  of  Flushing  where  such  rank  injustice  was  practiced 
The  Hicks  family  have  been  represented  in  the  locality 
down  to  the  present  time,  although  what  was  afterward 
called  Point  Douglass  passed  from  them  to  one  Shief,  a 
Hollander;  thence  to  Thomas  Weeks,  who  sold  it  to 
Wynant  Van  Zandt,  who  in  1824  constructed  the  causeway 
connecting  it  with  Flushing,  and  built  the  bridge  at  his 
own  expense.  His  course  was  marked  by  the  utmost 
liberality  in  all  things,  and  the  people  of  the  town  and  of 
his  neighborhood  have  in  Zion’s  P.  E.  Church,  which  he 
erected  and  furnished,  together  with  the  glebe  donated 
to  the  people  of  the  place,  a monument  to  his  memory 
that  will  be  far  more  lasting  than  any  which  wealth  or 
affection  could  have  erected  for  him. 


A post-office  was  established  in  1859,  with  J.  A.  Chap- 
man as  postmaster. 

A woolen-mill  was  built  here  at  a place  called  “ the 
Alley,”  by  John  Bird,  who  operated  it  until  1850,  when  it 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  entailing  a loss  of  $10,000  and 
putting  an  end  to  the  manufacturing  interests  of  the 
place. 

The  Van  Zandt  farm  on  Douglass  Point  was  sold  to 
George  Douglass,  and  by  his  son  W.  B.  Douglass  has 
been  laid  out  in  a village  plot  and  thrown  on  the  market. 
Inducements  are  offered  to  purchasers  that  have  been 
taken  advantage  of  to  some  extent,  and  as  the  place  is 
supplied  with  fair  railroad  facilities  hopes  are  entertained 
that  it  will  eventually  become  a popular  place  of  residence 
for  city  people. 

The  principal  industry  now  carried  on  at  Little  Neck 
is  the  shipment  of  the  clams,  now  famous  throughout 
the  country.  In  this  a number  of  sloops  are  engaged. 
The  bay  was  planted  with  oysters  and  for  several  years 
the  yield  was  satisfactory,  but,  owing  to  the  depredation 
of  oyster  thieves,  the  supply  is  now  nearly  exhausted. 

The  docks  were  built  in  1862,  and  are  now  used  prin- 
cipally by  the  Van  Nostrands  for  the  coal  business. 

WILLET’S  POINT. 

This  neck  of  land  putting  out  into  the  sound  east  of 
Whitestone  remained  an  unimportant  farm  district,  owned 
by  the  family  whose  name  was  given  it,  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  late  war,  when  a speculator,  noting  its 
strategic  value,  purchased  it  of  the  owners,  and  soon 
after  transferred  it  for  a large  sum  to  the  United  States 
government,  which  commenced  the  erection  of  a massive 
fortress  that  was  to  command  the  approaches  to  the  East 
River.  In  May  i86r  a Maine  regiment  was  quartered 
here,  and  during  the  war,  while  the  erection  of  the  fort 
was  being  carried  on,  the  reservation  was  used  to  some 
extent  as  a hospital. 

The  revolution  in  maritime  warfare  begun  by  the 
“ Monitor,”  and  completed  by  the  torpedo,  proved  the 
futility  of  such  defenses  as  this,  and  the  government  wisely 
decided  not  to  complete  it,  but  to  establish  here  a head- 
quarters for  a general  system  of  coast  and  harbor  de- 
fenses, by  forming  a permanent  camp  and  school  for  the 
engineer  corps  of  the  regular  army.  It  would  be  inter- 
esting to  know  how  much  of  the  success  that  the  public 
attributes  to  skillful  generals  and  brave  soldiers  is  really 
due  to  this  little  body  of  men,  whose  organization  up  to 
1846  consisted  only  of  a few  commissioned  officers,  and 
whose  first  company  of  sappers,  miners  and  pontoniers, 
organized  during  that  year  and  drilled  by  Lieutenant 
George  B.  McClellan,  were  the  forerunners  of  the  brave 
body  of  hard  workers  who  were  sneered  at  during  the 
war  for  the  Union  as  “ McClellan’s  Pets.”  This  com- 
pany first  saw  service  in  the  Mexican  war,  where  during 
the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz  they  proved  their  value.  From 
that  time  to  1861  the  members  of  the  company  were 
scattered  throughout  the  entire  army,  surveying,  superin- 
tending the  construction  of  forts  and  roads,  and  at  West 
Point  giving  practical  instruction  to  cadets.  In  1861 


102 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


four  additional  companies  were  created,  making  a total 
of  five  companies,  with  io  sergeants,  io  corporals,  2 mu- 
sicians and  128  privates  in  each.  After  their  laborious 
services  in  the  late  war — the  worth  of  which  every  mili- 
tary man  now  appreciates — it  was  decided  to  make  Wil- 
let’s  Point  the  headquarters  of  the  engineering  depart- 
ment, with  three  companies  forming  its  garrison.  (One 
company  went  to  Goat  Island,  on  the  Pacific  coast,  an- 
other to  West  Point).  Two  reductions  ordered  since 
then  have  reduced  the  garrison  at  headquarters  to  5 ser- 
geants, 4 corporals,  2 musicians  and  39  privates  in  each 
company. 

The  importance  of  this  post  consists  in  the  fact  that  it 
*s  the  only  military  engineer  depot  of  the  United  States, 
the  arsenal  tor  all  sapping  and  mining  tools  and  pontoon 
material  needed  for  the  equipage  of  its  armies,  the  school 
for  submarine  mining,  and  the  depot  for  all  material  per- 
taining to  the  present  system  of  torpedo  defenses. 

Here  are  to  be  found  men  bearing  only  the  rank  of  pri- 
vate who  are  trained  to  be  good  mining  engineers  and  fair 
mechanics,  and  given  a knowledge  of  the  proper  method 
of  handling  armies,  as  well  as  of  constructing  buildings, 
bridges  and  entrenchments,  that  fits  any  one  of  them  for 
the  command  of  a division  of  men.  Such  men  cannot 
be  readily  found  in  the  rank  and  file  of  an  army,  but 
they  have  been,  and  the  enlistment  of  intelligent  men  is 
encouraged  by  the  high  pay  offered  and  the  advantages 
which  such  training  might  afterward  afford  in  private  life. 

The  department  and  post  are  under  the  command  of 
General  Abbott,  who  has  been  in  charge  here  since  1865 
He  is  a courteous  and  accomplished  gentleman,  and  his 
influence  and  that  of  his  family,  who  reside  with  him, 
have  had  a refining  effect  on  the  men  of  his  command, 
difficult  to  measure,  but  readily  seen  by  any  one  conver- 
sant with  the  tendencies  of  garrison  and  camp  life. 

The  reservation  contains — besides  the  incomplete  fort 
of  huge  masses  of  granite,  presenting  a semicircle  of 
port-holes  toward  Hart’s  Island,  and  the  really  strong 
and  fine  earthworks  crowning  the  point  and  commanding 
the  entire  sound — the  parade-ground,  a few  hundred 
yards  from  the  parapet  of  the  fort,  and  on  the  west  side 
of  this  the  residence  of  the  commandant,  facing  the  bar- 
racks of  the  troops,  which  are  ranged  to  the  east  of  the 
parade.  The  south  side  is  enclosed  by  three  buildings- 
containing  officers’  quarters  and  the  “ castle,”  a casino 
for  them.  On  the  north  of  the  pa-rade  is  the  headquar- 
ters building,  flanked  on  the  right  and  left  by  two  large 
buildings,  accommodating  married  officers.  The  hos- 
pital and  a few  smaller  buildings  complete  the  immediate 
surroundings  of  the  parade.  In  the  background  the 
company  kitchens,  post  theater,  model  rooms,  engine 
house,  observatory,  photographic  and  lithographic  build- 
ings on  the  south,  with  a line  of  gardens  between  them 
and  the  parade,  and  from  the  hospital  south  the  post 
school,  library,  and  six  buildings  each  sheltering  the 
families  of  four  married  soldiers,  form  a street  leading  to 
the  quartermaster’s  and  subsistence  departments;  with 
shops  for  carpenters,  painters,  tinsmiths,  blacksmiths 
and  other  artisans,  warehouses,  bakery,  coal  and  wood 


yard,  with  stables  and  wagon  yards  dosing  on  the  south- 
western portion  of  the  miniature  city,  which  is  covered 
with  sheds  and  warehouses  containing  the  entire  pontoon 
bridge  materials  for  an  army,  wagons  to  transport  them, 
and  also  a fire-proof  building  where  are  stored  large 
quantities  of  valuable  instruments. 

The  garrison  seems  composed  of  a busy,  energetic, 
soldierly  body  of  men,  well  satisfied  with  their  lot  but 
willing  and  ready  to  put  their  training  into  practice 
whenever  it  is  needed.  They  have  many  friends  among 
the  citizens,  and  are  the  recipients  of  frequent  invita- 
tipns  to  entertainments,  both  public  and  private,  outside 
the  reservation. 

CREEDMOOR. 

Creedmoor,  widely  known  as  the  location  of  the  na- 
tional rifle  ranges  and  the  scene  of  spirited  contests  be- 
tween the  sharpshooters  of  this  and  other  countries,  lies 
on  the  southern  border  of  the  town.  It  derives  its  name 
from  the  Creed  family,  its  former  owners.  It  was  selected 
by  the  National  Rifle  Association  as  a suitable  place  for 
rifle  practice,  land  was  bought,  and  the  ranges  were  fitted 
up.  It  has  a hotel  and  restaurant,  owned  by  the  associa- 
tion, and  a post-office  established  for  their  convenience. 
Dreary  and  desolate  in  winter,  it  is  in  summer  thronged 
by  thousands  of  lovers  of  the  range,  and  the  scene  of  all 
the  more  important  trials  of  skill  between  those  who  aim 
to  shoot  aright.  The  members  of  the  association  are 
but  few  of  them  residents  of  Queens  county;  and  as  the 
information  most  desired  by  those  interested  in  such 
matters  is  already  contained  in  the  very  complete  annual 
reports  issued  by  them,  and  to  be  had  on  application  at 
their  offices  in  Park  row,  New  York,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  say  more  in  a work  of  this  character. 


THE  VILLAGE  OF  FLUSHING. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  can  be  found  no  definite 
date  of  the  first  settlement  within  the  present  village 
limits,  although  the  early  ownership  of  the  soil  indicates 
that  it  was  made  on  what  is  now  the  Parsons  estate,  in 
1645,  by  the  Bowne  family.  Early  records  give  but 
little  clue  to  business  interests  at  that  period,  but 
it  is  believed  that  Michael  Millnor  kept  the  first  inn, 
prior  to  1657,  and  that  at  a corresponding  date  a man 
whose  name  was  forgotten  long  since  opened  a small  re- 
tail store  at  the  landing,  where  farm  products  were  re- 
ceivable for  molasses,  salt,  and  a few  other  necessaries 
of  life  that  could  not  be  coaxed  from  the  fertile  soil.  Dr. 
Henry  Taylor  was  the  first  physician,  who  is  known  to 
have  practiced  during  the  last  years  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  the  town  clerk,  Edward  Hart,  supplied  the 
good  offices  of  a conveyancer,  and  so  made  good  the 
void  which  the  absence  of  lawyers — of  whom  we  find  no 
mention  until  a much  later  date — must  have  otherwise 
left. 

The  village,  being  for  so  many  years  merely  the  center 
of  a farming  country  and  devoid  of  manufacturing  inter- 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  FLUSHING. 


l03 


ests,  was  of  slow  growth,  and  its  first  onward  impetus  is 
believed  to  have  been  gained  from  the  success  of  Prince’s 
Linnaean  Gardens,  which  furnished  employment  for  a few 
men.  The  events  of  the  Revolution  tended  to  increase 
its  population  temporarily,  and  at  the  commencement  of 
the  present  century  there  were  probably  more  houses 
“to  let”  than  can  be  found  at  present.  In  1800  the 
village  presented  a somewhat  forlorn  appearance.  Main 
street  was  a rough,  hilly  country  road;  what  is  now  Broad- 
way was  so  narrow  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  two 
vehicles  could  pass  each  other.  The  water  front  was  a 
disagreeable  swamp,  and  near  the  foot  of  Main  street, 
where  is  now  the  Town  Hall,  was  a noisome  frog  pond. 
The  entrance  to  Prince’s  nursery  was  at  what  is  now  the 
southeast  corner  of  Broadway  and  Prince  street,  and 
Bloodgood’s  nurseries  were  a long  way  out  of  town. 
The  old  guardhouse  at  the  corner  of  Union  street  and 
Broadway  was  the  eastward  terminus  of  the  village. 
Main  street  had  perhaps  a dozen  buildings  on  it,  and  in 
the  radius  of  a mile  might  have  been  counted  fifty 
dwellings,  not  one  in  five  of  the  streets  now  crowded 
with  human  habitations  having  at  that  date  any  existence 
save  perhaps  in  the  imagination  of  some  enthusiast  whose 
vagaries  were  frowned  upon  as  unwise  and  reckless. 

But  within  a few  miles  lay  a city  outgrowing  its  bounds, 
with  thousands  of  people  panting  for  country  air  and 
country  quiet;  and  long  ere  convenient  arrangements  for 
transportation  were  effected  the  farmers  of  Flushing 
were  selling  corner  lots,  and  two  or  three  enterprising 
men  were  building  to  meet  this  growing  want.  Among 
these  we  have  reason  to  mention  Cyrus  Peck  and  the 
senior  Parsons,  as  well  as  Dr.  Samuel  Bloodgood,  who 
became  the  village  physician  in  1812.  The  labor  re- 
quired to  grade  and  open  streets  involved  a large  ex- 
pense, and  after  the  incorporation  of  the  village,  in  1837, 
some  $25,000  was  paid  out  by  individual  subscriptions 
for  such  purposes.  Private  schools  found  a footing  here 
at  an  early  day,  and  the  movement  in  favor  of  the  free 
school  system  was  inaugurated  about  1841,  and  carried 
into  successful  operation  in  1848. 

St.  George’s  church,  a small  frame  building,  and  the 
Friends’  meeting  house,  were  the  only  church  buildings 
in  the  village  prior  to  the  building  of  an  African  M.  E. 
church.  Besides  the  nurseries  of  the  Messrs.  Prince,- 
Bloodgood  and  Parsons,  a sandpaper  factory  and  the 
shipping  and  lumber  business  of  the  Pecks  gave  employ- 
ment to  a considerable  number  of  persons;  and  when,  in 
1837,  the  people  of  the  village  decided  on  incorporation, 
the  population  had  increased  to  about  two  thousand  peo- 
ple. The  hard  times  following  the  panic  of  that  year 
checked  the  growth  of  all  places,  and  temporarily  de- 
stroyed the  value  of  real  estate;  but  under  judicious 
management  Flushing  village  held  her  own,  and  in  1855 
reported  a population  of  3,488— nearly  one-half  that  of 
the  entire  town. 

Real  estate  speculation  has  of  course  been  rife;  but 
while  at  times  prices  were  perhaps  too  high  for  business 
sites  and  houses  on  the  most  popular  streets,  there  has 
never  been  a time  that  a family  of  moderate  means  could 


not  build  for  themselves  a home  in  a really  pleasant 
locality  at  much  less  expense  than  in  many  other  of  the 
suburbs  of  New  York  city,  as  these  semi-metropolitan 
villages  may  be  termed. 

The  earliest  direct  communication  with  the  city  by 
stage  was  made  by  Willett  Mott,  in  i8or.  It  consisted 
of  a daily  coach  running  from  this  village  through  New- 
town and  Bedford  to  Brooklyn.  He  continued  it  seven 
years,  charging  fifty  cents  for  a single  fare.  His  succes- 
sors were  Carman  Smith  and  Mesrs.  Greenwall,  Kissam 
and  John  Boyd,  who  commenced  running  to  Williams- 
burgh,  across  Grand  street  ferry,  up  Grand  street,  New 
York,  to  the  Bowery,  and  thence  to  Chatham  square,  for  a 
fare  of  fifty  cents.  This  route  was  run  until  1854,  when  the 
opening  of  the  Flushing  and  North  Shore  Railroad  ren- 
dered it  no  longer  necessary.  As  has  been  said,  canoes 
and  sailboats  were  the  first  means  of  transfer  by  water, 
and  the  old  landing  was  where  the  Peck  coal  docks  now 
are.  After  the  erection  of  the  bridge  a water  dock  was 
built.  A packet  run  by  Howell  Smith  was  the  next  im- 
provement, and  this,  run  afterward  by  Samuel  Pryor  and 
finally  by  Jonathan  Peck,  who  replaced  the  old  vessel  by 
one  with  more  ample  and  luxurious  fittings,  was  the  chief 
means  of  water  communication  until  1822,  when  a small 
steamboat  ran  as  an  experiment,  and  was  followed,  in  the 
ensuing  year,  by  one  built  expressly  for  this  route,  and 
commanded  by  Captain  Peck,  the  son  of  the  old  packet 
master.  This  boat  was  named  the  “ Linnaeus,”  and  is 
said  to  have  been  well  built  and  neatly  furnished.  In 
1833  she  was  transferred  to  the  New  Rochelle  route,  and 
has  since  been  followed  by  the  “ Flushing,”  Captain 
Curtis  Peck;  the  “Statesman,”  Captain  Elijah  Peck;  the 
“ Star,”  by  the  same;  the  “Washington  Irving,”  Captain 
Leonard;  “ Island  City,”  Captain  S.  Reynolds,  and 
“Enoch  Dean,”  Captain  William  Reynolds.  In  1859  a 
company  known  as  the  Flushing,  College  Point  and  New 
York  Ferry  Company  was  organized,  who  purchased  the 
“ Enoch  Dean,”  and  built  the  People’s  line. 

The  channel  in  Flushing  Bay  has  required  the  outlay 
of  considerable  sums  to  make  it  available  for  general 
travel  by  large  boats,  and  has  been  the  subject  of  various 
government  grants.  It  was  dredged  and  deepened  in 
1833,  1857,  1859,  1880  and  1881. 

The  opening  of  the  two  railroads  which  pierce  the 
village  has  made  it  convenient  of  access,  and  with  its 
steamboat  facilities  renders  it  to  a great  extent  independ- 
ent of  those  attempts  at  extortion  which  carrying  com- 
panies have  been  known  to  practice  at  places  where  there 
was  no  competition  for  the  business. 

The  first  post-office  in  the  town  was  at  what  was  known 
as  the  Alley  or  Little  Neck,  and  was  kept  in  a woolen 
factory  there  until  about  1822,  when  it  was  removed  to 
the  village.  Mandeville  relates  that  many  of  the  villagers 
were  opposed  to  the  change,  as  they  said  that  their  let- 
ters and  papers  were  “ now  left  at  the  public-house, 
where  they  could  get  them  at  any  time,  which  they  could 
not  do  if  the  office  was  kept  in  the  village,  and  only  open 
at  certain  hours.”  The  present  postmaster  is  John  W. 
Rickey.  Among  early  incumbents  were  Curtis  Peck, 


104 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


William  Peck,  Dr.  Joseph  Bloodgood,  Dr.  Asa  Spaulding, 
Francis  Bloodgood  and  Charles  W.  Cox. 

The  charter  of  the  village  of  Flushing  bears  date 
April  15th  1837.  At  the  first  election  Robert  B.  Van 
Zandt  became  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  whose 
first  meeting  was  held  June  6th  1837.  The  number  of 
real  estate  owners  assessed  that  year  was  one  hundred 
and  three,  and  the  assessed  valuation  $465,300. 

Up  to  the  year  1843  the  meetings  of  the  village  officers 
were  held  at  the  places  of  business  or  residences  of  the 
members;  but  in  that  year  a town  hall  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $1,000. 

Education  in  the  Past  and  Present. 

The  first  school-teacher  in  the  town  is  believed  to  have 
been  John  Houldon,  who  taught  a private  school  from 
about  1660  to  1670,  and  of  whom  nothing  more  is  known. 
Elizabeth  Coperthwaite,  a daughter  of  the  Quaker 
preacher,  who  was  a power  among  his  people,  taught 
from  1675  to  1681.  John  Urquhart,  who  is  first 
mentioned  in  1690,  was  a man  of  family  and  kept  board- 
ing scholars  to  some  extent. 

The  Quakers,  foremost  in  good  works,  seemed  to  tire 
of  this  desultory  system  of  education,  and  in  1803  took 
steps  toward  purchasing  a lot  and  erecting  a school 
building.  It  is  probable  that  this  plan  was  abandoned 
eventually,  for  when  their  meeting-house  was  repaired 
in  1705  an  upper  floor  was  laid  and  the  story  thus  con- 
structed was  divided  into  two  rooms,  which  were  used 
for  school  purposes.  The  first  male  teacher  employed 
there  is  believed  to  have  been  Thomas  Makins,  who  after- 
ward became  a somewhat  noted  teacher  in  Philadelphia, 
and  is  credited  with  the  authorship  of  a number  of  Latin 
poems. 

The  interest  thus  early  awakened  in  public  instruction 
has  been  well  sustained  ; and  in  the  early  years  of  the 
present  c-entury  the  village  of  Flushing  was  more  than 
ordinarily  well  supplied  with  private  schools  and  academ- 
ic institutions.  Lindley  Murray  Moore,  and  after  him 
Joshua  Kimberand  William  Chase,  taught  a boys’  school, 
dating  back  to  about  1810  and  closing  its  doors  finally 
in  1858.  In  1818  a building  was  erected  for  an  academy 
at  an  expense  of  $1,250,  which  was  borne  by  John  As- 
pinwall,  Hutchins  Smith,  William  Prince  and  two  other 
gentlemen.  It  was  opened  by  Professor  William  A. 
Houghton,  in  1819,  and  conducted  until  1825,  when  its 
place  was  filled  by  other  institutions,  and  it  was  aban- 
doned. The  building  was  afterward  used  many  years 
as  a lecture  room  for  St.  George’s  church.  Rev.  Charles 
Carpenter  kept  a boarding  school  from  1820  to  1824,  a 
few  doors  above  the  Ewbank  store,  on  Washington  street. 
Mrs.  Sarah  K.  Roberts’s  young  ladies’  school  dates  back 
to  about  1854.  Other  private  schools  were  short  lived 
and  of  little  note. 

The  following  are  the  most  important  of  the  educa- 
tional institutions  of  to-day: 

The  first  public  school  in  this  village  was  opened  in  a 
dwelling  standing  near  the  site  of  the  present  negro 
school,  in  Liberty  street,  on  the  6th  of  April  1814,  with 


nineteen  scholars.  It  was  at  first  taught  gratuitously  by 
members  of  the  Flushing  Female  Association,  two  of 
whom  served  at  a time.  In  July  of  that  year  this  associ- 
ation, which  was  the  founder  of  the  school,  engaged  a 
teacher,  paying  a salary  of  $60  a year,  and  an  allowance 
of  $2  per  week  for  board.  The  school  was  regularly 
visited  by  members  of  the  guardian  society,  and  on  June 
10th  1815  the  first  public  examination  occurred,  “ to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  audience,  several  being  present  from 
New  York,  one  of  whom  evinced  his  approval  by  a do- 
nation of  $20  to  the  school,  and  $10  to  the  teacher  for 
her  becoming  behavior  on  the  occasion.”  It  was  at  first 
supported  by  voluntary  contributions,  scholars  both  white 
and  colored  being  admitted  free  of  charge,  except  where 
the  parents  were  able  and  willing  to  pay.  In  1829  schol- 
ars were  required  to  pay  two  cents  a week.  The  number 
in  attendance  on  the  day  of  opening  was  nineteen,  which 
was  afterward  swelled  to  more  than  one  hundred.  The 
original  idea  of  its  founders  was  the  education  of  the 
colored  children,  sums  of  money  having  been  bequeathed 
by  several  Quakers  for  that  purpose,  and  it  was  believed 
by  them  that  the  advantage  of  free  instruction  would  also 
draw  in  all  the  children  of  the  poor  white  people  in  the 
village.  This  hope,  to  a great  extent,  proved  delusive,  and 
since  about  1844  the  school  has  been  taught  exclusively 
for  colored  children.  It  has  a revenue  of  about  $300  a 
year,  derived  from  the  income  of  the  following  bequests: 
Thomas  Tom,  $250;  Thomas  Lawrence,  $100;  Nathaniel 
Smith,  $500,  and  James  Boyd  Matthew  Franklin,  ^150 
(the  interest  to  be  applied  to  buying  books  for  poor  negro 
children,  and  also  toward  paying  their  schooling),  and 
from  fees  of  members  of  the  association,  which  also 

«r  *: 

erected  the  building  in  1819,  at  a cost  of  $845,  and  still 
owns  it. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  village  its  ter- 
ritory included  nearly  all  of  district  5,  a small  part  of 
districts  2,  3 and  4,  and  a considerable  portion  of  district 
6;  the  only  buildings  within  the  corporate  limits  being 
that  of  No.  5 and  the  school  just  mentioned. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1841  the  boundaries  of 
district  No.  5 were  defined  as  follows  : Beginning  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  village,  running  easterly  to  the 
street  called  Long  lane;  thence  southerly  along  Long 
lane  to  its  end;  thence  by  the  road  eastward  to  a point 
two  hundred  yards  southeast  of  the  dwelling  of  G.  S. 
Mitchell;  from  thence  northwardly  to  a point  one  hun- 
dred yards  east  of  the  dwelling  of  Willet  Bowne;  thence 
northwesterly  to  a point  one  hundred  yards  east  of  the 
farm-house  of  Walter  Bowne;  thence  in  the  same  direc- 
tion one  hundred  yards  east  of  the  dwelling  of  Daniel 
Higgins;  thence  also  in  a northwesterly  direction  to  a 
point  one  hundred  yards  north  of  the  house  of  G.  S. 
Howland;  thence  westerly  to  Flushing  Bay  at  a point 
two  hundred  yards  south  of  the  dwelling  of  Platt  Strat- 
ton; thence  southwardly  by  the  wrest  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

The  first  entry  on  the  earliest  village  school  records  in 


SCHOOLS  OF  FLUSHING. 


,05 


the  possession  of  the  present  secretary  is  that  of  the 
meeting  for  organization  under  the  law  just  quoted,  at 
which  John  W.  Lawrence,  John  Wilcomb,  W.  W.  Valk> 
Samuel  Willet  and  Robert  B.  Parsons  were  elected 
trustees.  Steps  were  then  taken  toward  the  erection  of 
a new  school  building,  for  which  $400  was  appropriated. 
This  was  afterward  increased  to  $950.  The  building 
erected  then,  the  Garden  street  school-house,  was  in 
1844  supplemented  by  the  basement  of  the  Macedonia 
church,  which,  consisting  of  two  rooms,  accommodated 
the  pupils  until  1848,  when  the  friends  of  education  can- 
vassed the  subject  of  free  schools,  and  on  due  notice  a 
special  meeting  was  held  March  29th  of  that  year,  when 
the  question  was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  by  a vote  of 
140  to  87.  A school-house  site  was  then  purchased  of 
the  Orthodox  Friends,  for  the  sum  of  $630,  and  a new 
building  commenced.  At  the  next  regular  meeting, 
November  27th  1849,  new  by-laws  were  adopted,  and 
Thomas  Harrison  was  engaged  as  principal,  at  a salary 
of  $900.  In  1855  the  principal’s  salary  was  increased 
$50  per  annum,  and  at  this  time  three  lady  teachers  were 
employed.  In  1855  an  offer  was  made  by  the  Flushing 
Female  Association  to  turn  over  the  colored  school  to 
the  board  of  education,  renting  to  them  the  building 
occupied  by  it,  and  agreeing  to  furnish  suitable  teachers 
for  $300  per  annum.  As  under  the  general  school  law 
this  offer  was  advantageous  to  the  district  it  w-as  accept- 
ed, and  that  school  has  since  been  a part  of  the  depart- 
ment. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  village  and  the  demand  for  a 
higher  standard  of  popular  education  led  the  board  in 
1873  to  decide  upon  the  issue  of  bonds  and  the  erection 
of  a high  school  building,  which  should  be  adequate  to 
the  wants  of  an  increasing  population  and  creditable  to  a 
village  whose  wealth  and  refinement  had  already  placed 
it  foremost  in  the  list  of  rural  municipalities.  Here,  as 
is  sometimes  the  case,  the  friends  of  better  schools  met 
with  the  opposition  of  a class  of  taxpayers  who  regarded 
the  question  of  cost  as  of  prime  importance;  and  after  a 
long  struggle  they  failed  to  secure  the  two-thirds  majority 
necessary  for  their  purpose.  At  the  next  meeting  of  the 
Legislature,  however,  a bill  was  passed  making  a majority 
vote  sufficient,  and  after  its  passage  the  necessary  vote 
was  taken,  and  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $40,000  were 
issued,  grounds  purchased  of  James  B.  Parsons,  at  a 
cost  of  $9,500,  and  the  erection  of  the  present  handsome 
edifice  commenced  on  the  corner  of  Barclay  street  and 
Sandford  avenue;  the  corner  stone  being  laid  October 
17th  1873,  with  impressive  ceremonies,  in  the  presence  of 
a large  assembly,  comprising  many  of  the  best  known 
friends  of  public  schools  on  the  island.  The  board  of 
education  under  whose  care  this  important  work  was 
completed  consisted  of  W.  H.  Farrington,  Thomas  Leg- 
gett jr.  and  Samuel  B.  Parsons.  In  1876  the  present 
efficient  secretary,  Marquis  D.  Gould,  became  a member 
of  the  board,  and  steps  were  taken  to  form  the  inde- 
pendent district  of  Flushing,  with  boundaries  corres- 
ponding to  the  village  lines,  which  was  consummated  by 
act  of  Legislature  of  June  15th  1877.  The  only  town 


district  suffering  materially  by  the  change  was  district 
No.  6,  which  lost  thereby  some  $30,000  of  assessable 
property. 

Acts  of  the  Legislature  in  1876  and  1878,  conferring 
increased  prerogatives  and  placing  the  school  under  the 
supervision  of  the  regents  of  the  university,  have  added 
to  its  efficiency,  and  made  it  popular  with  a class  of  non- 
resident pupils,  who  can  here  secure  the  benefits  of  an 
academic  course  at  a low  price,  and  of  whom  the  reports 
for  1880  show  over  fifty  in  attendance. 

Some  indication  of  the  growth  of  the  schools  may  be 
found  in  the  fact  that  at  the  time  of  opening  the  high 
school  building  416  pupils  were  reported  on  the  rolls; 
while  during  the  year  1880  there  were  1,210  in  attend- 
ance. The  board  reports  to  the  regents  in  1880  showed 
the  number  of  children  in  the  district  to  be  2,167;  num- 
ber of  buildings  (inclusive  of  the  negro  school  building, 
leased),  3;  value  of  buildings  owned,  $67,000;  bonded 
indebtedness,  $53,000;  mortgage  indebtedness,  $11,000; 
number  of  volumes,  1,339,  valued  at  $961.93;  apparatus, 
globes,  etc.,  $755- T4- 

The  teachers  consist  of  one  superintendent,  who  is  also 
principal  of  the  high  school,  at  a salary  as  principal  of 
$1,000  and  as  superintendent  of  $800  annually,  and 
twenty  lady  teachers  at  salaries  ranging  from  $120  to 
$600.  The  assessed  valuation  of  the  district  is  $1,745,341. 

The  members  of  the  board  for  1881  were:  W.  Downing, 
whose  term  expired  during  the  year;  C.  W.  Brown,  whose 
term  expires  in  1882;  Marquis  D.  Gould,  whose  term  ex- 
pires in  1883;  Isaac  Bloodgood,  who  serves  until  1884, 
and  Samuel  C.  Parsons,  whose  term  of  office  runs  until 
1885.  Of  these  Isaac  Bloodgood  is  president,  Samuel  B. 
Parsons  treasurer,  and  M.  D.  Gould  secretary. 

FLUSHING  INSTITUTE. 

The  property  occupied  by  this  institution  was  first  used 
for  educational  purposes  by  Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Muhlenberg. 
He  came  from  New  York  to  Flushing  in  1826  to  take 
charge  of  St.  George’s  Protestant  Episcopal  parish  for 
two  years.  Hearing  some  gentlemen  conversing  one  day 
about  building  an  academy,  with  provision  for  a family 
and  boarding  pupils,  he  said  if  they  would  erect  such 
a building  as  he  desired  he  would  occupy  it  and  conduct 
the  institution  himself;  and  so  the  Flushing  Institute 
was  built,  the  corner  stone  being  laid,  with  appropriate 
ceremonies,  August  nth  1827. 

In  April  1845  Ezra  Fairchild  transferred  to  the  insti- 
tute from  New  Jersey  the  school  which  he  had  begun  in 
1816.  It  is  now  conducted  by  his  son  E.  A.  Fairchild, 
as  principal,  and  A.  P.  Northrop  as  vice-principal.  It  is 
a private  institution,  unsectarian,  and  is  designed  for  the 
higher  education  of  young  men  and  boys. 

st.  Joseph’s  academy. 

St.  Joseph’s  Academy  is  the  most  imposing  institution 
in  Queens  county,  and  one  of  the  most  popular  educa- 
tional establishments  in  the  county.  The  buildings  are 
large  and  commodious,  having  a front  of  150  and  a 
depth  of  180  feet.  They  were  erected  at  a cost  of 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


io  6 


$300,000.  The  grounds  are  beautifully  laid  out  in 
shady  walks  and  choice  parterres.  The  traveling  accom- 
modations are  unsurpassed,  the  trains  of  the  Flushing 
and  North  Side  Railroad  making  hourly  trips  to  New 
York.  The  course  of  study  is  divided  into  three  grades, 
primary,  grammar  and  academic;  and  at  its  completion 
diplomas  are  conferred  on  the  successful  competitors. 
Some  two  hundred  graduates  have  already  gone  forth 
from  the  academy.  From  almost  exery  State  in  the 
Union  pupils  have  come  to  this  calm  retreat  of  learning, 
and  in  many  of  the  most  distant  homes  of  the  land  there 
are  those  who  cherish  the  sweetest  and  happiest  memo- 
ries of  St.  Joseph’s. 

Merchants  of  Flushing. 

The  name  of  the  first  resident  trader,  who  exchanged 
salt,  molasses,  spices  and  rum  for  wampum  and  leaf 
tobacco,  is  unknown.  The  next  is  believed  to  have  been 
John  Bowne.  From  his  day  for  many  years  the  retail 
trade  was  mainly  conducted  by  boatmen,  who  trans- 
ported produce  to  New  York,  and  brought  back  the 
goods  ordered  by  the  shippers,  thus  obtaining  freight 
both  ways.  The  next  resident  merchant  of  any  note  was 
John  Foster,  who  in  1736  suffered  the  loss  of  his  house, 
store  and  contents  by  an  incendiary  fire.  The  New  York 
Gazette  reported  but  little  saved,  and  the  loss  about 
^2,000.  In  1757  Samuel  Borden  advertises  in  the 
New  York  Mercury  that  owing  to  his  advanced  age  “ he 
is  leaving  off  trade  and  offers  for  sale  his  merchant  shop 
in  Flushing.”  In  1760  John  Wilson  ran  a sloop  between 
the  village  and  New  York  and  kept  a stock  of  goods. 
About  the  same  time  the  ubiquitous  Jew  makes  his  ap- 
pearance, and  Hart  Aaron  and  Jacob  Cohen  become  dry 
goods  dealers  in  the  village.  From  the  last  date  up  to 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  there  was  no  lack  of 
mercantile  establishments,  nor  has  the  village  had  cause 
to  complain  of  their  scarcity  during  the  present  century. 
The  most  prominent  of  the  last  generation  of  merchants 
here  were  the  Peck  family,  who  introduced  the  coal 
trade  about  1820,  and  the  Lowerrees,  who  were  active 
and  enterprising  dealers. 

The  most  important  mercantile  house  of  to-day  is  that 
of  Clement  & Bloodgood;  while  in  specialties  there  are  a 
number  of  houses  worthy  of  mention.  In  coal  and  lum- 
ber George  B.  Roe  & Co.,  J.  Milnor  Peck  and  the  North 
Side  Coal  Company  (successor  to  Robert  Peck)  share  the 
trade.  The  book  trade  conducted  by  F.  L.  Prine,  on 
Main  street,  includes  as  complete  an  assortment  of 
literary,  musical  and  artistic  articles  as  can  be  found 
outside  the  counters  of  some  large  city  house.  In  ice 
J.  K.  P.  Bennett  has  practically  a monopoly,  but  one 
judiciously  and  honestly  managed.  Mr.  Prigge  has  a 
capital  of  $15,000  invested  in  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  confectionery  and  ice  cream,  and  employs  four  men, 
besides  the  saleswoman  in  his  retail  store.  S.  J.  Hallett 
& Co.  are  the  principal  furniture  dealers,  and  F.  G.  Fowler 
a prominent  undertaker.  The  number  of  small  stores, 
bakeries  and  groceries  is  legion. 


Industrial  Establishments. 

The  sash,  blind  and  lumber-mill  of  J.  Milnor  Peck 
and  the  Flushing  Lumber  and  Building  Company  was 
erected  by  Isaac  Peck  sen.  and  his  son,  the  present 
owner,  in  1851,  the  original  intention  being  to  supply 
a local  demand  for  builders’  fittings.  In  1868  the 
present  proprietor  commenced,  in  addition,  the  build- 
ing of  ready-made  portable  houses,  under  a new 
and  improved  system,  which  branch  of  the  business 
is  now  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Flushing 
Lumber  and  Building  Company,  which  is  understood 
to  mean  Mr.  Peck  and  those  interested  in  the  patents. 
A trade  in  articles  of  this  nature  is  always  slow  of  estab- 
lishment, but  after  a severe  struggle  against  adverse  cir- 
cumstances a growing  trade  has  been  opened  through 
resident  agents  with  South  Africa,  the  West  Indies,  South 
America  and  the  Isthmus,  that  indicates  a successful 
future  for  a house  well  worthy  of  it.  Mr.  Peck  also  con- 
ducts the  lumber  and  coal  business,  and  employs,  in  all 
his  enterprises,  about  forty  men. 

In  1857  George  B.  Roe,  Charles  A.  Willets  and  Charles 
C.  Hicks  associated  themselves  together  under  the  firm 
name  of  George  B.  Roe  & Co.,  for  the  purpose  of  carry- 
ing on  the  lumber  business.  At  first  they  rented  a small 
yard  on  the  south  of  Bridge  street,  now  Broadway,  where 
they  kept  a fair  assortment  of  building  materials.  They 
continued  at  that  place  eight  years,  when  they  purchased 
the  property  they  now  occupy.  Two  years  later  Mr. 
Hicks  withdrew  from  the  firm.  The  property  of  the  firm 
is  on  Flushing  Creek,  with  a water  front  of  900  feet,  a 
frontage  of  90c  feet  on  Lawrence  street,  and  160  feet  on 
Broadway.  The  only  steamboat  dock  in  the  village  is  on 
this  property.  The  firm  extended  its  business  by  erect- 
ing a steam  mill  and  placing  therein  all  kinds  of  wood- 
working machinery,  for  planing,  sawing,  turning  and 
making  scroll-work,  mouldings,  &c.  In  addition  to  a 
large  and  varied  stock  of  all  kinds  of  lumber,  the  firm 
deals  largely  in  brick,  lime,  cement,  plaster  and  stone, 
and  also  largely  in  coal  for  domestic  purposes,  handling 
more,  perhaps,  than  is  handled  at  any  other  two  yards  in 
the  county.  Messrs.  Roe  & Co.’s  facilities  for  handling 
coal  are  very  complete.  The  coal  is  elevated  by  steam 
some  thirty  feet  and  dumped  in  iron  cars,  which  hold 
one  ton  each.  The  cars  pass  over  a tramway,  on  which  is 
laid  a T rail.  This  tramway  is  two  hundred  feet  long, 
with  turntables  to  enable  the  cars  to  run  in  any  direction. 
The  coal  is  then  dumped  in  large  “bunkers,”  capable  of 
holding  about  15,000  tons.  From  a comparatively  small 
beginning  Messrs.  Roe  & Co.  have  built  up  a large  and 
lucrative  business. 

Messrs.  George  B.  Roe  and  Charles  A.  Willets  are 
both  natives  of  the  village  and  town  of  Flushing.  Their 
ancestors  for  several  generations  have  also  resided  there. 

The  following  notice  of  this  concern  is  from  the  Trade 

Review: 

“ There  is  little  doubt  in  our  mind  that  one  of  the  most 
extensive,  if  not  the  largest  coal,  lumber,  lime,  brick  and 
shingle  yard  on  Long  Island,  outside  the  boundaries  of 


IU 

o 
=J  a: 


BUSINESS  INSTITUTIONS  OF  FLUSHING. 


the  city  of  Brooklyn,  is  that  of  George  B.  Roe  & Co., 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Lawrence  street  (office  No.  9 
Main  street),  Flushing.  The  operations  of  the  firm  are 
extensive  and  varied,  and  of  course  occupy  a large  space 
in  the  industrial  interests  of  the  handsome  suburban  vil- 
lage that  lies  at  the  head  of  Flushing  Bay.  A reporter 
of  this  paper  visited  Flushing  a few  days  ago,  and  among 
other  establishments  he  visited  in  quest  of  information 
for  readers  of  the  Trade  Review  was  the  yard  and  office 
of  the  above  firm.  He  was  at  once  impressed  with  the 
extent  and  great  value  of  its  business,  and  on  retiring 
found  his  note-book  well  filled  with  items  of  trade  interest, 
of  which  in  this  article  we  will  make  liberal  use.  The 
firm  of  George  B.  Roe  & Co.  is  one  of  the  oldest  in 
Flushing.  It  owns  extensive  properties,  both  on  the 
water  line  and  in  the  town.  Its  docks  have  a frontage 
of  900  feet,  and  the  line  of  the  yard  has  a corresponding 
length,  with  a depth  of  140  feet.  In  this  yard  are  im- 
mense coal  sheds,  filled  with  the  various  sizes  and  grades 
of  coal,  both  hard  and  soft;  many  cords  of  pine,  oak, 
ash  and  hickory  wood  for  kindling,  which  are  sawed  and 
split  on  the  premises,  for  the  use  of  those  who  consume 
jt  in  the  town;  a splendid  planing  and  band  saw-mill, 
where  every  class  of  moulding  is  made  for  the  trade.  In 
this  mill  turner  work  is  also  done  by  hand  and  machinery, 
and  in  every  style  that  may  be  desired;  and  finally  there 
are  stocks  of  fine  lumbers,  lime  in  barrels,  lath,  brick 
from  various  well  known  yards,  shingles  in  bundles,  and 
additional  to  these  tiling,  and  piping  for  draining, 
cement,  and  every  other  article  needed  by  the  carpenter 
and  the  mason  for  building  or  for  repairing.  The  capital 
carried  by  the  firm  in  general  stock  ranges  from  $80,000 
to  $100,000.  In  exceedingly  active  seasons  it  rises  above 
the  last  named  sum.  The  trade  in  coal,  which  is  only 
one  of  the  branches  of  the  firm’s  business,  is  of  itself  no 
light  matter.  The  sales  average  about  one  thousand  tons 
per  month.  Of  course  the  demand  for  coal  as  well  as  for 
kindling  wood  is  larger  at  certain  seasons  than  at  others, 
but  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  wood  runs  into  hundreds 
of  cords,  and  the  coal  reaches  and  sometimes  goes  be- 
yond twelve  thousand  tons.  Of  the  work  of  the  planing 
and  sawing-mill  we  have  no  special  record,  beyond  the 
general  statement  that  it  is  kept  busy  during  the  working 
hours  of  the  day — the  machinery,  all  of  the  best  and  most 
improved  modern  kinds,  being  driven  by  steam — and  that 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  trade  a respectable  number 
of  hands  are  employed.  In  receiving  and  moving  coal 
the  firm  has  many  advantages.  Among  the  leading  ones 
are  ready  capital,  by  which  purchases  from  first  hands 
can  be  made  with  the  usual  percentage  deduction,  a 
barge  (the  firm’s  property),  as  also  the  docks,  yards,  mills, 
etc.,  by  which  not  only  coal  but  lumber  and  other  stock 
is  floated  up  the  bay  to  the  wharves  and  then  stored  in 
the  adjoining  yard.  Mr.  Roe,  assisted  by  a son,  has 
charge  of  the  out-of-door  business,  which  of  course  in- 
cludes the  docks,  barge,  yard,  planing  and  sawing-mill 
and  general  stock;  while  Mr.  Willets,  with  his  son,  has  his 
field  of  operations  in  the  office,  where  orders  are  received 
and  business  details  and  financial  transactions  are  en- 


tered on  and  concluded.  An  idea  of  the  business  trans- 
acted in  Flushing  and  its  immediate  neighborhood  by 
this  firm  may  be  obtained  when  we  state  that  in  average 
seasons  eight  carts  and  wagons  are  needed  to  convey  coal 
and  lumber  to  customers;  and  that  on  busy  days,  such  as 
are  liable  to  come  to  them  when  least  expected,  they  have 
to  go  outside  of  the  yard  and  employ  extra  assistants.” 

Murray’s  Monumental  Works,  on  Jaggar  avenue  and 
Bradford  street,  were  established  by  J.  F.  Murray,  a 
practical  workman,  and  employ  from  two  to  four  men 
in  the  manufacture  of  monuments,  headstones,  mantels 
and  plumbers’  slabs  of  marble  or  granite. 

There  are  several  cigar  shops,  one  of  them  doing  a 
wholesale  business.  Jules  E.  Cartier,  manufacturer  of 
cigars  and  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  tobaccos,  es- 
tablished business  here  in  1875,  with  a capital  of  $4,000. 
His  store  and  shop  is  at  99  Main  street.  He  now  em- 
ploys five  men,  has  one  team  on  the  road,  and  does  an 
annual  business  of  about  $20,000. 

The  Ireland  flouring  mill,  situated  south  of  the  vil- 
lage limits  and  run  by  the  action  of  the  tide,  is  believed 
to  be  on  the  site  of  the  old  Burling  mill,  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  It  has  been  in  the  hands  of  a branch  of 
the  Bowne  family  since  1800,  at  which  time  the  present 
building  was  erected.  It  is  a frame  structure  forty  feet 
square  and  four  stories  high,  and  has  four  runs  of  stones. 
It  is  owned  and  operated  by  the  Bowne  Brothers,  dealers 
in  flour,  feed  and  grain  at  83  and  85  Broadway,  Flushing. 

The  Flushing  Gas  Light  Company 

was  incorporated  October  6th  1855,  with  a cash  capital 
of  $20,000  and  the  exclusive  right  of  supplying  gas  to  the 
village  of  Flushing  for  twenty  years.  Its  first  officers 
were:  James  R.  Lowerree,  president;  Gilbert  Hicks, 
treasurer;  Charles  A.  Willets,  secretary.  The  first  year’s 
business  of  the  company  amounted  to  the  putting  in  of 
fifty  meters,  supplying  that  number  of  customers;  and  it 
was  not  until  five  years  later  that  they  were  able  to  re- 
port one  hundred  meters  and  eighteen  street  lamps,  with 
a total  of  two  and  one  half  miles  of  street  mains  laid,  and 
a monthly  consumption  of  100,000  cubic  feet.  The  long 
distance  to  which  pipes  were  laid  to  obtain  custom,  and 
the  distances  between  the  residences  of  patrons,  rendered 
the  cost  of  establishing  a remunerative  business  very 
great;  but  the  managers  had  a faith  in  the  future  of  the 
village  which  was  amply  justified  by  the  results,  and 
continued  to  supply  asked-for  extensions,  in  many  cases 
at  a total  loss  for  years.  At  one  time  one  of  the  mains 
two  miles  long  supplied  but  three  meters.  In  1868  the 
old  works  were  replaced  by  the  present  substantial  build- 
ings, with  a generating  capacity  equal  to  the  demand  for 
many  years  to  come;  and  the  capital  was  increased  to 
$41,000.  The  condition  of  the  business  in  1880  was  as 
follows:  Total  length  of  street  mains,  nine  miles;  street 
lamps  supplied,  101;  private  consumers,  271;  monthly 
consumption,  5,110,000  cubic  feet.  The  officers  were: 
President,  J.  B.  Brewster;  secretary,  R.  S.  Tucker; 
treasurer,  C.  A.  Willets;  superintendent,  Dennis  Sul- 
livan. 


14 


I IO 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Professional  Men. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  village  in  the  United  States  of  its 
size  that  can  count  among  its  residents  so  many  profes- 
sional men  as  this;  and  to  that  class  of  brain  workers  it 
still  offers  unusual  advantages,  as  convenient  to  the  great 
metropolis,  and  yet  sufficiently  remote  from  the  dirt  and 
turmoil  of  the  scene  of  daily  contests  to  offer  home  in  its 
best  sense  to  the  weary  votary  of  ambition  or  science. 

The  earliest  known  physician  here  was  Dr.  Henry 
Taylor,  an  Englishman,  at  one  time  an  ardent  advocate 
of  royalty.  A court  record  of  1675  relates  his  complaint 
against  Francis  Bloodgood  and  Myndert  and  Coerter  for 
seditious  words.  In  1707  his  barns  at  the  village  were 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  term  of  his  residence  and  the 
time  of  his  death  are  alike  unknown;  but,  as  his  name 
appears  prior  to  1675  and  after  1707  as  that  of  a phy- 
sician in  practice,  more  than  thirty  years  of  his  life  must 
have  been  passed  here.  Very  nearly  cotemporaneous 
with  him  was  the  well  and  widely  known  Rodman, 
physician,  minister,  farmer  and  Friend. 

A community  having  in  it  such  families  as  the  Law- 
rences, Bownes  and  Bloodgoods  was  not  at  a loss  for  legal 
advice  on  the  simple  real  estate  titles  of  the  day;  but  for 
some  years  the  business  of  conveyancing  seems  to  have 
been  delegated  to  Edward  Hart,  the  clerk  of  the  town. 
Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  Neck,  was,  with  David  Colden, 
of  this  village,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  prior  to  the 
Revolution;  and  as  he  was  of  marked  tory  proclivities,  a 
Connecticut  whaleboat  robbed  his  house  one  night,  car- 
rying off  his  library,  which  the  Yankee  skipper  might 
have  deemed  bad  law  and  responsible  for  his  ill-timed 
loyalty. 

Of  those  whose  birth  or  residence  here  has  identified 
them  with  the  history  of  the  place  we  need  only  mention 
the  youger  Colden  and  Chancellor  and  Senator  Sanford, 
who  made  his  home  here  at  the  close  of  his  marked  pro- 
fessional and  political  career,  and,  after  erecting  the 
noble  edifice  known  as  Sanford  Hall,  died  in  1837.  These 
give  some  indications  of  the  class  of  professsional  men 
with  whom  the  generation  just  passed  away  was  familiar; 
while  of  the  attorneys  of  to  day  Hon.  L.  Bradford  Prince, 
Judge  Onderdonk,  R.  S.  Bacon,  LL.  D.,  Robert  C. 
Embree,  Judge  Lawrence  and  Messrs.  Covert,  Bogart, 
Downing,  Van  Bergen,  Gibson,  Johnstone,  Frame,  Roe, 
Treadwell,  Hildreth  and  Van  Nostrand  are  a few  of  the 
best  known  of  Flushing’s  citizens  “ who  to  the  law  in- 
cline,” and  are,  with  but  few  exceptions,  descendants  of 
old  Queens  county  families;  many  of  them  tracing  their 
ancestry  back  in  the  town’s  history  for  five  generations. 

So  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  medical  profession,  as 
its  practitioners  are  men  whose  term  of  residence  here 
has  not  exceeded  fifteen  years,  with  the  exception  of  Dr. 
Hicks,  who  has  spent  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  here, 
and  attained  a respectable  reputation  as  a general  prac- 
titioner. Drs.  J.  Howard  Leven  and  E.  A.  Goodridge 
are  partners,  and  occupy  a handsome  double  house  on 
Main  street.  Dr.  J.  Foster  Maynard  has  an  office  on 
Farrington  street,  and  Dr.  Badger  one  on  Locust  street. 


Dr.  E.  P.  Lawrence,  a young  physician  graduated  in 
1879,  is  rapidly  attaining  a wide  circle  of  patrons;  a test 
of  his  popularity  was  made  by  his  friends  not  long  since, 
when  a case  of  surgical  instruments  was  to  be  given  at  a 
church  fair  to  the  most  popular  doctor  on  the  island; 
although  the  contest  was  in  Brooklyn,  and  Dr.  Lawrence’s 
competitors  Brooklyn  physicians,  the  prize  was  voted  to 
him  by  a large  majority  of  the  votes  cast.  Dr.  Leggett,  and 
Mrs.  Dr.  Leggett,  who  has  an  office  in  New  York,  and  Dr. 
Allen,  a young  homoeopathist  and  an  ardent  habitue  of 
the  Niantic  Club  and  advocate  of  athletic  exercises,  com- 
plete the  list  of  general  practitioners  with  whose  diplomas 
or  claims  on  the  profession  the  writer  has  any  knowl- 
edge. 

Macdonald’s  Insane  Asylum. 

To  the  list  of  physicians  it  might  be  well  to  add  the 
name  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Barstow,  who  in  1854  succeeded  Dr. 
Buell  as  resident  physician  of  Macdonald’s  private  in- 
sane asylum,  at  Sanford  Hall,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  in  charge  of  it.  Repeated  efforts  to  obtain  infor- 
mation relative  to  this  institution  have  resulted  in  the 
writer’s  being  referred  to  Mandeville’s  “ Flushing.” 
Taking  this  as  a guide  it  is  found  that  Dr.  James  Mac- 
donald and  his  brother  Allan  Macdonald,  somewhat 
known  in  insurance  circles  in  New  York,  were  formerly 
owners  of  a private  asylum  on  Murray  hill.  The  doctor 
had  been  in  the  employ  of  the  State  in  the  care  of  insane 
patients  at  Bloomingdale,  where  he  obtained  the  post  of 
resident  physician  when  only  twenty-one  years  old. 
Before  he  reached  the  age  of  thirty  he  was  sent  by  the 
governors  of  the  New  York  Hospital  as  a commissioner 
to  Europe  to  visit  the  various  asylums  and  report  im- 
provements with  a view  to  their  adoption  at  Blooming- 
dale.  Every  important  improvement  in  the  care  and 
treatment  of  the  insane  has  been  forced  upon  our  notice 
by  the  asylums  of  Europe;  and  even  now  our  asylum  and 
hospital  authorities  are  making  frequent  use  of  restraints 
and  relics  of  barbarism  long  since  discarded  by  similar 
institutions  in  England,  France  and  Germany.  After  a 
tour  of  inspection  lasting  sixteen  months  Dr.  Macdonald 
was  invited  to  take  charge  of  Bloomingdale,  and  make  a 
practical  use  of  his  discoveries.  He  remained  there 
about  four  years,  and  in  1839  revisited  Europe.  On  his 
return,  in  1841,  he,  with  his  brother,  as  stated,  opened 
the  private  asylum  as  a business  enterprise;  and  finding 
a rural  site  better  adapted  for  it  they  purchased  Senator 
Sanford’s  country  seat — a beautiful  marble  building  said 
to  have  cost  nearly  $130,000  to  erect,  and  set  in  a natural 
park  of  considerable  extent — and  to  this  place  they  re- 
moved their  patients  in  1845.  The  cost  of  purchasing 
and  remodeling  the  place  for  its  present  use  is  not  known, 
but  must  have  been  large;  and  tends  to  prove  the  profit- 
able character  of  that  class  of  practice.  Dr.  Macdonald 
was  evidently  devoted  to  his  profession,  and  conscientious 
in  his  care  of  the  unfortunates  to  whom  those  marble 
halls  were  but  the  dingiest  of  prison  cells.  It  is  believed 
that  too  close  application  to  the  duties  and  studies  of 
his  position  was  the  inciting  cause  of  his  death,  which 


JOURNALISM  AT  FLUSHING— ODD  FELLOWS. 


in 


occurred  May  5th  1849,  after  an  illness  of  but  three 
days.  From  the  death  of  its  founder  the  institution  was 
continued  by  the  surviving  partner  and  the  doctor’s 
widow  until  General  Macdonald’s  death;  since  which 
time  a firm  known  as  Macdonald  & Company,  composed 
it  is  believed  of  members  of  the  old  family,  have  had  it 
in  charge.  Since  i860  there  are  no  data  obtainable 
through  official  sources.  In  that  year  Mandeville  reports 
the  average  number  of  patients  treated  as  forty-eight. 
Dr.  Barstow  has  remained  in  charge  twenty-seven  years, 
which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  his  services  are  satis- 
factory to  the  owners. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  places  in  this  beautiful  vil- 
lage, Sanford  Hall  is  also  the  saddest,  and  the  writer 
would  have  been  glad  to  have  had  it  in  his  power  to 
throw  some  rays  of  light  and  hope  among  those  whose 
friends  are  within  its  walls,  by  the  publication  of  tables 
showing  progress  made  in  the  successful  treatment  of  the 
various  forms  of  mania,  and  that  skill  and  good  manage- 
ment were  annually  increasing  the  ratio  of  cures.  This, 
however,  is  impossible;  and  he  can  only  hope  that  in 
the  near  future  there  will  come  a day  when  the  managers 
of  such  institutions  will  learn  that  the  real  cause  for  the 
uneasy  feeling  as  regards  them,  the  anxious  criticism  of 
laws  relating  to  lunacy,  and  the  dark  suspicions  that  have 
clung  to  and  crippled  some  of  the  best  of  their  class,  is 
the  cautious  manner  in  which  they  seek  to  prevent  inter- 
course between  patients  and  their  friends  except  in  their 
own  presence,  and  set  up  obstacles  to  furnishing  infor- 
mation to  the  public,  which  is  just  as  much  its  due  as 
that  contained  in  the  catalogue  of  a college  or  seminary. 

The  Flushing  Press. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Flushing  was  the 
Church  Record , the  initial  number  being  issued  in  1840; 
it  continued  until  1844,  about  years.  It  was 

edited  by  Rev.  Dr.  F.  L.  Hawks  and  published  by  C.  R. 
Lincoln. 

The  Flushing  Journal , which  is  published  daily  and 
weekly,  is  the  oldest  and  largest  newspaper  in  Flushing. 
It  was  started  in  1842,  its  founder  being  the  late  Charles 
R.  Lincoln. 

In  1869  and  again  in  1873  the  Journal  changed  hands. 
Since  the  latter  date  it  has  been  edited  and  published  by 
Charles  W.  Smith,  who  has  added  greatly  to  the  value 
of  the  concern  in  a business  sense,  as  well  as  in  the 
character  and  appearance  of  the  paper  itself. 

The  Journal  is  perhaps  the  most  widely  read  paper 
in  Queens  county,  and  enjoys  a very  large  advertising 
patronage.  The  job  printing  office,  which  was  fitted  up 
expressly  for  the  purpose,  is  probably  not  excelled  outside 
of  the  great  cities,  and  several  publications  have  been 
issued  from  it  which  take  equal  rank  with  Harper’s  or 
Appleton’s  of  New  York. 

The  Evening  Journal  was  first  published  by  C.  W. 
Smith  in  1878.  Politics,  Democratic. 

The  Flushing  Pomologist  was  published  in  1848  by 
William  R.  Prince,  and  had  but  a short  career. 

In  1852  the  Picblic  Voice  was  started  by  George  W. 


Ralph,  and  in  1855  its  name  was  changed  to  the  Long 
Island  Titnes.  Up  to  September  1st  1881  it  continued 
to  be  published  by  Walter  R.  Burling,  its  founder,  who 
also  established  the  Flushing  Daily  Times  on  September 
1st  1865.  During  Mr.  Burling’s  ownership  it  was 
neutral  in  politics.  On  September  1st  1881  the  pro- 
prietorship of  the  Long  Island  Times  and  Flushing  Daily 
Times  became  vested  in  a joint  stock  company  under  the 
name  of  the  Long  Island  Times  Publishing  Company 
(limited),  which  paid  $1 2,000  for  the  concern.  The  edi- 
torial and  general  management  of  the  papers  is  in  charge 
of  George  R.  Crovvly,  who  was  editor  for  a length  of 
time  under  the  former  proprietor.  E.  A.  Allen  is  presi- 
dent, Captain  J.  W.  Dixon  secretary,  and  A.  K.  P. 
Dennett  treasurer.  It  is  now  Republican  in  politics. 

The  Journal  oj  the  Institute  was  published  tor  about 
three  years  between  1855  and  1859. 

Clubs  and  Societies. 

The  close  relation  sustained  so  long  between  the  peo- 
ple of  Flushing  and  the  city  of  New  York  is  undoubtedly 
the  reason  why,  notwithstanding  the  age  of  the  town,  the 
establishment  of  local  societies,  lodges  and  clubs  is  a 
matter  of  recent  date. 

Pacific  Lodge , No.  85,  I.  O.  O.  F. — This  lodge  was 
chartered  April  17th  1843,  and  organized  two  days  later. 
The  charter  members  were:  C.  Hilton,  N.  G.;  J.  S.  Clut- 
terbruck,  V.  G.;  A.  S.  Wheeler,  secretary ; A.  Winhamjr., 
treasurer;  P.  Stevenson.  The  successive  noble  grands 
have  been  as  follows: 

C.  Hilton,  J.  S.  Clutterbruck,  A.  S.  Wheeler,  A.  Win- 
ham  jr.,  Thomas  Trenchard,  James  B.  Devoe,  William 
Knighton,  Uriah  Mitchell,  James  Taylor,  John  Milburn, 
George  W.  Huntsman,  John  W.  Lawrence,  Garret  R. 
Garrelson,  Abraham  Bloodgood,  H.  C.  Smith,  Henry  S. 
Hover,  Edward  Roe,  Cornelius  W.  Howard,  Edmund 
Howard,  John  H.  Cornell,  Charles  Vandervoort,  William 
Samnis,  George  B.  Roe,  William  W.  Balk,  Charles  H. 
Hedges,  John  M.  E.  Balk,  Banardus  Lamberson,  John 
Purchase,  Charles  P.  L.  Balk,  George  Pople,  Charles  W. 
Cox,  Frederick  Thorp,  Thomas  Webb,  Charles  H.  Miller, 
Richard  Sanders.  Thomas  Elliott,  Abram  Johnson,  John 
Conn,  William  H.  Clark,  George  Lewis,  Seahan  W.  Pur- 
chase, William  Millne,  Frederick  Clages,  George  Fair- 
brother,  George  Hannett,  Joseph  Vedder,  Charles  A.  S. 
Van  Nostrand,  Charles  W.  Brown,  James  W.  Covert, 
Charles  R.  Baker,  Henry  F.  Lincoln,  Oscar  F.  Leek, 
Benjamin  Byrd,  William  J.  R.  Clark,  Henry  A.  Foreman, 
Frederick  Webb,  Fernando  T. Whiting,  James  H.  Samnis, 
John  R.  Conn,  James  H.  Lowerree,  George  P.  Smith, 
William  C.  Ellis,  J.  Harvey  Randolph,  Joseph  Dyke, 
John  M.  Dannott,  Frederick  Quarterman,  William  E. 
Phillips,  John  A.  Young,  John  R.  Lawrence,  Frederick 
Schmidt  and  Charles  H.  Higgins. 

The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  (1881)  are:  Thomas 
Heasely,  N.  G.;  John  Cleater,  V.  G.;  John  A.  Young, 
treasurer;  James  H.  Lowerree,  secretary;  Edmund 
Howard,  permanent  secretary. 

Meetings  are  held  semi-monthly  in  Odd  Fellows’  Hall, 
in  the  Queens  County  Savings  Bank  building. 

Ridgley  Encampment , No.  60,  I.  O.  O.  F. — Ridgley 
Encampment  was  chartered  August  23d  1871.  The 
following  were  the  charter  members  : George  Pople, 


112 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Charles  W.  Brown,  Henry  F.  Lincoln,  Oscar  C.  Leek, 
William  J.  R.  Clark,  John  R.  Clark,  Fred.  Webb  and 
James  H.  Samnis. 

A Rifle  Company  was  organized  in  January  1849.  It 
belonged  to  the  15th  regiment,  and  was  known  as  the 
Hamilton  Rifles.  Its  officers  were:  Captain,  George  B. 
Roe;  first  lieutenant,  Henry  A.  Peck;  second  lieutenant, 
Henry  S.  Barto. 

The  Flushing  Library  Association  was  founded  in  1858 
and  nurtured  by  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  town. 
Its  second  annual  report  showed  a membership  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  nine  and  a library  of  1,100  volumes. 
Its  president  for  many  years  was  Hon.  L.  Bradford 
Prince.  During  the  early  years  of  the  association  the 
secretary  and  librarian  was  selected  from  among  its  mem- 
bers, and  served  without  pay.  This  was  found  to  work 
badly  and  a salary  was  voted  which  has  been  sufficient  to 
keep  the  office  filled  by  a faithful  and  attentive  librarian; 
Miss  Treadwell  has  been  acting  in  that  capacity  for  a 
long  time.  In  1876  the  library  contained  4,000  volumes, 
and  a well  arranged  and  finely  printed  catalogue  was 
issued.  Some  additions  have  been  made  since  that  date, 
sufficient  to  keep  up  with  the  range  of  thought  in  the 
scientific  department,  but  the  number  of  volumes  is  about 
the  same.  The  library  occupies  a pleasant  room  on  Am- 
ity street,  and  the  fittings  and  book  cases  are  in  good 
tastes.  The  insurances  amount  to  $5,000.  As  the  asso- 
ciation is  not  endowed,  and  depends  almost  exclusively 
on  the  slender  membership  fee  of  $2  per  annum;  liter- 
ary and  dramatic  entertainments  have  occasionally  been 
given  for  its  benefit.  Mr.  E.  R.  Pelton,  the  publisher  of 
the  Eclectic  Magazine,  and  for  years  one  of  the  warmest 
friends  of  the  institution,  is  the  president  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

The  Sylla  Dramatic  Association  is  the  outgrowth  of  a 
desire  to  furnish  the  people  of  the  place  with  a class  of 
dramatic  entertainments  adapted  for  the  family  circle, 
and  free  from  the  objectionable  features  of  professional 
plays.  Its  members  are  drawn  from  the  best  people  of 
the  village,  and  its  success  in  accomplishing  its  end  may 
be  judged  from  the  fact  that  while  it  always  plays  to  well 
filled  houses  it  requires  a professional  troupe  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  ability  to  draw  a paying  audience 
here. 

Knights  of  Pythias. — This  order  is  represented  in 
Flushing  by  Oak  Lodge,  166,  which  was  instituted 
March  21st  1881,  by  Grand  Chancellor  O.  M.  Shedd. 
The  first  officers  elected  were:  Chancellor  commander, 
G.  A.  Roullin;  vice-chancellor,  G.  Roskell  Crowly; 
prelate,  S.  J.  Hallet;  M.  of  E.,  Frederick  Schmidt; 
M.  of  F.,  A.  Foster  King;  K.  of  R.  and  S.,  M.  Posner; 
M.  at  A.,  R.  White;  past  chancellors,  Hon.  W.  F.  J. 
Youngs,  J.  F.  Huss,  Charles  L.  Van  De  Water;  trus- 
tees, J.  F.  Huss,  C.  Fichtner,  A.  F.  King.  There 
were  17  members  when  the  lodge  was  instituted  and  23 
when  the  grand  lodge  granted  a charter  in  July  1881. 
Since  then  the  growth  has  been  rapid,  there  being  now 
30  members. 

The  Niantic  Club  was  organized  in  i860,  by  Morris 


Franklin,  Robert  Tucker,  R.  L.  Bowne,  Robert  Loudon, 
W.  B.  Lawrence  and  others,  its  object  being  the  encour- 
agement of  social  intercourse.  It  comprises  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Flushing,  and  has  of  late  taken  a 
lively  interest  in  the  development  of  athletic  sports.  It 
had  in  1880  a membership  of  sixty,  with  an  athletic  aux- 
iliary comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty  members.  In 
1878  it  secured  grounds  comprising  five  or  six  acres, 
bounded  by  Jaggar  and  Maple  avenues,  Irving  place  and 
Division  street,  which  were  enclosed  and  on  which  a 
club-house  was  erected.  The  rooms  of  the  club  are  on 
Sanford  avenue  at  the  corner  of  Parsons,  where  it  has 
leased  the  large  house  formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Graham 
of  Schuyler,  Hartley  & Graham,  New  York,  and  adjoin- 
ing which  it  has  built  a bowling  alley.  Its  rooms 
are  furnished  with  all  the  appliances  of  a first-class  club- 
house, and  supplied  with  all  the  leading  periodicals. 

The  officers  of  the  club  for  the  year  1881  were:  Morris 
Franklin,  president;  Robert  Loudon,  J.  F.  B.  Mitchell 
and  J.  S.  Tucker,  vice-presidents;  W.  A.  Allen,  secre- 
tary; F.  Elliman,  treasurer.  Its  annual  meetings  occur 
on  the  first  Friday  in  December,  and  monthly  business 
meetings  of  the  board  of  managers  on  the  first  Friday  of 
each  month.  The  morale  of  the  institution  is  excellent 
and  a membership  in  it  is  sought  for  by  the  most  refined 
and  intelligent  citizens  of  Flushing. 

The  Nereus  Rowing  Club  was  organized  in  June  185-, 
with  the  following  members:  H.  L.  Bogart,  H.  T.  Van 
Nostrand,  C.  H.  Van  Nostrand,  L.  E.  Embree,  F.  L. 
Northrup,  E.  Bowne,  L.  M.  Franklin,  J.  Burdelle,  J.  J. 
Thompson,  R.  J.  Loudon,  E.  M.  Franklin,  C.  A.  Willets 
jr.  L.  M.  Franklin  was  elected  president,  C.  A.  Willets 
secretary  and  E.  M.  Franklin  treasurer.  The  officers  for 
1880  were:  President,  L.  M.  Franklin;  vice-president,  R. 
S.  Tucker;  secretary,  J.  Q.  Thompson;  treasurer,  Charles 
A.  Willets;  captain,  John  A.  Walker;  lieutenant,  Frederick 
A.  Guild.  The  fleet  consists  of  one  four-oared  barge, 
one  six,  two  four  and  two  two-oared  gigs,  together  with 
two  double  gigs,  one  four-oared  shell  and  a number  of 
single  sculls,  owned  by  individual  members.  The  boat- 
house is  on  Flushing  Creek,  off  Jackson  avenue.  The 
rowing  course  is  over  Flushing  Bay,  and  on  the  creek  in 
rough  weather.  The  membership  had  increased  to  forty- 
nine  in  1880.  Articles  of  incorporation  have  been  se- 
cured, and  although  the  club  is  independent  it  is  governed 
by  the  usual  rules  of  amateur  boating  associations,  and 
participates  to  some  extent  in  regattas.  Its  business 
meetings  are  held  monthly  from  April  to  November. 
The  present  captain,  J.  A.  Walker,  is  a somewhat  noted 
oarsman,  and  under  his  leadership  the  club  bids  fair  to 
become  expert  in  the  fascinating  exercise  of  rowing. 

A Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized  in 
1858  and  supplied  with  a well-selected  library  of  religious 
works.  It  held  weekly  meetings  for  prayer  and  literary 
exercises  every  two  weeks.  Some  of  its  members  were 
active  in  conducting  mission  Sunday-schools,  distributing 
tracts  and  encouraging  attendance  on  religious  meetings. 
Peter  Gorsline  was  its  first  president. 

Cornucopia  Lodge,  No.  563,  F.  & A.  M. — A dispen- 


THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS,  FLUSHING. 


”3 


sation  for  the  formation  of  this  body  was  issued  by  M.  W. 
Clinton  F.  Paige,  September  12th  1864,  and  the  lodge  was 
duly  warranted  by  the  grand  lodge  of  the  State  of  New 
York  in  June  1865,  and  constituted  by  M.  W.  Robert  D. 
Holmes,  G.  M.,  June  21st  of  that  year.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  masters  and  the  years  in  which  they 
were  elected:  C.  W.  Brown,  1864-67,  1873-75;  L.  Brad- 
ford Prince,  1868-70;  J.  L.  Frame  jr.,  1869;  Alexander 
Rogers,  1871;  George  Pople,  1872;  William  L.  Seaman, 
1876;  E.  H.  Frame,  1877-79;  W.  T.  James,  1880.  Past 
Masters  Brown,  Prince  and  E.  H.  Frame  have  held  the 
position  of  district  deputy  grand  master — the  last  named 
being  the  present  incumbent.  Cornucopia  Lodge  has 
one  of  the  most  spacious  and  elegant  rooms  in  the  vil- 
lage; its  charities  are  numerous,  and  its  public  entertain- 
ments and  receptions  are  always  welcomed  by  the  people 
of  Flushing,  as  they  have  always  been  of  the  highest 
order  of  merit. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 

THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS. 

It  is  believed  that  the  first  meetings  of  this  body  of 
believers  were  held  in  private  houses  at  as  early  a date 
as  1648,  although  no  regular  organized  body  existed  un- 
til 1660.  From  the  erection  of  the  old  Bowne  house,  in 
1661,  to  1695  the  meetings  were  held  there  and  on  the 
adjoining  grounds  when,  as  was  sometimes  the  case,  the 
crowds  were  too  great  to  gain  admittance  to  the  house. 

Perhaps  the  most  prominent  members  were  the  Town- 
send brothers,  Henry  and  John,  who  removed  to  New- 
town and  Oyster  Bay  within  a few  years,  where  they 
still  witnessed  for  the  faith  ; the  Hicks  family;  John 
Lawrence,  who  became  a convert  through  the  influence 
of  his  wife;  John  Bowne,  whose  exile  to  Holland  we 
have  already  related;  his  wife,  who  became  a well  known 
and  powerful  preacher;  the  Cornells,  Farringtons,  Hugh 
Cowperthwaite,  Matthew  Franklin,  and,  in  latter  days, 
the  Parsons,  Roe,  Cocks,  and  Titus  families. 

The  following  marriage  certificate  will  give  the  reader 
an  idea  of  what  families  were  connected  with  the  society 
in  the  old  time,  as  the  families  of  both  bride  and  groom 
were  prominent  people,  and  the  attendance  at  the  mar- 
riage at  least  fairly  representative. 

“ Whereas,  there  hath  been  intentions  of  marriage  be- 
tween Richard  Lawrence,  son  of  Joseph  Lawrence,  and 
Hannah  Bowne,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bowne,  both  of 
Flushing,  in  Queens  county  and  province  of  New  York  ; 
now  this  is  to  certifie  ye  truth  to  all  people  whom  it  may 
concern  that  said  Richard  Lawrence  and  Hannah  Bowne 
did  propose  their  aforesaid  intention  of  marriage  at 
several  men  and  women’s  meetings  of  Friends  in  Flush- 
ing, by  whom  they  were  ordered  to  wait  till  inquiry  was 
made  whether  they  were  clear  from  all  others  on  that 
account.  Inquiry  being  made  and  nothing  appearing  to 
hinder  their  proceedings,  they  having  consent  of  parents 
and  relations,  the  meeting  gives  them  liberty  to  accom- 
plish their  intended  marriage,  according  to  the  good 
order  used  among  us.  And  accordingly  on  this  sixth  day 
of  ye  second  month,  1717,  at  a meeting  at  the  meeting- 
house in  Flushing  aforesaid,  the  said  parties  Richard 
Lawrence  and  Hannah  Bowne  took  each  other  by  ye 


hand,  standing  up  in  ye  assembly,  did  solemnly  declare 
they  took  each  other  to  be  husband  and  wife,  promising 
with  ye  Lord’s  assistance  to  be  true  and  loving  husband 
and  wife  to  each  other  till  death  separate. 

“And  for  further  confirmation  hereof  they  have  here- 
unto set  both  their  hand  ye  day  and  year  above  written, 
she  taking  ye  name  of  her  husband  according  to  the 
custom  of  marriage. 

“ Richard  Lawrence. 

“ Hannah  Lawrence. 

“And  we,  whose  names  are  under,  with  many  others, 
are  witnesses:  Joseph  Lawrence,  Samuel  Bowne,  Mary 
Lawrence,  Griffith  Owen,  John  Salkeld,  John  Rodman, 
Hugh  Copperthwaite,  John  Ryder,  William  Burling,  Ed- 
ward Burling,  Joshua  Low,  Joshua  Delaplaine,  John 
Hunter,  George  Aston,  John  Embre,  John  Lewis,  Mary 
Lawrence,  Mary  Rodman,  Mary  Horn,  Sarah  Frankly, 
Mary  Kinnin,  James  Jackson,  Obadiah  Lawrence,  Joseph 
Thorne,  Jacob  Thorne,  Thomas  Horn,  Jane  Latham, 
Anne  Bowne,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Sarah  Rodman,  Franklin 
Ogden,  Esther  Delaplaine,  Sarah  Farrington,  Mary 
Bowne,  Elizabeth  Catharine  Field,  Susannah  Hedger, 
Mary  Jackson,  Robert  Field,  Jane  L.  Thorne,  John 
Bowne,  Elizabeth  Bowne,  Joshua  Lawrence,  Hannah 
Field,  Sarah  Bowne,  Benjamin  Potter,  Rebeckah  Jackson, 
John  Rodman  jr.,  Joseph  Thorne,  Martha  Thorne,  Han- 
nah Field,  Deborah  Lawrence,  Field,  Sarah  Law- 

rence, Samuel  Harrison,  James  Clement  jr.,  Phebe  J. 
Clement,  Isaac  Thorne,  Adam  Lawrence,  Ann  Haight, 
Benjamin  Thorne,  Hannah  Bowne,  Eleanor  Bowne.” 

One  of  the  earliest  large  gatherings  of  Friends  in 
Flushing  is  mentioned  by  the  noted  English  Quaker 
Samuel  Bownas.  In  his  diary  he  says  that  he  spoke  to 
two  thousand  people  on  the  Lord’s  day  following  his  first 
arrest  and  while  he  was  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  This 
was  in  1702. 

The  visit  of  the  celebrated  George  Fox,  in  1672,  was 
an  important  event,  and  so  great  was  the  crowd  that 
flocked  to  hear  him — some  coming  from  a distance  of 
thirty  miles — that  the  meetings  were  held  out  of  doors,  in 
the  shade  of  two  magnificent  oaks,  one  of  which  is  still 
standing,  the  other  having  been  leveled  by  a storm  in 
1842,  to  the  grief  of  all  lovers  of  old  landmarks  and 
relics  of  the  past.  The  trees  have  since  been  known  as 
the  Fox  oaks,  and  have  been  the  subject  of  many  essays 
and  poems.  Fox’s  visit  here  strengthened  the  hands  of 
the  society,  and  it  is  said  to  have  led  to  some  important 
accessions.  In  all  its  history  the  society  has  been  rich  in 
good  works;  among  them  the  first  effort  was  made  to 
educate  the  children  of  the  slaves. 

The  written  records  of  the  Friends  comprise  matters 
interesting  to  lovers  of  pioneer  history  sufficient  in 
amount  to  fill  a large  volume,  but  the  editor  can  only  se- 
lect from  them  a few  of  the  incidents  that  tend  to  mark 
the  course  of  the  society  on  questions  of  general  interest, 
and  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  what  must  have  been 
the  influence  of  such  an  earnest,  self-sacrificing  body  of 
men  and  women  on  the  morals  of  the  community  at 
large. 

On  the  nth  of  7th  mo.  1676,  John  Bowne  sells  a par- 
cel of  land  for  a burying  place  for  ijQ  4s.,  being  in  the 
northwest  bounds  of  his  plantation  whereon  he  now 
dwells,  being  five  rods  long  and  five  broad. 

1687,  7th  of  2nd  mo. — Friends  are  to  speak  to  Wm. 


1 14 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Noble  about  bis  selling  of  drink  and  to  bring  into  the 
next  meeting  what  he  saith. 

1695,  2nd  of  nth  mo. — Samuel  Deane,  Samuel  Haight, 
John  Way  and  John  Farrington  are  to  take  care  that  the 
advice  from  the  Philadelphia  yearly  meeting  relating  to 
the  plainness  of  apparel  should  be  put  in  practice  here. 

1700,  7th  mo. — Wm.  Penn  visited  Flushing  and  was 
the  guest  of  Samuel  Bowne,  who  went  with  him  on  a re- 
ligious visit  to  Jamaica,  and  there  disbursed  on  account 
of  entertainment  for  him  and  other  Friends  the  sum  of 
£1  is. 

1703,  5th  of  6th  mo. — A schoolmaster  being  judged 
necessary  for  the  town  of  Flushing,  it  is  thought  fit  that 
Samuel  Hoyt  and  Fr.  Doughty  seek  out  for  a convenient 
piece  of  ground  upon  Richard  Griffin’s  lot  upon  the 
cross  way,  which  is  near  the  center  of  the  town,  to  pur- 
chase it  and  build  a school-house  thereon  for  the  use  of 
Friends. 

1707,  4th  of  Toth  mo. — Friends  at  Rocky  Hill  desire 
a meeting  to  be  at  James  Jackson’s  every  Third  day. 
Granted;  and  it  is  to  begin  at  11  o’clock. 

1709,  5th  of  3d  mo. — Thos.  Makins,  schoolmaster,  sig- 
nified his  willingness  to  sit  with  his  scholars  in  the  meet- 
ing and  take  care  of  them,  which  the  meeting  think  well 
of,  and  desire  him  as  much  as  may  be  to  bring  all  Friends’ 
children  with  him  to  meeting  on  Fifth  day,  and  also 
unto  the  meeting  day  appropriated  for  the  youth’s  meet- 
ing. 

1712,  24th  of  3d  mo. — The  yearly  meeting  at  Flushing 
moved  to  send  to  Friends  in  Europe  and  offer  to  receive 
and  take  care  and  pay  the  passage  of  about  ten  persons, 
such  as  shall  come  recommended  from  some  meeting  of 
Friends  there — they  serving  such  a time  as  shall  be  ad- 
judged reasonable  and  equal  between  all  parties.  The 
meeting  order  ^19  to  be  lent  to  Jacob  Doughty  to  pay 
for  James  Scriven’s  freedom  till  he  shall  be  able  to  re- 
pay it. 

In  1716  a proposition  was  made  by  Horsman  Mullenex 
concerning  buying  negroes  for  slaves,  and  at  the  next 
yearly  meeting  was  tenderly  spoken  to,  and  postponed 
for  further  consideration,  and  in  1718,  1719  and  1720 
was  still  before  the  meeting  and  developing  considerable 
opposition.  Several  .Friends  declared  they  were  fully 
satisfied  in  their  conscience  that  said  practice  was  not 
right  in  the  sight  of  God.  In  1718  William  Burling,  of 
this  meeting,  published  an  “ Address  to  the  Elders  of 
the  Church  ” on  slavery.  This  is  perhaps  the  oldest 
anti-slavery  publication  in  the  country.  In  1765,  5th  of 
9th  month,  Samuel  Underhill,  of  New  York,  is  dealt  with 
for  importing  negroes  from  Africa.  He  condemns  the 
practice  and  hopes  to  conduct  himself  more  agreeable  to 
Friends’  principles  in  such  matters.  In  1775,  6th  of  9th 
mo.,  “ a committee  is  to  visit  such  Friends  as  hold  negro 
slaves,  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  and  manner  of 
education  of  the  slaves  and  give  such  advice  as  the  nature 
of  the  case  requires.  1776,  2nd  of  5th  mo.,  the  commit- 
tee on  negroes  report  that  many  Friends  have  them,  but 
seem  disposed  to  free  them.  Some  have  manumitted 
them,  and  instruct  their  children  in  necessary  learning. 
Some  justify  their  bondage.  2nd  of  10  mo.  the  “com- 
mittee are  desired  to  labor  with  Friends  who  keep  these 
poor  people  in  bondage,  in  the  ability  that  truth  may  af- 
ford, for  their  release;  and  if  they  continue  insensible, 
then  Friends  can  have  no  unity  with  them  so  far  as  to 
employ  them  or  accept  of  their  services  in  the  church  or 


receive  their  collections.  No  Friend  shall  hire  any  negro 
held  in  bondage,  neither  take  any  negro  or  other  slave 
that  is  not  set  free  when  of  age,  nor  to  do  any  act 
acknowledging  the  right  of  slavery.”  In  1778,  1st  of  7th 
mo.,  the  monthly  meeting  conclude  to  testify  against  all 
Friends  that  do  not  free  their  negroes.  In  1781  they  de- 
cide that  something  is  due  manumitted  negroes  who 
have  spent  the  prime  of  their  life  in  their  masters’  ser- 
vice. 

In  1781  John  Bowne  and  Matthew  Farrington  report 
that  the  fines  of  Friends  in  Flushing  for  not  training  or 
serving  in  the  army  amount  to  ^194  ns.  iod. 

There  is  a stern,  uncompromising  honesty  about  the 
records  given  above  that  commends  them  as  one  of  the 
most  valuable  and  remarkable  additions  ever  made  to  the 
literature  of  freedom.  Not  a word  of  bluster,  no  criti- 
cisms on  the  conduct  of  others,  but  a calm  decision  ar- 
rived at  after  fifty  years  of  deliberation  and  discussion 
as  to  the  duty  of  Friends  “ whom  the  truth  hath  made 
free.” 

1692,  15th  of  10th  mo.,  John  Bowne  and  John  Rod- 
man  for  ^40  buy  three  acres  of  land  for  a meeting- 
house, in  the  town-spot,  with  the  dwelling  and  orchard 
on  it,  with  60  acres  more  lying  in  the  woods. 

From  the  erection  of  the  meeting-house,  in  1695,  the 
most  perfect  harmony  existed  until  the  Hicksite  contro- 
versy, relating  to  matters  of  doctrine  and  the  author- 
ity of  the  London  meeting,  divided  the  society;  the  be- 
lievers in  Elias  Hicks’s  views  retaining  the  meeting-house 
and  property,  and  the  others  erecting  a plain  frame  build- 
ing a little  north  of  the  old  house,  and  becoming  known 
as  the  Orthodox  society.  This  latter  body  was  blessed 
with  many  excellent  members,  among  them  James  Par- 
sons, who  was  an  eloquent  and  impressive  preacher  and 
for  many  years  president  of  the  New  York  yearly  meet- 
ting  ; yet  the  defection  of  the  rising  generation  has  so 
far  weakened  them  that,  although  they  maintain  their 
meetings  for  worship,  they  are  too  few  in  numbers  to 
transact  business  as  a separate  church.  The  other  body, 
known  as  the  Hicksites,  still  occupies  the  old  meeting- 
house. 

THE  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCHES. 

The  early  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  British  governors 
to  secure  a foothold  for  the  Church  of  England  in 
Flushing  were  rendered,  in  a great  measure,  abortive  by 
the  very  means  taken  to  perfect  them.  The  people  who 
had  embodied  in  their  charter  a clause  that  freed  them 
from  the  authority  of  a State  church  would  not  consent 
to  nullify  that  charter,  although  many  of  them  felt  kindly 
toward  the  established  forms  of  worship  of  their  mother 
country.  Ministers  from  Newtown  were  appointed  to 
the  charge  of  this  field,  but  uniformly  found  great  trouble 
in  executing  the  edicts  of  the  governor  and  awakening 
any  very  decided  interest  in  church  matters.  Too  short- 
sighted to  see  the  real  cause,  the  blame  was  laid  upon 
the  Quakers,  and,  British  power  having  been  thwarted, 
British  philanthropy  took  up  the  losing  cause.  In  1691 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  AT  FLUSHING. 


Parts  discovered  in  Philadelphia  a missionary  whom  it 
deemed  a power  for  good,  in  the  person  of  Rev.  George 
Keith,  a native  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  who  had  been  a 
Quaker,  held  the  office  of  surveyor  general  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and,  having  abjured  the  faith  of  the  Friends  and 
taken  orders,  was  then  acting  as  a tutor  to  the  children 
of  some  wealthy  families  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  a 
learned  and  able  man,  with  a fearless  and  unyielding  dis- 
position and  more  suited  for  the  role  of  martyr  in  a per- 
secution than  that  of  a messenger  of  peace  and  good  will 
to  erring  Friends.  The  society,  however,  believed  that, 
having  belonged  to  the  Quakers,  his  influence  for  the 
church  would  be  great  in  a Quaker  community,  and  sent 
him  to  Long  Island  in  1702,  in  time  to  meet  the  eminent 
Samuel  Bownas,  who  had  recently  arrived  from  Mary- 
land, and  who,  after  refusing  to  dispute  with  Keith,  had 
been  followed  by  him  to  this  place.  He  visited  the 
Friends’  meeting-house  on  a Sunday  and  interrupted 
their  exercises  by  an  attempt  to  address  them.  He  was 
attended  at  that  time  by  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey,  of  New  York, 
Rev.  John  Talbot  and  several  members  of  the  Jamaica 
church.  The  scene  that  followed  must  have  been  a 
novel  one,  and  well  worthy  of  an  artist’s  pencil.  In  his 
own  words  : “ After  some  time  of  silence  I began  to 
speak,  standing  up  in  the  gallery  where  their  speakers 
use  to  stand  when  they  speak;  but  I was  so  much  inter- 
rupted by  the  clamour  and  noise  that  several  of  the 
Quakers  made  that  I could  not  proceed.”  The  Friends 
who  had  been  familiar  with  his  course  charged  him  with 
having  caused  the  arrest  of  their  missionary,  Bownas,  and 
declined  to  hear  him,  but  did  listen  to  an  address  from  a 
member  of  their  own  society  for  about  an  hour.  A discus- 
sion followed,  in  which  he  says  that  he  was  charged  with 
defrauding  the  poor  of  fifty  pounds.  The  Friends’ version 
of  this  is  that  he  was  warned  by  one  of  them  that  he  was 
“liable  in  law  for  disturbing  them,  and  that  he  had  thus 
put  himself  in  the  Queen’s  debt  fifty  pounds.” 

In  December  of  the  same  year  he  renewed  his  efforts, 
and  he  says:  “I  visited  again  the  Quaker  meeting  at 
Flushing,  Long  Island,  having  obtained  a letter  from 
Lord  Cornbury  to  two  justices  of  peace  to  go  along  with 
me  to  see  that  the  Quakers  should  not  interrupt  me  as 
they  had  formerly  done;  but,  notwithstanding  the  two 
justices  that  came  along  with  me  to  signify  my  Lord 
Cornbury’s  mind,  by  his  letter  to  them,  which  was  read 
to  them  in  their  meeting  by  Mr.  Talbot,  they  used  the 
like  interruption  as  formerly,  and  took  no  notice  of  my 
Lord  Cornbury’s  letter  more  than  if  it  had  been  from  any 
private  person.”  Thus  his  efforts  were  again  unsuccess- 
ful. It  is  not  known  that  he  made  any  further  attempt  to 
establish  a church  here;  and  during  the  following  year 
he  returned  to  England,  becoming  rector  of  Edburton, 
where  he  died. 

In  1704  Rev.  Mr.  Urquhart,  of  Jamaica,  writes  that  he 
“preaches  on  the  third  Sunday,  and  prays  at  Newtown 
twice  and  Flushing  once  a month  on  the  week  days,  and 
by  the  blessing  of  God  the  congregations  in  the  respec- 
tive towns  daily  increase.” 

Rev.  C.  Congreve,  in  his  report  to  the  society  above 


115 


named  for  the  same  year  in  which  RectorUrquhart’s  hope- 
ful message  is  written,  takes  another  view  of  the  case. 
He  says:  “ Flushing  is  another  town  in  the  same  county; 
most  of  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  Quakers,  who  rove 
through  the  country  from  one  village  to  another,  talk 
blasphemy,  corrupt  the  youth,  and  do  much  mischief.” 

In  July  1710  Rev.  Thomas  Poyer  became  rector  of  the 
Jamaica  church.  He  writes  that  his  parish  is  fifteen 
miles  long  and  six  and  a half  broad,  and  his  salary 
thirty-nine  pounds  sterling.  This  was  paid  to  the  Presby- 
terian minister, and  expensive  and  tedious  lawsuits  resulted. 
He  complains  to  the  society  at  home  that  he  is  necessi- 
tated to  keep  two  horses,  “which  is  very  expensive,  and 
consumes  me  more  clothes  in  one  year  than  would  serve 
another,  who  is  not  obliged  to  ride,  for  three  or  four.  In 
Newtown  and  Flushing,  for  want  of  conveniences  of  pri- 
vate houses  I am  forced  to  make  use  of  public  ones, 
which  is  a very  great  charge  to  me,  for  I bring  some  of 
my  family  generally  with  me.  If  I did  not  they  would  be 
one-half  the  year  without  opportunities  of  public  wor- 
ship.” He  finally  asked  to  be  relieved  and  allowed  to 
return  to  England.  He,  however,  remained  until  his 
death,  January  15th  1731,  and  in  his  twenty  years’  min- 
istry found  his  way  to  the  hearts  of  a number  of  the 
most  prominent  people  of  Flushing.  Rev.  Thomas  Col- 
gan,  who  succeeded  him,  writes  in  1735:  “Several  of  the 
Quakers  of  Flushing  do  as  often  as  it  is  my  turn  to 
officiate  there  attend  upon  divine  service.”  In  1744: 
“The  several  churches  belonging  to  my  cure,  Jamaica, 
Newtown  and  Flushing,  are  in  a very  peaceable  and 
growing  state.”  The  services  at  this  village  were  held  in 
the  old  guard-house;  but  in  1746  Captain  Hugh  Went- 
worth, who  had  a country  seat  here,  donated  to  the 
church  a plot  of  ground,  and  a small  frame  building  with 
a spire  was  erected.  John  Aspinwall  and  Thomas  Gre- 
nell  are  credited  with  defraying  the  expense  of  the  spire, 
and  Mr.  Aspinwall  presented  the  church  with  “a  very 
fine  bell  of  five  hundred  pounds’  weight.”  The  number 
of  communicants  was  then  about  twenty,  and  the  date  of 
the  organization  was  probably  about  1744,  but  of  that 
there  is  no  record.  The  Bible  given  by  the  home  society, 
at  the  request  of  Rector  Colgan,  a prayer  book,  dated 
1746,  and  the  chancel  rail  of  the  old  building  are  now  in 
possession  of  the  rector. 

In  1749  the  rector  relates  a somewhat  remarkable  inci- 
dent: “ It  may  be  thought  worthy  of  notice  that  a man 
who  had  for  many  years  strictly  adhered  to  the  principles 
of  Quakerism,  when  the  new  church  was  opened  and  a 
collection  made,  gave  money  for  the  use  of  the  church; 
but,  thinking  he  had  not  put  enough  in  the  plate,  went 
immediately  after  service  and  gave  more  to  the  collect- 
or.” Mandeville  in  his  “ Flushing,  Past  and  Present  ” 
remarks,  in  a cynical  mood,  for  which  his  cloth  is  a suffi- 
cient excuse:  “A  thousand  pities  that  he  had  not  told 
his  name;  that  such  an  example  of  liberality  in  sentiment 
and  purse  might  have  been  perpetuated  for  the  benefit  of 
succeeding  generations.” 

In  1761  a charter  of  incorporation,  under  the  name  of 
St.  George’s  Church,  was  granted  by  Governor  Colden. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 16 


The  petitioners  were  John  Aspinwall,  Joseph  Bowne, 
Francis  Brown,  Charles  Cornell,  John  Dyer,  Isaac 
Doughty,  Benjamin  Fowler,  Thomas  Grenell  (Grinnell  5), 
Joseph  Haviland,  Foster  Lewis,  John  Morrell,  Jacamiah 
Mitchell,  John  Marston,  Christopher  Robert,  Daniel 
Thorn,  Jacob  Thorn,  Nathaniel  Tom,  William  Thorn, 
Benjamin  Thorn,  Charles  Wright  and  John  Wilson.  In 
their  petition  they  say  that  they  have  no  minister  of  their 
own;  that  divine  service  is  seldom  performed,  as  there 
is  but  one  minister  for  Jamaica,  Newtown  and  Flushing; 
that  they  have  erected  a decent  church,  and  intend  to 
provide  for  the  support  of  a clergyman. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  among  the  above  names  are 
several  of  marked  Quaker  antecedents.  This  may  be 
explained  in  this  way:  The  French  war  had  aroused  the 
patriotism  of  the  people,  and  the  call  for  troops  found 
many  willing  to  respond,  or  at  least  disposed  to  furnish 
substitutes;  the  young  men  particularly  were  enthusiastic. 
The  measures  taken  by  the  Quakers,  who  insisted  on 
entire  neutrality  and  the  strictest  interpretation  of  their 
noncombative  theory,  put  them  in  an  unpleasant  posi- 
tion. They  must  either  forego  their  ideas  of  patriotism 
and  submit  to  heavy  fines  for  not  training  in  the  militia, 
or  withdraw  from,,  the  society  and  find  some  church 
militant  where  they  could  both  “ worship  God  and  keep 
their  powder  dry.”  The  latter  alternative  was  taken  by 
several,  and  to  this  is  attributable,  in  a great  measure,  the 
fact  alluded  to. 

From  1795  to  1797  there  was  a controversy  between 
the  three  churches  about  the  arrangement  of  services; 
and  in  1797  St.  George’s  church  called  to  its  pastorate 
Rev.  E.  D.  Rattoone — Jamaica  uniting  in  the  call.  This 
gentleman  resided  midway  between  Flushing  and  Ja- 
maica, and  was  dependent  for  his  support  on  the  interest 
of  ^900  and  the  pledge  of  ^jioo  additional  if  it  could  be 
raised.  He  presented  to  the  church  its  present  corporate 
seal,  but  was  afterward  repaid  by  the  vestry.  In  1802 
Mr.  Rattoone  resigned,  and,  a disagreement  arising  be- 
tween this  church  and  that  at  Jamaica,  owing  to  the 
latter  soliciting  and  obtaining  subscriptions  from  the 
members  of  St.  George’s,  this  church  decided  to  separate 
from  Jamaica  and  unite  with  Newtown  in  the  support  of 
a pastor.  In  1803  the  two  churches  called  Rev.  Abra- 
ham L.  Clark,  who  continued  to  officiate  for  both  until 
October  3d  1809,  when  he  confined  his  services  to  New- 
town, and  the  pulpit  of  St.  George’s  was  vacated,  to  be 
filled  on  November  4th  of  that  year  by  Rev.  Brazilla 
Buckley,  who  thus  became  the  first  sole  rector  of  this 
church,  and  he  remained  so  until  his  death,  March  9th 
1820.  In  August  of  that  year  Rev.  J.  Y.  E.  Thorne  was 
called,  and  a new  church  building  was  agreed  upon. 
James  Bloodgood,  Thomas  Phillips  and  Isaac  Peck  were 
the  building  committee,  and  on  May  25  th  1821  the  edi 
fice,  now  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  church  and  used  for 
school  purposes,  was  consecrated. 

The  list  of  rectors  from  that  time  to  the  present  is  as 
follows:  Rev.  W.  A.  Muhlenberg,  D.  D.,  called  in  1826; 
Rev.  W.  H.  Lewis,  D.  D.,  called  in  1829;  Rev.  J.  M. 
Forbes,  1833;  Rev.  S.  R.  Johnson,  1834;  Rev.  R.  B.  Van 


Kleek,  1835;  Rev.Frederick  Goodwin,  1837;  Rev.  George 
Burcher,  1844,  and  died  in  May  1847;  and  Rev.  J.  Car- 
penter Smith,  D.  D.,  called  in  1847,  and  still  the  faithful 
and  untiring  pastor,  whose  life  here  has  been  eloquent  of 
good  works.  For  some  years  he  has  been  assisted  by  a 
curate. 

In  1838  the  church  was  enlarged,  at  a cost  of  $1,700, 
and  in  1853  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  imposing 
edifice  was  laid.  The  building  is  of  dark  cut  stone  and 
cost  some  $33,000.  Isaac  Peck,  Allan  Macdonald  and 
William  H.  Schemerhorn  were  the  building  committee. 
It  was  completed  and  consecrated  in  June  1854. 

The  grounds  and  churchyard  on  Main  street  have  been 
in  possession  of  the  society  since  1746,  and  the  old  bell 
presented  by  John  Aspinwall  was  on  the  erection  of  the 
new  church  remelted  and  incorporated  in  the  new  one 
now  in  use,  at  the  expense  of  a descendant  of  Mr.  As- 
pinwall. 

METHODISM  IN  FLUSHING. 

The  first  Methodist  church  in  the  town  was  organized 
among  the  colored  people,  in  1811,  known  as  the  Mace- 
donian Church,  and  supplied  by  white  preachers  until 
1816,  when  it  became  connected  with  the  African  M.  E. 
Church. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  white  Methodists  in  the 
town;  and  it  is  said  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Griffin,  who  was 
junior  preacher  on  the  Jamaica  circuit  in  1815,  that  when 
he  preached  at  Flushing  he  was  accommodated  with  food 
and  lodging  by  the  colored  people. 

The  first  Methodist  minister  that  preached  to  a con- 
gregation of  white  people  was  Rev.  Samuel  Cochran,  who 
in  1820  addressed  an  audience  of  twelve  persons  in  a 
dwelling  house  on  Liberty  (now  Lincoln)  street,  east  of 
Garretson’s  seed  stores.  The  nucleus  was  thus  formed 
of  a society  that  afterward  worshiped  at  a private  house 
on  Main  street,  and  in  1821  in  a school-room. 

The  first  white  Methodist  family  of  which  we  have  any 
account  was  composed  of  William,  James  and  Jane  Quan- 
tock,  from  England,  as  it  was  in  their  house,  on  Lincoln 
street,  that  the  first  meeting  was  held.  Gold  Silliman 
soon  after  came  here  from  Brooklyn,  and  proved  an  ac- 
tive member  many  years.  Charles  and  William  Peck  ar- 
rived from  New  York,  and  by  their  zeal  and  efficiency 
gave  great  encouragement  to  the  little  class. 

In  1822  the  society  bought  two  lots  on  Washington 
street  and  erected  a frame  building,  in  which  it  wor- 
shiped until  1843,  when  a new  church  was  built  on  Main 
street,  north  of  Washington.  In  1859,  when  Rev.  J.  L. 
Peck  was  pastor,  the  building  was  repaired,  a tower  erect- 
ed, an  organ  bought,  and  other  improvements  effected, 
at  a cost  of  $4,500.  In  order  to  obtain  a more  commo- 
dious and  central  location  the  church  building  was  re- 
moved to  its  present  site  on  Amity  street  in  1875,  when 
it  was  rededicated,  Revs.  L.  R.  Dashiell,  D.D.,  and  J.  S. 
Willis  assisting.  There  is  no  record  of  either  of  the  for- 
mer dedicatory  services. 

In  1823  Rev.  Luman  Andrews  was  appointed  to  the 
“ mission  on  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,”  and  out  of 


METHODIST,  CATHOLIC  AND  REFORMED  CHURCHES,  FLUSHING. 


this  mission  Flushing  circuit  was  organized  August  14th 
1824.  The  persons  present  at  the  quarterly  meeting  at 
which  this  action  was  taken,  which  was  held  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Charles  VV.  Carpenter,  were  Rev.  Laban  Clark, 
presiding  elder;  J.  Luckey  and  J.  W.  Lefevre,  circuit 
preachers;  C.  W.  Carpenter,  local  preacher;  Charles 
Peck  and  Joseph  Harper,  class  leaders;  and  Daniel 
North.  The  circuit  was  composed  of  Flushing,  New- 
town, Hallet’s  Cove,  Williamsburgh,  Yellow  Hook  and 
New  Utrecht.  The  financial  report  of  this  meeting  shows 
that  the  “ quaterage  and  traveling  expenses  ” paid  the 
presiding  elder  and  circuit  preachers  for  the  previous 
three  months  amounted  to  $30.36,  which  was  one  cent 
in  excess  of  the  receipts. 

The  following  year  the  circuit  paid  $134.92  salary  to 
Rev.  Robert  Seney,  whose  son  has  recently  made  gifts  to 
Wesleyan  University,  and  toward  founding  a Methodist 
hospital  in  Brooklyn,  of  more  than  half  a million  of  dol- 
lars. 

In  1834  the  Flushing  church  separated  from  the  circuit 
and  became  a station,  with  Rev.  Alexander  Hulin  as  its 
first  resident  pastor.  Charles  Peck  was  the  first  class 
leader  and  William  Peck  the  first  steward.  Caleb  Smith 
was  appointed  class  leader  in  1838,  and  has  held  the 
office  continuously  since  that  time.  The  singing  was 
first  conducted  by  Samuel  Post,  whose  brother  William 
was  for  more  than  thirty  years  the  chorister.  Instrumental 
music  met  with  some  opposition,  and  the  first  melodeon 
was  placed  in  the  church  gallery  near  midnight  on  Satur- 
day, in  order  to  obtain  a test  of  its  availability  before 
some  indignant  opponent  could  prevent  it. 

The  Sunday-school  was  first  held  on  Saturday  after- 
noon and  consisted  of  a small  class  taught  by  Miss  Han- 
nah Peck,  afterward  the  wife  of  Joseph  W.  Harper,  of 
Harper  & Brothers.  William  Peck  was  superintendent 
many  years.  The  school  attained  its  greatest  interest 
and  membership  during  the  superintendency  of  Orange 
Judd,  who  was  elected  in  1858  and  served  fourteen  years. 

Since  becoming  a station  this  church  has  had  pastors 
as  follows:  1834,  Alexander  Hulin;  1835,  David  Plumb; 
1836,  John  L.  Gilder;  1837,  1838,  William  Thatcher; 
1839,  Daniel  Wright;  1840,  George  Brown;  1841,  Elbert 
Osborn;  1842,  John  J.  Matthias;  1843,  1844,  Benjamin 
Griffin;  1845,  1846,  D.  Osborn;  1847,  J.  W.  B.  Wood; 
1848,  1849,  J.  B.  Mervine;  1850,  Samuel  W.  Law;  1851,' 
Abraham  S.  Francis;  1852,  1853,  Ira  Abbott;  1854,  1855, 
W.  F.  Collins;  1856,  1857,  T.  H.  Burch;  1858,  1859,  J. 
L.  Peck;  i860,  1861,  E.  L.  Janes;  1864,  1865,  Horace 
Cooke;  1866-68,  G.  R.  Crooks;  1869-71,  G.  Taylor; 
1872-74,  W.  H.  Simonson;  1875,  1876,  George  Stillman; 
1877,  1878,  Levi  P.  Perry;  1879,  Arvine  C.  Bowdish; 
1880,  Robert  W.  Jones. 

st.  Michael’s  roman  catholic  church. 

In  October  1826  the  Catholics  of  Flushing,  then  only 
twelve  in  number,  invited  the  Rev.  Father  F'arnham,  of 
Brooklyn,  to  come  and  minister  to  them.  He  complied, 
and  the  first  mass  was  celebrated  in  a small  house  on 
Main  street.  Their  numbers  increased  gradually  until 


1 17 


too  great  for  their  place  of  meeting,  and  a larger  house, 
on  Liberty  street,  was  bought  and  fitted  up,  where  ser- 
vices were  held  once  a month  by  Father  Curran,  of  As- 
toria. This  building,  after  being  twice  enlarged,  proved 
insufficient  to  accommodate  the  increasing  congregation; 
and  on  the  8th  of  June  1841  four  lots  were  bought  on  the 
corner  of  Union  street  and  Madison  avenue,  where  the 
church  now  stands;  and  a frame  church  seventy-two  by 
thirty-five  feet  was  erected.  The  building  of  the  church 
brought  considerable  acccessions  to  the  numbers  of  the 
congregation,  and  at  the  request  of  the  people  Bishop 
Hughes  sent  Father  Wheeler  to  minister  here;  he  thus 
becoming  the  first  resident  priest.  After  a few  years  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Joh.i  McMahon. 

In  1854  the  church,  a slightly  built  edifice,  became  too 
dilapidated  to  be  enlarged  to  meet  the  demands  of  a still 
growing  assembly,  and  a new  and  more  elegant  building 
was  decided  on.  The  Rev.  James  O’Burne,  who  was 
at  that  time  the  pastor,  took  the  matter  in  charge,  and 
was  aided  by  the  heartiest  efforts  of  all  his  people.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  on  the  24th  of  June  1854,  and  on 
the  following  Christmas  day  the  building  was  so  near 
completion  that  mass  was  celebrated  within  its  walls. 
The  work  from  that  date  progressed  slowly,  assisted  by 
munificent  gifts  from  many  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  dif- 
ferent denominations,  and  on  the  4th  of  October  1856  it 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  church  is  a beautiful  gothic  structure  of  cut  stone, 
and  is  the  most  costly  church  building  in  the  town. 

St.  Michael’s  parochial  school  was  organized  August 
1st  1853,  under  the  patronage  of  the  pastor,  Father 
McMahon.  It  had  its  origin  in  the  objection  of  Catholic 
parents  to  having  their  children  learn  the  Protestant 
Scriptures,  which  were  read  in  the  public  schools.  A 
meeting  was  held,  a school  decided  on,  and  in  a few 
weeks  funds  were  raised  for  the  erection  of  a building, 
from  which  has  grown  the  handsome  edifice  accommo- 
dating the  successful  school  of  to-day.  In  1858  the  at- 
tendance was  more  than  three  hundred  daily,  and  three 
teachers  were  employed,  the  school  being  entirely  free  to 
all.  In  1880  the  attendance  was  larger  and  the  school 
was  in  every  sense  a success. 

THE  REFORMED  CHURCH. 

The  Protestant  Reformed  Dutch,  now  known  as  the 
Reformed,  Church  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin. 
The  history  of  this  denomination  is  somewhat  analogous 
to  that  of  the  Episcopal  church  in  its  early  efforts  and 
failures.  As  is  well  known,  it  was  the  State  church  of 
Holland,  and  Governor  Stuyvesant’s  attempts  to  establish 
it  here  have  already  been  referred  to.  About  the  year 
1645  Rev.  Francis  Doughty — who  had  left  England  on 
account  of  religious  persecutions,  and,  coming  to  New 
England,  found,  as  he  expressed  it,  that  he  had  “ got  out 
of  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire  ” — was  banished  from  Mas- 
sachusetts on  account  of  his  religious  vagaries,  and  be- 
came the  minister  at  Vlissingen.  In  a report  to  the 
classis  of  Amsterdam  “ Dominies  Megapolensis  and 
Drisius  say  in  1657  at  Flushing  they  heretofore  had  a 


15 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 18 


Presbyterian  preacher,  who  conformed  to  our  church,  but 
many  of  them  became  endowed  with  divers  opinions,  and 
it  was  with  them  quot  homines , tot  sententiae.  They  ab- 
sented themselves  from  preaching,  nor  would  they  pay 
the  preacher  his  promised  stipend.”  On  June  ioth  1645 
the  record  contains  the  following:  “ William  Gerritse 
sings  libelous  songs  against  the  Rev.  Francis  Doughty, 
for  which  he  is  sentenced  to  be  tied  to  the  May-pole.” 
In  1653  or  1654  the  Rev.  Mr.  Doughty  appears  against 
William  and  John  Lawrence,  John  Hicks  and  Captain 
Underhill  for  back  salary.  Underhill,  who  was  nothing 
if  not  quarrelsome,  had  locked  the  church  doors  against 
him,  because,  as  he  said,  Doughty  preached  against  the 
government.  Underhill  about  that  time  had  inaugurated 
a little  private  rebellion  of  his  own  against  his  Knicker- 
bocker rulers.  The  defense  to  the  action  was  that  Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant  had  forced  the  town  to  sign  the  call  to 
Doughty  against  the  wishes  of  the  people.  The  contract 
for  salary  had  been  burned  a year  before  the  trial,  by 
Mrs.  William  Lawrence,  who  with  a woman’s  habitual 
disregard  for  business  papers  (a  trait  she  must  have  been 
cured  of  when  as  Lady  Carteret  she  afterward  became 
acting  governor  of  New  Jersey)  had  put  it  under  a pie  in 
the  oven.  Disheartened  and  financially  embarrassed, 
Doughty  left  Flushing  for  Virginia,  but  left  a son  behind 
him,  who  in  1766  brought  his  father’s  suit  against  the 
town  to  a successful  issue,  and  obtained  a verdict  of 
six  hundred  guilders  in  payment  of  six  years’  salary. 

Dominie  Doughty  was  undoubtedly  the  first  religious 
teacher  in  the  place.  He  removed  to  Virginia  in  1656; 
was  said  to  have  been  imbued  with  some  peculiar  doc- 
trines and  opposed  to  infant  baptism.  His  family,  the 
descendants  of  a son  and  daughter  who  married  here, 
were  afterward  for  many  years  identified  with  the  Qua- 
kers, and  the  ancestors  of  a large  and  widely  scattered 
family  of  that  name. 

From  the  time  of  Doughty’s  departure  there  is  no 
record  of  his  place  having  been  filled  by  any  resident 
preacher;  and  it  seems  probable  that  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Knickerbocker  administration  preaching 
was  supplied  by  preachers  from  Newtown  and  Jamaica, 
at  which  points  churches  had  been  erected. 

For  nearly  two  hundred  years  a total  blank  occurs  in 
the  history  of  the  denomination  here.  The  arm  of  flesh 
failed  to  uphold  the  church,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
names  of  the  old  bigoted  Knickerbockers  had  been  lost 
to  history  that  a successful  effort  was  made  to  found  a 
Reformed  church  in  Flushing.  Rev.  William  R.  Gordon, 
of  Manhasset,  commenced  holding  services  about  the 
year  1841  in  a hall  on  Bridge  street,  and  in  1842  he  or- 
ganized a chuch  of  six  members.  Soon  afterward  Mr. 
Gordon  was  induced  to  become  its  pastor.  Services  were 
held  in  a school  room  on  Church  street,  with  an  increas- 
ing congregation,  until  1845,  when  Gardner  G.  Howland 
and  William  Henry  Roe  were  appointed  a building  com- 
mittee, and  the  church  edifice  was  erected,  at  a cost  of 
$12,000.  It  is  pleasantly  located  at  the  corner  of  Prince 
and  Washington  streets,  and  is  built  of  cut  stone,  which 
was  brought  from  Blackwell’s  Island.  The  tower  con- 


tains a fine  bell  (which  is  also  used  for  a fire  alarm)  and 
the  town  clock.  In  the  spring  of  1859  the  church  was 
enlarged  and  repaired,  and  an  organ  built,  at  an  expense 
of  $3,000.  The  lecture  room  is  a neat  building  on  a lot 
adjoining  the  church. 

In  1850  Mr.  Gordon  resigned  and  removed  to  New 
York,  and  after  remaining  vacant  for  nearly  eighteen 
months  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  Rev.  G.  Henry  Mande- 
ville,  who  accepted  the  pastorate  July  28th  1851.  Dur 
ing  a term  of  eight  years’  service  Mr.  Mandeville  was 
instrumental  in  largely  increasing  the  membership  and 
strength,  and  in  his  hours  of  leisure  prepared,  and  after 
ward  published,  a breezy  little  volume  entitled  “Flush- 
ing, Past  and  Present,”  to  which  the  present  writer  is 
indebted  for  much  of  the  material  used  in  this  historical 
sketch  of  the  town.  In  August  1859  he  removed  to  New- 
burgh, N.  Y.,  and  in  September  following  Rev.  W.  W. 
Halloway  was  called  and  settled  as  pastor. 

FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

The  movement  which  resulted  in  the  organization  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Flushing  began  in  a 
meeting  which  was  held  in  the  chapel  of  the  Flushing  In- 
stitute, January  23d  1851.  At  this  meeting  it  was  unan- 
imously voted  that  it  was  “expedient  to  unite  in  a 
new  organization  for  the  public  worship  of  God.”  This 
conviction  was  reaffirmed  at  a meeting  held  at  the  house 
of  D.  S.  Williams  February  18th  of  the  same  year;  and 
at  this  meeting  a committee,  consisting  of  D.  S.  Wil- 
liams, S.  A.  Smith  and  B.  L.  Fowler,  was  appointed  “to 
take  iniatory  steps  for  the  organization  of  a (new  and 
independent)  church,  and  to  draw  up  a confession  of 
faith,  covenant,  and  standing  rules  for  its  government, 
to  be  reported  at  a future  meeting  of  those  who  propose 
to  unite  with  it.” 

The  denominational  complexion  of  the  new  organiza- 
tion was  determined  April  4th,  and  steps  were  taken  to 
secure  a place  for  holding  worship.  The  union  school- 
house  on  Church  street  was  rented  and  fitted  up  for  this 
purpose,  and  on  April  20th  the  first  religious  services 
were  held,  the  Rev.  Charles  Parker,  of  New  York,  offi- 
ciating. 

The  articles  of  faith,  the  covenant,  the  form  of  admis- 
sion, and  the  standing  rules  were  adopted  at  various 
meetings  held  during  the  months  of  May  and  June,  and 
on  June  9th  a committee  was  appointed  “ to  invite  the 
attendance  of  a council  of  ministers  and  delegates  to  or- 
ganize a Congregational  church,”  if  it  should  be  deemed 
expedient.  Pursuant  to  the  invitation  a council  convened 
at  the  union  school-house  Tuesday  July  1st  1851.  Rev. 
D.  C.  Lansing,  D.D.,  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Wil- 
liam C.  Gilman  scribe.  After  listening  to  the  report  of 
the  committee  appointed  by  those  who  proposed  to  enter 
the  new  organization,  and  examining  the  confession  of 
faith  and  covenant,  the  council  signified  approval  of  the 
action  taken,  and  assigned  the  public  services  of  recog- 
nition as  follows:  Introductory  prayer,  reading  of  Scrip- 
tures and  sermon,  Rev.  George  B.  Cheever,  D.D.;  read- 
ing the  articles  of  faith  and  the  covenant,  and  constitut- 


CONGREGATIONAL  AND  BAPTIST  CHURCHES,  FLUSHING. 


119 


ing  prayer,  Rev.  D.  C.  Lansing,  D.D.;  fellowship  of  the 
churches,  Rev.  R.  S.  Storrsjr. ; address  to  the  church 
and  concluding  prayer,  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher;  bene- 
diction by  the  moderator,  Rev.  Dr.  Lansing.  On  the 
same  evening  those  who  had  applied  for  admission  to 
membership  in  the  new  organization,  and  whose  applica- 
tions had  been  approved,  publicly  assented  to  the  articles 
of  faith  and  the  covenant,  and  were  received  to  member- 
ship. The  church,  as  thus  constituted,  consisted  of 
eighteen  members,  as  follows;  Robert  B.  Parsons,  John 
B.  Holmes  and  Richard  Cornell,  received  on  profession 
of  faith;  Scoville  D.  Foote,  Mrs.  Martha  W.  Foote,  Ben- 
jamin L.  Fowler,  Mrs.  Jane  S.  Fowler,  Gilbert  G.  Weeks, 
Mrs.  Cornelia  M.  Weeks,  John  Fowler,  Mrs.  Letitia  Ann 
Fowler,  S.  Addison  Smith,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Holmes,  Mrs. 
Nellopee  C.  Rickey,  by  letters  from  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church  at  Flushing  ; Jeremiah  De  Graff  and  Mrs.  Caro- 
line De  Graff,  by  letter  from  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Newtown;  David  S.  Williams  and  Mrs.  Phila  A.  Williams, 
by  letter  from  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  Congregational 
church,  New  York  city. 

The  ordinance  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  was  celebrated  for 
the  first  time  September  7th  1851,  Rev.  Joshua  Leavitt, 
of  New  York,  officiating. 

The  first  board  of  officers  was  as  follows:  Deacons, 
Thomas  F.  Harrison,  John  Fowler;  clerk,  David  S.  Wil- 
liams; treasurer,  Benjamin  L.  Fowler;  prudential  com- 
mittee, Richard  Cornell,  S.  Addison  Smith,  Robert  B. 
Parsons.  Mr.  Harrison  resigned  soon  after  his  election, 
and  at  the  first  annual  meeting,  April  21st  1852,  Gilbert 
G.  Weeks  was  chosen  in  his  stead. 

On  the  9th  of  September  1851  the  congregation  met 
and  organized  a religious  society  in  accordance  with  the 
laws  of  the  State,  under  the  corporate  name  of  “ The 
First  Congregational  Society  of  Flushing,  L.  I.”  The 
following  persons  were  elected  trustees:  Robert  B.  Par- 
sons and  John  Rickey  for  one  year,  Thomas  F.  Harrison 
and  Rufus  Leavitt  for  two  years,  Edward  Roe  and  David 
S.  Williams  for  three  years. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Charles  O.  Reynolds,  of  East 
Hartford,  Conn.,  who  was  ordained  October  28th  1851, 
and  dismissed  by  council  September  5th  1854.  His  suc- 
cessors have  been  as  follows:  Rev.  S.  Bourne,  of  Hart- 
ford, ordained  December  6th  1859;  Rev.  Henry  T 
Staats,  of  Princeton,  ordained  February  1st  i860,  dis 
missed  by  council  October  26th  i860.  After  Mr.  Staats’s 
resignation  Rev.  P.  M.  Bartlett  supplied  the  pulpit  six- 
teen months,  from  January  1861  to  May  1862.  Rev. 
Henry  H.  McFarland  was  ordained  June  1 6th  1863,  and 
was  dismissed  by  mutual  council  April  24th  1866.  Rev. 
John  A.  French  was  engaged  as  stated  supply  in  Sep- 
tember 1866,  and  ministered  about  two  years.  Rev. 
Martin  L.  Williston  began  his  labors  in  June  1869,  was 
ordained  March  3d  1870,  and  dismissed  by  council  May 
7th  1872.  Rev.  Albert  C.  Reed  was  called  in  June  1873, 
installed  October  30th  1873,  and  dismissed  by  council 
April  3d  1878.  Rev.  James  O.  Averill,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, was  ordained  June  17th  1879.  He  has  preached, 
as  stated  supply,  since  January  19th  1879. 

The  first  church  building  was  erected  on  the  east  side 
of  Union  street,  near  what  is  now  Washington  street,  and 
adjoining  the  present  primary  school  building.  Work 


was  begun  upon  it  about  the  1st  of  December  1851,  and 
it  was  dedicated  January  29th  1852.  Its  seating  capacity 
was  about  275,  and  its  cost  about  $800.  This  first  edi- 
fice was  subsequently  removed  to  its  present  location  on 
Lincoln  street,  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  and  it  is  now 
used  as  a chapel  and  Sunday-school  room. 

The  large  and  commodious  edifice  in  which  the  church 
now  worships  was  built  in  1856,  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  Bowne  avenue  and  Lincoln  street,  on  ground  presented 
to  the  society  by  the  Messrs.  Parsons.  The  auditorium 
is  75  by  55  feet,  and  has  a seating  capacity  of  about  five 
hundred.  The  building  and  its  furniture  are  valued  at 
$1°,°°°. 

A Sabbath-school  was  established  soon  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church,  and  it  has  been  steadily  main- 
tained ever  since.  D.  S.  Williams  was  the  first  superin- 
tendent, and  for  twelve  years  or  more  he  was  annually 
elected  to  that  office,  until  failing  health  compelled  him 
to  relinquish  it.  R.  B.  Parsons  is  the  present  superin- 
tendent. There  are  about  one  hundred  names  on  the 
rolls  of  the  school,  and  the  average  attendance  is  eighty. 
There  is  a small  but  well  selected  library  of  Sunday- 
school  books,  and  a parish  library  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  volumes.  The  Sabbath-school  meets  at  9 o’clock 
every  Sabbath  morning. 

THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

This  body  was  organized  January  17th  1857,  two  hun- 
dred years  after  the  first  attempt  to  instill  the  doctrines 
of  the  denomination  here  and  the  first  act  of  persecu- 
tion, which  the  colonial  records  relate  as  follows:  “ In 
1656  William  Wickendam,  a cobbler  from  Rhode  Island, 
came  to  Flushing,  and  began  to  preach,  and  went  with 
the  people  into  the  river  and  dipped  them.  For  this  he 
was  fined  £100,  and  ordered  to  be  banished.  As  he  was 
poor  and  had  a family  the  fine  was  remitted.  Hallet,  the 
sheriff,  had  dared  to  collect  conventicles  in  his  house, 
and  had  permitted  Wickendam  to  preach  and  administer 
the  sacraments,  though  not  called  thereto  by  any  eccle- 
siastical authority.  For  this  he  was  removed  from  office 
and  fined  ^50. 

Wickendam,  who  was  a personal  friend  of  Roger  Wil- 
liams, submitted  to  his  sentence,  and  the  interest  that 
had  been  awakened  died  out  or  was  absorbed  by  the 
Quaker  revivals  of  the  time;  and,  strange  as  it  may  seem 
to  those  who  know  the  fearless  zeal  and  untiring  mission- 
ary spirit  of  this  denomination,  no  attempt  to  organize 
seems  to  have  been  made  prior  to  the  date  first  given 
above.  The  first  meetings  of  the  church  were  held  in  the 
school-rooms  of  a Miss  Hammond,  and  in  1857  a neat 
little  church  was  erected  at  the  junction  of  Jamaica  and 
Jaggar  avenues.  Rev.  Howard  Osgood  was  the  first 
pastor. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT  UNION  CHAPEL, 

at  what  is  known  as  “ the  head  of  the  Vleigh,”  was 
built  in  1858,  Thomas  Whitson  donating  the  land  and 
Mrs  Mary  Pell  subscribing  the  largest  part  of  the  cost  of 
its  erection.  It  has  been  occupied  by  a union  Sunday- 
school  and  for  mission  services  by  the  clergymen  of  dif- 
ferent denominations  from  the  adjacent  villages.  During 
the  winter  of  1880-81  Rev.  J.  W.  Smith,  of  Jamaica,  held 
services  there. 


I 20 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


ROBERT 

Robert  M.  Bell  is  a son  of  Richard  and  Rachael 
(Moore)  Bell,  and  is  of  Irish  extraction  on  his  father’s 
side;  his  mother  was  a Quakeress. 

Mr.  Bell  was  born  about  six  miles  west  of  Port  De- 
posit, in  Cecil  county,  Md.,  March  3d  1807.  Orphaned 
at  the  age  of  ten,  by  the  death  of  his  father,  Robert  went 
to  live,  with  his  mother,  at  Sadsbury,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  and  remained  there  and  with  other  relatives  in  the 
vicinity  until  1824,  when  he  was  induced  to  take  charge 
of  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Abram  Bell,  in  the  town  of 
Flushing,  Long  Island,  of  which  a small  part  of  Mr. 
Bell’s  present  farm  formed  a portion.  December  19th 
1832  Mr.  Bell  married  Miss  Catharine  H.  Lawrence,  a 
sister  of  Cornelius,  Joseph  and  Richard  Lawrence,  who 
were  all  at  one  time  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
New  York,  who  died  January  7th  1880. 

Mr.  Bell  has  two  children,  a son  and  a daughter, 
named  respectively  Richard  M.  and  Lillie,  the  latter 
now  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  W.  Aides,  a member  of  the 
Produce  Exchange  of  New  York.  Richard  M.  Bell 


M.  BELL. 

married  Miss  Julia  Black,  of  Mt.  Holly,  N.  J.,  whose 
father  was  for  six  years  president  of  the  Mt.  Holly  Bank. 

Left  early,  in  a measure,  on  his  own  resources,  Mr. 
Bell  learned  that  self-reliance  which,  combined  with 
accurate  judgment,  energy,  perseverance  and  a wise  ad- 
ministration of  business  affairs,  has  enabled  him  to  carve 
out  his  own  fortune  successfully,  and  to  stand  at  the 
present  time  among  the  best  known  and  most  respected 
of  Flushing’s  citizens.  In  1830  Mr.  Bell  bought  the  old' 
Lawrence  farm,  consisting  of  160  acres,  which,  together 
with  other  lands  and  property,  constitutes  his  estate. 
Upon  the  marriage  of  his  son  he  provided  an  ample 
homestead  from  the  paternal  property  for  him  and  his. 
In  all  matters  of  local  public  interest  Mr.  Bell  has  ever 
been  prominent,  and  has  always  aided  with  his  time, 
judgment  and  means  all  efforts  for  the  benefit  of  his 
townsmen.  His  home,  which  is  located  in  one  of  the 
pleasantest  spots  in  the  town  of  Flushing,  is  presided 
over  by  a sister  of  his  late  wife,  who  supplies,  as  far  as 
may  be,  the  place  of  her  who  has  gone  to  her  reward. 


THE  FLUSHING  BATTERY. 


121 


Major  Roemer’s  Battery. 

The  Flushing  Guards  was  the  first  uniformed  military 
organization  in  the  town.  It  was  commissioned  as  light 
infantry,  and  attached  to  the  old  93d  regiment  as  a flank 
company  November  1st  1839.  Its  first  parade,  January 
16th  1840,  turned  out  twenty-six  uniforms.  Attaining  a 
high  degree  of  discipline,  its  designation  was  changed  in 
1843  to  artillery;  and  in  June  1845  to  light  horse  artil- 
lery and  it  was  attached  to  Storm’s  famous  xst  brigade, 
in  which  it  took  high  rank.  The  brilliant  movements  of 
the  battery  attracted  the  attention  of  the  general  in  com- 
mand, and  its  parades  called  together  the  most  celebrated 
tacticians  of  the  State,  who  styled  it  “ the  incomparable,” 
and  gave  it  the  name  of  Bragg’s  battery — the  hero  of 
Buena  Vista  not  then  having  become  a traitor  to  his  flag. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war  the  battery,  eager  to 
prove  that  its  members  were  not  carpet  knights,  volun- 
teered its  services,  but  they  were  not  needed.  A time 


was  to  come,  however,  when  the  test  of  soldierly  qualities 
was  to  be  fully  and  severely  made. 

The  first  captain  was  Charles  A.  Hamilton.  On  his 
promotion  he  was  succeeded  by  William  O.  Mitchell, 
and  he  by  Thomas  L.  Robinson,  who  was  in  command 
when  the  late  war  broke  out.  The  battery  soon  aban- 
doned the  name  by  which  outsiders  had  christened  it, 
and  adopted  that  of  the  old  commander,  by  which  it  was 
known  for  some  years. 

Responding  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  three 
years’  troops  the  Hamilton  Light  Artillery  was  recruited 
to  its  full  complement  early  in  June  1861,  and  156  men, 
under  Captain  T.  L.  Robinson,  First  Lieutenant  Jacob 
Roemer,  Second  Lieutenant  Standish,  Third  Lieutenant 
Hamilton  and  Fourth  Lieutenant  Rowelle,  marched  to 
Washington,  where  in  the  spring  of  1862  the  battery  was 
reorganized:  Lieutenant  Roemer  becoming  its  captain, 
Lieutenant  Rowelle  first  lieutenant,  Standish  second 
lieutenant,  Cooper  third  and  Heasely  fourth;  and  the  bat- 


16 


122 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


t'ery  was  attached  to  the  2nd  N.  Y.  light  artillery  as  Bat- 
tery L,  and  assigned  to  duty  in  the  10th  army  corps. 
The  first  engagement  of  the  command  was  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  August  9th  1862,  in  which  six  of  the  horses 
were  shot.  On  the  29th  and  30th  days  of  the  same  month 
occurred  the  memorable  battle  of  Manassas,  or  the  sec- 
ond Bull  Run,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  During  the  first 
day  Battery  L sustained  no  losses;  but  on  the  second  the 
left  wing  of  the  Union  army  was  driven  in  by  a charge 
and  during  a hot  engagement,  lasting  but  about  five 
minutes,  56  rounds  were  fired,  Captain  Roemer  and  thir- 
teen men  were  wounded — one  mortally — and  twenty 
horses  killed.  The  next  trial  of  the  metal  of  this  battery 
was  at  Antietam,  September  1 6th  and  17th  1862,  when  it 
supported  the  infantry  who  charged  the  Antietam  bridge, 
and  lost  two  men  wounded  and  three  horses  killed. 
After  this  decisive  victory  the  battery  was  assigned  to 
duty  with  the  9th  corps,  and  for  twenty-seven  days  was 
stationed  on  picket  duty  before  Fredericksburg;  on  the 
nth  and  12th  of  December  it  sustained  a sharp  engage- 
ment, in  which  one  man  was  killed  and  two  were  wounded. 
After  that  date  the  corps  fell  back  to  Falmouth  Heights, 
and  went  into  winter  quarters.  On  February  5th  1863 
the  corps  struck  tents  and,  marching  to  Acqua  Creek, 
embarked  for  Newport  News.  After  a stay  there  of 
three  weeks  it  was  ordered  to  Baltimore,  and  from  thence 
sent  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  to  join  the  army  of  the  Ohio, 
under  Burnside.  After  three  weeks  the  corps  started  in 
pursuit  of  Mosby,  following  him  through  Winchester, 
Stanford,  Crab  Orchard  and  Huckman’s,  back  to  Lexing- 
ton, and  on  the  3d  of  June  marched  for  Vicksburg,  where 
it  arrived  on  the  1 8 1 h , taking  position  on  Haines’s  Bluff. 
On  the  4th  of  July  occurred  the  memorable  surrender  of 
Vicksburg,  and  immediately  afterward  this  battery  was  sent 
to  Jackson,  Miss.,  where  with  the  9th  corps  it  took  posi- 
tion on  the  nth,  bombarding  that  city  for  six  days,  when 
it  was  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  The  next  movement  was 
a return  to  Lexington,  and  an  advance  to  the  Cumber- 
land Gap,  the  taking  of  which  and  the  march  to  Knox- 
ville were  without  incidents  of  especial  interest.  After 
the  capture  of  Knoxville  commences  a thrilling  chapter 
in  the  history  of  this  battery. 

The  next  movement  of  the  army  of  Burnside  was  di- 
rected againt  Johnston’s  advance,  and  the  9th  and  24th 
corps  were  marched  to  Blue  Springs,  where  a sharp  en- 
gagement, without  decisive  results,  was  sustained,  Battery 
L suffering  a loss  of  but  one  man  wounded.  Moving  to 
Loudon  the  army  was  ordered  into  winter  quarters, 
which  were,  however,  disturbed  three  days  later  by  the 
advance  of  the  rebel  army.  Meanwhile  the  time  of  the 
men’s  enlistment  had  expired,  and  the  battery  re-enlisted 
in  the  veteran  corps  as  an  independent  organization  of 
light  artillery.  Longstreet’s  advance  drove  them  back  to 
Knoxville,  in  a series  of  sharp  encounters,  during  which 
the  battery  was  almost  constantly  engaged,  and  Captain 
Roemer  was  on  horseback  five  successive  days  and  nights 
without  sleep.  Hotly  pressed  by  the  foe,  the  Union 
forces  had  but  little  time  to  prepare  for  the  defense  of 
Knoxville  before  the  rebel  batteries  commenced  the 


bombardment.  Completely  exhausted  by  the  severe 
struggles  of  the  last  five  days,  when  the  streets  of  that 
city  were  reached  and  the  order  to  halt  was  given  the 
troops  lay  down  in  the  ranks  and  slept  two  hours.  They 
were  then  awakened  and  the  meagre  force  employed  to 
the  best  advantage  to  protect  the  important  stronghold 
against  the  attack  of  four  times  their  number,  composed 
of  the  flower  of  the  rebel  army,  flushed  with  victory  and 
headed  by  their  most  popular  and  bravest  leader.  Bat- 
tery L took  position  on  East  Tennessee  College  Hill, 
overlooking  a redoubt,  afterward  named  Fort  Sanders. 
For  twelve  days  the  siege  was  continued,  with  famine 
staring  the  men  in  the  face — only  one-fourth  of  a pound 
of  bread  being  given  to  each  man.  Five  thousand  horses 
and  mules  were  driven  out  of  the  city  and  abandoned, 
and  to  the  rest  three  or  four  ears  of  corn  apiece  were 
doled  out  daily.  Charges  and  counter  charges  filled  the 
history  of  the  working  hours  of  that  eventful  fortnight, 
until  5 o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  of  November, 
when,  under  the  starlight,  a picked  body  of  volunteers( 
5,000  strong,  led  by  their  favorite  commander-in- 
chief, Longstreet,  moved  to  the  storming  of  Fort 
Sanders,  the  key  of  the  defense.  Only  a few  hun- 
dred strong,  the  half  starved  defenders  were,  however, 
led  by  men  whose  courage  never  flinched,  and  whose  en- 
thusiasm was  contagious.  Captain  Roemer  had  been 
ordered  to  send  one  section  of  his  battery  under  Lieu- 
tenant Heasely  to  the  fort,  and  to  furnish  fifty  rounds  of 
shrapnel  with  twenty-second  fuses  to  be  thrown  by  hand 
into  the  trenches  at  points  which  the  guns  of  his  battery 
did  not  command.  The  charge  was  gallantly  made,  and 
desperately  resisted.  Once  the  rebel  flag  was  planted  on 
the  rampart,  but  an  instant  after  it  fell,  with  its  bearer 
a corpse,  to  the  trenches.  The  gun  at  which  Captain 
Roemer  was  stationed  fired  twenty-seven  rounds  of  double 
canister,  at  every  flash  mowing  a wide  swath  through  the 
advancing  column.  It  was  loaded  with  its  last  remaining 
charge  as  onward  through  the  storm  of  fire  came  the 
reckless,  maddened  foe.  They  swarmed  up  through  the 
trenches,  and  a rebel  major,  laying  his  hand  on  the  muz- 
zle of  the  piece,  shouted:  “ Cease  firing,  the  gun  is  ours!” 
At  that  instant  a white  puff  of  smoke,  a blinding  flash, 
and  the  officer  and  fourteen  files  of  men  fell  to  rise  no 
more.  Terror  stricken,  seven  hundred  rebels  threw 
down  their  arms,  and  entered  the  porthole  as  prisoners 
of  war.  The  charge  was  over,  the  glory  of  the  rebel 
army  lay  dead,  dying  and  prisoners;  and  the  cheers  of 
the  defenders  of  Knoxville  were  heard  by  Sherman’s  ad- 
vance forces,  who  came  in  sight  that  day.  The  siege 
was  over;  Longstreet  was  pressing  every  nerve  to  with- 
draw his  shattered  army  to  a safe  distance  from  the  ap- 
proaching Union  army.  The  best  of  the  rebel  guns  had 
been  trained  on  the  single  piece  of  light  artillery  that  had 
contributed  so  signally  to  the  victory;  and  yet  but  two 
men  were  wounded  in  Battery  L. 

The  gallant  captain  stood  wearily  leaning  against  his 
sword  when  General  Burnside  rode  up.  “ Good  morning, 
captain.”  Good  morning,  general.”  “ Captain,  what 
made  your  shells  explode  so  this  morning  ?”  “ Oh,  gene- 


THE  FLUSHING  BATTERY. 


123 


ral,  how  should  I know  ?”  “ What  did  you  tell  the  ser- 
geant list  night  ? ” “ Don’t  remember,  general  ; I said 

much  it  were  best  to  forget.”  “ Well,  I remember,  and 
am  proud  of  it.  Captain  Roemer  and  his  battery  will  not 
be  forgotten.”  This  conversation  had  this  source  : On 
the  night  before  the  attack  it  was  found  that  but  little 
available  ammunition,  except  some  shells  that  had  been 
buried  by  the  rebels  and  dug  up  by  our  forces,  could  be 
found  ; and  that  these  had  corroded,  so  that  but  few  ex- 
ploded. Captain  Roemer  called  for  a volunteer  to  as- 
sist him  in  boring  out  the  fuses  of  these  shells — a work 
fraught  with  great  danger.  Sergeant  Kauffman,  of  the 
46th  N.  Y.,  immediately  consented  to  help,  saying  that 
if  the  captain  could  afford  to  risk  his  life  he  could.  Tak- 
ing their  ammunition  box  they  crept  close  under  the 
shelter  of  the  ramparts  to  avoid  the  chance  of  a flying 
shot,  and  were  busily  engaged  when  a shell  from  a rebel 
battery  struck  the  rampart  and  exploded,  covering  them 
with  dirt  and  destroying  the  ammunition  box,  containing 
twelve  shells,  which,  fortunately  for  the  garrison,  did  not 
explode.  The  sergeant  mildly  remonstrated  : — “ Cap- 
tain, if  you  keep  on  you’ll  blow  us  all  up.”  “ Never 
mind,”  said  the  captain.  “ Better  be  blown  up  here  than 
go  to  Richmond.”  “All  right,  captain,  just  as  you  say,” 
was  the  only  response  ; and  the  duty  of  filling  the  shells 
for  their  terrible  morning  work  was  grimly  resumed.  It 
was  this  incident  of  coolness  and  self  sacrifice  that  had 
reached  the  ear  of  the  commanding  general.  With  such 
officers  the  defense  of  Knoxville  was  possible;  without 
them  no  troops  could  have  resisted  the  accumulated  hor- 
rors of  the  situation. 

But  little  time  was  spared  for  rest  ; for  on  the  2nd  the 
troops  were  marched  in  pursuit  of  Longstreet,  as  far  as 
Strawberry  Plains  and  Church  Mountain,  and  encamping 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  lay  there  until  January  19th, 
when  the  long-hoped-for  veteran  furlough  order  was  re- 
ceived, and  the  battery  was  ordered  to  Albany  for  review 
and  assignment  of  title  by  the  governor  of  New  York. 
Arriving  in  that  city  February  9th,  under  command  of 
Captain  Roemer  and  Lieut.  Heasely  (Lieut.  Rowelle  hav- 
ing previously  been  detached  for  duty  on  the  staff  of 
General  Sturges),  they  were  reviewed  by  Governor  Mor- 
gan on  the  10th,  and  given  the  name  of  the  “ 34th  N.  Y. 
independent  battery  light  artillery;”  and  on  the  10th  they 
filed  into  Flushing,  sixty-nine  men  and  two  officers,  amid 
the  cheers  of  their  admiring  townspeople.  Here  a grand 
reception  awaited  them.  Grave  clergymen,  judges  and 
lawyers  took  off  their  coats  and  served  as  waiters  at  the 
table  filled  with  the  tanned  and  battered  artillerymen  ; 
while  the  silks  and  laces  of  Flushing’s  lovely  daughters 
fluttered  wondrously  close  to  the  faded  coats  of  blue, 
whose  occupants  found  it  a glorious  rest  after  having 
traveled  9,600  miles  in  “ Burnside’s  Caravan  ” to  no 
softer  music  than  the  boom  of  cannon. 

Thirty  days’  rest  was  to  be  given  to  all;  but  the  gallant 
captain,  knowing  the  need  of  artillerists,  resolved  to  fill 
up  his  ranks,  and  immediately  commenced  the  work  of 
recruiting,  which  was  successful  in  enlisting  eighty-five 
new  men.  No  sooner  was  this  work  completed  than  the 


furlough  expired,  and  the  34th  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Schuyler,  whence  it  was  transferred  to  an  ocean  steamer, 
having  on  board  700  more  recruits,  who  were  put  under 
Captain  Roemer’s  orders,  and  the  transport  sailed  for 
Fortress  Monroe,  from  whence  they  joined  the  reorgan- 
ized 9th  corps  at  Annapolis.  On  the  4th  of  May  the 
army  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  fighting  with  Lee’s  army 
was  renewed  the  following  day,  the  battery  being  en- 
gaged on  the  left  in  a dense  wood,  with  no  loss.  From 
the  8th  to  the  10th  occurred  the  march  to  Spottsylvania, 
and  on  the  nth  the  battery  crossed  the  creek  and  en- 
gaged the  enemy,  falling  back  at  night  to  its  quarters. 
The  battle  cf  Spottsylvania  Court-House  occurred  on  the 
following  day,  and  the  12th  of  May  is  marked  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  battery  as  the  hottest  of  its  many  engagements. 
Stationed  on  the  extreme  left  at  Dr.  Beverly’s  house,  it 
repelled  the  constant  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  turn  that 
flank  and  withstood  repeated  charges,  its  well  trained 
guns  firing  seven  rounds  per  minute  some  of  the  time 
and  throwing  in  all  r,8oo  rounds  of  shell,  doing  terrible 
execution,  the  34th  sustaining  a loss  of  five  men  wounded, 
including  the  captain,  who  had  as  yet  scarcely  recovered 
from  his  wounds  received  in  the  west,  and  who,  his  repu- 
tation as  an  artillerist  having  gained  him  a soubriquet 
among  the  rebels  more  forcible  than  polite,  was  a special 
mark  for  their  sharpshooters. 

To  the  tent  of  the  wounded  captain  came  the  bars  of  a 
major,  forestalling  a commission,  which  will  be  for  gen- 
erations to  come  a source  of  pride  to  his  descendants, 
reading,  “ Promoted  for  meritorious  services  rendered 
on  the  field  of  battle,  and  particularly  on  the  r2th  of  May 
1864.”  The  honor  was  justly  earned;  the  battery  held, 
as  it  were,  the  key  to  the  position,  and  had  it  been  taken 
or  flanked  the  consequences  would  have  been  serious. 

From  that  time  through  that  terrible  forty-five  days 
in  which  Grant  opened  the  road  to  Petersburg  the  battery 
was  engaged  almost  daily,  losing  at  Cold  Harbor  one 
man  killed  before  crossing  the  river,  another  afterward 
and  two  wounded,  and  having  twelve  horses  shot.  On 
the  16th  of  June  the  siege  of  Petersburg  was  undertaken, 
and  this  battery  built  Fort  Wilcox  in  front  of  the  “ cra- 
ter,” and  held  it  seven  weeks,  during  which  seven  men 
were  wounded.  In  August  the  34th  was  sent  to  the  left, 
where  several  engagements  occurred,  the  most  severe 
of  which  was  at  Pegram’s  Farm,  where  the  34th  bat- 
tery lost  three  killed,  four  wounded  and  had  six  horses 
killed.  During  a change  of  line  soon  after,  the  battery 
was  again  placed  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  owing  to  the 
exhausted  condition  of  the  men  and  horses  was  sent  to 
the  rear  for  two  months.  In  November  it  advanced  and 
took  position  on  Crow  Nest,  where  a winter  of  watchful- 
ness but  comparative  rest  was  passed.  On  the  25th  of 
March  Major  Roemer  was  ordered  to  occupy  Fort 
McGilvery,  near  Appomattox.  In  the  small  hours  of  the 
ensuing  morning  the  rebels  surprised  and  captured  Fort 
Stedman,  situated  immediately  to  the  left,  and  under 
cover  of  its  guns  attempted  to  storm  Fort  McGilvery  in 
the  rear.  Loading  three  guns  of  his  light  battery,  and 
placing  one  en  barbette  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  under  the 


124 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


charge  of  a sergeant,  the  advancing  rebels  were  met  by 
twenty  rounds,  so  rapidly  and  skillfully  fired  that  every 
shot  told,  and,  totally  demoralized,  the  foe  threw  down 
their  arms  and  surrendered.  Just  as  the  last  shot  was 
fired  by  the  barbette  gun,  at  which  Major  Roemer  had 
taken  his  post,  a thirty-two  pounder  belonging  to  the 
rebels  exploded  and  a flying  piece  struck  him  on  the 
shoulder,  crushing  in  his  collar  bone  and  severely  injuring 
him,  and,  glancing,  killed  one  of  the  men  at  the  gun.  So 
galling  had  been  the  fire  from  the  improvised  barbette 
defense  that  thirteen  rebel  cannon  had  been  trained  on  it 
in  an  attempt  to  silence  it;  yet,  besides  the  loss  just 
named,  but  six  of  the  34th  were  wounded. 

From  the  date  of  this  unsuccessful  attack  fighting  was 
almost  continuous  until  the  morning  of  April  3d,  when 
the  successful  assault  on  Petersburg  was  made.  The 
last  gun  fired  at  a foe  by  the  34th  was  discharged  at  four 
o’clock  on  that  morning;  and  when,  as  the  report  died 
away,  the  mighty  cheer  rolled  back  from  the  charging 
lines,  and  through  the  lifting  pall  of  smoke  could  be  seen 
the  Union  flag  floating  where  had  hung  so  long  the  stars 
and  bars,  Major  Roemer  raised  his  head  from  the  wheel 
of  the  gun  which,  in  spite  of  his  feeble  condition,  he  had 
aimed  and  fired  all  the  morning,  and  quietly  remarked, 
“Cease  firing,  boys;  it’s  my  birthday  to-day,  and  Peters- 
burg is  ours.’’ 

The  events  that  followed  the  surrender  of  the  only  im- 
portant rebel  stronghold  in  northern  Virginia  are  matters 
familiar  to  all.  The  34th  had  fought  and  won  its  last 
battle,  and  soon  after  received  orders  to  repair  to  Alex- 
andria, where  the  men  bade  farewell  to  the  guns  which  had. 
been  so  long  and  so  gallantly  manned,  and  embarked  for 
Hart’s  Island,  where,  June  21st  1865,  they,  to  the  num- 
ber of  118,  were  mustered  out  of  the  service.  On  their 
arrival  in  Flushing  they  were  once  more  welcomed  with 
open  arms  and  hands. 

Of  the  history  of  this  body,  of  which  Flushing  is  justly 
proud,  there  is  little  more  to  say.  The  well-kept  books 
of  the  captain  show  that  from  the  date  of  entering  the 
service  until  its  discharge  there  had  been  enlisted  585 
men;  that  the  battery  traveled  during  that  time  18,700 
miles,  lost  20  men  killed  in  battle,  fought  in  fifty-seven 
engagements,  fired  10,073  rounds,  and  lost  307  horses. 

The  compiler  of  this  record  of  gallant  deeds  deems  it 
not  out  of  place  here  to  add  a brief  record  of  the  distin- 
guished commander  of  the  battery.  Major  Jacob  Roe- 
mer was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  April  3d  1818,  and 
served  in  the  cavalry  of  the  German  army;  but  pur- 
chasing his  discharge  came  to  this  country  in  1839, 
settling  in  New  York  city,  where  he  married,  and  from 
whence  he  came  to  Flushing  in  1842.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Hamilton  light  artillery  in  1845  as  a private,  and  worked 
his  way  up  from  the  ranks,  securing  his  commission 
as  captain  after  the  battery’s  reorganization  by  the  War 
Department  by  a competitive  examination.  Early  recog- 
nized as  a practical  artillerist  he  was  intrusted  with  the 
defense  of  the  most  critical  points,  and,  as  has  been  re- 
marked, won  the  rank  with  which  he  retired  on  the  field 
of  battle — the  commission  bearing  with  it  the  appoint- 


ment as  chief  of  artillery  on  the  staff  of  Major-General 
Wilcox.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Major  Roemer  resumed 
the  business  of  a boot  and  shoe  dealer  in  Flushing,  and 
he  is  still  one  of  her  most  successful  business  men  and 
honored  citizens. 

The  following  is  the  muster  roll  of  the  officers  of  the 
battery: 

Captain , Jacob  Roemer,  commissioned  June  6th  1862; 
date  of  rank,  March  4th  1862;  breveted  major  U.  S.  V.; 
mustered  out  with  battery. 

First  Lieutenants — Isaac  B.  Richmond,  commissioned 
July  2 1 st  1862;  date  of  rank,  June  4th  1862;  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant  in  the  1st  N.  Y.  artillery,  July 
2 1 st  1862;  discharged  November  14th  1864.  Henry  J. 
Standish,  commissioned  June  6th  1862;  date  of  rank, 
January  1 6th  1862;  resigned,  October  1862.  Moses  E. 
Brush,  commissioned  October  25th  1863;  date  of  rank, 
ditto;  resigned,  November  8th  1863.  Thomas  Heasely, 
commissioned  February  26th  1864;  date  of  rank,  Novem- 
ber 8th  1863;  mustered  out  with  battery. 

Second  Lieutenants — Jerome  Van  Nostrand,  commis- 
sioned June  6th  1862;  date  of  rank,  January  16th  1862; 
resigned,  October  8th  1862.  Alonzo  Garretson,  commis- 
sioned May  3d  1864;  date  of  rank,  ditto;  resigned,  Jan- 
uary 26th  1865.  George  H.  Durfee,  commissioned  April 
22nd  1865;  not  mustered.  Moses  E.  Brush,  commis- 
sioned November  29th  1862;  date  of  rank,  October  8th 
1862;  promoted  first  lieutenant,  October  25th  1863. 
Thomas  Heasely,  commissioned  October  25th  1863; 
date  of  rank,  ditto;  promoted  first  lieutenant  February 
26th  1864.  Charles  B.  Lincoln  jr.,  commissioned  Feb- 
ruary 26th  1864;  date  of  rank,  February  21st  1864;  re- 
signed, May  31st  1864.  John  J.  Johnston,  commissioned 
November  16th  1864;  date  of  rank,  May  31st  1864;  mus- 
tered out  with  battery.  William  E.  Balkie,  December 
20th  1864;  mustered  out  with  battery. 


THE  PRINCE  FAMILY. 

The  Prince  family  had  its  origin  in  the  portion  of 
England  bordering  on  Wales,  and  can  be  traced  back  to 
a remote  antiquity.  Its  coat  of  arms — “ gules,  a saltire 
or,  sur)nounted  of  a cross  engrailed,  ermine  ” — was  not 
granted,  however,  till  the  year  1584,  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  Shrewsbury  and  Abbey  Foregate, 
Shropshire,  were  then  the  headquarters  of  the  family. 
From  this  vicinity  came  John  Prince,  the  ancestor  of  the 
Princes  of  Salem  and  Maine,  in  1633;  and  about  thirty 
years  later  came  another  John  Prince,  who  was  the  pro- 
genitor of  the  Long  Island  family,  and  landed  at  Boston. 
He  had  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Robert,  both  of  whom 
came  to  Long  Island  and  settled  at  Flushing.  Samuel’s 
seven  children  were  all  daughters,  so  that  the  family 
name  was  not  continued  in  that  branch.  Robert  married 
Mary  Burgess  and  had  six  children:  Margaret,  William, 

Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Robert  and  Susannah.  Of  these 

. r 

Margaret  had  two  husbands,  respectively  named  Phillips 
and  Roe;  Elizabeth  married  Arthur  Burtis;  Susannah 


THE  PRINCE  FAMILY. 


127 


married  a Montrose.  Neither  Robert,  Elizabeth  nor 
Susannah  left  children,  so  far  as  is  known. 

Samuel  Prince,  who  was  born  May  20th  1728,  married 
Ruth  Carman  April  24th  1751,  and  had  nine  children, 
named  respectively  Robert,  Elizabeth,  James,  Mary, 
Samuel  1st,  Samuel  2nd,  Elizabeth  2nd,  Margaret  and 
Susannah.  Prince  street  in  New  York  city  was  named 
from  this  Samuel  Prince,  who  had  a considerable  tract 
of  land  there. 

From  Robert  is  descended  the  Wintringham  family  of 
Long  Island;  from  Mary,  the  Winter  family;  and  Samuel 
(2nd)  has  very  many  descendants,  named  Prince,  Wat- 
rous,  Bass,  McKeen,  etc.  William  Prince  who  was  the 
immediate  ancestor  of  the  present  Flushing  family  mar- 
ried Ann  Thorne,  and  lived  until  January  1802;  having 
had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  nine  died  young.  Those 
who  arrived  at  maturity  were  John,  Sarah,  William  and 
Benjamin.  John  Prince  moved  from  Flushing  to  Prince- 
town,  near  Schenectady,  where  he  had  large  flour  mills. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Legislature  in  1797  and  1798, 
and  died  without  issue,  October  1802. 

Sarah  married  Major  Charles  McNeill,  who  resigned 
from  the  British  army  after  the  Revolution,  and  had  seven 
sons,  who  are  the  progenitors  of  the  McNeill  families  of 
Long  Island,  Washington  and  elsewhere.  .Benjamin 
married  Rebecca  Willets,  and  had  two  children,  Anna 
and  Rebecca.  Anna  married  Charles  Townsend  and  had 
one  son,  now  deceased.  Rebecca  married  Effingham 
W.  Lawrence  and  had  three  children,  William  Henry, 
Francis  and  Frederick  A. 

Francis  was  the  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  New  York,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1879. 

William  Prince  born  November  iolh  1766  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Eliphalet  Stratton,  December  22nd 
1794,  and  died  April  9th  1842.  His  children  were: 
William  Robert,  born  November  6th  1795;  Mary  Ann, 
born  August  5th  1797;  Alfred  Stratton,  and  Edwin,  the 
last  of  whom  died  young. 

Mary  Ann  (still  living — 1881)  married  Thomas  H. 
Mitchell,  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  by  whom  she  had  two 
daughters,  Rosalie  A.  and  Josephine  H.;  and  afterward 
married  J.  Dayton  Harris,  of  New  York. 

Alfred  S.  married  Hannah  Smith,  and  had  two  sons, 
Linnaeus  and  Charles  A.  William  R.  Prince  married 
Charlotte  G.,  daughter  of  Governor  Charles  Collins,  of 
Rhode  Island,  October  2nd  1826,  and  died  March  28th 
1869,  having  had  four  children — Charlotte  Collins,  Sera- 
phine  Collins,  William,  and  L.  Bradford,  all  of  whom  sur- 
vived him. 

Charlotte  C.  married  Edwin  Henry,  March  roth  1853, 
aud  lives  at  Flushing,  having  three  children — Florence 
L.,  Anna  C.  and  Cornelia  C.  Florence  married  Wilson 
L.  Gill,  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  1880. 

Seraphine  C.  married  Henry  F.  Cox,  of  Racine,  Wis., 
January  10th  1857,  and  died  childless  in  1870. 

William,  born  July  91I1  1833,  died  December  181I1 
1880,  unmarried. 

L.  Bradford,  born  July  3d  1840,  is  spoken  of  in  a 
separate  sketch. 


Samuel  Prince  the  elder  lived  on  Great  Neck,  a little 
west  of  the  church;  and  his  brother  Robert  lived  in 
Flushing.  Samuel  is  named  as  a witness  on  the  trial  of 
Edward  King  for  the  murder  of  William  Smith  in  1733. 
The  first  establishment  of  the  nursery  which  afterward 
became  so  famous  was  by  Samuel  Prince  at  Great  Neck, 
about  1725;  but  it  must  soon  have  been  followed  by  the 
nursery  at  Flushing,  which  continued  during  five  genera- 
tions and  over  130  years  in  the  family. 

Robert  Prince  and  his  son  William  occupied  the  land 
south  of  Bridge  street,  extending  from  Lawrence  street 
to  the  middle  of  the  block  between  Prince  and  Main 
streets,  and  on  the  south  about  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church,  the  family  mansion  being  on  Lawrence  street, 
just  northeast  of  the  “Effingham  Lawrence”  house. 
The  old  mansion,  which  was  of  rounded  shingles,  re- 
mained until  about  1863,  when  it  was  taken  down. 

It  was  at  this  house  that  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  after- 
ward King  William  IV.  of  England,  was  received  when 
he  visited  the  town,  and  here  also  General  Washington 
and  his  distinguished  party  were  entertained  in  1789.  In 
Washington’s  journal  (1789,  October  10th)  he  speaks  of 
this  visit  as  follows:  “I  set  off  from  New  York  about  9 
o’clock,  in  my  barge,  to  visit  Mr.  Prince’s  fruit  gardens 
and  shrubberies  at  Flushing.  The  vice-president,  gover- 
nor, Mr.  Izard,  Colonel  Smith  and  Major  Jacobs  accom- 
panied me.” 

It  was  at  this  house  also  that  the  bust  of  Linnaeus  was 
crowned  by  De  Witt  Clinton  at  the  celebrated  meeting  of 
foreign  and  American  scientists  in  1823. 

I'1  1 7 93»  June  26th,  William  Prince  the  second  (1766- 
1842)  purchased  from  Bayard,  Le  Roy  and  Clarkson  the 
property  on  the  north  of  Bridge  street,  containing  80 
acres,  lying  between  the  present  railroad  on  the  west  and 
Farrington  street  on  the  east,  and  established  his  nursery 
there,  calling  it  the  “ Linnaean  Nursery,”  while  his  brother 
Benjamin  remained  on  the  old  homestead  and  called  his 
establishment  the  “Old  American  Nursery.”  Ultimately 
they  were  again  consolidated.  The  residence  of  William 
Prince  was  on  the  north  side  of  Bridge  street,  just  where 
Linnseus  street  now  is. 

This  William  Prince  was  a man  of  great  energy  of 
character,  excellent  judgment  and  much  kindness  of 
heart.  In  the  language  of  Mandeville’s  History  of 
Flushing,  he  “was  of  an  enterprising,  amiable  and  kindly 
character,  universally  esteemed  in  life  and  regretted  in 
death.”  He  may  truly  be  called  the  father  of  the  pros- 
perity of  Flushing. 

Before  his  time  the  route  to  New  York  had  been  by 
Jamaica  or  the  Head  of  the  Vleigli  to  Bedford,  and  thence 
to  Brooklyn  ferry,  a distance  of  17  to  20  miles.  In  1799 
Mr.  Prince  organized  a company,  of  which  he  was 
president,  to  build  a bridge  over  Flushing  Creek;  this 
was  accomplished  in  the  next  year.  Soon  after  this,  by 
his  exertions,  aided  by  Joshua  Sands  and  others  of 
Brooklyn,  a bridge  across  the  Wallabout  was  built, 
greatly  shortening  the  route  to  the  New  York  ferry. 
The  amount  of  labor  in  accomplishing  these  matters  was 
very  great.  In  the  work  of  getting  a turnpike  con- 


17 


128 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


structed  from  Flushing  to  Newtown,  which  was  shortly 
afterward  accomplished,  he  counted  that  he  had  traveled 
over  a thousand  miles. 

Mr.  Prince  was  a zealous  churchman,  being  con- 
firmed at  the  first  episcopal  visitation  ever  made  to  the 
village,  by  Bishop  Provoost,  June  28th  1802.  He  was  a 
vestryman  of  St.  George’s  Church  as  early  as  1798,  and 
was  a member  of  the  vestry  thirty-two  years,  during 
fourteen  of  which  he- was  warden. 

He  was  devoted  to  botany  and  natural  science  gener- 
ally ; was  a corresponding  member  of  the  Linnsean 
Society  of  Paris,  the  horticultural  societies  of  London 
and  Paris;  and  the  Imperial  Society  of  Georgofili,  at 
Florence,  and  the  author  of  the  “ Treatise  on  Horticul- 
ture,” published  in  1828. 

His  son  William  R.  Prince  inherited  his  father’s  love 
of  botany  and  his  great  energy.  He  was  connected  with 
the  American  Institute,  National  Pomological  Society, 
and  many  other  leading  societies,  in  whose  transactions 
he  took  a prominent  part;  was  the  author  of  the  “ Treat- 
ise on  the  Vine,”  1830,  the  “ Pomological  Manual,”  1832, 
and  “ Rose  Manual,”  1835,  and  in  his  later  days  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  M.  D.  and  LL.  D. 

After  his  marriage  he  bought  (July  8th  1827)  the  Em- 
bree  property,  corner  of  Bridge  street  and  Clinton  (now 
Lawrence)  avenue,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  his 
death,  and  which  is  still  the  family  residence. 

Although  never  holding  any  public  office  he  was  en- 
thusiastic in  politics,  especially  as  a friend  of  Henry 
Clay.  In  1848  he  was  a member  of  the  national  conven- 
tion at  Harrisburg,  which  ultimately  nominated  General 
Taylor,  going  as  a Clay  delegate.  In  1831  he  delivered 
the  4th  of  July  oration  at  Hempstead. 

William  Prince  the  son  of  William  R.  Prince  was  a 
man  of  extraordinary  scientific  attainments.  He  entered 
the  army  as  a private  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, and  served  till  wounded  at  Antietam.  Subsequently 
he  became  an  officer  in  the  155th  N.  Y.  (volunteers),  and 
soon  afterward  was  appointed  a lieutenant  of  ordnance, 
U.  S.  A.,  passing  a most  brilliant  examination  on  his  ad- 
mission to  the  corps  in  1864.  He  was  twice  brevetted 
for  “gallant  and  distinguished  services;”  became  suc- 
cessively first  lieutenant  and  captain,  and  died  at  Wash- 
ington in  1880.  During  his  service  he  was  chief  ordnance 
officer  of  the  middle  military  district  (Va.),  of  North  and 
South  Carolina,  and  on  duty  at  the  arsenals  of  Water- 
vliet,  Washington,  Frankford,  New  Orleans  and  Spring- 
field. 

L.  BRADFORD  PRINCE. 

L.  Bradford  Prince  was  born  at  Flushing,  on  the  3d  of 
July  1840.  He  is  a lineal  descendant  on  the  maternal 
side  of  Governor  William  Bradford,  of  Plymouth,  one  of 
the  “ men  of  the  Mayflower,”  and  had  for  great-grand- 
father and  grandfather  respectively  Governors  Bradford 
and  Collins  of  Rhode  Island.  His  paternal  ancestors 
are  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the  “ Prince  Family.” 

Owing  to  the  delicate  health  of  Mr.  Prince  much  of 
his  early  life  was  passed  in  the  south.  As  he  grew  to 


manhood  he  engaged  in  horticultural  pursuits  at  his 
father’s  place,  in  Flushing,  but  after  a short  experience 
abandoned  this  line  of  employment  to  study  law.  Enter- 
ing Columbia  College  law  school,  he  passed  through  the 
course  with  special  honor,  and  upon  graduating  received 
the  $200  prize  in  political  science. 

From  his  youth  he  has  been  exceedingly  active  in  all 
matters  affecting  the  welfare  and  improvement  of  his 
native  town.  In  1858  he  originated  the  Flushing  Library 
Association,  obtaining  the  first  subscriptions,  drawing  its 
constitution,  acting  three  years  as  secretary  and  afterward 
as  president;  for  several  years  he  was  chairman  of  the 
village  lecture  committee,  conducting  courses  of  lectures 
in  1859,  i860  and  1861,  which  have  never  since  been 
equaled  in  the  town.  For  five  successive  years,  1861  to 
1865,  he  was  chairman  of  the  “Fourth  of  July  commit- 
tee,” which  had  charge  of  the  public  exercises  and  dis- 
plays on  the  national  holiday.  In  1863  this  committee 
erected  the  liberty  pole  at  the  west  end  of  the  park,  and 
in  1865  inaugurated  the  movement  for  the  building  of 
the  “soldiers’  monument.”  To  this  latter  Mr.  Prince 
devoted  himself  for  over  a year,  in  raising  money  and 
collecting  the  names  of  the  fallen  heroes.  He  was  also 
the  originator  of  St.  George’s  Brotherhood,  a religious 
society,  organized  in  1868  and  still  doing  an  active  and 
increasing  work.  On  many  public  occasions,  such  as  the 
foundation  of  the  new  public  school,  the  opening  of  the 
opera  house,  the  celebration  at  the  introduction  of  water, 
etc.,  he  has  delivered  appropriate  public  addresses. 

Very  early  in  life  he  developed  an  extraordinary  apti- 
tude for  political  matters,  and  the  activity  he  displayed 
in  his  district  during  the  Fremont  campaign  won  for  him 
a vote  of  thanks  from  the  town  club,  of  which  his  age — 
he  was  then  but  a lad  of  sixteen — prevented  his  becoming 
a member.  In  the  canvass  of  i860,  though  still  a minor, 
he  was  secretary  of  the  local  political  organization,  and 
worked  enthusiastically  for  the  success  of  the  Lincoln 
ticket.  In  1861  he  was  chosen  a member  of  the  Repub- 
lican committee  of  Queens  county,  on  which  he  served 
continuously  almost  20  years,  during  several  of  which  he 
was  its  secretary  and  chairman.  He  was  a delegate  to 
State  conventions  during  the  years  from  1866  to  1878 
with  scarcely  an  exception;  was  elected  a delegate  to 
the  national  Republican  convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
1868,  and  the  following  year  became  a member  of  the 
State  committee.  The  political  labors  of  Mr.  Prince  at 
this  period  were  all  the  more  honorable  from  the  fact 
that  they  were  pursued  purely  as  a matter  of  principle, 
and  without  the  least  expectation  of  personal  advance- 
ment, the  district  in  which  he  resided  being  strongly 
Democratic.  His  qualifications  for  filling  a responsible 
position  were,  however,  too  apparent  to  be  neglected, 
and  in  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly, 
receiving  a majority  of  1,415  votes,  members  of 
all  parties  joining  in  his  support.  In  1871  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a large  majority, 
although  his  opponent  was  the  strongest  Democrat  in 
the  district  and  an  experienced  legislator,  who  had 
already  served  both  in  the  Assembly  and  in  the  Senate. 


HON.  L.  BRADFORD  PRINCE. 


129 


The  following  year  he  received  the  extraordinary  com- 
pliment of  a request  for  his  continuance  in  office, 
signed  by  more  than  two  thousand  voters,  irrespective  of 
party;  and,  having  been  nominated  by  acclamation,  was 
re-elected  without  opposition.  In  1873,  having  declined 
a nomination  to  the  Senate,  he  was  again  returned  to  the 
Assembly,  almost  without  an  opposing  vote.  In  the  fall 
of  1874  the  Democrats  made  a determined  effort  to 
redeem  the  district,  which  now  for  four  years  had  been 
lost  to  their  party,  and  placed  the  Hon.  Solomon  Town- 
send— who  had  served  three  terms  in  the  Legislature  and 
in  the  constitutional  conventions  of  1846  and  1867 — in 
opposition  to  Mr.  Prince.  The  canvass  was  an  exciting 
one,  but  resulted  in  a victory  for  Mr.  Prince,  who  se- 
cured a majority  of  771  votes.  There  is  believed  to  be 
no  other  instance  on  record  of  a person  being  elected 
five  successive  limes  in  a district  politically  opposed  to 
him.  In  the  canvass  of  1875  Mr.  Prince  received  the 
Republican  nomination  for  the  Senate,  and,  although  the 
Democrats  were  successful  in  the  district  on  the  general 
ticket  by  nearly  2,700  majority,  he  won  the  election  by  a 
majority  of  904,  running  3.594  ahead  of  the  ticket. 

The  legislative  career  of  Mr.  Prince  was  an  exceedingly 
useful  and  highly  honorable  one.  In  1872,  1873  and 
1874  he  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee,  per. 
forming  the  multifarious  and  arduous  duties  in  the  most 
creditable  manner,  and  rendering  valuable  service  to  the 
State.  While  filling  this  position  over  eleven  hundred 
bills  came  into  his  hands  for  reports — a larger  number 
than  were  ever  submitted  to  any  other  committee,  either 
State  or  national,  in  a similar  length  of  time.  During 
the  winter  of  1872  it  became  his  duty  to  conduct  the 
investigation  into  the  official  conduct  of  Judges  Barnard, 
Cardozo  and  McCunn.  This  investigation  extended  from 
the  middle  of  February  to  about  the  middle  of  April, 
during  which  time  239  witnesses  were  examined,  and  over 
2,400  pages  of  evidence  taken.  The  thoroughness  and 
fairness  with  which  the  investigation  was  conducted  won 
the  approval  of  fair-minded  persons  of  all  shades  of 
political  belief,  and  its  results  form  one  of  the  bright- 
est pages  in  the  history  of  the  recent  “ reform  move- 
ment.” The  reports  of  the  committee  in  favor  of 
impeaching  two  of  the  judges  and  removing  the  other 
met  with  general  public  acquiescence,  and  were  adopted 
by  the  house,  and  Mr.  Prince  was  chosen  one  of  the 
managers  to  conduct  the  impeachment  trial,  receiving  no 
out  of  1 13  votes  cast  on  the  ballot  in  the  Assembly.  He 
was  also  appointed  to  proceed  to  the  bar  of  the  Senate 
and  formally  impeach  Judge  Barnard  of  high  crimes  and 
misdemeanors.  He  was  active  in  the  matter  till  the  close 
of  the  trial,  and  it  has  been  generally  conceded  that  to  no 
other  man  is  the  judiciary  of  the  State  so  much  indebted 
for  being  relieved  of  the  disgrace  that  would  have 
attended  the  retention  of  Barnard  and  Cardozo  on  the 
bench. 

The  recent  amendments  to  the  constitution  of  the 
State  received  from  Mr.  Prince  special  attention.  In 
1872  he  introduced,  and  succeeded  in  getting  passed,  the 
bill  for  the  constitutional  commission.  During  the  ses- 


sions of  1873  and  1874  he  had  charge  of  the  proposed 
amendments,  both  in  committee  and  in  the  Assembly, 
and  the  task  of  explaining  and^  defending  them  fell 
almost  exclusively  to  his  lot.  Just  previous  to  these 
amendments  being  submitted  to  the  people  for  ratification 
— in  the  fall  of  1874 — Mr.  Prince,  at  the  request  of  the 
Council  of  Political  Reform,  wrote  a pamphlet  on  the 
subject,  which  was  widely  circulated  as  a campaign 
document,  and  tended  largely  to  their  success  at  the  polls. 
In  the  session  of  1875  he  prepared  and  introduced 
nearly  all  the  bills  required  to  carry  the  new  constitu- 
tional system  into  effect,  that  work  being  assigned  to  him 
by  general  consent,  although  the  Assembly  was  Dem- 
ocratic. 

The  reformation  in  the  system  of  legislation  in  New 
York  occurred  wholly  during  Mr.  Prince’s  terms,  and  its 
history  is  worthy  of  record,  if  only  to  show  the  results  of 
persistent  effort.  During  his  first  month  in  Albany  Mr. 
Prince  introduced  two  resolutions,  one  in  relation  to  the 
organization  of  cities  under  general  laws,  and  the  other 
including  the  whole  question  of  special  legislation.  On 
this  latter  he  made  a careful  speech  in  February 
1871,  but  the  proposition  to  do  away  with  special  legisla- 
tion was  met  with  opposition  and  almost  derision  by  all 
the  old  and  leading  members.  In  no  way  discouraged, 
he  renewed  the  fight  next  year,  made  a striking  speech 
on  the  “ Evils  of  Hasty  Legislation  ” in  February,  and 
later,  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee,  presented 
a report  on  “ Reform  in  the  Methods  of  Legislation,” 
which  has  been  the  foundation  of  all  action  on  the  sub- 
ject since.  At  the  same  lime  he  introduced  a bill  for  a 
constitutional  commission  to  report  the  necessary  amend- 
ments. The  next  winter  he  succeeded  in  getting  the 
commission  to  report  in  favor  of  his  propositions  to  pro- 
hibit special  legislation;  and,  as  we  have  before  seen, 
championed  these  amendments  for  two  years  in  the  As- 
sembly, and  then  before  the  people.  In  November  1874 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  all  the  reforms  which  he 
had  first  proposed  in  January  1871  placed  in  the  organic 
law  of  the  State — the  fruit  of  nearly  four  years  of  steady 
and  untiring  effort. 

While  in  the  Legislature  Mr.  Prince  gave  special  at- 
tention to  the  canal  system  of  the  State,  and  the  question 
of  transportation  from  the  west  to  the  seaboard.  He 
made  several  speeches  on  this  subject  in  the  Assembly, 
as  well  as  at  the  organization  of  the  Cheap  Transporta- 
tion Association,  at  Cooper  Institute  in  1874,  and  at  the 
great  Produce  Exchange  meeting  in  1875.  The  New 
York  Chamber  of  Commerce  twice  formally  acknowledged 
these  services  to  the  mercantile  community  by  votes  of 
thanks.  In  1874  he  was  chairman  of  the  Assembly  com- 
mittee to  conduct  the  United  States  Senate  Committee 
on  Transportation  Routes  through  the  State;  and  per- 
formed that  duty  in  September  of  that  year.  At  differ- 
ent times  during  1874  and  1875  he  lectured  on  this  sub- 
ject of  transportation  in  New  York,  Albany,  Troy, 
Poughkeepsie,  etc. 

In  May  1876  Mr.  Prince  was  a member  of  the  national 
Republican  convention  which  nominated  Hayes  and 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


*3^ 


Wheeler.  In  1877,  though  tendered  a unanimous  re- 
nomination to  the  Senate,  he  declined  to  serve  again,  on 
the  ground  that  he  could  not  afford  longer  to  neglect  his 
private  business. 

Mr.  Prince’s  reputation  is  not,  however,  confined  to 
the  field  of  politics.  As  a lawyer  he  occupies  a high 
position,  his  clear,  incisive  reasoning  power  and  rare 
ability  as  an  advocate  rendering  him  eminently  success- 
ful. In  1868  he  was  chosen  orator  of  the  alumni  associ- 
ation of  the  Columbia  College  Law  School,  and  for  two 
years  was  president  of  the  association.  In  1876,  hav- 
ing again  been  chosen  alumni  orator,  he  delivered  an 
oration  in  the  Academy  of  Music  on  “The  Duties  of 
Citizenship,”  enforcing  the  idea  that  men  of  character 
and  education  should  take  the  lead  in  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Prince  is  well  known  also  as  a thoughtful  writer 
and  lecturer  on  various  topics,  among  which  those  re- 
lating to  legislative  and  governmental  reform  have  at- 
tracted wide  attention.  His  lecture  on  “Rienzi”  has 
been  delivered  over  20  times;  and  a satirical  one  on 
“Queen  Fashion  ” much  oftener. 

A work  from  his  pen  entitled  “ E Pluribus  Unttm , or 
American  Nationality,”  a comparison  between  the  con- 
stitution and  the  articles  of  confederation,  passed  through 
several  editions  in  rS68  and  received  the  warmest  com- 
mendations from  statesmen  and  political  scientists.  In 
1880  a Chicago  firm  published  a work  of  Mr.  Prince’s 
on  a somewhat  similar  subject,  entitled  “A  Nation  or 
a League  ? ” 

As  a speaker  he  is  well  known  throughout  the  State, 
having  been  active  in  the  general  political  canvass  every 
year  when  not  himself  a candidate,  and  in  1876  speak- 
ing over  40  consecutive  nights,  from  Rochester  and 
Salamanca  to  Plattsbttrg  and  Brooklyn. 

On  occasions  like  the  Fourth  of  July  and  Decoration 
day  his  talents  have  naturally  been  called  into  requisi- 
tion, and  he  has  delivered  the  orations  at  various  times 
at  Brooklyn,  Sag  Harbor,  Ronkonkoma,  Hempstead, 
Flushing,  Katonah,  Farmingdale,  Baliston,  Oneonta,  New 
Brighton  and  Elmira. 

He  is  also  a prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, having  been  district  deputy  grand  master  of 
Queens  and  Suffolk  counties  for  the  years  1868,  1869 
and  1870,  and  again  in  1876.  In  1877  he  was  appointed 
on  the  grand  master’s  staff  as  grand  standard  bearer. 
He  is  now  grand  representative  of  New  Mexico  to  the 
grand  lodge  of  New  York.  Mr.  Prince  has  always  taken 
a lively  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  best  interests 
of  the  farming  community,  and  has  delivered  a number 
of  addresses  before  various  agricultural  societies  through- 
out the  State — notably  those  of  Saratoga,  St.  Lawrence, 
Tioga,  Orleans,  Suffolk  and  Cattaraugus  counties.  For 
ten  years  he  was  superintendent  or  director  of  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society,  and  in  1862  wrote  an  agri- 
cultural history  of  the  county,  which  was  published  by 
that  society.  He  is  also  a life  member  of  the  Long  Isl 
and  Historical  Society,  and  for  15  years — from  1864  to 
1879 — was  an  officer  in  that  learned  body.  He  is  now 
first  vice-president  of  the  Historical  Society  of  New 
Mexico.  In  religious  affairs  Mr.  Prince  is  likewise 


prominent.  He  is  a leading  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  for  years  been  a licensed  lay- 
reader  under  the  bishops  of  Long  Island,  Colorado  and 
New  Mexico.  He  has  been  a member  of  many  diocesan 
conventions  on  Long  Island,  and  was  a deputy  from  that 
diocese  to  the  Triennial  General  Convention  at  Boston 
in  1877  and  again  at  New  York  in  1880.  He  is  one  of 
the  corporation  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Incarnation,  on 
Long  Island,  and  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  there- 
of, in  June  1877,  made  the  address  on  behalf  of  the  laity 
of  the  diocese. 

In  New  Mexico  he  is  senior  warden  of  the  church  at 
Sante  Fe,  and  chancellor  of  the  jurisdiction  of  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona.  In  missionary  matters  he  is  very 
active,  delivering  addresses  at  various  times  in  St.  Peter’s 
Church,  Albany;  Calvary,  New  York;  St.  Ann’s  and  St. 
Peter's,  Brooklyn;  Grace,  Jamaica;  St.  James’s,  New- 
town; Bethesda,  Saratoga;  St.  George’s,  Hempstead;  at 
the  missionary  conference  of  1879  at  Baltimore,  etc. 

In  the  General  Convention  of  18S0  he  introduced  the 
idea  of  the  American  Church  Building  Fund,  and  carried 
it  to  a successful  organization.  In  September  iS8r  he 
delivered  the  address  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of 
the  church  in  Sante  Fe. 

In  October  1878,  without  any  application  or  request 
from  him,  Mr.  Prince  was  nominated  by  President  Hayes 
as  naval  officer  of  New  York,  in  place  of  Hon.  A.  B. 
Cornell,  at  the  same  time  Theodore  Roosevelt  was 
nominated  as  collector.  This  inaugurated  the  great  con- 
test in  the  Senate  over  the  “New  York  appointments,” 
between  the  President’s  reform  policy  and  the  old  system 
of  senatorial  dictation.  No  action  being  taken  at  the 
special  session,  President  Hayes  renominated  Roosevelt 
and  Prince  in  December.  After  a long  contest  the 
nominations  were  rejected  by  a vote  of  3 r to  25. 

During  1879  Mr.  Prince  was  offered  various  appoint- 
ments, including  two  in  foreign  countries,  the  marshal- 
ship  of  New  York,  the  governorship  of  Idaho,  and  the 
chief  justiceship  of  New  Mexico.  The  latter  he  declined 
three  times,  but  finally,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Secretary" 
Evarts  and  the  Department  of  Justice,  consented  to  ac- 
cept, and  left  for  his  new  home  February  rst  1879. 
This  position  he  still  holds.  Judge  Prince  is  also  presi- 
dent of  the  Territorial  Bureau  of  Immigration  of  New 
Mexico,  and  is  connected  with  nearly  all  the  organiza- 
tions of  the  territory.  He  is  an  enthusiast  as  to  the 
resources  and  future  of  that  territory,  and  has  written 
much  on  those  subjects  for  eastern  papers. 

On  the  1 st  of  December  1879  Judge  Prince  was  mar- 
ried at  Grace  Church,  Brooklyn,  by  Bishop  Littlejohn 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  to  Hattie  E.  Childs,  daughter  of  Dr. 
S.  Russell  Childs,  of  New  York.  After  being  entertained 
by  President  Hayes  in  Washington  they  proceeded  im- 
mediately to  New  Mexico,  where  Mrs.  Prince’s  beauty 
and  intelligence  made  her  a favorite  at  once.  But,  on  an 
excursion  to  Kansas  City  to  celebrate  the  opening  of 
railway  communication,  she  caught  cold,  and  after  a sin- 
gle day  of  serious  sickness  died  suddenly  of  pneumonia, 
at  Sante  Fe,  on  February  26th  1880.  The  mourning 
and  sympathy  at  this  sad  event  were  universal  through- 
out the  territory. 


CAPT.  I.  J.  MERRITT. 


CAPTAIN  ISRAEL  J.  MERRITT. 

There  are  few  people,  in  the  mercantile  marine  of  this 
State  especially,  who  will  fail  to  recognize  in  the  accom- 
paying  portrait  an  old  and  valued  acquaintance.  For 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century  Captain  Merritt  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  maritime  pursuits,  and,  after 
passing  through  the  various  grades  of  apprentice,  seaman, 
mate  and  captain,  was  appointed  in  1853  agent  of  the 
Board  of  Marine  Underwriters,  graduated  as  general 
agent  of  that  world-renowned  and  eminently  successful 
institution  the  Coast  Wrecking  Company  of  the  City  of 
New  York,  and  at  present,  in  connection  with  his  son 
Israel  J.  Merritt  j r.,  is  proprietor  of  the  Merritt  Wrecking 
Organization,  of  which  he  is  sole  manager. 


Captain  Merritt  is  of  medium  height,  compactly  built, 
has  a florid  complexion,  light  hazel  eyes,  iron  grey  hair, 
and  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  August  23d  1829. 
As  with  very  many  of  our  most  successful  men,  his  oppor- 
tunities for  obtaining  an  early  education  were  exceed- 
ingly limited;  yet,  endowed  with  ambition  and  a strong 
will,  combined  with  good,  sound,  practical  common 
sense,  we  find  him  at  the  early  age  of  twenty  years  in  the 
full  confidence  of  his  employers  and  in  command  of 
a fine  schooner  employed  in  the  coasting  trade. 

In  the  service  of  the  Coast  Wrecking  Company  he,  by 
his  skill,  energy  and  earnest  efforts,  added  largely  to  its 
reputation.  In  the  performance  of  his  labors  and  duties 
as  its  representative  he  has  visited  repeatedly  all  sections 
of  our  seacoast  and  lake  borders,  and,  being  eminently 


131 


a social  and  genial  man,  he  has  made  hosts  of  warm 
friends  both  for  his  enterprises  and  himself.  One  of 
Captain’s  Merritt's  prominent  characteristics  is  his  per- 
severence,  backed  by  untiring  patience,  pluck  and  energy. 
He  knows  no  such  word  as  fear,  never  counts  the  chances 
of  defeat  when  pursuing  a cherished  object,  and,  once 
settled  in  his  convictions  of  duty  and  right,  he  never  was 
known  to  shirk  a responsibility  or  flag  in  his  efforts  to 
accomplish  the  desired  results.  He  is  zealous  and  posi- 
tive in  whatever  he  undertakes,  is  a most  agreeable, 
warm-hearted  and  genial  companion,  one  of  the  truest  of 
friends,  and  as  such  is  honored  and  trusted  by  all  who 
know  him.  He  is  modest  and  retiring  when  not  in  com- 
mand, and  aside  from  his  social  and  domestic  duties  his 
heart  is  bound  up  in  his  business. 

To-day,  wherever  commerce  spreads  her  wings  and 
the  Latin  and  Anglo-Saxon  tongues  are  spoken,  the  name 
of  Israel  J.  Merritt,  the  savior  of  the  doubly-staunch 
steamer  “ L’Amerique,”  is  a “ household  word.” 

For  three  long  weary  months,  through  sunshine  and 
darkness,  the  hearts  of  his  friends  and  the  good  wishes 
of  the  entire  civilized  world  were  with  him  in  this  gigantic 
undertaking,  and  they  watched  with  curious  interest  his 
bearing  through  all  the  discouragements  and  embarass- 
ments  of  his  trying  position;  and  when  success,  in  its 
broadest  sense,  crowned  his  efforts  and  he  gave  back  to 
commerce  the  good  ship,  as  staunch,  strong  and  shapely 
as  when  she  first  touched  our  shores,  the  world  was  ready 
to  shake  his  brawny  hand  and  say  how  heartily  it  ac- 
corded to  him  its  praise. 

In  this  connection  it  will  not  be  deemed  inappropriate 
to  give  some  of  the  more  notable  cases  in  which  Captain 
Merritt’s  brain,  skill  and  labor  have  been  the  means  of 
saving  hundreds  of  lives  and  millions  of  dollars  of  prop- 
erty on  our  coast.  Among  his  achievements  may  be 
noted  the  saving  of  the  ship  “ Cornelius  Grinnell,” 
ashore  at  Squan,  in  1852;  the  crew  of  the  brig  “Kong 
Thryme,”  on  Barnegat  Shoals,  in  midwinter  of  1856,  for 
which  he  was  awarded  a gold  medal  by  the  Life  Saving 
Benevolent  Association  of  New  York;  the  ship  “Great 
Republic,”  3,000  tons,  sunk  in  the  East  River,  in  1853; 
the  passengers  and  crew  of  the  ship  “Chauncey  Jerome,” 
at  Long  Branch,  in  1853;  the  ship  “Arkwright,”  at 
Long  Branch,  in  1862;  the  ship  “Aquila,”  having  as 
cargo’  the  U.  S.  monitor  “ Comanche,”  near  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  in  1864;  the  crew,  65  in  number,  of  the 
steamship  “ Black  Warrior,”  at  Rockaway  Shoals,  in 
1859,  for  which  act  of  bravery  he  was  presented  with 
$500  in  gold;  the  steamer  “ City  of  Norwich,”  sunk  and 
lying  bottom  upwards  in  120  feet  of  water  in  Long 
Island  Soand,  in  1866  (no  other  vessel  ever  having  been 
raised  from  so  great  a depth);  the  steamer  “ Dean  Rich- 
mond,” sunk  in  38  feet  of  water  in  the  Hudson  river,  in 
1867,  and  the  steamship  “Australia,”  ashore  near  Galves- 
ton, Texas,  in  1875.  Scores  and  hundreds  of  other  inci- 
dents might  be  mentioned,  where  his  labors  have  been  be- 
stowed, but  the  above  are  sufficient  to  show  that  his  has 
been  a busy  and  eventful  career,  and  that  his  efforts  have 
been  crowned  with  a full  measure  of  success. 


18 


I32 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


To  these  let  us  add  some  account  of  the  crowning 
effort  of  his  life,  the  salvation  of  the  steamship  “ L’Ame- 
rique,”  his  greatest  achievement.  This  vessel,  one  of 
the  largest  of  the  steamers  belonging  to  the  Trans- 
Atlantic  Line  between  New  York  and  Havre,  as  all  will 
remember,  was  driven  ashore  at  Seabright,  N.  J.,  about 
twelve  miles  from  Sandy  Hook,  during  a violent  snow 
storm,  on  the  night  of  the  7th  of  January  1877,  where 
she  remained  imbedded  in  the  sand  until  liberated  by 
Captain  Merritt  on  the  10th  of  the  following  April. 
During  this  entire  period  of  ninety-three  days  he  was 
constantly  at  his  post  on  this  ship,  awaiting  favoring 
winds  and  tides,  yet  with  unbounded  faith  and  confi- 
dence in  the  ultimate  success  of  his  labors.  In  the  early 
part  of  this  interval  the  entire  cargo  of  the  ship,  valued 
at  an  immense  figure,  was  saved  without  damage,  and 
transferred  to  New  York.  In  the  meantime  the  requisite 
preparations  for  the  saving  of  the  vessel  had  been  made, 
and  machinery  and  appliances  such  as  were  probably 
never  before  brought  into  requisition  were  readily  fur- 
nished and  utilized  by  the  Coast  Wrecking  Company 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Merritt.  The  necessity 
of  these  extraordinary  preparations  will  be  readily  seen 
and  comprehended  when  it  is  remembered  that  “ L’Amer- 
ique  ” is  an  iron  steamer  of  4,845  tons  capacity,  1,000 
horse  power,  410  feet  in  length,  46  feet  breadth  of  beam, 
and  43  feet  depth  of  hold,  equal  in  bulk  almost  to  two 
blocks  of  ordinary  three-story  buildings. 

The  needed  appliances  for  moving  this  immense  mass 
of  iron  being  properly  adjusted,  then  began  the  weary 
watching  from  day  to  day,  till  days  grew  into  weeks,  and 
weeks  lengthened  into  months,  and  still  the  elements 
seemed  laggard  in  coming  to  the  aid  of  the  sun-browned, 
weather-beaten  man  who  earnestly  watched  and  waited 
through  calm  and  storm,  upon  her  decks,  for  the  oppor- 
tune moment.  Storms  and  tempests  came  which  forced 
him  to  slacken  his  huge,  unwieldy  hawsers  and  let  the 
ship  be  driven  still  farther  upon  the  beach,  and  which,  in 
their  fury,  dashed  in  pieces  other  ships  within  his  sight; 
and  still  the  good  “ L’Amerique,”  like  a rock  of  adamant, 
withstood  the  shocks  of  old  Atlantic’s  mountain  billows, 
as  they  came  thundering  and  dashing  against  her  sides; 
yet  not  one  whit  firmer  stood  the  ship  on  the  unfriendly 
shore  than  stood  Captain  Merritt,  braving  the  dangers 
which  encompassed  him,  in  the  calm  confidence  of  ulti- 
mate triumph.  Storm  succeeded  storm,  yet  with  firm 
reliance  he  paced  the  decks  of  the  grand  old  ship  which, 
like  himself,  seemed  to  defy  the  elements,  and  waited, 
not  patiently  perhaps  at  all  times,  but  confidently. 

At  last  came  the  eventful  day  when  Old  Ocean,  as  if 
repenting  of  his  laggard  efforts,  sent  bounding  in  upon 
the  yielding  sands  of  Seabright  the  long-prayed-for  rol- 
lers, which,  born  perhaps  near  the  sunny  shores  of  the 
land  which  gave  birth  to  the  good  ship  and  Captain 
Pouzolz,  her  brave  and  noble  commander,  began  to  surge 
upon  the  shore  and  rock  the  huge  monster  in  the  “cradle 
of  the  deep;”  and  ere  his  hoarse  murmurings  had  ceased 
she  shook  the  sands  of  old  Jersey  from  her  keel,  was  rid- 
ing safely  at  anchor  far  from  the  shore,  and  the  waves 


were  kissing  her  sides  as  if  to  welcome  her  once  more 
upon  the  broad  pathway  to  la  belle  France. 

Loud  huzzas  from  the  throats  of  the  victors  rent  the 
air,  and  long  and  joyous  shouts  of  Vive  L' Amenque  and 
“ Le  Merritt"  mingled  with  the  hoarse  bellowings  of  the 
wind  and  the  shrill  whistles  of  the  tugs  as  they  bore  her 
triumphantly  from  her  prison.  “ L’Amerique  ” was  free! 

Politically  Captain  Merritt  has  always  been  a Demo- 
crat and  a consistent,  liberal  and  disinterested  worker 
for  the  advancement  of  the  principles  of  that  party;  but 
he  has  never  sought  nor  accepted  a nomination  for  any 
office  except  at  the  hands  of  his  townsmen,  who  have  ever 
found  in  him  a firm  supporter  of  the  best  interests  of  the 
locality  where  he  lives.  He  was  instrumental  in  securing 
the  incorporation  of  the  village  of  Whitestone,  and  has 
most  of  the  time  since  served  as  one  of  the  village  trus- 
tees. His  interest  in  education  has  always  been  great, 
and  he  has  for  years  been  a school  trustee  and  exerted  a 
strong  influence  upon  the  management  of  the  public 
schools  of  Whitestone. 

In  1853  Captain  Merritt  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
L.  Nicholson,  of  New  York,  who  died  June  nth  1879, 
at  the  age  of  45  years,  4 months  and  2 days.  He  has  six 
children  living,  named  as  follows,  in  the  order  of  their 
birth:  Israel  J.  jr.,  Emma,  Irene,  Ida,  Flora  and  John  J- 
Captain  Merritt,  who  for  twenty-one  years  has  been  a 
resident  of  Whitestone,  has  one  of  the  most  elegant  resi- 
dences on  Long  Island  and  is  regarded  as  a most  hos- 
pitable gentleman. 


HON.  JOHN  W.  LAWRENCE. 

Few  names  are  better  known  in  Queens  county  than 
that  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  the  county  has  produced,  and  a descend- 
ant of  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  illustrious  families. 
Born  at  “Willow  Bank,”  Flushing,  in  1800,  Mr.  Lawrence 
yet  lives  on  the  old  home  place,  though  the  house  in 
which  he  was  born  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  the  present 
commodious  residence  on  the  old  site  was  erected  by  Mr. 
Lawrence  in  1835. 

The  childhood  of  Mr.  Lawrence  was  passed  much  as  that 
of  others  of  the  time  and  locality  was  passed.  He  may 
be  truly  said  never  to  have  known  any  boyhood,  having 
engaged  in  active  business  life  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen, 
as  a clerk  in  the  long-ago  mercantile  establishment  of 
Hicks,  Jenkins  & Co.,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  till 
1821.  Then,  Mr.  Jenkins  having  died,  Mr.  Hicks  made  a 
proposition  to  take  young  Lawrence  into  the  firm,  which 
the  latter  declined,  entering  instead  into  partnership  with 
a fellow  clerk  in  the  shipping  and  commission  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Howland  & Lawrence.  In  1826 
Mr.  Lawrence  was  married  to  a daughter  of  Walter 
Bowne,  of  another  old-time  family  of  Long  Island. 

A mention  of  several  of  the  more  prominent  of  the 
business  enterprises  with  which  Mr.  Lawrence  has  been 
connected  will  not  be  out  of  place  as  an  evidence  of  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  has  for  many  years  been  held  in 


HON.  J.  W.  LAWRENCE.— A.  R.  P.  DENNETT. 


i35 


business  and  financial  circles,  both  on  Long  Island  and 
in  New  York  city.  Mr.  Lawrence’s  fifteen  years’  presi- 
dency of  the  Queens  County  Savings  Bank,  of  which  he  is 
now  a trustee,  and  his  presidency  for  seven  years  of  the 
Seventh  Ward  Bank  of  New  York,  of  which  he  is  now 
the  oldest  director,  are  features  of  a connection  with 
monetary  institutions  which  goes  back  to  a time  when  he 
was  a director  in  the  New  York  branch  of  the  United 
States  Bank  in  the  stormy  financial  period  of  President 
Jackson.  For  a third  of  a century  he  has  been  president 
of  the  Lawrence  Cement  Company,  and  he  holds  a sim- 
ilar position  at  the  head  of  the  Rosedale  Cement  Company. 

By  the  admirable  manner  in  which  he  has  transacted 
all  business  devolving  upon  him,  in  these  and  many  other 
enterprises  of  note,  and  the  fidelity  with  which  he  has 
discharged  all  trusts  imposed  upon  him,  during  a long 
and  active  business  career,  Mr.  Lawrence  has  won  an 
enviable  reputation,  which  will  survive  him  and  be  a 
shining  example  to  these  who  may  come  after  him.  In 
public  and  political  life  Mr  Lawrence  has  won  and  re- 
tained a name  rivaled  only  by  his  reputation  as  a man  of 
affairs.  During  the  extended  period  of  fifteen  years  he 
was  president  of  the  village  of  Flushing,  and  upon  his 
resignation  of  that  position  the  board  of  trustees  waited 
on  him  in  a body  at  his  residence  and  requested  that  he 
would  become  a candidate  for  re-election.  In  1840  he 
was  nominated  for  member  of  Assembly  from  his  dis- 
trict, his  rival  in  the  field  being  no  less  formidable  an  one 
than  John  A.  King,  whom  he  defeated.  This  was  the 
“Log  Cabin  and  Hard  Cider  ” campaign,  and  the  ex- 
citement over  the  election  ran  pretty  high.  On  the  night 
upon  which  the  result  became  known  a considerable  body 
of  the  strongest  and  most  active  Whigs  in  Flushing  went 
to  his  house,  accompanied  by  a band  of  music,  at  n 
o’clock  and  tendered  him  a serenade;  and  informed  him 
through  the  spokesman  of  the  occasion  that,  as  they  had 
opposed  him  on  political  grounds  only,  they  had  now 
come  to  congratulate  him  as  a townsman  on  the  success 
which  he  had  achieved  at  the  polls.  In  1845  Mr.  Law- 
rence was  sent  to  Congress  by  the  vote  of  his  fellow  cit- 
izens, and  upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  was  offered  a 
renomination;  which  he  declined  to  accept,  though  he 
could  not  but  regard  the  act  as  an  evidence  of  the  con- 
fidence with  which  he  had  inspired  those  whom  he  had  so 
ably  represented  in  the  council  of  the  nation.  Later  he 
was  tendered  the  nomination  for  the  office  of  lieutenant- 
governor  ot  the  State  of  New  York.  This  was  at  a time 
when  he  had  retired  permanently  from  the  cares  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  political  life;  and,  with  the  desire  for 
quiet  and  rest  which  all  men  feel  as  years  advance  upon 
them,  he  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  allow  the  use  of 
his  name  in  the  manner  requested,  though  urged  to  do  so 
by  some  of  the  foremost  men  in  his  party  on  the  ground 
of  the  strength  it  would  lend  to  the  ticket. 

In  private  and  public  life,  alike,  Mr.  Lawrence  has 
ever  held  the  highest  esteem  of  all  his  associates  and  the 
respect  of  all,  of  all  classes  and  parties,  who  were  cogni- 
zant of  his  course.  In  Flushing,  where  he  is  best  and 
most  intimately  known,  he  is  regarded  as  the  friend  of 
those  in  need  of  sympathy  and  assistance,  and  the  abettor 
of  every  measure  tending  to  the  public  good  and  the 
public  improvement. 


ALBION  K.  P.  DENNETT. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  prominent  citizens  and  business  men  of  Flush- 
ing. He  was  born  in  Lyman,  York  county,  Maine,  Au- 
gust 9th  1827,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  Governor 
Albion  K.  Paris,  of  Maine.  His  parents  were  Jesse  and 
Abigail  (Hooper)  Dennett.  His  grandfather  Joseph 
Dennett  was  in  the  patriot  service  during  the  entire 
period  of  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Dennett  removed  with  his  father’s  family  to  the 
town  of  Dayton,  adjoining  the  town  of  his  birth,  when  he 
was  about  twelve  years  old.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  that  locality,  and  resided  on 
his  father’s  farm  until  the  age  of  twenty-two,  when  he 
went  to  New  York  city,  in  1849,  and  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Company,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  April  1853,  when  he  embarked  in  the  ice 
trade  in  New  York  on  his  own  account,  remaining  there 
until  April  1868,  when  he  removed  to  Flushing,  where  he 
has  been  since  extensively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
the  same  trade,  his  office,  at  i8}4  Main  street,  being  one 
of  the  most  noticeable  business  places  on  that  street. 

December  22nd  1853  Mr.  Dennett  was  married  to  Jane 
M.  Smith,  of  New  York,  originally  of  Rensselaer  county, 
by  whom  he  has  a daughter,  Emma  Grace,  now  the  wife 
of  W.  T.  James,  of  the  Flushing  drug  firm  of  Hepburn  & 
James.  With  his  entire  family  Mr.  Dennett  is  a member 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Flushing. 

Mr.  Dennett  cast  his  first  vote  with  the  Whigs,  and 
since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  has 
been  a firm  believer  in  its  principles,  and  has  voted  with 
it  undeviatingly  since  the  Fremont  campaign  of  1856. 
He  has  never  been  in  the  common  acceptation  of  the 


136 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


term  a politician,  though  ever  alive  to  the  important  de- 
mands of  the  hour.  Engrossed  in  his  business  affairs,  he 
has  never  sought  political  preferment,  but  at  the  demand 
of  his  fellow  citizens  has  from  time  to  time  accepted  im- 
portant public  trusts  at  their  hands.  He  was  elected  a 
trustee  of  the  village  of  Flushing  in  the  winter  of  1871, 
to  fill  a vacancy  then  existing  in  the  board,  by  the  vote  of 
that  body,  and  so  satisfactory  to  the  people  of  the  vil- 
lage was  his  conduct  during  his  term  of  service  that  he 
was  four  times  thereafter  nominated  and  elected  to  the 
same  position  against  his  wish  and  protest,  but  positively 
refused  to  qualify  and  serve  the  last  time.  In  the  spring 
of  1879  he  was,  in  opposition  to  his  own  strongly  ex- 
pressed desire,  nominated  and  elected  to  the  position  of 
supervisor  of  the  town  of  Flushing,  and  re-elected  in 
1880. 

In  1858  Mr.  Dennett  joined  Company  B of  the  12th 
regiment  of  New  York  State  militia,  of  New  York  city, 
as  a private  and  was  elected  orderly  sergeant  about  a 
month  later,  serving  in  that  capacity  till  April  21st  1861, 
when  he  was  made  second  lieutenant,  while  the  regiment 
was  formed  in  Union  Square,  just  prior  to  its  departure 
for  the  seat  of  war  in  response  to  the  demand  of  the 
government  for  three  months’  men.  After  the  expiration 
of  its  term  of  service  the  regiment  returned  to  New  York, 
and  in  1862  was  re-organized,  and  Mr.  Dennett  was 
elected  second  and  subsequently  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany D.  Later  he  was  several  times  offered  but  os  often 
declined  the  captaincy  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Dennett  is  emphatically  one  of  the  self-made  men 
of  Queens  county.  Early  in  life  he  set  out  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world  by  his  own  unaided  exertions,  and  how 
successful  he  has  been  his  present  enviable  position  at- 
tests. A man  of  fine  presence  and  genial  and  kindly  ad- 
dress he  has  won  and  retains  many  friends,  who  speak 
highly  of  him  as  a man  and  a citizen  in  all  relations  of  life. 


BENJAMIN  W.  DOWNING. 

Benjamin  W.  Downing  was  born  at  Glen  Head,  Long 
Island,  on  the  first  day  of  April  1835.  His  ancestry  on 
one  side  was  of  Quaker  stock,  and  members  of  the  family 
on  the  paternal  side  had  for  many  years  had  their  home 
on  Long  Island.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his 
preliminary  education  at  the  public  schools,  but  at  an 
early  age  he  entered  Macedon  Academy,  at  Macedon, 
Wayne  county,  in  this  State,  where  he  completed  a 
sound  practical  education,  holding  a high  position  in  all 
of  the  various  academic  classes.  Returning  to  his  home 
on  Long  Island,  Mr.  Downing  commenced  the  practical 
duties  of  life  as  a teacher,  devoting  a number  of  years  to 
this  arduous  work. 

His  longest  term  of  service  in  this  capacity  was  at 
Locust  Valley,  where  he  brought  the  public  school  at 
that  place  into  great  and  deserved  prominence  by  the 
introduction  of  new  and  valuable  methods  of  instruction. 
It  was  while  in  charge  of  this  school,  in  1856,  that  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of  schools  of 


the  town  of  Oyster  Bay;  subsequently  he  was  appointed 
school  commissioner  of  all  the  schools  in  Queens  county 
by  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  this  promotion  was  fol- 
lowed by  his  election  to  the  same  office.  Mr.  Downing’s 
administration  of  school  affairs,  continuing  seven  years 
and  six  months,  was  marked  by  great  energy  and  the 
fullest  success.  The  standard  of  the  schools  under  his 
jurisdiction  was  greatly  raised,  and  an  impetus  was  given 
to  the  cause  of  popular  education  in  the  district  that  is 
even  yet  felt  and  realized. 

Meanwhile  Mr.  Downing  had  abandoned  his  old  pro- 
fession of  teaching,  and  had  commenced  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Elias  J.  Beach,  county 
judge  of  Queens  county.  This  season  of  law  reading 
was  supplemented  by  a severe  course  of  study  in  the  law 
school  at  Poughkeepsie,  from  which  institution  he  gradu- 
ated with  high  honors,  receiving  the  title  of  LL.  B.,  and 
was  duly  admitted  to  practice  in  the  supreme  court  of 
this  State.  He  established  his  law  office  at  Flushing,  to 
which  place  he  had  removed  his  residence  from  Locust 
Valley,  and  at  once  commenced  an  active  and  successful 
professional  career. 

Mr.  Downing  early  won  deserved  distinction  at  the 
bar.  His  readiness  in  grasping  the  salient  features  of  a 
case,  his  quick  and  correct  application  of  the  law  to  the 
facts,  his  faculty  of  building  up  upon  the  pivotal  points 
involved,  and  the  earnestness  and  force  of  his  appeals  to 
juries,  made  his  professional  services  sought  in  every 
section  of  the  county  and  in  adjacent  localities.  In  a 
short  space  of  time  he  became  recognized  as  the  most 
able,  adroit  and  effective  practitioner  at  the  bar  of 
Queens  county.  Declining  a re-election  to  a third  term 
as  school  commissioner,  Mr.  Downing  was  elected  in 

1864  to  succeed  the  Hon.  John  J.  Armstrong  as  district 
attorney  of  Queens  county,  and  he  has  since  January  1st 

1865  continuously  held  and  more  than  acceptably  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  exceedingly  important  and 
difficult  position.  The  same  qualities  which  gained  for 
Mr.  Downing  his  success  as  a teacher,  school  officer  and 
private  practitioner  have  made  him  eminently  successful 
as  a public  prosecutor.  Queens  county  especially  de- 
mands a prompt,  energetic  and  able  man  to  fill  at  all 
acceptably  the  office  of  district  attorney.  With  nothing 
but  the  narrow  belt  of  the  East  River  separating  it  from 
New  York  city,  it  is  liable  at  all  times  to  be  overrun  with 
desperadoes  of  the  worst  metropolitan  type;  and  it  is  an 
exceedingly  fortunate  matter  for  the  county  that  under 
the  administration  of  its  present  district  attorney  Queens 
has  established  the  reputation  among  the  criminal  classes 
of  being  an  exceedingly  unpleasant  place  for  them  to  be 
tried  in.  During  the  incumbency  of  Mr.  Downing  he 
has  prosecuted  a large  number  of  indictments,  the  trials 
of  which  rank  among  the  causes  celebres.  We  have 
space  only  for  the  enumeration  of  a very  few 
of  the  more  important  of  these  cases.  One  was 
the  trial  and  conviction  of  Lewis  Jarvis  and  Elbert 
Jackson  for  the  murder  of  Samuel  Floyd  Jones.  The 
prisoners  were  subsequently  executed  for  the  offense  in 
the  old  court-house  yard  in  North  Hempsted,  this  being 


DISTRICT  ATTORNEY  B.  W.  DOWNING. 


the  first  execution  that  had  occured  for  many  years  in 
Queens  county.  Mr.  Downing  prosecuted  also  the  in- 
dictments against  William  Delany  for  the  murder  of  Cap- 
tain L.  Lawrence  on  the  27th  of  August  1875  on  board 
a vessel  lying  at  the  time  at  anchor  in  Long  Island  Sound 
near  Port  Washington.  Delany  was  also  convicted  by 
the  jury  and  subsequently  executed.  Mr.  Downing  also 
prosecuted  the  indictments  against  David  Burke  for  the 
murder  of  a night  watchman  at  Long  Island  City.  Burke 
was  defended  with  great  zeal  and  ability  by  the  late  elo- 
quent John  H.  Anthon.who  when  the  jury  rendered  their 
verdict  of  guilty  declared  that  he  would  never  again  de- 
fend a man  indicted  for  a capital  offense,  and  this  dec- 
laration was  always  thereafter  strictly  adhered  to. 
Burke  was  sentenced  to  death,  but  the  sentence  was  sub- 
sequently commuted  by  the  governor  to  imprisonment 
for  life.  Other  remarkable  trials  were  those  of  the  mur- 
derers of  Garrett  Nostrand,  at  Syosett,  and  the  murderer 
of  little  Maggie  Bauer,  of  Hempstead,  some  few  years 
ago;  Mr.  Downing  securing  conviction  in  all  these  cases. 
He  was  particularly  active  also  in  the  detection  and  trial 
of  the  masked  burglars  of  Ravenswood,  and  succeeded 
in  bringing  about  the  conviction  and  punishment  of  this 
entire  gang  of  desperadoes,  who  were  sentenced  to  State 
prison  at  hard  labor  for  terms  varying  from  twenty  to 
thirty-five  years.  We  have  specified  only  a very  few  of 
the  important  trials  Mr.  Downing  has  conducted  as  pub- 
lic prosecutor  during  the  last  fifteen  years.  His  conduct 
of  the  affairs  of  his  office  has  been  characterized  not  only 
by  ability  but  by  faithfulness.  He  has  not  neglected 
the  prosecution  of  ordinary  indictments  in  order  to  shine 
brilliantly  in  the  trial  of  “ star”  cases,  but  every  indict- 
ment charging  the  commission  of  a criminal  offence 
when  brought  to  trial  by  him  recived  the  careful,  con- 
scientious treatment  of  a trained  and  skillful  prosecutor, 
and  it  was  a matter  of  very  rare  occurrence  that  a guilty 
man  escaped  just  punishment  when  Mr.  Downing  prose- 
cuted. Of  the  trial  of  Elwood  T.  Van  Nostrand  for  se- 
duction under  promise  of  marriage,  which  occupied  the 
court  of  sessions  for  nearly  three  days  in  1880,  the  Long 
Island  City  Star  says: 

“The  Hon.  Judge  Busteed  addressed  the  jury  on  behalf 
of  the  prisoner,  finally  closing  his  terrific  denunciations 
at  midnight.  It  had  consumed  six  hours  of  intense  ef- 
fort; with  the  penalty  of  utter  prostration  to  the  great 
advocate — to  the  extent  of  his  not  being  able  to  appear 
during  the  remainder  of  the  trial  or  of  hearing  the  reply 
and  summing  up  of  Mr.  Downing.  The  address  to  the 
jury  from  the  district  attorney  occupied  four  and  a half 
hours.  He  spoke  with  much  feeling,  and  it  is  probable 
that  he  would  have  spared  denunciation  but  for  the  goad- 
ing taunts  heaped  on  the  head  of  the  crushed  girl  by 
Mr.  Busteed.  Mr.  Downing  felt  too  thoroughly  the 
frightful  harangue  roared  with  phrenzied  action  against 
the  artless  girl,  who  quivered  under  every  blow  as  if  a 
culprit  under  the  Russian  knout;  and  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  he  was  more  than  equal  in  repayment  to  Mr. 


Q9 


Busteed.  He  had  a more  manly  cause  to  vindicate,  and 
easily  won  the  hearts  of  the  thronged  body  that  flocked 
to  hear  him.” 

While,  however,  he  is  zealous  and  indefatigable  as  a 
prosecutor,  he  yet  realizes  that  he  is  an  officer  of  the 
court  charged  with  the  administration  of  even-handed 
justice.  The  innocent  man  unjustly  accused  is  and 
always  has  been  afforded  every  opportunity  at  the  hands 
of  the  district  attorney  to  make  his  innocence  manifest, 
and  Mr.  Downing  has  been  the  first  to  move  to  nolle 
prosequi  an  indictment  when  satisfied  as  a man  and  an 
officer  that  the  accused  is  not  guilty  of  the  offense 
charged  against  him.  Mr.  Downing  has  the  rare  ac- 
complishment of  being  a most  excellent  judge  of  char- 
acter and  of  human  nature,  and  very  much  of  the  success 
he  has  met  at  the  bar  and  as  a public  officer  may  be  at- 
tributed to  this  fact.  A large  proportion  of  the  cost  of 
conducting  the  public  affairs  of  Queens — as  indeed  of 
every  county  in  the  State — comes  from  the  expense  of 
holding  courts  of  criminal  jurisdiction.  It  will  be 
readily  seen  how  far  and  to  what  extent  a prompt,  alert 
and  vigorous  district  attorney  can  subserve  the  interests 
of  taxpayers  in  curtailing  the  sessions  of  these  courts  by 
a proper  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Mr.  Downing 
has  thus  served  the  citizens  of  his  county,  and  during  his 
extended  term  of  service  he  has  made  for  himself  the 
reputation  of  being  among  the  first  and  most  efficient 
public  prosecutors  in  the  State  of  New  York.  That  his 
reputation  as  a lawyer  and  law  officer  has  passed  far  be- 
yond the  limits  of  his  own  county  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  his  name  has  been  within  the  last  few  years  and  is 
now  very  prominently  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
supreme  court  judgeship  of  his  judicial  district. 

It  might  be  readily  supposed  that  the  conduct  of  a 
large  private  law  practice  and  the  full  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  a position  so  exacting  as  the  district  attorney- 
ship  of  a large  and  populous  county  would  more  than  fill 
the  time  of  any  ordinary  man.  Mr.  Downing  has,  how- 
ever, seemingly  unlimited  capacities  for  work.  He  is 
what  the  French  call  “a  man  of  affairs,”  and,  in  addition 
to  the  work  we  have  hastily  specified,  he  has  acted  as 
trustee  of  his  home  village,  served  as  its  president,  and 
has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  members  of  its  board 
of  education,  of  which  body  he  is  now  the  presiding 
officer.  He  has  always  taken  a deep  interest  in  the  local 
affairs  of  his  village,  and  has  contributed  very  largely  to 
build  up  and  develop  its  resources.  He  is  yet  in  the 
prime  of  life,  with  vigorous  health  and  a robust  constitu- 
tion. He  is  noted  for  his  acts  of  quiet,  unostentatious 
charity,  is  firm  and  loyal  in  his  friendship  and  self- 
reliant  and  positive  in  character.  While  he  has  already 
left  his  impress  upon  the  time  and  locality  in  which  he 
has  lived  and  labored,  there  if  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  the  future  has  in  store  for  him  a wider  fame  and  a 
still  more  honorable  record. 


1 40 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


THE  NICOLL  FAMILY. 

The  Nicoll  family,  of  which  De  Lancey  Nicoll,  Esq., 
of  Bayside,  is  the  eldest  male  representative  in  Queens 
county,  is  of  very  ancient  origin.  Its  coat  of  arms,  the 
original  of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Samuel  Benja- 
min Nicoll,  Esq.,  of  Shelter  Island,  was  issued  to  John 
Nicoll,  of  Buckingham,  near  Islip,  in  the  county  of 
Northampton,  England,  in  the  year  1601,  and  refers  to 
a former  John  Nicoll,  who  died  in  the  year  1467.  The 
evidence  concerning  the  fortunes  of  the  English  branch 
of  the  family  is  very  scanty,  nor  is  it  possible  to 
write  with  certainty  of  their  position.  The  coat  of  arms, 
however,  recites  “that,  whereas,  anciently  from  the 
beginning  it  hath  been  a custome,  in  all  countryes 
and  common wealthes  well  governed,  that  the  bearing  of 
certeyn  markes  in  shields,  comonly  called  armes,  have 
byn  and  are  used  by  persons  ever  of  the  best  degree  and 
calling,  as  the  onlye  demonstracons  of  their  prowesse 
and  valor  in  tymes  of  warre,  as  for  their  good  life  and 
conversacon  in  tymes  of  peace,  amongst  the  which 
nomber  for  that  I finde  John  Nicoll  of  Buckingham.” 

This  and  certain  other  family  records  have  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  Nicolls  of  England  belonged  to  the 
landed  gentry,  if  not  to  the  nobility.  The  family  estate 
in  Islip  is  supposed  to  have  been  confiscated  at  the  time 
of  the  English  Revolution. 

The  ancestor  of  the  American  Nicolls  was  Matthias 
Nicoll,  a lawyer  of  Lincoln’s  Inn,  who  accompanied  his 
near  relative  General  Sir  Richard  Nicoll  to  America  in 
1664.  The  Duke  of  York,  afterward  James  the  Second, 
having  determined  to  send  an  expedition  to  America  to 
wrest  the  important  colony  of  New  Amsterdam  from  the 
Dutch,  selected  Sir  Richard  Nicoll,  who  enjoyed  his  in- 
timate friendship,  to  command  it.  Sir  Richard  took 
with  him  his  young  kinsman  Matthias,  and  having  suc- 
cessfully overcome  the  Dutch  became  the  first  English 
governor  of  the  colony  thereafter  known  as  New  York. 
Matthias  became  the  first  English  colonial  secretary. 

Sir  Richard  Nicoll  soon  tired  of  provincial  life,  and  at 
his  own  request  was  recalled  to  England,  where  he  died. 
Matthias,  however,  determined  to  remain.  So  satis- 
factorily to  the  Dutch  citizens,  who  were  inclined  to  fret 
at  the  English  yoke,  did  he  discharge  the  duties  of  secre- 
tary to  the  colony  that  he  was  elected  by  them  to  be  the 
third  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

His  son  William  Nicoll  married  Miss  Van  Rensselaer 
of  Albany,  the  daughter  of  the  patroon,  and  received  from 
the  king  a patent  for  a tract  of  land  in  Suffolk  county, 
some  twenty  thousand  acres  in  extent,  which  he  settled 
and  called  Islip  Grange,  after  the  estate  in  Islip  in  North- 
hamptonshire,  England.  William  Nicoll  was  a man  of 
much  distinction  in  the  colony,  and  was  the  speaker  of 
the  first  colonial  Legislature.  On  his  death  the  Islip 
estate,  which  was  entailed,  descended  to  his  eldest  son, 
Benjamin  Nicoll.  His  youngest  son,  William — known  as 
“the  speaker” — devoted  himself  to  public  affairs  and 
was  elected  speaker  of  the  colonial  Legislature  eighteen 
consecutive  years.  He  received  by  gift  from  his  friends 


Nathaniel  and  Gyles  Silvester  a handsome  estate  of 
about  four  thousand  acres  on  Shelter  Island.  It  is  a 
curious  fact  that  the  greater  part  of  both  the  Islip  and 
Shelter  Island  estates  still  remains  in  the  Nicoll  family. 
William  “ the  speaker  ” was  a bachelor,  and  left  the 
Shelter  Island  property  to  his  nephew  William,  the  son 
of  Benjamin,  who  had  in  the  meantime  inherited  Islip 
from  his  father,  and  who  thus  became  possessed  of  both 
estates. 

This  William  was  a man  of  remarkable  abilities  and 
enjoyed  a great  reputation  at  the  bar. 

To  his  eldest  son  William  descended  the  estate  at 
Islip,  but  during  his  lifetime  he  gave  Shelter  Island  to 
his  other  son,  Samuel  Benjamin.  The  William  last  men- 
tioned was  succeeded  by  his  son  William,  who  was  in 
turn  succeeded  by  his  son  William,  the  father  of  the 
present  William  Nicoll  of  Islip. 

From  Samuel  Benjamin  Shelter  Island  descended  to 
his  children,  of  whom  there  were  eight.  The  second  son, 
Samuel  Benjamin,  purchased  the  portions  of  his  brothers 
and  sisters  and  became  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  estate. 
On  his  death,  in  1866,  he  left  the  property  to  his  children 
— Samuel  Benjamin,  Charlotte  Ann,  William  Courtland, 
Sarah  Paine,  Matthias  and  Anne. 

The  Nicolls  of  Bayside  represent  both  the  Shelter 
Island  and  Islip  branches  of  the  family. 

Benjamin,  the  brother  of  “the  speaker,”  had  two  sons. 
William,  the  eldest,  as  we  have  seen,  inherited  Islip 
from  his  father  and  acquired  Shelter  Island  from  his 
uncle  the  “ speaker.  Benjamin,  the  younger  son,  came 
to  New  York  city,  where  he  was  educated  at  Kings  (now 
Columbia)  College,  and  married  Mary  Madalen,  daughter 
of  Edward  Holland.  His  eldest  son  was  Henry  Nicoll,  a 
merchant  of  much  wealth,  who  purchased  a large  estate 
at  Mastic,  in  Suffolk  county.  His  eldest  son,  Edward 
Holland  Nicoll,  married  Mary  Townsend,  of  Albany. 
Like  his  father  he  engaged  in  mercantile  life  with  suc- 
cess. His  eldest  son,  Henry,  was  a lawyer  of  promi- 
nence in  the  city  of  New  York  and  at  one  time  a 
member  of  Congress;  while  his  younger  son,  Solomon 
Townsend  Nicoll,  followed  the  footsteps  of  his  father, 
and  became  a successful  merchant.  Solomon  Town- 
send at  the  age  of  38  married  his  third  cousin 
Charlotte  Ann  Nicoll,  of  Shelter  Island.  In  the 
year  1855  he  purchased  the  present  Nicoll  estate  at 
Bayside,  designing  it  for  a country  seat.  The  man- 
sion is  beautifully  situated  in  a grove  of  cedars  on  a 
high  bluff,  at  the  foot  of  which  is  Little  Neck  Bay.  A 
long  avenue  of  elms  and  maples,  planted  by  the  first  pro- 
prietor but  already  grown  to  majestic  size,  makes  the  ap- 
proach to  the  house  resemble  an  English  country  seat. 
The  children  of  Solomon  T.  Nicoll  are:  Annie  Nicoll, 
who  married  William  M.  Hoes,  an  eminent  member  of 
the  New  York  bar;  De  Lancey  Nicoll,  whose  portrait  is 
on  page  — ; Benjamin  Nicoll,  who  married  Grace  Davison 
Lord,  daughter  of  James  Couper  and  granddaughter  of 
the  famous  Daniel  Lord;  Edward  Holland;  and  Mary 
Townsend,  who  married  James  Brown  Lord,  a brother  of 
of  the  wife  of  Benjamin;  and  Charlotte  Nicoll.  Both 


THE  NICOLE  FAMILY. 


J4  3 


Benjamin  and  Edward  Holland  are  merchants  in  New 
York  city,  the  former  an  importer  and  member  of  the 
firm  of  Hall,  Nicoll  & Granbery,  and  the  latter  in  the  dry 
goods  commission  business.  De  Lancey,  Benjamin  and 
Edward  Holland  are  graduates  of  St.  Paul’s  School,  Con- 
cord, N.  H.,  and  of  Princeton  College.  De  Lancey  grad- 
uated with  high  honors  in  1874,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1876,  from  Columbia  College  law  school.  Since 
that  date  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  New  York  city,  residing,  however,  with 
his  mother  at  the  homestead  at  Bayside. 

The  Nicoll  family  has  intermarried  with  many  of  the 
old  colonial  families,  including  the  Van  Rensselaer,  De 
Lancey,  Woodhull,  Floyd,  Townsend,  Lawrence,  Havens, 
Holland,  Saulsbury  and  Keteltas  families. 


While  no  one  member  has  attained  any  special  distinc- 
tion, the  family  in  general  has  retained  for  two  hundred 
years  that  prominent  position  which  means  and  education 
always  command.  Almost  all  the  male  representatives 
have  been  educated  at  one  of  the  great  American  uni- 
versities and  have  been  members  of  the  federal  or  the 
State  Legislature,  while  many  of  the  females  have  been 
distinguished  for  personal  beauty  and  varied  accomplish- 
ments. 

It  is  indeed  an  unusual  circumstance  in  America  to 
find  a family,  which,  since  the  advent  of  its  ancestor 
over  two  hundred  years  ago,  has  retained  through  all  the 
changes  and  progressions  of  American  life  not  only  its 
integrity  and  traditions,  but  its  property  and  landed 
estates,  and  its  high  social  position. 


HEMPSTEAD. 


HE  town  of  Hempstead  is  the  largest  in  the 
county  of  Queens,  containing  one  hundred 
$>ll  square  miles,  or  sixty-four  thousand  acres. 

It  originally  extended  north  to  Long  Island 
Sound,  but  the  present  town  of  North  Hempstead 
was  taken  from  it  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
passed  April  6th  1784.  The  line  established  was 
the  County  road  that  leads  from  Jamaica  nearly  through 
the  middle  of  Hempstead  Plains  to  the  east  part  there- 
of,’ and  the  part  south  of  this  line  was  to  be  thereafter 
called  South  Hempstead.  The  same  act  also  provided 
that  the  inhabitants  of  either  town  should  enjoy  the  right 
of  oystering,  fishing  and  clamming  in  the  waters  of  both. 
On  the  7th  of  April  1801  the  name  of  South  Hempstead 
was  changed  to  Hempstead. 

Hempstead  is  bounded  north  by  North  Hempstead, 
east  by  Oyster  Bay,  south  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and 


west  by  Jamaica. 

Successive  censuses  have  shown  constant  growth  in  the 
population  of  the  town,  except  during  the  civil  war.  The 
figures  for  recent  years  are  as  follows  : 1845,  8,269;  1850, 
8,811;  1855,  10,477;  i860,  12,375;  1865,  11,764;  1870, 
T3;  999!  1875,  14,792;  1880,  18,160. 


knew  anything  of  the  working  of  copper.  They  were 
workers  of  stone,  but  not  of  metals.  Stone  axes,  clubs 
and  spear  and  arrow  heads  were  found  at  an  early  date 
throughout  the  island.  All  these  are  of  the  same  material 
as  composes  the  rocks  of  Long  Island.  Flint,  quartz, 
jasper,  compact  sandstone  and  slaty  rock  pestles,  mortars, 
whetstones  and  pottery  have  been  frequently  found,  but 
not  as  frequently  as  one  would  expect  from  the  density 
of  the  Indian  population.  A large  whetstone  or  milling 
stone  of  silicious  slaty  rock  was  found  at  Rockaway  a 
few  years  ago;  and  a well-formed  skull  was  taken  from 
an  Indian  grave  in  Rockaway.  It  was  found  enclosed 
in  a round  urn-shaped  vessel,  the  skeleton  being  upright 
and  the  vessel  turned  over  the  head;  on  the  outside  it 
is  rudely  worked  or  carved.  The  entire  skull  and  about 
half  of  the  urn  were  preserved. 

Among  other  curious  relics  of  olden  times  is  a receipt 
book  found  in  1876  in  a package  of  rags  by  James  R. 
Brightman,  of  Rockville  Center.  It  had  been  the  prop- 
erty of  Hendrick  Onderdonk.  It  was  leather  bound,  and 
the  writing,  although  over  a hundred  years  old,  would 
compare  favorably  with  manuscript  of  to-day.  Many  re- 
ceipts dated  back  to  1752. 


Relics  of  the  Indians. 

Many  interesting  relics  of  the  aborigines  have  been 
found  at  Hempstead  and  vicinity.  These  relics  are  of 
local  interest  and  of  increasing  value,  illustrating  as  they 
do  much  of  the  life  history  of  a people  almost  extinct  on 
the  island, 

In  1862  two  copper  axes,  with  four  of  jasper,  were 
found  at  Rockville  Center,  in  a field  near  the  village, 
three  feet  below  the  surface.  They  were  surrounded  by 
spear  heads  of  flint,  set  upright  in  a circle.  The  copper 
axes  were  evidently  of  native  copper,  and  wrought  into 
their  present  form  by  hammering.  One  of  these,  in  pos- 
session of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society,  is  seven 
inches  long  by  four  and  one-half  broad.  These  relics 
are  rude  in  pattern  and  the  deep  corrosion  of  their  sur- 
face indicates  that  they  are  of  considerable  antiquity. 
These  axes  are  doubtless  from  the  copper-bearing  regions 
of  the  upper  lakes,  and  indicate  that  the  Long  Island  In- 
dians were  in  intercourse  with  those  of  the  copper  region. 
There  is  no  probability  that  the  Indians  of  Long  Island 


The  Early  Inhabitants. 

The  first  white  settlement  in  the  town  was  made  in 
1643,  by  settlers  from  Stamford,  Connecticut,  who  had 
emigrated  from  Hemal,  Hempstead,  England,  a few  years 
previous.  The  natives  had  sold  the  territory  of  Hemp- 
stead to  Rev.  Robert  Fordham  and  John  Carman  in  1643, 
and,  as  it  was  under  Dutch  jurisdiction,  these  gentlemen 
obtained  a patent  for  the  land  from  Governor  Kieft  on 
the  16th  of  November  1644.  One  of  the  conditions  of  the 
patent  was  that  they  should  pay  the  government  a tax  of 
one-tenth  part  of  their  farm  produce  in  ten  years  after 
the  first  general  peace  with  the  Indians.  It  seems  that 
Fordham  and  Carman  were  acting  as  a committee  for  the 
settlers  at  Stamford,  and  as  soon  as  the  arrangements 
were  made  with  the  natives  they  removed  to  Long  Isl- 
and and  settled  within  the  present  limits  of  the  village 
of  Hempstead.  The  first  arrival  of  settlers  consisted  of 
between  thirty  and  forty  families.  Among  the  most  prom- 
inent were  Richard  Guildersleeve,  Edward,  Thurston 
and  William  Raynor,  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  Matthew 


THE  SETTLERS  OF  HEMPSTEAD. 


i45 


Mitchell,  Captain  John  Underhill,  Robert  Coe,  Rev. 
Robert  Fordham,  John  Carman,  Andrew  Ward,  Jonas 
Wood,  John  Ogden  and  Robert  Jackson,  nearly  all  hav- 
ing descendants  on  the  island  at  the  present  day. 

Several  of  the  first  settlers  had  been  persons  of  dis- 
tinction in  New  England.  Thurston  Raynor  and  Mr. 
Guildersleeve  had  been  magistrates  for  Stamford.  Ward, 
Coe  and  Mitchell  were  commissioners  for  Stamford, 
Ward  having  been  a judge  for  the  first  court  ever  held  in 
New  Haven,  in  the  year  1636.  Many  of  them  had  served 
as  legislators,  and  all  were  of  excellent  character.  The 
first  division  of  land,  as  appears  by  the  records,  took 
place  in  1647,  and  it  shows  that  there  were  at  that  time 
sixty-two  freeholders  in  the  town.  As  a general  thing 
the  most  pacific  relations  existed  between  the  whites  or 
planters  and  their  Indian  neighbors;  yet  collisions  some- 
times took  place.  It  was  found  necessary  to  concert 
measures  to  prevent  their  recurrence,  and  the  governor 
on  one  occasion  convened  the  sachems  and  head  men  of 
the  Marsapeagues  and  other  tribes  at  the  village  of 
Hempstead,  on  the  12th  of  March  1656,  when  a general 
treaty  was  agreed  upon  by  the  governor  and  Tackapousha, 
the  chief  sachem.  Among  the  articles  of  agreement  were 
the  following  interesting  provisions: 

Section  I. — “ That  all  injuries  formerly  passed  in  the 
time  of  the  governor’s  predecessors  shall  be  forgiven  and 
forgotten,  since  ye  year  1645.” 

Section  V. — “ The  governor  doth  promise,  betwixt  this 
date  and  six  months,  to  build  a house  or  fort  upon  such 
place  as  they  shall  show  upon  the  north  side,  and  the 
house  or  fort  to  be  furnished  with  Indian  trade  and  com- 
modities.” 

Section  VI. — “ That  the  inhabitants  of  Hempsteede, 
according  to  their  patent,  shall  enjoy  their  purchase 
without  molestation  from  ye  sachem  or  his  people,  either 
of  person  or  estate;  and  the  sachem  will  live  in  peace 
with  all  ye  English  and  Dutch  within  this  jurisdiction. 
And  the  governor  doth  promise  for  himself  and  all  his 
people  to  live  in  peace  with  ye  sachem  and  all  his  people.” 

Section  VII. — “ That  in  case  an  Indian  do  wrong  to  a 
Christian  in  person  or  estate,  and  complaint  be  made  to 
the  sachem,  he  shall  make  full  satisfaction;  likewise  if  a 
Dutchman  or  Englishman  shall  wrong  an  Indian  the 
governor  shall  make  satisfaction  according  to  equity. 

On  the  4th  of  July  1647  the  Indians  of  Hempstead, 
represented  by  the  sachems  Tackapousha  and  Wautogh, 
with  seven  other  Indians,  probably  sachems  or  head  men 
representing  the  Indian  tribes  of  Hempstead,  ratified 
and  confirmed  the  purchase  which  had  been  made  from 
the  Indians  in  1643.  This  agreement  or  release  was  sub- 
scribed before  John  James,  clerk,  and  in  presence  of  John 
Hicks,  John  Seaman  and  Richard  Gildersleeve.  Upon 
payment  of  the  balance  due  to  the  Indians  on  the  pur- 
chase price  of  the  lands,  the  last  installment  being  paid 
February  14th,  1660,  the  following  curious  relase  was 
executed  by  the  Indians: 

“ We  the  Indians  under  written  do  hereby  acknowledge 
to  have  received  of  the  magistrates  and  inhabitants  of 
Hemsteede  our  pay  in  full  satisfaction  for  the  tract  of 


land  sould  unto  them  according  to  agreement  and  accord- 
ing to  patent  and  purchase.  The  general  boundes  is  as 
followeth:  beginning  at  a place  called  Mattagarrett’s 
Bay,  and  soe  running  upon  a direct  line  north  and  south, 
from  sea  to  sea;  the  boundes  running  from  Hempsteede 
Harbour  due  east  to  a pointe  of  treese  adjoining  to  the 
lande  of  Robert  Williams,  where  we  left  markt  treese; 
the  same  line  running  from  sea  to  sea;  the  other  line  be- 
ginning at  a markt  tree  standing  at  the  east  end  of  the 
greate  plaine  and  running  a due  south  line,  at  the  south 
sea  by  a markt  tree  in  a neck  called  Maskachoung.  And 
wee  doe  further  engage  ourselves  to  uphold  this  our 
present  act  and  all  our  former  agreements  to  bee  just  and 
lawful;  and  wee  doe  binde  ourselves  to  save  and  defend 
them  harmless  from  any  manner  of  claime  or  pretense 
that  shall  be  made  to  disturb  theire  right.  Whereunto 
we  have  subscribed  this  eleventh  day  of  May  Anno  1658, 
stilo  novo. 

“ Waautauch,  Tackapousha, 

Cheknow,  Martom, 

Sayasstock,  Pers-Roma. 

“ Subscribed  by  Wacombound,  Montauk  sachem  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  this  14th  day  of  February  1660, 
being  a general  town  meeting  at  Hemsteede. 

“ John  James,  clerk.” 

This  instrument  probably  describes  the  same  general 
boundaries  as  are  set  forth  in  the  patent  of  Governor 
Kieft,  and  described  in  the  original  contract  and  purchase 
in  1643. 

February  27th  1658  the  citizens  of  Hempstead,  by  the 
hand  of  their  clerk  John  James,  petitioned  Governor 
Stuyvesant  as  follows: 

“After  the  remembrance  of  our  submissive  and  humble 
respects,  it  hath  pleased  God,  after  a sickly  and  sad  som- 
mer,  to  give  11s  a seasonable  and  comfortable  autumne, 
wherewith  wee  have  beene  (throw  mercy)  refreshed  our- 
selves and  have  gained  strength  of  God  soe  that  wee  ne- 
cessarily have  been  employed  in  getting  winter  foode  for 
our  cattell,  and  thereby  have  something  prolonged  our 
wonted  tyrne  of  chosing  magestrates,  for  ye  wch  wee  hope 
yor  honour  will  hold  us  excused;  and  now,  accordinge  to 
our  accustomed  manner,  wee  have  voted  and  put  upon 
denomination  our  former  magestrate,  Mr.  Gildersleeve, 
and  with  him  William  Shodden,  Robert  I'orman  and 
Henry  Pearsall;  all  of  them  are  knowing  men  of  honest 
life  and  good  integrity;  therefore  wee  desire  your  honour 
to  appoint  two  of  them,  and  always  according  to  our 
duty  shall  pray  the  most  high  God  to  bless  and  preserve 
yor  honour  with  much  health  and  prosperity,  in  all  your 
noble  designs,  wee  humbly  take  our  leave. 

“ Ever  honoured  sr.,  your  Loyall,  true  and  obedient 
servants,  the  inhabitants  of  Hemsteede. 

“John  James,  clerk.” 

To  the  records  of  the  town,  Thompson’s  “ History  of 
Long  Island  ” and  the  “Annals  of  Hempstead  ” we  are 
indebted  for  the  following  extracts: 

March  28th  1658,  stilo  novo. — “ This  day  ordered  that 
Mr.  Gildersleeve,  John  Hicks,  John  Seaman,  Robert  Jack- 
son  and  William  Foster  are  to  go  with  Cheknow,  sent 
and  authorized  by  ye  Montake  Sachem  to  marck  and  lay 
out  ye  generall  bounds  of  ye  lands  belonging  to  ye  towne 
of  Hemsteede,  according  to  ye  extent  of  ye  limits  and 
jurisdiction  of  ye  said  town;  to  be  known  by  her  markt 
trees  and  other  places  of  note,  to  continue  for  ever;  and 
in  case  Tackapousha,  Sagamore  of  Marsapeague,  with 
his  Indians,  doth  come  according  to  their  agreement, 
then  to  lay  out  the  said  bounds.” 


19 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


146 


April  12th  1658. — Ordered  by  the  townsmen  of  Hem- 
steede,  that  all  ye  fences  of  ye  frontiere  lotts  that  shall 
runn  into  ye  field  shall  be  substantially  made  by  ye  25th 
of  this  monthe  of  April,  and  any  person  found  negligent 
shall  forfeit  5 shillings  to  the  towne;  and  whoever  shall 
open  the  towne  gates,  and  neglect  to  shut  them  or  to  put 
up  the  barrs,  shall  pay  the  like  sum,  one  half  to  the  towne 
and  the  other  half  to  the  informer;  also.  William  Jacoks 
and  Edward  Raynor  to  be  cow  keeps  for  the  year;  the 
people  to  be  ready  at  the  sounding  of  the  horn  to  send 
out  their  cows,  and  the  keeper  to  be  ready  to  take  charge 
of  them  sun  half  an  hour  high,  and  to  bring  them  home 
half  an  hour  before  sunset,  to  water  them  at  reasonable 
hours,  and  to  be  driven  beyond  East  Meadows,  to  pre- 
vent damage  in  the  cornfields;  to  be  allowed  12  shillings 
sterling  a week  from  nth  of  May  to  roth  of  August,  and 
then  15  shillings  a week  till  the  23d  of  Oct.  The  first 
payment  to  be  made  in  butter;  that  is,  for  each  cow  one 
pound  butter,  at  6d.  a pound,  and  the  remainder  in 
wampum.” 

The  town  deputed  Richard  Gildersleeve,  July  roth 
1658,  to  go  to  Manhattan  and  agree  with  the  governor  con- 
cerning the  tithes,  “which  are  not  to  exceed  100  sheeples 
of  wheat  ” and  to  be  delivered,  if  required,  at  the  town 
harbor;  the  charge  of  his  journey  to  be  defrayed  by  the 
town.  The  town  agreed  to  pay  the  herdsmen  12  shil- 
lings sterling  a week  in  butter,  corn  and  oats,  at  fixed 
prices.  Six  bushels  of  corn  were  allowed  by  the  town 
for  killing  a wolf.  The  price  of  corn  was  2s.  6d.  a bushel, 
wheat  4s.,  pork  3d.  a pound,  butter  6d.  a pound,  lodging 
2d.  a night,  beer  2d.  a mug,  board  5s.  a week,  victuals  6d. 
a meal,  and  labor  2s.  6d.  a day. 

Drunkenness  being  prevalent  in  the  place,  January 
14th  1659  a former  order  was  renewed  as  follows:  “ That 
any  that  have  formerly  or  shall  hereafter  transgress  shall 
pay  for  ye  first  fault  10  guilders,  for  the  second  20 
guilders  and  for  the  third  to  stand  to  the  deferminacion 
of  ye  Court,  according  to  ye  first  order.” 

During  the  same  year,  at  a town  meeting,  it  was  de- 
cided that  any  person  absenting  himself  or  herself  from 
public  worship  on  the  Lord’s  day,  or  other  public  days, 
should  for  the  first  offense  pay  five  shillings,  for  the  sec- 
ond ten,  for  the  third  twenty,  and  after  that  be  subjected 
to  “corporal  punishment,  or  banishment.” 

“ About  this  period  Cow  Neck  was  enclosed  by  a post 
and  rail  fence,  which  extended  from  Hempstead  harbor 
to  the  head  of  the  creek  dividing  Cow  Neck  from  Great 
Neck;  and  every  person  was  entitled  to  put  in  a number 
of  cows  or  cattle  to  pasture,  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  standing  gates  or  pannels  of  fence  made  by  him.  Af- 
terward, in  the  distribution  of  lands,  the  shares  of  in- 
dividuals were  adjusted  by  the  same  rule,  inconsequence 
of  which  this  neck  was  divided  among  a small  number  of 
people.  The  lands  about  Rockaway  were  enclosed  in 
like  manner.” 

In  the  years  1683-85  considerable  anxiety  was  felt  on 
account  of  a requirement  by  Governor  Dongan  that  the 
town  take  out  a new  patent.  After  holding  town  meet- 
ings for  three  years,  during  which  time  several  parties 
were  sent  to  New  York  to  confer  with  the  governor,  an 
instrument  was  drawn  which  was  satisfactory  to  both 
parties.  It  required  the  inhabitants  to  make  a yearly 


payment  in  New  York  of  “ twenty  bushels  of  good  win- 
ter wheat,  or  four  pounds  in  good  current  money  of  New 
York,  on  or  before  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  March.”  In 
addition  to  this  the  people  had  presented  to  the  gov- 
ernor and  his  secretary  650  acres  of  land.  In  the  same 
year  Paman,  sagamore  of  Rockaway,  and  others  sold 
Rockaway  Neck  to  a merchant  of  New  York,  claiming 
that  said  territory  was  not  within  the  limits  of  the  pur- 
chase of  1643.  Accordingly  a tax  of  2)4  pence  per  acre 
was  levied  on  the  taxable  inhabitants,  160  in  number,  to 
liquidate  the  price;  $442.50  was  raised  by  this  means. 

In  speaking  of  the  first  church  Rev.  Mr.  Jenney  says  : 
“It  is  an  ordinary  wooden  building,  40  feet  long  and  26 
wide,  the  roof  covered  with  cedar  shingles  and  the  sides 
clapboarded  with  oak;  within  it  is  not  ceiled  overhead, 
but  the  sides  are  boarded  with  pine.  There  is  no  pulpit, 
but  a raised  desk  only,  having  a cloth  and  cushion  of 
silk;  a large  table  stands  before  the  desk,  where  the 
justices  and  leading  men  sit  when  they  come  to  church. 
There  are  no  pews  except  one  for  the  secretary;  the  rest 
of  the  church  is  filled  with  open  benches.” 

August  1st  1683  the  town  voted  that  Jeremy  Wood 
should  have  ten  shillings  a year  “ for  looking  after  the 
opening  and  shutting  of  the  window  shutters  belonging 
to  the  meeting-house,  and  to  look  carefully  after  the  hour 
glass.” 

October  30th  1702  the  Assembly  of  the  colony  ordered 
Major  Jackson  to  acquaint  the  town  of  Hempstead  that  a 
public  school  was  designed  to  be  erected  among  them,  and 
to  inquire  what  encouragement  they  would  give  the  same. 

From  the  “ Early  History  of  Hempstead,”  by  Charles 
B.  Moore,  we  take  the  following  list  of  proprietors  of 
Hempstead  in  1647:  Robert  Ashman,  Thomas  Armitage, 
Samuel  Baccus,  John  Carman,  Samuel  Clark,  Benjamin 
and  John  Coe  and  their  father  Robert,  Rev.  Richard 
Denton  and  his  sons  Samuel,  Richard,  Nathaniel  and 
Daniel  (the  historian),  John  Ellison,  John  Foucks,  Rev. 
Robert  Fordham  and  son  John,  Christopher  Foster, 
Thomas  Foster,  Richard  Guildersleeve,  John  Hicks,  John 
Hudd,  Henry  Hudson,  Thomas  Ireland,  Robert  Jackson, 
John  Lawrence,  William  Lawrence,  John  Lewis,  Richard 
Lewis,  Roger  Lines,  John  Ogden,  Richard  Ogden,  Henry 
Pierson,  Thomas  Pope,  Edward  Raynor,  William  Ray- 
nor, William  Rogers,  Joseph  Scott,  William  Scott,  Simon 
Sering,  John  Sewell,  William  Shadden,  Thomas  Sher- 
man, Abraham  Smith,  James  Smith,  John  Smith  sen.  and 
John  Smith  jr.,  William  Smith,  Thomas  Stephenson,  John 
Storye,  John  Strickland,  Samuel  Strickland,  Nicholas 
Tanner,  John  Topping,  William  Thickstone,  Richard 
Valentine,  William  Washburne,  Daniel  Whitehead,  Henry 
Whitson,  Thomas  Willett,  Robert  Williams,  William 
Williams,  Edmund  Wood,  Jeremiah  Wood,  Jonas  Wood, 
Francis  Yates.  At  least  ten  of  these  men  were  from 
Yorkshire,  Eng.;  probably  more. 

Early  Court  Proceedings. 

At  a court  held  at  Hempstead  commencing  May  7th 
1658  Robert  Jackson  and  William  Smith  were  plaintiffs 
in  an  action  for  abuse  and  misdemeanor  committed  by 


EARLY  LAWSUITS  IN  HEMPSTEAD. 


147 


Henry  Linington,  defendant.  At  the  same  court  Peter 
Cornelissen  sued  Linington  in  an  action  of  accounts, 
and  the  following  year  Linington  was  also  defendant  in 
an  action  for  defamation,  in  which  James  Pine  was  plain- 
tiff. The  early  court  records  are  full  of  interest,  and  the 
law  was  possibly  dealt  out  with  more  care  and  justice 
than  is  found  in  the  courts  of  the  present  day.  From 
Onderdonk’s  “ Annals  of  Hempstead  ’’  we  quote  the 
following  records: 

1658,  July  25. — Richard  Valentine  having  reported 
that  Thomas  Southard  went  up  and  down  with  a club, 
the  latter,  meeting  him  one  morning  as  he  was  going 
about  Iris  avocations,  struck  him  on  the  face.  As  South- 
ard still  menaced  and  threatened  to  further  beat  him,  he 
took  oath  that  he  stood  in  danger  and  fear  of  his  life, 
and  required  the  peace  and  that  Southard  might  put  in 
security  for  his  good  behavior.  It  is  therefore  ordered 
by  Mr.  Richard  Gildersleeve,  for  that  Thomas  Southard 
did  contemptuously  resist  authority  in  refusing  to  obey 
the  marshal  with  his  warrant,  and  did  fly  the  same  and 
betook  himself  to  his  own  house  for  his  refuge,  in  con- 
sideration of  these  outrages  and  misdemeanors  he  is  re- 
quired to  put  in  security  for  his  appearance  at  court. 
And  said  Southard  doth  bind  himself  and  all  his  lands, 
goods  and  chattels,  to  appear  at  court,  and  meantime  to 
keep  the  peace  and  good  behavior. 

At  a court  held  December  28,  on  the  submission  of 
Southard,  and  paying  all  costs,  the  penalty  and  fault  are 
remitted  in  hopes  of  his  reformation.  Valentine  is  also 
reconciled,  and  doth  remit  the  abuse  done  unto  him. 

1659,  January  2. — Thomas  Ireland  complains  of  Rich- 
ard Brudenell,  keeper  of  an  ordinary,  for  using  deceitful 
dealings,  and  produces  in  court  the  following  witnesses: 

Mary,  wife  of  Richard  Willis,  sent  her  child  for  a pint 
of  sack  and  he  afterwards  demanded  pay  for  a quart. 

William  Jacocks  bought  four  cans  of  beer,  one  day  last 
spring,  and  was  booked  seven.  He  paid  it. 

Thomas  Langdon  was  charged  for  four  bushels  of  oats 
and  had  but  two,  and  a few  oats  in  a piggin,  and  a tray — 
being  half  a bushel. 

Richard  Lattin,  four  or  five  years  ago,  agreed  with 
Brudenell  for  diet  of  himself  and  son  for  twelve  shillings 
the  week,  and  had  it  a week  and  four  days,  which  did 
come  to  twenty  shillings.  Lattin  said  it  was  ten  days, 
but  Brudenell  made  it  eleven,  and  said  if  he  would  not 
pay  for  eleven  he  would  show  him  such  a trick  as  he 
never  had  seen;  that  is,  he  would  set  upon  his  book  a 
guilder  a meal  and  eight  pence  a night  for  his  bed,  and 
then  he  should  pay  whether  he  would  or  not. 

The  court  find,  January  14,  that  Brudenell’s  books  are 
false  and  not  fit  to  pass  in  law,  and  he  is  to  pay  twelve 
guilders  for  calling  a court,  else  execution  to  follow. 

1659,  January  14. — Robert  Lloyd,  having  spoken  un- 
seemly words  to  the  dishonor  of  God  and  the  evil  exam- 
ple of  others,  is  fined  ten  guilders.  But  having,  Febru- 
ary 11,  made  an  acknowledgment  of  his  fault,  the  court 
hath  remitted  the  fine,  on  his  reformation. 

1659,  January  16. — Daniel  Whitehead,  when  he  lived 
at  Hempstead,  lost  linen  and  other  goods,  and  upon 
search  he  found  at  Richard  Brudenell’s  a brass  candle- 
stick and  one  small  striped  linen  carpet  and  one  table 
napkin  which  he  doth  judge  to  be  his  own.  Whereas 
Brudenell  would  not  enter  into  recognizance  and  utterly 
refused  the  favor  of  the  court,  he  is  condemned  to  re- 
store fourfold — that  is,  twenty-e‘ight  shillings  sterling — 
else  execution  to  follow  in  fourteen  days.  He  appeals 
to  the  governor,  and  the  answer  in  Dutch  may  be  seen 
in  the  Hempstead  court  minutes. 

1659,  May  1. — Robert  Jackson  contra  Richard  Lattin — 


action  of  the  case,  defamation  to  the  value  of  ^£ico  ster- 
ling damages.  Jackson  in  his  declaration  says  that,  hav- 
ing occasions  of  account  with  Lattin,  upon  some  debate 
he  gave  him  very  bad  language  tending  to  his  defamation 
and  scandal,  and  amongst  other  evil  words  called  him  a 
rascal.  The  court,  June  5,  sentences  him  to  forty  guild- 
ers fine,  or  corporal  punishment,  unless  he  submissively 
acknowledges,  in  presence  of  the  court,  that  he  hath 
wronged  Mr.  Jackson,  and  is  sorry  for  it. 

1659,  May  1. — Robert  Williams  sent  to  the  mill  of 
Hempstead  six  bushels  of  good  Indian  corn  and  de- 
livered it  into  the  keeping  of  William,  son  of  Peter  Cor- 
neiissen,  to  be  ground.  He  received  two  bushels,  but 
the  rest  of  the  meal  lay  on  the  mill-bed  and  had  been 
spoiled  by  the  rain  beating  upon  it,  and  was  grown  sour 
and  not  fit  for  man’s  food.  When  Williams  demanded 
satisfaction  Cornelissen  refused,  and  said  he  had  carried 
corn  himself  to  Manhattans  mill  and  it  took  damage  and 
he  could  get  no  recompense.  He  then  desired  Cornelis- 
sen to  put  out  the  meal  and  give  him  the  sack,  but  he 
told  him  he  would  not  meddle  with  it.  The  court  ad- 
judge Cornelissen  to  make  good  the  damage  done  unto 
the  sack  and  meal  by  giving  him  good  meal,  and  in  case 
they  cannot  agree,  then  to  stand  at  the  judgment  of  two 
indifferent  men;  and  Cornelissen  is  to  pay  court  charges 
and  give  satisfaction  within  fourteen  days,  or  before  he 
depart  the  town,  else  execution  to  follow. 

1659,  June  11. — It  is  ordered  that  all  wills  proved  in 
this  court  at  Hempstead  shall  pay  six  guilders  unto  the 
use  of  the  court,  and  the  clerk  and  marshal’s  fee. 

1658,  September  2. — Among  other  items  in  the  last 
will  of  Nicholas  Tanner  is  that  “a  beast  shall  be  sold  to 
buy  some  linen  to  bury  me  in,  and  also  a sheet  and  other 
things  that  shall  be  needful,  and  the  white-faced  cow 
killed  at  my  burial  and  given  to  the  neighbors.” 

1649,  Nov.,  Richard  Lamson  put  out  a cow  to  Joseph 
Schott  to  winter.  He  removed  that  winter  from  Hemp- 
stead, and  the  cow  was  to  be  returned  next  spring  to 
Samuel  Clark,  his  agent,  but  Schott  refused,  though 
Clark  tendered  security.  Schott  says  the  cow  proved 
unsound  in  her  bag,  and  the  spring  following,  being  far- 
row, he  put  her  down  to  the  common  pasture  to  feed, 
and  in  the  fall  sold  her  to  D.  Whitehead.  Her  calf  he 
maintained  till  it  came  to  be  a cow,  and  she  had  one 
calf,  and  another  which  was  destroyed  by  wolves.  The 
cow,  being  well  so  far  forth  as  he  knew,  was  found  dead 
one  morning,  leaving  a calf.  The  court  order  Schott  to 
pay  for  the  cow  ^6.10,  and  20s.  for  one  summer’s  milk, 
with  one  guilder  on  the  pound  interest  upon  interest  for 
eight  years,  and  costs,  and  10s.  for  the  plaintiff’s  charges 
for  this  journey.  Schott  ( ultimo  January  1659)  makes  a 
tender  of  goods  to  the  valuation  of  the  aforesaid  sum,  to 
be  publicly  sold  at  outcry  by  the  marshal,  and  engages 
to  save  him  harmless.  Primo  February  Schott’s  barn 
and  appurtenance,  with  his  home-lot  (three  acres),  is  sold 
to  George  Hewlet  for  ^5.4  in  present  passable  pay.  I, 
Thomas  Skidmore  (May  6 1659),  have  received  ^15-9-6 
in  full  satisfaction  of  the  above  sentence,  in  behalf  of 
Edward  Higbie  of  Huntington. 

1660,  January  21. — John  Smith  jr.  sues  Thomas  El- 
lison in  an  action  for  trespass,  for  that  he  did  ride  his 
mare  double,  contrary  to  his  knowledge,  and  his  mare 
was  lamed  to  his  damage  40s.  Ellison  answers  that  he 
was  at  John  Carman’s  door,  and  at  his  wife  Hannah’s  re- 
quest did  ride  before  her  to  Oyster  Bay,  on  Saturday, 
and  on  the  Lord’s  day  kept  the  mare  there  and  on  Mon- 
day rode  her  back  and  delivered  her  to  John  Carman. 
The  court  doth  condemn  the  plaintiff  in  all  the  court 
charges,  to  be  paid  within  fourteen  days,  else  execution 
to  follow. 

1660,  February  19. — Thomas  Flicks,  in  behalf  of  his 


148 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


wne,  Mary,  late  wife  of  John  Washburn,  deceased,  de- 
mands certain  legacies  bequeathed  by  William  Washburn 
to  his  son  John:  Imprimis , one-third  of  Mr.  Washburn’s 
meadow;  item , two  sows,  one  yearling,  one  pestle  and 
mortar,  two  ox-pastures  and  five  gates  in  the  Neck.  The 
court  order  the  above  to  be  delivered  to  plaintiff,  for  the 
use  of  John  Washburn  jr. 

Hempstead  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

In  various  places  in  the  History  of  Hempstead  allu- 
sions are  made  to  incidents  connected  with  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  In  this  sketch  we  purpose  to  give  quota- 
tions, together  with  facts  gathered,  many  of  which  have 
never  before  been  published.  Many  quotations  are  taken 
from  Onderdonk’s  “ Documents  and  Letters,”  published 
in  1849. 

At  Hempstead  April  4th  1775  the  inhabitants,  assem- 
bled, passed  the  following  resolutions: 

“ First , That,  as  we  have  already  borne  true  and  faith- 
ful allegiance  to  his  Majesty  King  George  the  Third, 
our  gracious  and  lawful  sovereign,  so  we  are  firmly  re- 
solved to  continue  in  the  same  line  of  duty  to  him  and 
his  lawful  successors. 

“ Second , That  we  esteem  our  civil  and  religious  liber- 
ties above  any  other  blessings,  and  those  only  can  be  se- 
cured to  us  by  our  present  constitution;  we  shall  invio- 
lably adhere  to  it,  since  deviating  from  it  and  introducing 
innovations  would  have  a direct  tendency  to  subvert  it, 
from  which  the  most  ruinous  consequences  might  justly 
be  apprehended. 

“ Third , That  it  is  our  ardent  desire  to  have  the  pres- 
ent unnatural  contest  between  the  parent  State  and  her 
colonies  amicably  and  speedily  accommodated  on  prin- 
ciples of  constitutional  liberty;  and  that  the  union  of  the 
colonies  with  the  parent  State  may  subsist  till  time  shall 
be  no  more. 

“ Fourth , That  as  the  worthy  members  of  our  General 
Assembly,  who  are  our  only  legal  and  constitutional  rep- 
resentatives, * * * have  petitioned  his  most  gracious 

Majesty,  sent  a memorial  to  the  House  of  Lords  and  a 
remonstrance  to  the  House  of  Commons,  we  are  deter- 
mined to  wait  patiently  the  issue  of  those  measures,  and 
avoid  everything  that  might  frustrate  those  laudable  en- 
deavors. 

“ Fifth , That,  as  choosing  deputies  to  form  a Provincial 
Congress  or  convention  must  have  this  tendency,  be 
highly  disrespectful  to  our  legal  representatives,  and  also 
be  attended,  in  all  probability,  with  the  most  pernicious 
effects  in  other  instances,  as  is  now  actually  the  case  in 
some  provinces — such  as  shutting  up  courts  of  justice, 
levying  money  on  the  subjects  to  enlist  men  for  the  pur- 
pose of  fighting  against  our  sovereign,  diffusing  a spirit 
of  sedition  among  the  people,  destroying  the  authority  of 
constitutional  assemblies,  and  otherwise  introducing 
many  heavy  and  oppressive  grievances — we  therefore  are 
determined  not  to  choose  any  deputies,  nor  consent  to 
it,  but  do  solemnly  bear  our  testimony  against  it. 

“ Sixth,  That  we  are  utterly  averse  to  all  mobs,  riots 
and  illegal  proceedings,  by  which  the  lives,  peace  and 
property  of  our  fellow  subjects  are  endangered;  and  that 
we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  support  our  legal 
magistrates  in  suppressing  all  riots,  and  preserving  the 
peace  of  our  liege  sovereign.” 

Notwithstanding  these  resolutions,  at  a meeting  of 
freeholders  of  the  county,  held  at  Jamaica  May  22nd 
1775,  Thomas  Hicks  and  Captain  Richard  Thorne  were 
elected  to  represent  Hempstead,  and  on  June  26th 


Thomas  Hicks,  of  Little  Neck,  elected  for  Hempstead, 
declined  taking  his  seat  “ because  he  was  informed  by 
several  leading  men  that  the  people  of  Hempstead  seemed 
much  inclined  to  remain  peaceable  and  quiet.” 

Hempstead  was  a small  village  in  the  war,  with  only 
nine  houses  between  the  brooks,  three  of  which  were 
taverns. 

The  village  was  selected  by  the  British  as  one  of  their 
outposts,  “ as  convenient  quarters  for  their  light  horse, 
who  would  be  near  the  city  in  case  of  attack,  and  could 
also  make  excursions  to  gather  forage,  etc.,  for  the  city, 
and  scour  the  country  when  the  rebels  landed  from  the 
main.”  Houses  were  patrolled  and  soldiers  were  to  be 
found  for  miles  around  Hempstead,  and  sentry  boxes 
were  scattered  all  about  what  is  now  Hempstead  village. 
The  Presbyterian  church  was  used  as  a barrack  for  sol- 
diers, and  later  the  floors  were  taken  out,  and  the  build- 
ing was  used  as  a riding  school  for  drilling  horses.  The 
grave-stones  were  used  for  fire-backs,  hearths  and  oven 
bottoms.  On  the  outside  of  the  church  were  rings,  to 
which  soldiers  were  suspended  by  one  hand  with  a foot 
resting  on  a sharp  stake  set  in  the  ground,  the  remaining 
hand  and  foot  being  tied  together.  These  points  under 
foot  were  occasionally  of  iron,  and  by  the  writhing  of  the 
sufferer  would  sometimes  pierce  through  the  foot.  The 
culprit  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  would  often  be 
lame  for  weeks.  This  was  the  punishment  of  the  light 
horse.  The  Hessians  ran  the  gauntlet.  An  apple  tree 
east  of  the  burying  ground  was  used  as  a whipping-post. 

Along  the  brook  east  of  the  village  there  were  huts  for 
the  soldiers,  built  of  sods.  Boards  were  very  scarce,  and 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Foster’s  Meadow  and  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Islip  were  taken  down  and  con- 
veyed to  Hempstead,  where  the  lumber  was  used  in 
making  barracks  and  stables.  From  1778  until  peace 
was  declared  the  light  horse  made  Hempstead  their 
headquarters  during  the  winter,  and  occasionally  they  re- 
cruited in  the  summer,  allowing  their  horses  to  wander 
into  the  fields  of  grain  and  clover  fields,  which  in  many 
cases  were  entirely  destroyed.  A fixed  price  was  gen- 
erally allowed  for  such  damage,  which  was  paid  in  New 
York.  These  horsemen,  called  the  “ Queen’s  Own,”  it  is 
said  were  well  disciplined  and  finely  equipped. 

The  wood  yard  and  hay  magazine  were  north  of  Sam- 
mis’s  inn,  enclosed  and  guarded.  There  were  to  be  seen 
numerous  large  stacks  of  hay,  containing  one  or  two  hun- 
dred loads  each. 

From  1778  the  militia  was  called  out  several  times  to 
capture  “Americans  ” or  “ rebels,”  so-called,  who  made 
excursions  to  the  island  in  search  of  cattle  and  plunder. 
We  copy  an  account  of  one  of  these  raids: 

“Last  Sunday  [about  July  1st  1779]  two  rebel  whale- 
boats, on  which  were  seventeen  men,  made  their  appear- 
ance at  Hog  Island,  near  Rockaway.  The  militia  were  soon 
alarmed,  and  a party  was  dispatched  in  two  boats,  while 
the  others  marched  along  shore  and  secreted  themselves 
among  the  brush  at  the  entrance  of  and  along  the  creek, 
at  which  they  entered.  The  rebels  had  scarcely  landed 
when  they  observed  the  two  boats  coming  into  the  inlet, 
on  which  they  endeavored  to  escape;  but  finding  they 


REVOLUTIONARY  TIMES  IN  HEMPSTEAD. 


149 


were  surrrounded  and  fired  on  from  all  quarters  they 
surrendered.  Some  time  after  three  others  of  the  same 
gentry  came  rowing  along  shore,  and,  observing  their  two 
boats,  made  into  the  inlet  and  fell  also  into  the  hands  of 
the  militia.  These  boats  were  fitted  out  at  Saybrook, 
Conn.,  with  a brass  two-pounder  in  the  bow  of  each,  and 
have  a commission  from  Governor  Trumbull  to  plunder 
the  inhabitants  of  Long  Island.  The  prisoners,  forty- 
one  in  number,  were  brought  to  town  yesterday.” 

“In  July  1780  the  British  ship  ‘Galatea’  ran  ashore, 
near  Hog  Island,  the  sloop  ‘Revenue,’  privateer,  of 
New  London,  VV.  Jagger  commander,  fitted  out  by  Joseph 
Woolridge,  carrying  12  guns  and  52  men.  The  vessel 
bilged,  the  men  jumped  overboard  and  swam  ashore  with 
their  arms,  where  the  militia  of  Hempstead  captured 
them.  Several  other  captures  were  made  of  rebels, 
who  evidently  believed  Long  Island  and  all  its  people  to 
be  loyal  to  the  crown. 

“ People  would  sometimes  take  a spy-glass  and  climb 
on  the  roof  of  their  houses,  and  if  they  saw  any  whale- 
boats in  the  bay  they  would  remove  their  valuables  to  a 
hiding  place,  leaving  only  a few  articles  in  the  house. 
The  robbers  would  then  ransack  the  house,  curse  them 
for  their  poverty,  and  depart.  Stores  were  often  nearly 
emptied  in  this  way  of  an  afternoon,  and  the  goods  re- 
placed next  morning;  but  if  the  owners  were  once  caught 
they  were  likely  to  be  tortured  till  the  goods  were  forth- 
coming. The  alarm  was  spread  by  guns  or  horn  blowing.” 

In  November  1781,  in  a letter  dated  at  Poughkeepsie, 
Governor  George  Clinton,  being  informed  that  friends 
on  Long  Island  expressed  a desire  of  advancing  money 
for  the  use  of  the  State,  sent  a person  with  the  following: 

“ State  of  New  York , ss. — I hereby  pledge  the  faith  of 
said  State  for  the  repayment  of  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pounds,  current  money  of  said  State,  in  specie,  with  in- 
terest at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  to  John 
Sands,  Esq.,  or  order,  within  one  year  after  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  present  war  with  Great  Britain. 

“ Given  at  Poughkeepsie,  this  1st  day  of  June,  1782. 
“Witness,  Geo.  Trimble.  Geo.  Clinton.” 

The  amount  was  raised  as  follows:  Major  R.  Thorne, 
^200;  John  Thorne,  ^200;  John  Sands,  ^400;  Daniel 
Whitehead  Kissam,  ^200.  The  notes  were  paid. 

In  September  1775,  Congress  being  destitute  of  arms, 
it  was  resolved  that  all  “found  in  the  hands  of  any  per- 
son who  has  not  signed  the  general  association  shall  be 
impressed  for  the  use  of  said  troops.”  Said  arms  were 
to  be  appraised,  and  in  case  they  were  not  returned  the 
owner  was  to  receive  the  appraised  value.  Companies 
were  detailed  to  visit  Hempstead.  Considerable  diffi- 
culty was  encountered,  but  later,  in  January  1776,  we 
find  the  following:  “ The  battalion  left  Col.  Heard  at 
Hempstead  last  Wednesday  with  600  or  700  militia, 
where  great  numbers  of  tories  were  every  hour  coming 
in  and  delivering  up  their  arms.”  Again:  “Col.  Heard 
crossed  Hurl  Gate  ferry  and  proceeded  through  Newtown 
to  Jamaica,  at  Betts’s  tavern,  and  left  on  a Sunday  for 
Hempstead.  There  was  great  talk  of  opposition  in 
Hempstead,  but  it  was  at  last  concluded  to  submit. 
His  quarters  were  at  Nathaniel  Sammis’s. 

It  being  ordered,  May  10th  1776,  that  the  county 
committee  form  and  regulate  the  militia  without  delay, 
we  find  the  following  regarding  Hempstead: 

South  Hempstead. — Foster  Meadow  company,  98  men; 


officers,  none.  Far  Rockaway  company,  90  men;  Peter 
Smith  captain,  Benjamin  Cornell  lieutenant.  South 
Hempstead  company,  no  men;  officers,  none.  Jeru- 
salem company,  85  men;  Richard  Jackson  captain,  Zeb. 
Seaman  lieutenant. 

North  Hempst'ead. — North  Side  company,  120  men  ; 
Philip  Valentine  captain,  Coe  Searing  second  lieutenant. 
Cow  Neck  and  Great  Neck  company,  130  men;  Andrew 
Onderdonk  ensign. 

Total  number  in  North  and  South  Hempstead  and 
Oyster  Bay,  1,028  men.  The  following  were  the  higher 
officers:  Colonel,  John  Sands;  lieutenant  colonel,  Benja- 
min Birdsall;  majors,  Richard  Thorne  and  John  Hender- 
son. 

At  one  time  Stephen  Rider,  with  some  Jamaica  minute- 
men,  went  to  Hempstead  to  hunt  defaulters.  A party 
of  nine,  in  two  sedgeboats,  were  concealed  in  the  swamp 
at  the  head  of  Demott’s  (now  Dordon’s)  mill  pond. 
On  this  occasion  one  Rider  climbed  an  oak  tree  to  re- 
connoitre, when  a ball  whistled  by  his  head.  He  saw  by 
the  smoke  whence  it  came,  and  a loaded  gun  being 
handed  him  he  fired,  and  the  ball  passed  through  the 
body  of  George  Smith.  The  wound  was  dressed  by  Drs. 
Searing  and  Seabury,  and  Smith,  being  a young  and 
vigorous  man,  recovered. 

During  the  month  of  July  1776  precautions  were  taken 
for  saving  the  cattle  and  crops  from  the  British  should 
they  attempt  to  land  on  the  island.  Colonel  Birdsall 
with  a command  of  recruits  was  sent  to  Far  Rockaway, 
where  sentinels  were  placed  in  the  most  advantageous 
positions  for  observing  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  In 
August  Captain  P.  Nostrand  was  stationed  at  the  same 
place  with  forty-six  men,  to  guard  the  coast.  There  was 
a guard  at  David  Mott’s,  and  at  Hog  Island  inlet  was  a 
guard  boat. 

According  to  one  account,  “ Nelly  Cornell,  looking  out 
of  an  upper  window  of  a house,  called  to  the  American 
officer  and  told  him  she  saw  trees  rising  from  the  ocean.” 
He  looked,  called  another  officer,  and  said,  “ That’s  the 
British  fleet.  Down  with  the  tents,  and  let’s  be  off  to  the 
ferry.”  Wagons  were  then  impressed  to  convey  the  bag- 
gage, and  all  the  cattle  were  driven  off. 

August  25th  Congress  resolved  that  all  horses,  horned 
cattle  and  sheep  south  of  the  ridge  of  hills  in  Queens 
county  be  removed  to  Hempstead  Plains  ; that  the  in- 
habitants remove  all  grain  then  in  barns  or  barracks  to  a 
distance  from  buildings,  that  it  might  be  burnt,  if  neces- 
sary to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  A 
little  later  the  regiments  were  ordered  by  General  Wash- 
ington to  withdraw  from  Long  Island.  Afterward  a 
large  portion  of  the  militia  returned  to  Long  Island  and 
took  British  protection,  to  save  their  property  and  pro- 
tect their  families. 

According  to  Onderdonk,  it  is  not  known  when  the 
British  first  came  to  North  Hempstead  ; but  probably 
immediately  after  Washington  left  the  island  their  light 
horse  hunted  out  the  leading  Whigs  and  impressed  wagons. 

Since  the  Revolutionary  war  and  during  the  last  cen- 
tury the  growth  of  the  town  of  Hempstead  has  been  gene- 
ral, many  hamlets  springing  up.  The  village  histories 
below  will  be  of  interest  to  the  reader,  showing  how 


'5° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


rapid  has  been  the  growth  of  Hempstead,  not  only  in 
population  but  in  wealth,  during  the  last  one  hundred 
years. 

The  Civil  List,  etc.. 

Postmasters  since  1850. — John  W.  Smith,  four  years; 
Ebenezer  Kellum,  eight;  C.  C.  Rhodes,  about  six; 
Robert  T.  Powell,  two;  Sands  Powell  jr.,  three;  Dr. 
Morris  Snedeker,  eight;  J.  S.  Snedeker,  the  present 
incumbent,  since  June  14th  1880. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  since  i860. — Henry  Pearsall,  i860, 
1864;  John  Pettit,  1861;  James  M.  Seaman,  1862,  1866, 
1870,  1874;  Oliver  Lossee  jr.,  1863,  1875,  1876,  1879; 
Thomas  H.  Clowes,  1865;  John  A.  Smith,  1867;  Samuel 
De  Mott,  1868;  Ebenezer  Kellum,  1869;  Valentine 
Kitchen,  1871;  Sylvenus  Johnson,  1872;  J.  Seymour 
Snedeker,  1873;  C.  Matthews,  1876;  B.  Valentine 
Clowes,  1877,  1881;  T.  D.  Smith,  1878;  Edwin  J. 
Healey,  1880. 

Supervisors  since  1785. — Major  John  Hendrickson, 
1785;  Nathaniel  Seaman,  1786-92;  Joseph  Pettit,  1793-96, 
1798-1802;  Hezekinh  Bedell,  1797;  Richard  Bedell, 
1803-10,  1812-18;  Oliver  Denton,  1811;  John  D.  Hicks, 
1819,  1820;  Elias  Hicks,  1821,  1822;  John  Simonson, 
1823,  1824;  Robert  Davison,  1825-35;  John  W.  De 
Mott,  1836,  1844-46;  Charles  De  Mott,  1837  41;  Stephen 
Bedell,  1842;  Robert  Cornwell,  1843;  Benjamin  H. 
Willis,  1847,  1848;  Benjamin  T.  Smith,  1849-54;  Tred- 
well  Davidson,  1855;  John  S.  Hendrickson,  1856,  1857; 
Robert  Cornwell,  1858-62,  1865-67;  S.  N.  Snedeker, 
1863,  1864,  1874;  Carman  Cornelius,  1868-71;  James  J. 
Matthews,  1872;  John  B.  Post,  1873;  Ebenezer  Kellum, 
1875-77;  Charles  N.  Clement,  1878-81. 

Town  Clerks  since  1785. — Nathaniel  Seaman,  1785, 
1786;  Samuel  Clowes,  1787-94;  Richard  Bedell,  1795; 
Abraham  Bedell,  1796-1817;  Edward  A.  Clowes,  1818-23: 
Albert  Hentz,  1824-33;  Benjamin  Rushmore,  1834-40; 
Thomas  Welch,  1841;  Harry  H.  Marvin,  1842-54; 
Abram  S.  Snedeker,  1855;  Harry  H.  Marvin,  1856,  1857, 
1859-61;  John  E.  Davidson,  1858,  1863,  1864;  Benjamin 
F.  Rushmore,  1862;  Sands  Powell  jr.,  1865-68;  J.  M. 
Oidrin,  1869;  J.  Seymour  Snedeker,  1870-72;  Samuel 
Hendrickson.  1873,  1874;  Robert  Seabury,  1875-77; 
John  R.  Pettit,  1878;  James  B.  Curly,  1879-81. 

The  town  poor  farm  is  two  miles  northeast  of  Hemp- 
stead village,  and  consists  of  about  70  acres  of  tillable 
land,  being  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  James  P. 
Nichols.  A large  two-story  frame  house,  with  basement, 
was  built  in  1872,  at  a cost  of  $9,750.  There  are  about 
thirty  paupers  kept  there  each  year.  The  business  is 
transacted  by  three  overseers,  who  meet  at  the  house 
regularly  every  two  weeks. 

In  the  town  of  Hempstead  are  situated  many  summer 
seaside  resorts,  several  of  which  are  visited  by  large  num- 
bers of  people  during  the  summer  months.  At  the  larger 
hotels,  at  Long  Beach  and  Rockaway,  a regular  police 
force  is  on  duty  during  the  season.  There  are  four 
justices  of  the  peace,  and  places  for  holding  court  are 
prepared  at  Hempstead,  Rockaway,  Pearsalls,  Freeport, 
and  other  places.  A police  force  was  organized  in  Hemp- 
stead village  in  1877,  consisting  of  a police  justice  and 
two  regular  officers  until  1878,  when  only  one  regular 
officer  was  engaged.  In  the  spring  of  1880  the  office  of 
police  justice  and  police  constable  was  abolished  by  the 
Legislature.  At  present  the  trustees  appoint  one  police- 


man. John  Crampton  has  held  tha  position  about  seven 
years,  being  chief  during  the  time  of  the  regular  organiza- 
tion. There  are  two  night  watchmen  employed,  con- 
stable George  S.  Eldred  and  T.  B.  Eldred.  There  is  a 
substantial  lock-up  in  the  town  hall  at  Hempstead  vil- 
lage, and  one  under  the  court  room  at  Far  Rockaway. 

There  are  six  election  districts  in  Hempstead,  as  fol- 
lows : First  district,  west  of  Hempstead  village;  second, 
Hempstead  village;  third,  Baldwinsville,  Christian  Hook, 
and  Rockville  Centre;  fourth,  East  Rockaway,  Pearsalls, 
Woodsburgh,  Far  Rockaway;  fifth,  Valley  Stream  and  a 
part  of  Foster’s  Meadow;  sixth,  Rockaway  Beach. 

Stages  and  Railroads. 

Comparatively  speaking,  it  is  only  a few  years  since 
railroad  communications  were  opened  between  New  York 
and  Hempstead.  Daily  stages  were  run  from  Brooklyn 
to  all  parts  of  the  island,  and  stages  twice  and  thrice  a 
week  carried  the  mail  to  out  of-the-way  places.  From 
the  Long  Island  Telegraph,  published  at  Hempstead  in 
1830,  we  copy  the  following  advertisement : 

“ The  Hempstead  stage  leaves  the  village  of  Hemp- 
stead, starting  from  the  house  of  David  Bedell,  every 
Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday  morning,  at  eight 
o'clock;  and  returns  on  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Satur- 
day; leaving  the  house  of  Coe  S.  Downing,  Fulton  street, 
Brooklyn,  at  precisely  2 o’clock  p.  M.  Arrangement  is 
made  to  carry  passengers  to  and  from  Rockaway  by  the 
above  line. 

“ Curtis  & Mervin,  Proprietors.” 

Similar  notices  appear  in  the  same  paper  for  a stage 
line  from  Flushing  to  Newtown,  the  South  Oyster  Bay 
stage,  Jerusalem  stage,  Riverhead  and  Smithtown,  Hun- 
tington, Norwich,  Jericho  and  Oyster  Bay  and  others. 
But  the  day  of  stage  coaches  on  Long  Island  has  passed 
away,  and  at  present  the  business  man  of  New  York  or 
Brooklyn  after  business  hours  takes  a train  which  lands 
him  at  his  home  in  Hempstead  in  an  hour’s  ride.  Rail- 
roads accommodate  nearly  every  village  or  settlement  in 
the  town.  The  Central  Railroad  of  Long  Island,  which 
now  serves  Hempstead  village  and  vicinity,  was  opened 
in  February  1871,  the  depot  being  being  erected  on  Ful- 
ton street.  John  F.  Townsend  was  the  engineer  who 
brought  in  the  first  passenger  train,  and  George  Sharp 
was  conductor.  The  old  South  Side  Railroad,  the  Mon- 
taulc  division  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  extends  to 
Sag  Harbor,  a distance  of  about  100  miles,  and  accom- 
modates all  of  the  villages  on  the  south  side  of  Hemp- 
stead. 

Local  Industries. 

Mills. — In  1844  William  Oliver  came  to  this  country 
from  England,  and  in  1854  he  came  to  Hempstead,  pur- 
chasing the  ponds  situated  between  Hempstead  village 
and  Rockville  Centre.  At  that  place,  until  the  purchase 
of  the  ponds  for  the  Brooklyn  Water  Works,  was  estab- 
lished the  Oliver  Eagle  Flour  Mill,  with  office,  salesroom 
and  storehouse  on  Main  street,  Hempstead.  W.  F.  Oliver 


INDUSTRIES  OF  HEMPSTEAD— WATER  FOR  BROOKLYN. 


i5 1 


purchased  in  1877  what  had  been  a paper-mill,  a short 
distance  from  these  ponds,  and  he  does  a general  milling 
business. 

There  are  several  flouring  mills  in  the  town.  The 
grist-mill  in  the  village  of  Hempstead  is  on  Jackson 
street  near  the  corner  of  Main.  The  building,  which  is 
three-story,  was  erected  in  1857  by  Samuel  G.  Smith  and 
Thomas  H.  Clowes,  and  was  ready  for  use  in  the  fall  of 
the  same  year.  A wind-mill  was  first  used  for  furnishing 
power,  but,  it  not  proving  sufficient,  a forty-horse-power 
steam  engine  was  bought,  which  has  since  been  in  use. 
Mr.  Smith  has  had  charge  of  the  mill  since  its  erection. 

The  Oyster Business. — An  important  industry  of  Hemp- 
stead, and  one  which  is  constantly  growing,  is  the  raising 
of  oysters,  which  gives  employment  to  a large  number  of 
people.  The  waters  south  of  Hempstead  are  well  adapted 
to  the  work,  and  during  the  last  twenty  years  the  busi- 
ness has  grown  to  large  proportions.  At  Freeport,  Bald- 
wins, Christian  Hook,  East  Rockaway,  Pearsalls  and  other 
places  large  quantities  are  shipped  annually  to  all  parts  of 
the  country  and  to  Europe.  John  B.  Raynor,  of  Freeport, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  start  in  the  business,  about  the 
year  1858.  D.  Pearsall,  of  Freeport,  has  been  in  the 
business  since  about  i860.  He  ships  to  Europe  annually 
about  three  hundred  barrels  of  oysters,  and  about  two 
thousand  bushels  to  New  York;  and  several  other  pro- 
ducers are  disposing  of  a like  amount.  Among  the  large 
dealers  at  Baldwins  are  Lorenzo  D.  Smith  and  Green  M. 
Southard,  the  last  named  gentleman  supplying  several  of 
the  large  hotels  and  restaurants  of  New  York.  The 
work  of  raising  the  oyster  and  preparing  it  for  market  is 
very  laborious.  The  young  oyster  or  plant  is  purchased 
by  the  bushel  and  planted  in  beds  in  the  bays,  the  per- 
mission to  use  the  land  under  the  public  waters  being 
purchased  or  hired  by  the  acre  from  the  town.  The 
lands  are  staked  out  and  as  well  known  as  are  the  farms 
scattered  through  the  town.  When  large  enough  the 
oysters  are  caught  and  prepared  for  market  at  the  various 
oyster  houses  scattered  along  the  south  side. 

Hempstead  Florists. — Among  other  attractive  places  in 
Hempstead  are  the  conservatories  and  nursery  of  George 
Rogers,  85  Franklin  street.  Established  only  about  three 
years,  this  has  already  become  one  of  the  institutions  of 
the  village.  Mr.  Rogers,  who  has  been  in  the  business 
nearly  thirty  years,  has  built  several  hot-houses,  which 
are  properly  provided  with  light  and  heat,  and  the  tasty 
and  careful  manner  in  which  they  are  managed  and  the 
increasing  business  attended  to  speak  well  for  his  ability. 
Besides  the  general  variety  of  pot  plants,  trees,  vines  and 
shrubs,  he  appropriately  designs  cut  flowers  for  parties, 
weddings  and  funerals.  Besides  supplying  his  custom- 
ers in  Hempstead  and  vicinity,  he  ships  a large  quantity 
of  early  plants  to  the  New  York  market. 

The  West  End  greenhouses,  on  Franklin  avenue,  Far 
Rockaway,  are  owned  by  Joseph  Marsden,  who  started 
the  business  in  1876,  since  which  time  his  business  has 
been  steadily  increasing,  being  mostly  a home  trade.  He 
has  the  agency  for  evergreen  and  deciduous  trees,  flow- 
ering shrubs,  fruit  trees,  etc.,  also  a fine  assortment  of 


pot  and  bedding  plants.  His  greenhouses  are  30  by  65 
feet,  and  are  one  of  the  attractions  of  Far  Rockaway. 

Situated  about  five  miles  from  Hempstead  village,  at 
Smithville  South,  are  the  greenhouses  of  R.  P.  Jeffrey  & 
Son,  nurserymen  and  florists.  R.  P.  Jeffrey  is  a native 
of  England.  About  1870  his  son,  William  F.  Jeffrey, 
established  the  business  on  a small  scale,  since  which 
time  it  has  been  steadily  increasing.  At  the  present  time 
they  have  four  houses,  about  45  by  20.  They  make 
specialties  of  young  evergreens,  ornamental  and  fruit 
trees,  and  in  the  greenhouses  of  growing  carnations  for 
the  New  York  cut  flower  trade;  also  hybridizing  carna- 
tion flowers  for  seedlings.  This  firm  supplies  the  Long 
Beach  Improvement  Company  with  many  fine  plants. 
It  has  taken  premiums  at  the  county  fair  for  landscape 
gardening. 

An  attractive  and  lucrative  business  has  been  estab- 
lished in  the  village  of  Pearsalls  by  R.  E.  & J.  C.  Sealy, 
who  built  hot-houses  and  commenced  business  as  florists 
about  1875.  By  hard  work  their  enterprise  has  been 
made  successful,  and  six  houses,  15  by  60  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, are  now  filled  with  every  variety  of  flowers  and 
plants.  The  houses  are  well  kept,  and  the  proprietors 
employ  four  men  to  assist  them  in  preparing  and  ship- 
ping the  plants  and  flowers  to  the  New  York  market. 

Brooklyn  Water  Works. 

Situated  in  Hempstead,  and  covering  a large  tract  of 
land,  are  the  ponds  supplying  the  Brooklyn  city 
water  works.  Clear  Stream  pond,  two  acres,  was  pur- 
chased October  6th,  1858;  price,  $1,310.  Valley  Stream 
pond,  twenty-three  acres,  was  purchased  May  14th  1858; 
price,  $13,000.  Pine’s  pond,  fifteen  and  a half  acres,  was 
purchased  March  3d  1858;  price  $6,000.  Hempstead 
pond,  twenty-six  and  a half  acres,  was  purchased  Novem- 
ber 12th  1850;  price,  $12,000.  Smith’s  pond  was  pur- 
chased May  14th  1853;  price,  $11,500.  The  water  from 
the  last  pond  is  below  the  level  of  the  conduit  line,  and 
near  Rockville  Centre  a pumping  station  was  erected, 
where  the  water  is  pumped  into  the  conduit.  The 
water  from  all  other  sources  in  the  town  flows  into  the 
conduit. 

The  storage  reservoir  is  situated  south  of  the 
village  of  Hempstead,  and  was  originally  three  mill 
ponds  on  the  same  stream,  viz.:  those  of  Nicoll’s  grist- 
mill, Oliver’s  paper-mill  and  De  Mott’s  grist-mill.  The 
grounds  of  the  storage  reservoir  are  557  acres,  purchased 
at  a cost  of  $110,982.  The  water  surface  when  full  is 
253  acres.  The  total  cost  of  the  reservoir  was  $1,400,000. 
It  is  not  completed  according  to  the  original  plan. 
Owing  to  litigation  between  the  city  and  the  contractors, 
Keeny  & Kingsley,  the  work  was  stopped. 

Watts’s  pond  was  purchased  in  September  1880,  at  a 
cost  of  $8,000.  It  is  now  (1881)  being  excavated  and  a 
pumping  station  erected.  It  is  located  at  Valley  Stream, 
below  the  line  of  the  conduit. 

Cemeteries. 

Formerly  the  town  cemetery  was  situated  on  Hemp- 


J5Z 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


stead  Plains,  where  Garden  City  now  stands.  When  that 
tract  of  land  was  sold  grounds  were  bought  and  the 
burial  ground  was  removed  to  what  is  now  known  as 
Greenfield  cemetery. 

Greenfield  cemetery  is  about  one  and  a quarter  miles 
south  from  Hempstead  village,  and  consists  of  about  30 
acres  of  land,  only  20  acres  of  which,  however,  are  owned 
by  the  town.  It  was  laid  out  in  1869  by  John  Harold, 
now  deceased,  and  has  many  beautiful  walks  and  roads. 
A fence  surrounds  it,  and  a house  and  arched  gateway, 
with  bell  for  funeral  purposes,  constitute  the  main  en- 
trance. Scattered  through  the  grounds  are  many  tasty 
monuments.  A vault  has  also  been  built.  The  cemetery 
is  regulated  by  three  trustees,  elected  for  three  years,  one 
every  year.  The  present  board  consists  of  Stephen  Wil- 
liamson, J.  S.  Snedeker  and  Jacob  W.  Titus.  Daniel 
Vandewater  is  sexton. 

Between  Rockville  Centre  and  Pearsalls  is  an  old 
cemetery,  covering  six  acres,  surrounding  the  First 
Methodist  church,  which  attracts  attention  not  only  as 
being  the  last  earthly  resting  place  of  many  early  settlers 
of  Hempstead,  but  from  the  fact  that  in  the  mariners’ 
lot,  a plot  35  by  16 1 feet,  purchased  by  the  inhabitants 
and  set  apart  for  that  purpose,  are  the  remains  of  many 
people  wrecked  on  Rockavvay  Beach.  A large  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  on  the  plot,  and  the  inscriptions 
on  the  four  sides  tell  the  story  briefly. 

On  the  front  side  is  the  following:  “ To  the  memory 
of  77  persons,  chiefly  emigrants  from  England  and  Ire- 
land, being  the  only  remains  of  10c  souls,  composing  the 
passengers  and  crew  of  the  American  ship  ‘ Bristol,’ 
Captain  McKown,  wrecked  on  Far  Rockaway  Beach 
November  21st  1836.” 

On  the  second  side:  “ To  commemorate  the  melancholy 
fate  of  the  unfortunate  sufferers  belonging  to  the 
‘ Bristol  ’ and  1 Mexico  ’ this  monument  was  erected; 
partly  by  the  money  found  upon  their  persons  and  partly 
by  the  contributions  of  the  benevolent  and  humane  in 
the  county  of  Queens.” 

On  the  third  side:  “ To  the  memory  of  sixty-two  per- 
sons, chiefly  emigrants  from  England  and  Ireland;  being 
the  only  remains  of  1 1 5 souls  forming  the  passengers  and 
crew  of  the  American  barque  ‘Mexico,’  Captain  Winston, 
wrecked  on  Hempstead  beach  January  2nd  1837. 

“ In  this  grave,  from  the  wide  ocean,  doth  sleep 
The  bodies  of  those  that  had  crossed  the  deep ; 

And  instead  of  being  landed,  safe  on  the  shore, 

In  a cold  frosty  night  they  all  were  no  more.” 

On  the  fourth  side:  “ All  the  bodies  of  the  ‘Bristol* 
and  ‘ Mexico  ’ recovered  from  the  ocean  and  decently 
interred  near  this  spot;  were  followed  to  the  grave  by  a 
large  concourse  of  citizens  and  strangers,  and  an  address 
delivered  suited  to  the  occasion  from  these  words:  ‘ Lord 
save  us,  we  perish.’  ” — Matth.  viii.  25,  etc. 

In  this  cemetery  in  one  row  of  graves  are  buried  15 
children  of  Mr.  Abrahams. 

Barnum’s  Island. 

In  Hempstead  Bay  is  what  was  known  as  Hog  Island. 
In  1874  it  was  bought  by  Mrs.  P.  C.  Barnum,  of  private 


parties,  and  then  sold  to  the  town  for  $13,000.  On  this 
island,  which  has  been  named  after  Mrs.  Barnum,  are 
the  county  poor  buildings.  It  contains  about  450  acres 
of  upland  and  marsh,  seventy-five  acres  being  improved. 
Timothy  and  clover  hay,  rye,  corn  and  all  kinds  of 
vegetables  are  raised,  the  work  being  nearly  all  per- 
formed by  the  paupers.  The  island  is  reached  by  the 
road  through  Christian  Hook,  or  Oceanville,  and  a draw- 
bridge a mile  from  the  buildings.  There  are  three  main 
buildings.  The  largest  is  a dwelling-house  for  the 
keeper,  and  the  dining-room  for  all  is  situated  in  this 
building.  It  is  a three-story  brick  structure,  the  third 
floor  being  used  for  sleeping-rooms.  In  the  second 
story  are  private  apartments  for  the  keeper’s  family.  A 
two  story  brick  building  south  of  the  main  building  is 
used  for  a workshop  and  general  sitting-room,  the 
second  story  and  attic  being  used  as  sleeping  apart- 
ments. The  storehouse  and  general  offices  are  in  a 
house  west  of  the  main  building,  and  a dock  which 
accommodates  vessels  drawing  four  or  five  feet  of  water 
is  used  for  landing  supplies.  The  hospital  is  a two-story 
building  with  attic.  The  first  floor  is  occupied  by  the 
office  of  the  physician,  Dr.  Hutchinson,  and  his  assist- 
ant. On  the  other  floors  are  light  and  comfortable 
rooms  for  the  sick.  Besides  the  buildings  described 
there  are  the  barns  and  outbuildings,  wash-house,  dead 
house  and  small-pox  hospital.  A dyke  about  two  and  a 
half  miles  long,  five  feet  high,  ten  feet  thick  at  the  base 
and  one  foot  at  the  top,  has  been  constructed;  by  this 
means  the  water  is  kept  off  from  about  seventy-five 
acres  of  land  which  is  now  in  a state  of  cultivation. 
The  water  is  supplied  by  a force-pump  located  about 
300  yards  from  the  main  building.  A large  iron  tank  is 
used  for  a reservoir.  Charles  Driscoll  was  the  first 
farmer  and  keeper,  at  a salary  of  $800.  Charles  Wright 
succeeded  him  the  same  year,  at  a salary  of  $1,000,  his 
wife  being  matron,  at  $200.  James  Wright  was  keeper 
in  1876,  at  the  same  compensation.  The  present  keeper 
and  matron,  appointed  in  1880,  are  Joseph  E.  Firth  and 
wife,  the  salary  being  $1,000  a year. 

Old  Families  and  Prominent  Individuals. 

The  Grijffin  Family. — “ Griffin’s  Journal,”  a work  pub- 
lished by  its  author,  Augustus  Griffin,  in  1857,  giving  a 
biographical  and  chronological  history  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Southold,  Long  Island,  contains  a record  of  this 
family,  and  from  it  we  make  brief  extracts. 

Jasper  Griffin  came  to  Southold  about  1675,  from 
Wales.  He  was  born  in  1648,  and  died  at  the  age  of  88 
years.  He  purchased  a small  farm  at  the  landing  at 
Southold,  within  thirty  rods  of  those  beautiful  banks 
which  border  that  pleasant  harbor.  He  was  commissioned 
as  major  of  the  militia,  and  charged  with  the  care  of  two 
pieces  of  cannon.  They  were  mounted  on  those  banks, 
near  his  residence.  These  he  fired  on  public  days.  The 
descendants  of  Jasper  Griffin  are  inhabitants  of  every 
section  of  the  country.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  this  family,  then  quite  numerous 
on  Long  Island,  espoused  the  cause  of  their  injured 


% 

I 

4 

1 

<* 


THE  GRIFFIN  FAMILY— GEORGE  W.  BERGEN. 


i55 


country  and  liberty.  The  author  of  this  journal  men- 
tions his  father,  James  Griffin,  as  having  served  in  that 
war  up  to  the  time  his  enlistment  expired,  which  was 
while  at  Ticonderoga.  On  the  return  of  James  to  his 
home  at  Orient,  Long  Island,  he  found  a number  of 
British  and  tory  soldiers  quartered  in  that  neighborhood. 
These  attempted  to  arrest  and  detain  him  as  a man  unfit 
to  remain  at  liberty  near  their  camp.  Says  the  journal: 
“ Through  the  day  he  kept  a good  lookout,  and  his 
nights  were  spent  much  from  home  lodging  with  his 
friends.  One  night  during  a severe  rain  storm  my 
father  ventured  in  consequence  of  the  storm  to  lodge  at 
home  with  his  family,  satisfying  himself  that  the  storm  of 
wind  and  rain  would  secure  him  rest  unmolested  over 
night.  About  midnight  the  house  was  surrounded.  An 
enraged  armed  file  of  soldiers  demanded  instant  admit- 
tance or  they  would  break  in.  They  appeared  to  be  ex- 
cited by  drink,  as  their  manners  would  much  more  be- 
come savages  than  civilized  men.  They  demanded,  with 
shameful  oaths,  the  body  of  my  father,  dead  or  alive. 
While  in  great  commotion  in  searching  below  stairs,  and 
threatening  what  they  would  do  with  the  rebel  after  he 
was  secured,  my  father,  under  great  excitement,  was  try- 
ing to  effect  his  escape  by  getting  a chance  to  jump  from 
a chamber  window.  This  was  a perilous  undertaking,  as 
there  was  a guard  of  mounted  men  stationed  around  the 
house;  but  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost.  He  flew  to  the 
north  window,  which  was  open;  there  he  saw  a man  with 
his  sword  drawn  sitting  on  his  horse  under  the  window. 
Who  can  depict  his  feelings  at  this  moment,  when  these 
infuriated  desperadoes  were  now  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs 
about  to  mount  to  the  chamber  where  he  stood,  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs  at  the  window?  At  this  awful  moment 
the  guard  rode  round  the  corner  of  the  house,  we  suppose 
to  keep  a little  more  out  of  the  wind  and  rain;  my  father 
jumped  to  the  ground,  a distance  of  near  twenty  feet; 
as  they  arrived  at  the  chamber  he  was  at  liberty,  on  terra 
firma,  and  no  bones  broken.  Amidst  this  storm  he  es- 
caped with  nothing  on  him  but  his  shirt.” 

Augustus  Griffin,  the  author  of  the  above  journal,  was 
born  July  2nd  1767,  at  Orient,  and  died  March  10th 
1866,  aged  over  99  years.  He  was  well  known  for  his 
literary  tastes,  and  was  indefatigable  in  tracing  the 
lineage  of  his  own  and  neighbors’  families.  His  journal 
contains  over  300  pages  and  about  1,000  copies  were 
issued.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  a fre- 
quent visitor  at  his  son’s  residence  at  Hempstead,  and  he 
is  remembered  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  village  as  having 
abounded  in  anecdote. 

Sidney  L.  Griffin,  son  of  Augustus  Griffin,  wgs  born  at 
Orient,  August  5th  1806.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as 
an  attorney  and  solicitor  in  1829;  afterward  by  appoint- 
ment was  an  examiner  in  the  court  of  chancery.  He  en- 
tered into  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Riverhead, 
Long  Island.  From  Suffolk  county  he  served  one  term 
in  the  Assembly.  About  the  year  1844  he  removed  to 
Hempstead,  and  for  a short  time  was  the  law  partner  of 
Benjamin  F.  Thompson,  the  historian  of  Long  Island. 
He  removed  from  Hempstead  about  the  year  1862,  and 
is  still  living. 


Augustus  R.  Griffin,  son  of  Sidney  L.  Griffin,  was  born 
at  Riverhead,  April  6th  1831;  graduated  from  the  New 
York  State  and  National  Law  School  August  nth  1852, 
and  afterward  was  admitted  by  the  supreme  court  at  New 
York  city  to  practice  as  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law. 
He  first  entered  into  practice  with  his  father,  and  still  re- 
tains his  office  and  residence  at  Hempstead. 


George  IV.  Bergen , of  the  historical  Bergen  family  of 
Long  Island,  an  account  of  which  has  been  so  ably  given 
by  Teunis  G.  Bergen,  one  of  its  representatives,  was  born 
July  20th  1814,  and  has  become  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent business  men  and  citizens  of  Long  Island,  having 
made  his  way  unaided  frorrw  early  youth,  when  he  was  a 
farmer’s  boy  of  all  work,  with  the  assistance  of  such  an 
education  only  as  he  was  able  to  obtain  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  day,  and  as  the  result  of  reading  and  ob- 
servation later. 

In  1831,  at  the  age  of  16,  Mr.  Bergen  began  a long  and 
successful  mercantile  career  by  entering  the  store  of 
Thomas  Carman,  of  Brooklyn,  as  a clerk.  Mr.  Carman 
was  in  the  wholesale  and  retail  grocery  trade  and  was  a 
thoroughgoing  business  man.  Under  his  tuition  Mr. 
Bergen  received  such  early  training  as  has  been  useful  to 
him  in  his  subsequent  career.  In  1833  he  became  a 
clerk  in  the  retail  grocery  store  of  Daniel  T.  Schenck,  of 
Brooklyn,  and  a few  months  later  entered  the  employ  of 
Henry  E Cornwell,  another  retail  grocer  of  Brooklyn. 
In  1834  and  1835  he  was  employed  in  the  store  of  Joshua 
Rogers,  and  in  1836  formed  a copartnership  with  his 
■brother  John  Bergen  in  the  retail  grocery  trade,  at  the 
corner  of  Tillary  and  Pearl  streets,  Brooklyn. 

Not  long  afterward  the  two  brothers  dissolved  their 
partnership,  and  George  W.  went  to  Vicksburg,  Miss., 
and  was  engaged  in  trade  there  for  about  a year  and  a 
half,  returning  to  the  scenes  of  his  former  life  in  the 
spring  of  1838.  In  the  following  autumn  he  entered  the 
firm  of  Carman,  Valentine  & Co.,  wholesale  grocers  of 
Brooklyn,  which  for  twenty  years  past  has  been  known  as 
the  firm  of  Valentine,  Bergen  & Co.,  the  present  proprie- 
tors being  George  W.  Bergen,  E.  H.  Willetts,  George  P. 
Willetts  and  George  P.  Bergen.  This  firm  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  oldest  and  staunchest  mercantile  firms  in 
the  city  and  enjoys  a large  patronage,  its  stores  being 
located  on  Fulton  street  only  a short  distance  from  the 
ferry,  and  convenient  to  New  York  and  to  the  Long 
Island  trade. 

Politically  Mr.  Bergen  is  a Republican,  but  does  not 
take  an  active  part  in  politics  and  is  not  in  the  general 
acceptation  of  the  term  a politician.  Though  solicited  at 
various  times  to  accept  important  trusts  at  the  hands  of 
his  fellow  citizens  he  has  usually  declined;  but  he  was 
elected  treasurer  of  Queens  county  in  1872  by  a majority 
of  about  700,  and  served  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  citizens 
of  the  county  generally,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  In 
his  religious  belief  Mr.  Bergen  is  orthodox,  and  favors 
the  usages  of  the  Congregational  church.  During  his 


20 


J56 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


residence  in  Brooklyn  he  was  for  twenty  years  officially 
connected  with  Plymouth  Church.  In  1869,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Freeport,  Queens  county,  he  identified  himself 
with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  that  place.  In  1874  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bergen  erected,  at  an  expense  of  $5,000,  a 
memorial  chapel  at  Freepirt,  in  memory  of  the  latter’s 
mother,  in  whose  honor  it  is  known  as  the  Elizabeth 
Carman  Memorial  Chapel,  which  they  presented  to  the 
church  for  the  purposes  of  the  Sunday-school  and  the 
weekly  church  meetings.  It  is  a beautiful  structure, 
gothic  in  style,  about  40  by  50  feet  in  size,  with  stained 
glass  windows,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  it  may  long  stand  as 
a memorial  not  only  to  its  subject,  but  also  to  its  builders. 

July  19th  1838  Mr.  Bergen  married  Susan,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Carman,  of  Hempstead,  who  was  born  June  29th 
1818.  They  have  had  four  children — Elizabeth  C.,  born 
November  23d  1839,  now  Mrs.  Horace  D.  Badger; 
Charles  M.,  born  December  9th  1842,  who  married  Susie 
Fletcher  and  died  January  nth  1870;  George  P.,  born 
September  1 8th  1849,  married  to  Clarissa  E.  Sammons; 
and  Anna  Valentine,  born  August  9th  1856. 


Charles  H.  Clement. — Among  the  noted  supervisors  of 
the  town  of  Hempstead  stands  the  name  of  Charles  H. 
Clement.  He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Hempstead,  on 
the  20th  of  June  1831;  was  educated  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  at  the  Chichester  grammar  school,  and  studied 
medicine  and  surgery  at  the  Bellevue  Medical  College. 
He  is  at  present  a farmer.  He  is  a descendant  from  the 
Clement  family  of  England,  one  of  whom  emigrated  to 
this  country  in  1625,  and  settled  in  Flushing,  where  C 
H.  Clement’s  great-great-grandfather  lived  and  served  as 
chief  justice  of  the  colony,  receiving  his  commission 
from  King  George  III.  In  1721  the  latter  was  ordered 
to  Jamaica  to  put  down  a riot  at  that  place,  and  he  is 
said  to  have  achieved  a great  triumph.  The  Clement 
family  is  nearly  extinct  in  this  country.  Mr.  Clement 
was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  in  1878  over  a popular 
Democratic  veteran.  This  was  his  first  official  position, 
and  so  well  did  he  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  town  that 
he  was  again  elected  to  his  responsible  and  important 
office.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Clement  has  been  the  suc- 
cessful leader  of  the  Republican  party  in  the  town,  hav- 
ing been  successively  elected  supervisor  for  the  past  four 
years.  Through  his  industry  and  attention  to  the  finan- 
cial affairs  of  the  town  its  revenues  have  been  largely  in- 
creased and  its  expenditure  decreased.  The  leasing  of 
Long  Beach  will  be  remembered  as  one  of  the  projects 
in  which  he  was  earnestly  engaged,  and  by  the  efforts 
put  forth  in  that  connection  the  town  now  receives  for  a 
hitherto  worthless  tract  of  land  the  annual  rental  of 
$1,000.  Mr.  Clement  has  undoubtedly  received  the  sup- 
port of  his  fellow  townsmen  irrespective  of  party. 


Mrs.  E.  H.  Onderdonk. — Among  the  notable  residents 
of  the  village  of  Hempstead  is  Mrs.  Eliza  Handy  Onder- 


donk, widow  of  the  late  Rt.  Rev.  Benjamin  Tred- 
well  Onderdonk,  D.  D.,  formerly  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  New  York.  She  is  residing  with  her 
son,  the  Hon.  Henry  M.  Onderdonk,  editor  of 
the  Inquirer , and  is  in  the  87th  year  of  her  age, 
and  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health.  She 
has  in  her  possession  the  folio  prayer  book  rescued  from 
the  desk  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  at  the  time  of  the 
burning  of  that  edifice  on  the  21st  of  September  1776, 
during  the  occupancy  of  the  city  by  the  British  troops, 
when  about  one  thousand  houses  were  destroyed.  It  is 
an  interesting  relic  of  the  Revolutionary  times,  and  bears 
upon  the  cover  the  marks  of  the  fire  from  which  it  was 
snatched  while  the  building  was  in  flames. 

The  Oldest  Inhabitants. 

Robert  A.  Davidson,  M.  D.,  was  born  November  28th 
1793,  and  settled  in  Hempstead  in  1813.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  over  sixty  years. 
He  is  an  active  member  and  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  respected  throughout  the  community. 

Bernardus  Hendrickson,  attorney  and  counsellor  at 
law,  is  one  of  the  old  residents  of  Hempstead  and  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  Jamaica,  February  14th  1807, 
and  has  resided  in  Hempstead  village  since  1828.  His 
memory  goes  back  to  the  time  when  there  were  only  two 
houses  on  Fulton  street.  His  father,  Samuel  Hendrick- 
son, was  a native  of  Jamaica. 

Zachariah  Story,  of  Christian  Hook,  94  years  old,  is  a 
native  of  Hempstead,  and  for  many  years  has  lived  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  remembers  the  era  of  log  build- 
ings and  a sparsely  populated  town.  In  the  spring  of 
1881  Mr.  Story  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health. 

Harry  Sammis  was  born  December  23d  1797  and  is  83 
years  of  age.  He  has  from  youth  been  a farmer  and 
hotel-keeper. 

Mrs.  Snedeker,  95  years  old,  is  the  mother  of  the  late 
Isaac  Snedeker. 

Henry  Mott,  Valley  Stream,  was  born  February  8th 
1807.  His  father  died  in  1849,  aged  92  years.  Mr. 
Mott  remembers  when  there  was  only  one  house  at  Pear- 
salls. 

Nathaniel  Smith,  Hempstead  village,  was  born  January 
7th  1790,  and  is  therefore  91  years  old.  A large  number 
of  friends  called  on  Mr.  Smith  and  were  welcomed  on 
the  occasion  of  his  ninety-first  birthday. 

Elizabeth  Johnson  was  91  years  of  age  December  4th 
1880. 

Mrs.  D.  Rhodes,  of  Freeport,  77  years  old,  should  be 
mentioned  among  the  oldest  residents. 

Latton  Smith  is  a native  of  the  county,  and  has  been  a 
business  man  in  Hempstead  for  many  years;  he  is  73 
years  old. 

Peter  T.  Hewlett,  of  East  Rockaway,  was  born  in 
1792.  His  father,  Oliver  Hewlett,  moved  into  the  house 
where  P.  T.  now  lives  in  April  1 800.  He  has  been  a farmer 
and  carriage-maker.  He  is  a member  of  St.  George’s 
Church  at  Hempstead,  and  assisted  at  the  raising  of  the 
frame. 


HEMPSTEAD’S  OLDEST  INHABITANTS — THE  JERUSALEM  PURCHASE. 


i57 


William  Caffray  was  born  in  county  Kildare,  Ireland, 
February  28th  1805,  and  came  to  America  in  1834, 
settling  at  Far  Rockavvay,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
At  that  time  what  is  now  Far  Rockaway  village  was  the 
commons,  there  being  only  two  or  three  houses  on  the 
beach  besides  the  Pavilion  (destroyed  by  fire),  the  erec- 
tion of  which  was  commenced  in  1832  and  finished  in 
1834.  It  was  built  by  a company  of  sixty  gentlemen 
from  New  York.  Mr.  Caffray  was  for  several  years  a 
laboring  man,  but  in  1845  purchased  what  is  now  the 
Transatlantic  Hotel,  of  which  he  has  since  been  proprie- 
tor. 

Thomas  Jeffrey  was  born  in  England,  in  1805,  and 
settled  in  Jerusalem  about  1835,  clearing  his  farm  from 
a wilderness  of  bushes  and  .briars.  He  has  made  the 
raising  of  trout  a business  during  a number  of  years,  and 
is  the  owner  of  several  fine  ponds.  Near  his  residence 
he  points  out  what  he  claims  to  be  the  largest  apple  tree 
in  the  State,  which  he  planted  and  has  watched  in  its 
growth. 

Daniel  Langdon  was  born  at  Grassy  Pond,  in  1796. 
He  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  1881  was  yet 
an  active  man,  walking  two  miles  to  do  his  trading  at  the 
“ old  Smith  store,”  near  Rockville  Center. 

Alden  J.  Spooner,  of  Hempstead,  was  stricken  down  by 
apoplexy  Tuesday  evening  August  2nd  1881.  He  was 
the  founder  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society,  a 
member  of  the  Hamilton  Society,  and  a member  of  the 
Society  of  Old  Brooklyn.  His  contributions  on  histori- 
cal subjects  to  various  publications  were  highly  praised. 
He  practiced  law  for  many  years.  He  was  71  years  of 
age. 

Samuel  N.  Searing  has  been  a resident  of  Hempstead 
since  1814.  He  has  been  a merchant,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  village  trustee.  Dr.  James  Searing  is  remem- 
bered as  an  old  resident,  at  one  time  residing  in  the  Har- 
per residence.  He  died  at  the  age  of  74  years. 

JERUSALEM. 

One  of  the  earliest  permanent  English  settlements  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Queens  county  was  made  at  Jerusalem, 
on  a tract  of  land  which  comprised  about  all  the  territory 
of  the  present  town  of  Hempstead  east  of  the  brushy 
plains  and  north  of  the  islands  in  the  South  Bay. 

Its  limits  may  be  defined  as  follows:  Starting  at  a point 
on  the  South  Bay  a little  west  of  Jackson’s  Creek  and  run- 
ning about  north,  near  the  present  residence  of  A.  D. 
Frye,  following  the  west  edge  of  the  swamp  up  to  the 
head  of  the  west  branch  of  the  stream,  and  thence  north- 
wardly along  the  edge  of  the  brush  and  pines  to  the 
Bethpage  turnpike;  thence  eastwardly  to  the  present 
Oyster  Bay  line;  thence  southwardly  by  the  same  to  the 
bay  at  a creek  known  as  the  Island  (or  Seaman’s  Island) 
Creek;  and  westwardly  by  said  creek  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

This  tract  was  about  two  miles  from  east  to  west,  and 
about  five  miles  from  north  to  south.  It  contained  at 
least  six  thousand  acres,  and  at  the  first  settlement  about 
one  thousand  acres  on  the  north  end  were  open  rolling 


prairie,  without  trees;  four  thousand  acres  were  covered 
by  a heavy  growth  of  red,  white,  black  and  other  oaks, 
chestnut,  hickory,  black  and  white  beech,  maple,  tulip, 
pepperidge  and  other  varieties  of  trees.  On  the  south 
end,  bordering  the  bay,  were  from  1,200  to  1,500  acres  of 
the  never  failing  black  grass,  salt  and  sedge  meadows. 
A large  stream  known  as  the  Jerusalem  River,  having 
five  tributaries,  ran  nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  tract 
on  the  western  edge.  Two  other  creeks  (salt  water) 
intersected  the  meadows,  and  ran  well  up  into  the  upland, 
dividing  the  meadows  into  three  necks;  the  westernmost 
one  was  called  Great  Neck;  the  middle  one,  by  the  In- 
dians, Muskachong,  or  Half  Neck;  the  east  one  Ruska- 
tux  or  Seaman’s  Neck.  The  stream  dividing  Hempstead 
from  Oyster  Bay  flanked  the  eastern  limits  of  the  pur- 
chase. The  present  flourishing  village  of  Seaford  is  near 
the  head  of  Ruskatux  Neck,  and  Ridgewood  near  the 
head  of  Great  Neck.  The  farming  tract  along  the  sides 
of  the  brooks  and  their  sources  is  still  called  Jerusalem, 
although  the  post-office  and  station  is  Ridgewood.  A 
settlement  on  the  northeastern  limits  is  known  as  East 
Broadway,  while  the  northern  portion  is  still  called  Plain 
Edge.  On  the  banks  of  the  creeks,  both  on  Ruskatux 
and  Great  Necks,  are  still  left  many  thousand  loads  of 
clam  shells,  showing  that  multitudes  of  the  red  men  must 
have  made  them  feasting  places,  perhaps  for  ages.  The 
resident  Indians  of  the  tract  were  of  the  Marsapeague 
tribe,  of  whom  Tackapousha  was  the  sachem. 

This  tract  appears  to  have  claimed  the  attention  of 
Captain  John  Seaman  and  Robert  Jackson  while  acting 
as  a pioneer  committee,  prior  to  the  permanent  settlement 
at  Hempstead  made  by  the  colony  from  Stamford,  Conn., 
in  1644,  and  a large  part  of  it  to  have  been  secured  by 
Captain  John  Seaman  from  the  Indians  at  that  time;  as 
more  than  1,500  acres  of  the  same,  lying  east  of  the 
township  purchase  of  the  Indians  and  the  Governor 
Kieft  patent,  including  all  the  meadows  and  uplands  of 
Ruskatux  Neck,  were  held  by  him  individually.  The 
selection  of  such  a body  of  land  shows  the  remarkable 
sagacity  of  these  two  men;  for  it  is  almost  certain  that  the 
same  compact  quantity  of  land  of  equal  fertility  cannot 
elsewhere  be  found  within  the  limits  of  the  county.  At  that 
time  on  the  prairie  portion  the  tall  waving  grass  rose  in 
height  to  their  saddle  bows.  The  timbered  portion  was 
mostly  a rich  sandy  loam,  on  which  wheat  was  grown  for 
many  years  without  any  manure,  and  now  with  the  aid  of 
suitable  fertilizers  the  yield  in  quantity  and  quality  is 
fully  equal  to  that  of  any  portion  of  the  State.  The 
beautiful  rippling  brooks  with  their  white  pebbly  bottoms 
and  waters  of  unexcelled  sweetness,  and  swarming  with 
the  gamy  speckled  trout,  were  continually  flowing 
seaward,  with  a descent  of  twenty  feet  to  the  mile,  giving 
ample  water  powers.  The  wild  grapes  everywhere  hung 
in  luxuriant  clusters,  while  the  never  failing  grass  of  the 
salt  meadows  rendered  a dearth  of  food  for  vast  herds  of 
cattle  an  impossibility.  In  the  first  settlement  there  is 
no  evidence  of  any  other  proprietors  than  these  two  men 
and  their  families.  Captain  John  Seaman  had  eight  sons 
and  eight  daughters.  Six  of  his  sons  made  their  first 


i58 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


homes  on  the  purchase,  and  as  patentees  or  proprietors 
of  the  town.  Robert  Jackson  had  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  The  oldest  son,  John,  also  made  his  home  on 
the  purchase,  and  these  two  and  John’s  children  took  up 
nearly  one-fourth  of  the  tract,  about  a mile  in  width  and 
three  in  length  north  and  south,  it  being  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  tract.  It  is  pretty  certain  that  Captain 
John  Seaman,  his  sons  and  one  or  two  families  with  whom 
the  children  intermarried,  Linningtons  and  Allens,  took  up 
and  held  up  to  the  date  of  Captain  John’s  death  nearly 
all  of  the  other  three-fourths  of  the  purchase.  The  will 
of  John  Seaman  the  elder,  dated  August  25th  1694,  gives 
to  his  sons  some  2,700  acres,  2,200  of  which  were  in  the 
Jerusalem  purchase;  to  his  son-in-law,  Nathaniel  Pearsall, 

1 co,  which,  added  to  former  gifts  and  the  holdings  of  the 
other  children,  would  about  take  up  the  timber  and 
meadow  lands.  The  plains  not  fenced  at  a certain  date 
were  wrested  from  the  proprietors  in  a suit  with  the  town 
in  after  years. 

About  the  year  16S0  Nathan  Birdsall  appears  to  have 
acquired  the  land  along  the  sides  of  the  north  half  of  the 
west  stream  and  the  upland,  some  five  hundred  feet  in 
width,  between  the  stream  and  brushy  plains.  A ditch 
some  two  miles  long  is  still  left  at  the  brush  edge,  known 
as  “ Birdsall’s  ditch.” 

THE  SEAMAN  FAMILY. 

Captain  John  Seaman  (who  with  six  of  his  sons  may  be 
classed  as  the  first  settlers  of  Jerusalem)  came  to  this 
country  from  England  not  far  from  the  year  1635,  and 
nothing  certain  of  his  early  life  has  as  yet  been  discovered. 
The  traditions  of  the  family  are  that  it  is  of  the  Danish 
stock  which  settled  in  England  after  the  repulse  of  the 
Danes  by  King  Alfred.  The  heraldic  arms  of  Captain 
John  and  copies  since  taken  by  some  other  members  of 
the  family  from  the  herald’s  offices  in  England  seem  to 
bear  out  this  idea,  as  the  crest,  a sea-horse,  and  the  mot- 
to, “We  make  our  name  known  by  our  deeds,”  seem  to 
indicate  that  they  were  men  of  the  sea;  and  the  records 
of  Norfolk  and,  it  is  said,  of  Northumberland  also,  show 
that  the  bearers  of  the  name  (in  Norfolk  county  spelled 
Symonde)  and  the  device  antedate  the  Norman  conquest, 
while  those  of  Cornwall  claim  for  the  Symondses,  its  most 
influential  family,  a continental  origin  from  the  Counts 
of  Severgne.  Be  the  origin  as  it  may,  this  man  nobly 
bore  out  the  motto  in  its  best  sense.  He  emphatically 
made  his  name  known  by  his  deeds.  In  the  sketch  of 
Captain  John  Seaman  by  Charles  B.  Moore  (see  Genealogi- 
cal and  Biographical  Record,  Vol.  XI.  No.  4,  and  other 
papers  contributed  by  the  same,  and  Onderdonk’s 
“ Queens  County  in  the  Olden  Times  ” and  “Annals  of 
Hempstead,”  to  which  gentleman  the  writer  of  this  is 
indebted  for  very  many  valuable  facts)  it  is  evident  that 
a very  large  part  of  Captain  John’s  time  from  1656  to 
1695  must  have  been  taken  up  in  transacting  the  difficult 
work  of  the  Hempstead  colony.  In  addition  to  the 
above  work  at  one  time  he  was  employed  by  Suffolk 
county  to  act  for  it  in  a very  important  matter.  That  in 
addition  to  his  great  abilities  he  loved  and  practiced 


justice  and  fair  dealing  is  proven  by  the  fact  that  no 
complaints  were  ever  made  by  the  Indians  against  him 
for  wrong  done  them,  as  was  so  common  with  most  of 
the  proprietors  and  settlers.  Once,  when  the  Indians 
had  planned  a general  massacre  of  the  whites,  a friendly 
Indian  gave  him  timely  notice  and  the  calamity  was 
averted.  While  he  was  a serious  man  he  was  also  a 
staunch  friend  to  religious  liberty  and  not  much  inclined 
to  a belief  in  witchcraft.  (See  town  records,  1665.) 

Being  also  one  of  the  largest  proprietors  of  the  town  in 
the  township  purchases  of  the  Indians,  and  by  the 
patents  of  Governors  Kieft,  Nicoll  and  Dongan,  after 
settling  six  of  his  sons  at  Jerusalem — probably  because 
his  almost  constant  employment  in  some  public  trust  or 
embassy  had  made  it  impossible  to  carry  on  his  very  ex- 
tensive stock  and  farming  operations — he  appears  to  have 
removed  with  his  youngest  two  sons,  Nathaniel  and 
Richard,  to  Hempstead  village.  At  the  date  of  his  will, 
in  1694,  he  appears  to  have  been  residing  at  what  he 
calls  “ the  home  lot,  adjoining  the  land  of  James  Pine.” 

Space  does  not  permit  the  tracing  of  the  sons  further 
than  that  one  of  the  grandsons  of  John  and  his  descend- 
ants settled  in  Hempstead  and  one,  Joseph,  became  the 
founder  of  a very  large  family  at  Little  Egg  Harbor* 
New  Jersey.  Of  Jonathan’s  descendants  very  many 
went  to  Kakiat,  on  the  Hudson,  and  some  from  there  to 
Virginia.  Others  were  ancestors  of  the  Seamans  of 
Jericho,  Jamaica  and  New  York. 

The  oldest  branch  of  the  children  of  Benjamin  went 
to  Staten  Island;  the  others  remained  at  Jerusalem. 
Two  sons  of  Solomon  went  to  Maryland,  the  rest  settled 
near  Hempstead  village.  Most  of  the  descendants  of 
Samuel  settled  over  in  Suffolk  county. 

Most  of  the  descendants  of  Thomas  lived  around 
Jerusalem  in  1800. 

One  branch  of  Nathaniel’s  descendants  is  still  at 
Hempstead,  and  one  settled  at  Westbury.  Richard’s 
children  settled  near  Success,  Hempstead  Harbor  and 
Jericho,  in  Oyster  Bay. 

There  are  now  living  of  the  Seamans  from  one  to  two 
thousand,  located  in  the  States  and  a few  in  Canada. 

Of  the  daughters  of  Captain  John  Seaman  Elizabeth 
married  Robert  Jackson’s  son  John.  Most  of  the  Jacksons 
of  Long  Island  and  NewYork,and  many  in  the  other  States, 
have  descended  from  this  pair;  as  also  the  numerous  de- 
scendants of  William  and  Phebe  Jones,  of  West  Neck, 
Oyster  Bay.  Of  these  their  son  Justice  Samuel  Jones, 
one  of  the  most  eminent  jurists  of  his  time,  and  his  sons 
Chancellor  Samuel,  Judge  David  S.,  Major  William  and 
their  descendants  would  form  a long  list  of  men  holding 
the  highest  social  and  official  positions  in  the  State  for 
more  than  one  hundred  years.  Sarah  Seaman  married 
a Mott.  Their  descendants  are  numerous,  of  high  char- 
acter and  some  of  them  noteworthy.  Martha  Seaman 
married  Nathaniel  Pearsall.  A noted  family  has  followed 
their  union,  of  whom  General  James  B.  Pearsall,  of  Glen 
Cove,  is  a present  representative.  Deborah  Seaman  mar- 
ried a Kirk;  there  have  been  several  noted  men  of  this 
family.  Benjamin  C.  Kirk,  of  Glen  Cove,  is  directly  de 


THE  SEAMANS  AND  JACKSONS  OF  HEMPSTEAD. 


159 


scended  from  them.  Hannah  Seaman  and  one  other 
daughter  married  Caleb  and  Joshua  Carman,  and  they  have 
numerous  and  highly  respectable  descendants.  Mary 
married  Thomas,  son  of  Henry  and  brother  of  Nathaniel 
Pearsall;  theirs  was  another  much  respected  and  quite 
numerous  family,  from  whom  Gilbert  Pearsall,  late  of 
Flushing,  directly  descended. 

Of  the  sons  of  Captain  John  Seaman,  from  Jonathan 
descended  Isaac  Seaman,  an  officer  in  the  colonial  force 
which  assisted  General  Wolfe  in  the  capture  of  Quebec. 
He  was  the  grandfather  of  Alfred  Seaman,  now  of  Sea- 
ford.  Also  Zebulon  Seaman,  a very  prominent  member 
of  the  Colonial  Legislature  for  many  years,  and  his  son 
Zebulon,  lieutenant  of  the  Jerusalem  militia,  100  strong, 
who  joined  the  patriot  army  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  his  second  son,  John  W.,  of  the  Oyster  Bay 
militia,  125  in  number,  who  served  through  the  war  and 
was  surrogate  of  Queens  county  for  many  years;  and 
John  W.  Seaman’s  grandson,  the  late  Hon.  John  A.  Sear- 
ing, member  of  Congress  from  the  first  district  of  New 
York.  From  Benjamin,  third  son  of  Captain  John,  we 
trace  the  Benjamin  Seaman  who  was  chairman  of  the 
New  York  committee  of  correspondence  in  the  early 
Revolutionary  days,  and  whose  report  “ that  all  attempts 
of  single  States  must  prove  futile — that  the  efforts  and 
organization  should  be  made  continental,”  is  supposed  to 
have  given  origin  to  the  words  “Continental  Congress.” 
In  later  years  his  descendant  Henry  I.  Seaman,  of  Staten 
Island,  was  also  a representative  in  Congress  from  the 
first  district  of  New  York.  Alderman  Benjamin  B.  Sea- 
man, of  the  twenty-third  ward  of  Brooklyn,  is  also  a de- 
scendant of  Benjamin  of  Jerusalem.  From  Jonathan 
and  Richard  descended  Jordan  Seaman,  a sturdy  patriot 
of  the  Revolution,  a judge  of  Queens  county,  and 
brother-in-law  to  John  W.  and  Zebulon;  and  his  son 
Henry  Onderdonk  Seaman,  for  many  years  years  a justice 
of  Hempstead,  co.unty  judge,  member  of  Assembly 
etc.  From  Thomas,  the  sixth  son  of  Captain  John,  we 
trace  James  M.  Seaman,  of  Ridgewood,  who  for  many 
years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  town 
of  Hempstead,  vvas  associate  justice  of  the  supreme  court, 
etc. 

THE  JACKSONS. 

Of  Robert  Jackson  but  little  is  known  prior  to  the  pur- 
chase, except  that  he  was  also  one  of  the  original  settlers 
of  Stamford,  Conn.,  in  1640-41.  His  family  record  states: 
“A  portion  of  the  settlers  of  Stamford,  becoming  dis- 
satisfied, sent  a committee  over  to  Long  Island  in  1643, 
who  succeeded  in  making  a purchase  of  the  Indians;  and 
in  April  1644  the  company  crossed  the  sound  to  Hemp- 
stead Harbor,  and  began  the  settlement  on  the  present 
site  of  Hempstead  village.  Robert  Jackson  and  wife 
were  of  this  company.”  He  was  active  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town  for  many  years.  His  will,  dated  May  25th  1683, 
mentions  sons  John  and  Samuel,  daughters  Sarah  (wife 
of  Nathaniel  Moore)  and  Martha  (wife  of  Nathaniel 
Coles).  His  son  John,  who  was  also  a patentee  of  the 
town  from  Governor  Kieft  and  from  Governor  Dongan 


in  1685,  married  Elizabeth,  oldest  daughter  of  Captain 
John  Seaman.  He  was  a very  influential  man;  was  high 
sheriff  of  Qeeens  county  from  1691  to  1695;  in  the  Leg- 
islature from  1693  to  1709  and  from  1710  to  1716;  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  1707;  one  of  the  county  judges  from 
1710  to  1723,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father-in-law 
seems  to  have  been  selected  for  the  most  important  town 
affairs  until  his  death,  in  1725. 

From  Robert  Jackson  descended  his  distinguished  son 
Colonel  John  and  grandson  Colonel  John  2nd;  also  the 
Hon.  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  who  died  recently  at  Newtown, 
for  many  years  a justice  of  the  peace  for  Hempstead, 
county  judge  and  member  of  Congress  for  the  first  dis- 
trict; and  his  brother  James,  a justice  for  Hempstead 
and  county  judge. 

PRODUCTS  OF  THE  TRACT. 

No  record  is  known  of  the  first  crops  raised  here,  but 
corn  and  wheat  were  always  staple  products  of  the  tract 
and  the  Seamans  and  the  Jacksons  were  at  a very  early 
day  large  stock  owners.  No  date  can  be  fixed  for  the 
planting  of  the  first  orchards,  but  many  acres  of  apple 
trees  of  great  age  were  to  be  seen  fifty  years  ago  on 
the  farms  of  the  Seamans,  and  a great  number  of 
pear  trees  on  those  of  the  Jacksons.  The  farm 
called  Cherrywood,  on  which  the  first  house  was 
built,  came  by  descent  from  Captain  John  to  his 
sixth  son,  Thomas;  from  Thomas  to  his  first  son, 
John;  from  John  to  his  third  son,  Thomas;  from  Thomas 
to  his  son-in-law  Zebulon  Seaman  (a  descendant  both  of 
Richard  and  Jonathan)  and  daughter  Mary;  from  Zebulon 
and  Mary  his  wife  to  their  son  Ardon,  and  from  Ardon 
to  his  son  Edward  H.  Seaman,  the  present  owner.  On 
this  farm  an  apple  tree  known  to  successive  generations 
of  the  family  as  the  old  apple  tree  was  standing  and  bore 
fruit  until  1870,  when  from  decay  it  became  necessary  to 
cut  it  down.  This  was  done  by  Albert  W.  Seaman, 
counsellor  at  law,  116  and  117  South  street,  New  York 
(a  son  of  the  present  owner).  The  age  of  the  tree  had 
been  passed  down  from  father  to  son,  and  it  was  then  two 
hundred  and  eight  years.  Some  of  the  wood  from 
this  tree  now  makes  a beautiful  frame,  which  encloses  a 
copy  of  John  Durand’s  fine  engraving  of  William  Cullen 
Bryant,  a verse  of  Bryant’s  poem  on  “ Planting  the  Apple 
Tree,”  and  his  autograph,  dated  April  1872. 

The  tract  is  now  noted  for  its  crops  of  wheat,  rye,  oats 
and  hay  and  its  large  export  of  milk,  known  as  Ridge- 
wood milk;  while  potatoes,  root  crops,  pickles,  onions, 
poultry,  eggs,  brook  trout  and  cider  are  annually  pro- 
duced in  large  quantities. 

OLD  ROADS  AND  HOUSES. 

When  the  place  was  settled  is  not  positively  known, 
but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  in  1644.  From  the  first 
settlement,  a few  hundred  feet  east  of  the  stream  called 
the  Jerusalem  River  and  its  most  eastwardly  branch, 
there  seems  to  have  been  a road  or  highway  leading  from 
the  salt  meadows;  its  course  was  about  north  140  east  to 
the  great  plains;  thence  north  about  20°  west  to  Jericho. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


160 


The  south  end  of  this  road  was  called  Jerusalem  lane, 
and  ran  through  nearly  the  middle  of  the  Jackson  pur- 
chase; and  just  where  the  east  and  west  line  between 
Jackson  and  Seaman  crossed  this  road  another  road  ran 
off  nearly  due  east,  until  it  passed  the  Jackson  east 
bounds  and  divided.  One  branch  or  path  ran  on  the 
line  between  Jackson  and  Seaman  to  the  meadows,  and 
was  called  the  Half-Neck  path.  The  other  branch  ex- 
tended east  about  half  a mile,  and  then  ran  off  south  to 
the  meadows,  and  was  called  the  Seaman’s  Neck  path, 
subdividing  Seaman’s  south  part  of  the  purchase.  About 
450  feet  north  of  the  intersection  of  the  Seaman’s  and 
Half-Neck  road  with  the  Jerusalem  lane  and  Jericho 
road  (making  what  are  now  S.  Bartholomew  and  E.  H. 
Seaman’s  corners),  and  about  120  feet  east  of  the  present 
line  of  the  north  and  south  road,  was  built  by  Captain 
John  Seaman  the  first  chimney  and  house  of  the  white 
man  on  the  purchase. 

Robert  Jackson  is  said  to  have  built  soon  after,  also  on 
the  east  side  of  the  lane,  about  300  feet  south  of  the 
corners.  For  some  time  these  two  pioneers,  although 
within  800  feet  (including  the  road)  of  each  other,  had 
the  almost  impassable  wilderness  of  about  sixty  miles  on 
the  east  of  them  to  the  nearest  white  settlement  in  that 
direction,  and  on  the  west  the  settlement  at  Hempstead, 
which  could  not  then  be  reached  short  of  eight  miles.' 
The  road  north  of  the  corners  subdivided  the  north  part 
of  Seaman’s  lands.  On  this  north  part  five  of  Seaman’s 
sons — John,  Jonathan,  Benjamin,  Solomon  and  Samuel — 
as  they  grew  to  manhood  made  their  homes;  Thomas, 
the  sixth  son,  remaining  under  the  old  roof  tree. 

South  of  the  corners,  on  what  was  called  the  lane,  the 
Jacksons,  sons  and  grandsons,  in  due  time  built  southward 
until  they  reached  the  shore.  John  first  built  a brick 
house  on.  the  farm,  a portion  of  which  is  now  owned  by  a 
descendant,  Robert  B.  Jackson,  of  Seaford,  and  another 
portion  by  Elbert  Jackson,  another  descendant.  Samuel 
built  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  a house  long  held  by 
descendants  of  the  family;  now  owned  by  E.  and  G.  Smith. 

The  first  roads  were  undoubtedly  those  described 
above,  and  opened  by  the  first  owners.  After  the  Bird- 
sails  had  become  the  owners  of  the  upper  end  of  the.west 
stream,  and  the  mill  thereon  at  the  lower  end  of  their 
section  of  the  tract,  a road  was  opened  from  the  mill 
which  ran  nearly  north  for  a mile  on  the  west  side  of  the 
stream  and  then  crossed  it,  and  was  continued  on  to  the 
open  plains.  This  road  has  been  closed  for  many  years. 
A very  crooked  path  was  also  opened  to  Hempstead  and 
Westbury,  called  the  “ Cross  lane,”  near  where  the  present 
north  road  to  Hempstead  now  leaves  Jerusalem.  The  pres- 
ent Seaman’s  Neck  road  was  opened  some  years  later,  and 
both  Half-Neck  and  Seaman’s  Neck  paths  were  closed  or 
disused. 

With  the  construction  of  the  Hempstead-Babylon 
turnpike,  which  crossed  the  south  end  of  the  whole  pur- 
chase, it  is  probable  that  the  first  substantial  bridges  were 
made  on  the  dam  of  the  old  Jackson  pond  and  near  Sea- 
ford;  and  all  the  other  bridged,  of  which  there  are  now 
many  small  ones,  are  of  recent  construction. 


The  old  post  road  east  crossed  the  south  edge  of  the 
purchase.  A post-office  called  Jerusalem  South  was  ob- 
tained about  1836.  Samuel  S.  Jones  was  postmaster. 
Previous  to  that  time  mail  matter  had  been  brought  by 
stage  from  Brooklyn  after  about  1776.  John  Jackson 
and  John  C.  Birdsall  drove  from  the  place  once  a week. 
There  are  now  two  post-offices,  Ridgewood  and  Seaford, 
with  a daily  mail  twice  each  way. 

EARLY  MARRIAGES  AND  BURIALS. 

The  best  record  of  the  marriages  is  to  be  found  in  the 
monthly  meeting  records  of  the  Society  of  Friends  at 
Westbury  and  Jericho,  as  very  many  of  these  early 
settlers  belonged  to  those  meetings;  and  a little  later  in 
the  parish  records  of  St.  George’s  Church,  Hempstead. 
A marriage  list  containing  the  names  of  164  of  the  Sea- 
mans, descendants  of  Captain  John  Seaman,  with  the 
dates  from  1726  to  1825,  is  to  be  seen  in  Ardon  Seaman’s 
genealogical  record  of  his  family,  and  most  of  them  were 
residents  of  Jerusalem  at  the  date  of  marriage. 

The  Seamans  generally  buried  on  the  farms  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Benjamin  and  Thomas,  but  those  portions 
of  the  farms  which  contained  them  have  all  passed  into 
the  hands  of  strangers,  and  nearly  every  vestige  of  these 
burial  places  has  become  obliterated.  In  consequence 
of  the  removal  of  most  of  the  old  stock  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  a large  burial  ground  by  the  Friends  in  1827, 
these  plots  ceased  to  be  used,  and  now  probably  not  one 
headstone  is  left  standing  above  the  resting  places  of  the 
pioneers.  The  Jacksons  have  preserved  a family  ground 
since  1744,  and  the  graves  are  generally  well  marked. 
The  first  burial  therein  was  that  of  Phebe,  daughter  of 
the  second  Colonel  John  Jackson  and  wife  of  William 
Jones  of  West  Neck,  Oyster  Bay. 

• SCHOOLS. 

Of  early  school-houses  there  is  nothing  authentic. 
Thomas  Seaman,  a great-grandson  of  Captain  John  by 
Benjamin  and  his  fourth  son,  Solomon,  was  known  as  the 
schoolmaster.  There  were  probably  a few  other  teach- 
ers before  him.  In  the  next  generation  and  between 
1780  and  1800  Joseph  Birdsall,  a grandson  of  Nathan, 
taught  a school  at  Jerusalem.  Following  this,  John  Gar- 
ner, who  married  a daughter  of  Joseph  Birdsall,  had  the 
school  for  many  years.  Many  of  the  descendants  of 
both  Joseph  Birdsall  and  John  Garner  are  now  living  at 
Jerusalem  and  are  very  influential  citizens.  The  first 
school-house  (District  No.  5)  is  said  to  have  been  built 
soon  after  the  Revolution;  another  was  built  on  the 
same  site  about  1800.  A new  building  was  erected  near 
the  old  site  about  1842,  and  about  1876  a new  site  was 
chosen  and  a house  built  thereon  not  far  from  the  old 
site. 

District  No.  6,  Seaford,  organized  a school  about  1830, 
which  is  now  large. 

BUSINESS  BEGINNINGS. 

By  town  records  Henry  Linnington,  from  whom  Ste- 
phen Linnington,  late  merchant  in  Front  street,  New 


MILLS  AND  CHURCHES  IN  “JERUSALEM.” 


161 


York,  and  Abraham  Linnington,  New  Lots,  are  descended, 
appears  to  have  had  a mill  at  Jerusalem  from  1660  to 
1683.  He  was  the  father-in-law  of  Captain  Seaman’s 
fourth  son,  Solomon;  there  seems  nothing  certain  to  fix 
the  location  of  the  mill.  It  was  sold  to  Cyrus  Whit- 
more and  the  buildings  were  removed  many  years  since. 
January  23d  1705  John  Jackson  obtained  from  the  town 
the  whole  privilege  of  Jerusalem  River  for  a grist  and 
fulling-mill,  and  a grist-mill  was  built  near  the  meadow 
edge.  This  has  since  been  owned  by  his  descendants. 

Thomas  Jackson  early  in  1800  built  a dam  about 
three-quarters  of  a mile  up  the  stream,  on  which  were 
built  a fulling-mill  and  a saw-mill,  operated  for  many 
years  and  eventually  owned  by  Cyrus  Whitmore;  these 
mills  were  burned  about  i860.  The  property  soon  after 
passed  to  James  M.  Seaman;  the  saw-mill  was  rebuilt 
and  run  a short  time,  then  removed  and  a paper-mill 
erected,  which  has  been  operated  by  him  since  about 
1875. 

The  Birdsalls  had  a grist-mill  in  1776;  the  date  of 
building  is  not  known.  It  was  located  about  half  a mile 
further  up  the  stream  than  the  Birdsalls’.  It  appears  to 
have  passed  to  Michael  Combs,  then  to  Cyrus  Whitmore 
and  his  sons;  and  it  is  now  owned  by  Edgar  Seaman,  a 
descendant  of  Thomas. 

Benjamin  Seaman  built  a dam  on  the  head  of  Seaman’s 
Creek  about  1820.  A grist-mill  and  paper-mill  were 
built  and  the  grist-mill  was  operated  many  years.  It  is 
now  leased  by  Edgar  Haff  and  is  run  as  a moulding, 
scroll  and  upright  saw-mill. 

The  wheelwright  shops  of  Micajah  Southard  & Sons 
and  of  Samuel  Verity  & Sons  (still  run  by  descendants) 
had  a reputation  for  the  excellence  of  their  work  at  an 
early  day.  A tannery  established  by  a company  of  the 
settlers  about  1835  or  1840  stood  within  300  feet  of 
where  the  first  house  was  built.  It  soon  passed  to  Henry 
H.  Hewlett,  and  was  discontinued  after  a few  years. 
The  building  is  now  used  by  Lee  & Brother  as  a fly-net 
factory. 

The  main  trading  point  down  to  1830  was  at  or  near 
the  Seaman  and  Jackson  corners,  where  the  present  road 
from  Hempstead  to  Seaford  crosses  the  old  Jerusalem 
road. 

A tavern  appears  to  have  been  kept  up  nearly  two 
hundred  years  on  one  or  another  of  the  corners,  and 
sometimes  on  both.  Of  the  keepers  there  is  no  record, 
but  the  buildings  were  large  enough  for  ample  accommo- 
dations and  the  amount  of  custom  was  considerable  until 
the  construction  of  the  Hempstead  and  Babylon  turn- 
pike and  post  road  near  the  shore.  The  old  John  Jack- 
son  tavern  (now  A.  D.  Frye’s  residence)  and  Uncle  Jim 
Smith’s  Sportsmen’s  Hotel,  Jerusalem  South  (now  Sea- 
ford),  then  took  the  places  of  the  old  stands. 

The  tract,  always  noted  for  its  healthfulness,  never  had 
a resident  physician  until  1866.  The  early  settlers  were 
members  of,  or  had  a leaning  to,  the  Society  of  Friends, 
but  there  was  no  settled  meeting  or  preacher  prior  to 
1820,  and  there  were  no  lawyers  prior  to  1870.  It  was  a 
remark  of  an  old  inhabitant,  in  1843,  that  “Jerusalem 


never  had  a lawyer,  doctor  or  priest,  and  now  has  no 
liquor  sold  in  its  limits.”  This  applied  to  the  present 
farming  district. 

RELIGIOUS  EFFORTS. 

Onderdonk’s  “Friends  of  Long  Island  and  New 
York”  says:  “At  Jerusalem  meetings  were  early  held  at 
private  houses.  In  1697  it  was  agreed  that  meetings 
should  be  kept  every  five  weeks,  on  First  days;  1699, 
Roger  Gill  and  Thomas  Story  had  meetings,  peaceable 
and  pretty  large,  at  Benjamin  Seaman’s;  1791,  a First  day 
meeting  was  appointed  at  Thomas  Seaman’s  once  a 
month,  but  discontinued  in  1793.”  About  1820  a meet- 
ing appears  to  have  been  held  weekly  at  private  houses. 
In  1827  Jericho  monthly  meeting  built  a meeting-house 
34  by  28,  14-feet  posts,  at  a cost  of  $965,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  main  road,  about  1,000  feet  north  of  the  old  corn- 
ers. Meetings  of  the  society  have  been  held  continu- 
ously since  the  building  was  erected.  Ardon  Seaman, 
who  was  a recommended  minister  of  the  society,  be- 
longed to  this  meeting  from  its  creation  until  his  death, 
in  1875;  and  for  a period  of  fifty  years  was  earnest  in  his 
efforts  to  awaken  and  keep  alive  the  religious  and  high 
moral  feeling  in  the  community  which  surrounded  him 
in  the  home  of  his  fathers. 

The  meeting  continued  to  be  well  attended  so  long  as 
the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  held  the  land,  but  as 
strangers,  belonging  to  other  denominations,  have  taken 
the  place  of  most  of  them,  the  Friends’  meeting  and  resi- 
dent membership  are  now  very  small.  In  the  meantime 
there  has  been  for  many  years  an  active  organization  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  New  Bridge,  just  out- 
side the  bounds  of  the  purchase,  with  a branch  and 
meeting-house  at  Seaford.  A German  Methodist  mis- 
sion church  at  the  Plain  Edge  and  a church  edifice  at 
Bellmore,  owned  by  the  Presbyterians,  have  in  part  met 
the  religious  wants  of  the  community. 

DEGENERACY  AND  REFORM. 

The  early  settlers,  being  also  proprietors  in  the  town 
purchase,  were  more  than  usually  large  land  holders,  and 
as  they  had  the  plains  on  the  one  hand  for  summer  pas- 
turage, and  the  meadows  at  the  south  for  winter  food  for 
live  stock,  the  increase  thereof  became  very  rapid. 
Added  to  this  was  the  fertility  of  the  virgin  soil,  on  which 
wheat  grew  well  on  every  clearing,  and  corn  only  needed 
a fair  amount  of  care  to  yield  abundantly,  and  the  sons 
and  grandsons  were  soon  in  affluent  circumstances. 
The  orchards  by  this  time  began  to  yield  bountifully,  and 
cider  became  a year-round  beverage.  A number  of  negro 
slaves  were  held  in  each  family,  and  the  great  grand- 
children soon  began  to  suffer  from  the  dissipation  which 
must  almost  of  necessity  follow  where  a whole  com- 
munity felt  no  necessity  for  work. 

At  that  time  Jerusalem  lane  (some  two  and  one-half 
miles  long,  four  to  five  rods  wide,  and  kept  almost  as 
smooth  as  a modern  race-track)  was  well  known  to  the 
sporting  world.  Some  of  the  finest  racing  stock  of  the 
time  was  kept  in  the  stables  of  Jacob  Seaman  and  others. 


t6a 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Scarcely  a week  passed  but  a crowd  gathered  at  the 
corners  at  least  twice,  if  not  oftener,  for  sport  of  some 
sort. 

On  one  occasion,  when  tired  of  seeing  the  horses  run, 
a number  of  the  slaves  were  entered,  and  one  fellow,  a 
good  runner  but  supposed  to  be  lazy,  was  followed  with 
a long  whip  by  the  one  who  entered  him;  the  parties 
were  well  known  to  the  writer.  The  result  of  this  dissi- 
pation soon  began  to  show  itself.  The  masters  did  not 
work  and  very  many  of  them  became  poor.  The  slaves 
did  not  work  very  hard,  but  they  did  eat  up  the  hogs; 
the  hogs  had  eaten  up  the  corn,  and  the  successive  heavy 
yields  of  corn  had  so  completely  exhausted  the  soil  as  to 
have  literally  almost  eaten  it  up. 

In  1800  the  Jerusalem  purchase  was  about  as  poor  in 
many  senses  of  the  word  as  it  was  possible  to  make  it. 
Vegetation  would  wither  at  the  slightest  drought;  not 
more  than  25  to  30  tons  of  timothy  or  clover  hay  was 
cut  from  the  entire  tract. 

But  there  was  a latent  manhood  left,  and  soon  after 
this  date  the  spirit  of  the  children  of  the  men  who  sub- 
dued the  original  forest  was  aroused,  and  found  equal  to 
the  task  of  redeeming  and  renovating  the  lands  of  their 
forefathers.  One  or  two  earnest  men  were  instrumental 
in  breaking  up  the  racing  in  the  highways.  The  farms 
were  divided  up,  and  necessity  obliged  the  owners  to  go 
to  work;  and  harder  working  owners  of  the  soil  from  that 
day  to  this  cannot  be  found  elsewhere.  The  use  of  wood 
ashes  as  a fertilizer  by  one  or  two  men,  with  remark- 
able results,  was  followed  by  a general  use  thereof;  this 
by  stable  manure,  fish,  ground  bone,  guano,  &c.;  until 
to-day  the  cultivated  portion  of  the  purchase  yields  at 
least  1,200  tons  of  hay,  timothy  and  clover,  and  in  wheat 
and  corn  and  nearly  every  variety  of  crop  is  equal  in  its 
product  to  any  similar  number  of  contiguous  acres  de- 
voted to  plain  farming  to  be  found  in  the  State. 

The  murder  of  Samuel  F.  Jones,  June  27th  1873,  for 
which  Lewis  Jarvis  and  Elbert  Jackson  (negroes)  were 
executed  January  15th  1875,  was  committed  at  Jerusalem. 
The  author  of  the  reference  to  this  affair  on  page  51, 
after  that  page  had  been  printed,  corrected  the  name  of 
the  victim  as  there  erroneously  given. 

Jerusalem’s  soldiers. 

From  the  Birdsalls,  who  intermarried  with  the  Sea- 
mans and  Jacksons,  descended  Colonel  Benjamin  Bird- 
sail,  of  Revolutionary  fame,  and  Senator  John  Birdsall, 
representing  the  district  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Jerusalem  furnished  a large  quota  for  the  war  of  1812, 
but  without  a full  list  no  names  will  be  given, 

Jerusalem  purchase  was  well  represented  during  the 
Rebellion.  Company  H 119th  New  York  (Captain  B.  A. 
Willas,  himself  a descendant  of  one  of  the  early  settlers) 
was  nearly  filled  from  this  territory.  Very  few  of  the 
name  of  Seaman  or  Jackson  were  then  living  within  its* 
limits.  From  this  cradle  of  the  families,  however,  went 
Surgeon  Edgar  Jackson,  a young  man  of  great  promise, 
who  lost  his  life  in  the  service;  Henry  P.  Jackson,  Samuel 
Jackson  Jones  and  Albert  Jones,  and  Captain  Obadiah 


Jackson  Downing,  of  the  Harris  cavalry,  who  did  much 
hard  fighting  and  suffered  much  from  imprisonment. 
Oscar  C.  Jackson  also  represented  in  part  the  Jackson 
stock;  while  John  W.  Seaman,  95th  New  York,  who  was 
severely  wounded  and  disabled  at  the  battle  of  the  Wil- 
derness in  1864;  Gilbert  Seaman,  Charles  Seaman  and 
Platt  Seaman,  noted  sharpshooters,  Valentine  Seaman 
and  others  of  the  old  stock  “ made  their  names  known  by 
their  deeds.”  Captain  John  Birdsall,  a representative  of 
the  blood  of  the  Seamans  and  Jacksons,  as  well  as  that 
of  the  name  he  bore,  was  among  the  early  volunteers. 

ROCKAWAY  BEACH. 

This  great  summer  resort  is  nearly  five  miles  long,  and 
from  an  eighth  to  half  a mile  wide.  The  ocean  front  is 
almost  a straight  line,  while  the  northern  front,  on  Jamaica 
Bay,  is  very  crooked.  About  1795  seven  or  eight  hun- 
dred acres,  including  Garry  Eldred’s,  and  from  there  to 
the  point  of  the  beach,  were  owned  by  Samuel  Rider. 
He  sold  half  of  his  property,  with  the  exception  of  El- 
dred’s. He  sold  an  undivided  half  of  the  rest  of  the 
property  to  Henry  Hewlett.  The  other  undivided  half 
he  gave  to  his  son  Rothey  Rider.  David  Jennings  ob- 
taining judgment  against  R.  Rider,  about  1840,  Sheriff 
T.  Treadwell  sold  the  latter’s  undivided  half  to  Henry 
Hewlett,  which  gave  that  gentleman  possession  of  the 
whole  tract.  About  five  years  later  the  property  was 
purchased  by  a Mr.  Cowhart,  and  he  failing  to  pay  his 
interest  the  property  reverted  to  the  children,  and  it  was 
foreclosed  by  Abram  Hewlett.  It  was  purchased  in  1853 
by  James  Remsen  and  John  Johnson  for  $525.  At  that 
time  there  were  no  buildings  on  the  beach,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  or  three  little  hotels  at  the  upper  end.  Then 
the  beach  was  reached  by  a wagon  road  and  yachts.  Now 
excursion  steamers  ply  between  New  York  and  the  beach, 
while  two  railroads  run  trains  hourly  during  the  busy 
season.  Large  hotels,  stores,  restaurants  and  boarding 
houses  have  sprung  up,  until  the  place  is  a city  in  popu- 
lation during  the  summer  season. 

Forty  years  ago,  with  the  exception  of  Saratoga 
Springs,  Rockaway  was  the  most  famous  watering  place 
in  America.  About  the  year  1833  the  renowned  Marine 
Pavilion  was  built.  It  was  two  stories  high,  and  con- 
tained about  150  rooms.  Its  piazza  was  200  feet  long 
and  25  feet  broad.  It  was  consumed  by  fire  in  1864. 
Since  that  time  have  sprung  up  many  large  hotels  at  Far 
Rockaway,  the  beautiful  hotel  at  Long  Beach  and  those 
at  Rockaway  Beach,  including  that  colossal  structure  the 
Rockaway  Beach  Hotel, 

THE  LARGEST  HOTEL  IN  THE  WORLD. 

In  1881,  while  not  yet  completed,  a part  of  it  was 
opened  to  the  public  about  the  1st  of  August.  The 
building  is  1,188  feet  long  by  250  feet  wide.  It  has 
several  hundred  rooms  and  over  100,000  square  feet  of 
piazzas.  It  fronts  the  ocean,  and  the  beach  is  unsur- 
passed. Near  the  hotel  are  a large  number  of  bathing 
houses.  The  water  and  gas  supply  is  furnished  from  the 
company’s  own  works,  a Holly  pumping  machine  forcing 


SEA  SIDE  HOUSE,  Second  Landing,  Rockaway  Beach,  Long  Island,  REMSEN  & WAINWRIGHT,  Propr’s. 

Accommodations  for  400  Guests.  Depot  for  all  Steamboats  and  Trains.  1000  Bathing  Houses.  Still  Water  and  Surf  Bathing. 


ROCKAWAY  BEACH  HOTELS. 


163 


the  water  from  a large  well  to  all  parts  of  the  hotel. 
The  drainage  system  is  complete;  all  the  refuse  matter- 
is  discharged  through  massive  iron  pipes  at  a point 
distant  from  the  hotel,  and  is  carried  by  direct  currents 
into  Jamaica  Bay.  The  rooms  are  heated  by  steam. 
The  observatory  on  the  top  of  the  hotel  is  200  feet 
square  and  there  are  two  elevators  ‘to  it.  An  unob- 
structed view  of  the  ocean,  the  bay  and  the  Long  Island 
country  for  many  miles  is  obtained  from  this  elevation. 
The  new  iron  pier,  constructed  by  the  Rockaway  Beach 
Pier  Company,  is  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States.  It  extends  about  1,300  feet  into  the  ocean,  be- 
yond the  breakers,  affording  water  sufficiently  deep  for 
landing  from  large  steamers.  Its  general  width  is  31JI2 
feet,  the  pierhead  being  feet  wide.  Every  span  is 

braced. 

OTHER  HOTELS,  ETC. 

To  James  S.  Remsen  belongs  the  credit  of  being  the 
pioneer  in  promoting  the  interests  and  welfare  of  Rocka- 
way Beach.  He  was  born  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  October 
14th  1813.  Mr.  Remsen  has  been  proprietor  of  the  Ja- 
maica Hotel  for  forty  years,  and  in  1881  was  the  owner 
of  twenty  hotels  at  the  beach,  the  museum  building,  the 
drug  store,  and  other  property.  His  father,  R.  Remsen, 
was  a native  of  Hempstead.  Among  the  favorite  hotels 
of  the  beach  is  the  Seaside  House,  established  many 
years.  The  proprietors  are  James  Remsen  and  William 
Wainwright.  When  Mr.  Remsen  became  a part  purchaser 
of  the  beach  many  of  his  friends  believed  him  to  be  de- 
ranged, but  after  long  years  of  earnest  work  and  the  suc- 
cess of  his  enterprise  they  have  changed  their  minds. 
The  building  is  directly  in  front  of  the  three  piers  known 
as  the  Seaside  Landing,  on  Jamaica  Bay,  where  all  the 
steamboats  discharge  their  passengers.  It  is  also  near 
both  railroad  stations,  and  fronts  westwardly  on  Remsen 
avenue,  the  principal  thoroughfare.  The  building  is 
three  stories  high,  and  there  are  piazzas  thirteen  feet 
wide  on  three  sides  of  the  building.  It  has  accommoda- 
tions for  about  300  guests.  The  wine  room  is  in  a separ- 
ate building  across  the  avenue,  and  on  the  main  pier  is  a 
large  restaurant. 

On  the  beach  at  the  other  end  of  the  avenue  is  the 
Surf  Pavilion,  commanding  a fine  view  of  the  sea  and  the 
new  iron  pier.  This  house  is  on  the  corner  of  Eldert’s 
and  Ocean  avenues,  and  is  very  easily  reached  by  a fine 
plank  walk  from  Eldert’s  landing,  and  from  the  railroad 
station.  It  has  443  feet  frontage  on  the  beach,  and 
affords  a magnificent  view  of  the  broad  Atlantic.  The 
dancing  floor  is  80  by  40  feet  in  the  main  building,  and 
40  by  50  feet  in  the  extension.  The  restaurant  seats  125 
persons,  and  refreshments  can  be  ordered  at  all  hours. 
The  building  is  one  of  the  best  to  be  found  at  any  sea- 
side resort,  and  the  dancing  platform  has  the  advantage 
of  being  inclosed  quickly  by  large  shutters  in  case  of  a 
sudden  shower,  or  a high  wind.  There  are  300  bathing 
houses,  in  charge  of  polite  attendants.  Expert  swimmers 
and  a lifeboat  are  always  on  duty  for  the  benefit  of 
bathers.  The  proprietors  are  Messrs.  Harper  & Stumpf. 


The  extensive  and  well  arranged  Metropolitan  Hotel 
is  centrally  located  on  Remsen  avenue,  between  the  Sea- 
side Landing  and  the  beach,  and  its  piazza  joins  the  plat- 
form of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  station.  The  proprie- 
tor is  Alderman  E.  E.  Datz,  of  Jersey  City.  The  house 
has  a capacious  restaurant  and  lodging-rooms,  and  a 
picnic  grove  attached.  Besides  the  above  described  build- 
ings there  are  the  Atlas  Hotel,  the  Mammoth  Pavilion, 
Rutland’s  Seaside  Pavilion  (Holland’s  Station),  Hillyer’s 
Surf  House,  the  Grand  Republic  Hotel,  East  End  Hotel, 
Hammell’s  Hotel,  Atlantic  Park  Hotel,  the  Holland 
House,  and  at  Eldert’s  Grove,  near  the  railroad  depot, 
the  two  houses  and  six  cottages  owned  by  Captain  John 
R.  Carney,  known  as  the  Captain  Jack  Hope  House. 
Hundreds  of  small  buildings  used  for  every  variety  of 
business  go  to  make  up  the  Rockaway  Beach  of  1881. 

Dr.  H.  C.  Van  Norman  located  at  Rockaway  Beach  in 
1879,  and  in  1881  was  the  only  physician  there.  He  has 
an  office  at  382  West  Thirty-second  street,  New  York, 
near  Ninth  avenue. 

A fine  livery  stable  has  been  opened  at  Seaside  station 
by  John  D.  S.  O’Brien,  of  Oceanus.  He  keeps  every 
description  of  carriage  and  other  vehicles,  which  can  be 
had  at  any  time. 


ROCKVILLE  CENTRE. 

This  village  is  a mile  east  of  Pearsalls  on  the  Southern 
Railroad,  and  there  may  be  found  on  file  in  the  Queens 
County  clerk’s  office  a map  made  in  the  year  1854,  with 
the  following  advertisement: 

'‘The  subscribers,  having  purchased  the  farm  of  the 
late  Rev.  Mordecai  Smith,  on  the  Merrick  and  Jamaica 
Plank  Road,  nine  miles  from  Jamaica  and  three  miles 
from  Hempstead  village,  with  a view  of  extending  the 
village  offer  for  sale  a large  number  of  building  lots, 
fifty  feet  front  and  two  hundred  feet  deep.  The  site  is 
one  unsurpassed  within  the  State  for  salubrity  of  climate 
and  beauty  of  location.  It  lies  on  a natural  terrace, 
commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try and  the  lake  lately  purchased  by  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn as  a reservoir  for  their  water  works.  The  Rockaway 
Bay,  renowned  for  its  abundance  of  game  and  shell-fish 
of  all  kinds,  lies  within  less  than  a mile  from  the  village. 
The  property  is  partly  improved,  a post-office  being  al- 
ready established,  and  stages  passing  three  or  four  times 
to  and  from  the  city  of  New  York.  Gentlemen  wishing 
a country  seat  will  find  it  to  their  interest  to  secure  lots 
in  said  village. 

“John  P.  Rhodes,  President. 

“ Robert  Pettit,  Treasurer. 

“Julius  Auerbach,  Secretary.” 

Previous  to  the  date  of  the  above  the  nucleus  around 
which  the  village  had  grown  consisted  of  the  farm  of 
the  late  Samuel  De  Mott  (the  father  of  John  W.  De  Mott 
and  Elijah  P.  De  Mott)  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the 
plank  road,  opposite  the  Smith  farm.  This  was  pur- 
chased of  the  De  Motts  by  the  late  Stephen  R.  Wiggins, 
who  owned  it  a number  of  years  and  sold  it  to  Robert 
Pettit,  who  built  a large  store  and  dwelling  on  the  site  of 
the  De  Mott  dwelling,  which  had  always  been  kept  as  a 


164 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


tavern.  This  in  fact  was  the  commencement  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Rockville  Centre;  it  was  bounded  by  the  plank 
road  on  the  north,  a road  running  through  this  farm 
southeasterly  to  Christian  Hook  (now  called  Ocean ville) 
and  to  the  bay,  and  another  running  south  to  East  Rock- 
away.  At  this  time  there  were  about  half  a dozen 
ancient  farm  houses  in  the  place.  After  the  advent  of 
Mr.  Pettit  and  the  purchase  and  mapping  out  of  the 
Smith  farm,  which  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  plank 
road  (the  main  country  road  through  the  island)  the  vil- 
lage began  to  grow.  In  1868  John  P.  Rhodes  bought 
the  farm  of  Israel  Wright,  lying  to  the  north  of  and  ad- 
joining the  Smith  property,  and,  mapping  it  out  at  right 
angles  with  the  former  map,  added  it  to  the  village. 
The  two  farms  comprised  one  hundred  acres. 

Rockville  Centre  is  on  high  ground,  perfectly  drained 
by  the  stream  through  the  valley  from  Hempstead  village 
to  East  Rockaway  Bay,  and  beautified  by  the  succession 
of  lakes  which  feed  the  Brooklyn  city  water  works. 
The  most  southern  of  these  formerly  belonged  to  Rev. 
Mordecai  Smith,  who  utilized  it  all  his  life  for  grist-mill 
and  carding  and  fulling  machines.  In  the  western  part 
of  the  village  is  what  is  now  denominated  the  First 
Methodist  Church,  a very  handsome  edifice,  occupying 
the  site  of  one  of  the  oldest  churches  of  that  denomi- 
nation on  Long  Island. 

The  village  has  a population  of  about  one  thousand, 
largely  made  up  of  men  doing  business  in  the  city,  and 
of  sea  captains  and  their  families.  A large  portion  of 
the  latter  class  come  from  Maine  and  other  eastern  States. 
The  business  men  find  easy  access  to  New  York,  by  way 
of  the  Southern  Railroad,  which  passes  through  the 
village.  There  are  three  churches. 

Previous  to  the  building  of  the  railroad  there  were  but 
very  few  buildings;  one  store,  a post-office,  a weekly 
paper,  the  Picket , and  one  church.  At  present  there  are 
several  stores  and  three  hotels,  viz.:  the  La  Rosa  House, 
the  Crossman  House  (built  in  1867  and  conducted  by  W. 
H.  Crossman),  and  the  Henry  House,  Edward  Denton 
proprietor.  Mr.  Crossman  built  the  house  now  used  as 
a store  and  post-office  in  1856.  There  are  three  churches, 
the  office  of  the  South  Side  Observer , the  wheelwright 
shops  of  Charles  H.  Losea, Freeman  E.  Eager’s  paint  shop, 
the  blacksmith  shop  of  J.  R.  Sprague,  Thurston’s  first- 
class  drug  store,  the  tin  shop  of  James  R.  Brightman  and 
the  large  manufactory  of  A.  V.  S.  Hicks,  started  in  1871. 
Mr.  Hicks  employs  about  15  persons,  and,  besides  hand 
and  machine  knitting,  manufactures  sixteen  kinds  of 
hammocks;  also  tropical  beds,  school  bags,  flv  nets  for 
horses,  etc.  Henry  Lotz  has  a livery  stable  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Lotz  Llouse,  and  also  keeps  a lumber,  coal 
and  wood  yard.  Aside  from  these  there  are  the  usual 
number  of  enterprising  professional  and  business  men  to 
be  found  in  a thriving  village. 

The  fire  department  was  organized  September  25th 
1875,  by  forming  a hook  and  ladder  company.  November 
1st  1875  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Foreman, 
John  R.  Sprague;  assistant  foreman,  B.  L.  Coffin;  sec- 
retary, C.  Noye;  treasurer,  Jacob  F.  Cock.  During  the 


next  year  a house  for  a truck  was  secured,  and  a truck 
was  built  by  C.  H.  Losea.  Rubber  buckets  were  pre- 
sented, and  in  1877  a neat  uniform  was  obtained.  The 
company  has  a nice  house  for  its  apparatus,  with  every- 
thing in  proper  shape  to  fight  the  fire  fiend. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  been  post-masters  in 
Rockville  Centre:  Root  Pettit,  Frank  Wyant,  Hubbard 
Smith,  John  H.  Reed  and  Clinton  F.  Combs. 

St.  Mark’s  M.  E.  Church. 

For  some  time  previous  to  1843  the  Jamaica  and 
Rockaway  circuit  embraced  the  village  of  Jamaica,  Far 
Rockaway,  Foster’s  Meadow  and  that  region  of  country 
now  known  under  the  various  names  of  Pearsalls,  East 
Rockaway,  Rockville  Centre  and  Christian  Hook,  but 
which  was  known  at  that  time  by  the  general  name 
of  Near  Rockaway.  In  the  spring  of  1843  Jamaica  was 
detached  from  this  circuit,  and  the  remaining  places  con- 
stituted what  was  afterward  known  as  the  Rockaway 
circuit.  Rev.  John  J.  Matthias  was  preacher  in  charge 
at  the  time  of  the  separation,  and  the  following  ministers 
were  successively  stationed  over  the  circuit:  Revs.  H. 
Hatfield,  David  Holmes,  S.  C.  Youngs,  E.  O.  Bates, 
J.  W.  B.  Wood. 

The  name  Rockville  Centre  first  appears  on  the 
record  in  1854.  In  the  minutes  of  the  fourth  quarterly 
conference  of  that  year  this  church,  which  had  previous- 
ly been  known  as  Near  Rockaway  church,  and  which 
was  situated  half  way  between  Rockville  Centre  and 
Pearsalls,  is  called  Rockville  Centre  church.  In  the 
same  document  it  is  stated  that  the  trustees  of  a new  vil- 
lage which  had  just  been  laid  out  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  had  offered  to  the  society  “ a lot  of  land  with  a 
deed  of  gift  as  a site  for  a new  parsonage.”  The  offer 
was  accepted  with  thanks.  Subsequently  Revs.  Samuel 
H.  King  and  J.  D.  Bouton  were  placed  in  charge  of  the 
circuit.  In  1857  after  considerable  discussion  it  was  de- 
cided that  two  preachers  should  be  employed,  one  to  be 
supported  by  Rockville  Centre,  frhe  other  by  Far  Rocka- 
way and  Foster’s  Meadow.  Accordingly  in  1858  Rev.  W. 
Gothard  was  appointed  pastor  of  the  church  at  Rock- 
ville Centre,  which  thus  virtually  became  a station,  al- 
though still  united  with  the  other  places  in  quarterly  con- 
ference. The  successors  of  Mr.  Gothard  were:  Revs. 
Charles  Stearns,  i860,  1861;  Henry  C.  Glover,  1862, 
1863;  Rev.  Albert  Booth,  1864,  1865;  Rev.  John  Wesley 
Horn,  1866;  Rev.  Henry  D.  Lathan,  1867. 

In  the  year  1868,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  S. 
Rushmore,  a committee  was  appointed  to  ascertain 
whether  sites  could  be  procured  at  Pearsalls  and  Rock- 
ville Centre  on  which  to  build  new  churches.  Nothing 
of  importance  was  done  in  the  matter  however  until  1870, 
when  Rev.  Charles  Kelsey  was  appointed  to  this  charge. 
He  immediately  entered  upon  the  execution  of  a plan 
to  build  two  new  churches,  and  secured  the  incorporation 
of  St.  Mark’s  at  Rockville  Centre,  and  St.  James’s  at 
Pearsalls. 

In  August  1870  the  society  at  Rockville  Centre  erected 
a temporary  building  known  as  the  “ Tabernacle,”  and 


METHODIST  CHURCHES  OF  ROCKVILLE  CENTRE. 


services  were  held  in  it  until  the  completion  of  the  pres- 
ent church.  A complete  and  impartial  account  of  the 
difficulties  which  followed  will  perhaps  never  be  written. 
Some  of  the  more  prominent  facts  may  however  be 
given,  which  will  not  be  controverted  by  any.  It  was  the 
plan  of  those  who  inaugurated  the  movement,  and  after- 
ward announced  by  the  presiding  elder,  that  the  two  new 
churches  were  “ to  substitute  the  old  church,”  which  1 at 
ter  was  to  be  used  for  burial  services  and  extra  meetings. 

A very  strong  feeling  of  opposition  to  this  plan  was 
excited  in  certain  quarters  and  great  bitterness  was  shown 
toward  Mr.  Kelsey,  who  was  finally,  excluded  from  the 
old  church.  In  1871  Rev.  Charles  P.  Corner  was  sent  to 
the  three  churches,  but  as  the  adherents  of  the  old 
church  refused  to  be  connected  with  the  new  churches, 
and  had  so  notified  the  conference,  they  refused  to  recog- 
nize Mr.  Corner  as  their  pastor  and  endeavored  to  pre- 
vent him  from  occupying  the  parsonage. 

Although  unsuccessful  in  this  attempt  they  afterward 
gained  possession  of  the  parsonage  by  process  of  law. 
The  old  church  then  ceased  to  be  a Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Rev.  William  McGinn  was  appointed  to  assist 
Mr.  Corner  and  the  two  preached  alternately  at  Rock- 
ville Centre  and  Pearsalls. 

On  the  nth  of  August  1871  the  corner  stone'of  St. 
Mark’s  church  was  laid,  and  dedication  services  were 
held  December  17th  of  the  same  year.  In  the  following 
year  a new  church  building  was  erected  and  dedicated  at 
Pearsalls,  and  in  1872  each  of  these  places  became  a 
station.  Rev.  W.  J.  Robinson  was  the  first  pastor  of  St. 
Mark’s  church.  During  the  first  year  of  his  pastorate  a 
new  parsonage  was  built  on  a lot  adjoining  the  church. 
Mr.  Robinson  remained  two  years  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  T.  C.  Hill,  who  during  a successful  pastorate  of 
three  years  was  the  means  of  greatly  strengthening  the 
society.  He  was  followed  in  1878  by  Rev.  F.  Brown, 
who  served  the  church  for  two  years  and  was  succeeded 
in  1880  by  Rev.  C.  PI.  Beale. 

Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

The  following  facts  were  collected  by  the  present  pas- 
tor, Rev.  R.  C.  Hulsart,  during  the  year  1881,  but  it  will 
be  impossible  to  give  all  the  facts  of  interest  connected 
with  the  history  of  this  church,  as  it  dates  back  nearly 
one  hundred  years. 

About  1790  the  first  church  was  erected,  on  the  site 
where  the  present  beautiful  temple  stands.  The  land 
was  donated  by  Isaac  Denton,  Esq.  Land  has  since 
been  purchased  and  added  to  the  first,  from  time  to  time, 
until  now  the  church  is  surrounded  by  a beautiful  ceme- 
tery, where  sleep  many  of  the  fathers  of  early  Method- 
ism. The  first  church  was  20  by  30  feet,  and  cost 
about  $1,000.  It  had  only  one  door  in  front,  opening 
directly  into  the  church;  it  had  rough  movable  seats, 
and  gallery  across  the  front  end;  it  was  built  without 
reference  to  denomination  and  all  denominations  occu- 
pied it  in  turn,  but  the  Methodists  being  in  the  majority 
it  became  a Methodist  Episcopal  church.  At  this  time 
there  were  but  two  other  churches  on  the  island,  one  at 


l65 


Newtown  and  one  at  Searingtown.  Rev.  William  Phebus, 
one  of  the  first  ministers  who  preached  in  it,  called  it 
Rehoboth. 

In  1817  the  church  proved  too  small  to  accommodate 
the  growing  congregation,  and  a more  commodious  one 
was  built  in  its  stead;  but  the  galleries  were  not  com- 
pleted until  several  years  afterward,  when  Christian 
Snedeker,  one  of  the  trustees,  raised  about  $200  and 
finished  them.  In  this  condition  the  people  worshiped 
in  it  until  1836,  when  it  was  lathed  and  plastered. 

During  the  year  1831  a church  was  built  at  Far  Rock- 
away,  and  several  others  were  built  at  the  same  time  at 
different  points  on  the  island,  but  all  were  in  one  circuit 
in  charge  of  one  preacher. 

The  society  continued  to  grow  and  Methodism  spread 
over  the  island.  The  circuit  was  divided  and  sub- 
divided, and  the  time  arrived  when  the  people  felt  the 
need  of  a parsonage  here.  As  this  church  seemed  to  be 
the  most  central,  a site  was  selected  at  Pearsalls,  where 
in  1841  a parsonage  was  built  at  a cost  of  $800.  Rev. 
Theron  Osborn  was  the  first  to  occupy  it,  and  for  about 
20  years  it  was  occupied  in  turn  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Hat- 
field, Mathews,  Holmes,  Bowton  Stearns  and  H.  C. 
Glover. 

In  1849  the  church  was  lengthened  by  an  addition  of 
15  feet  on  the  front;  in  1858  it  was  reseated  and  other- 
wise improved  at  a cost  of  $600,  which  was  raised  by 
the  ladies  of  the  church. 

During  the  years  1862  and  1863  the  parsonage  was 
sold,  and  a new  one  was  built  near  the  church  at  a cost 
of  $1,600.  Methodism  seemed  to  grow  rapidly,  as  well 
it  might  with  such  men  as  Revs.  Nathan  Bangs,  S.  Clark, 
P.  P.  Sanford,  Rice,  Holmes,  Divine,  Hunt,  Oldrin  and 
Law  as  leaders. 

The  list  of  preachers  would  not  be  complete  without 
the  name  of  Mordecai  Smith,  whose  house  was  always  a 
home  for  the  preachers.  He  was  a local  preacher  many 
years,  but  traveled  far  and  near;  if  at  any  time  a preach- 
er failed  to  meet  his  appointment  it  was  well  filled  by 
Mr.  Smith.  His  remains  lie  near  the  church,  the  spot 
marked  by  a plain  white  marble  slab.  To  his  son  Hew- 
lett Smith  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  the  information 
here  given. 

In  1862  and  1863  the  old  pulpit  was  cut  down  and 
remodeled  to  a more  modern  style.  It  has  been  occupied 
by  Francis  Asbury,  the  first  Methodist  bishop  of  Ameri- 
ca; it  w'as  also  honored  by  the  presence  of  Lorenzo 
Dow  and  other  heroes  of  old  time  Methodism. 

From  1858  to  1870  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev. 
Messrs.  Glover,  Booth,  Rushmore  and  Kelsey.  During 
Mr.  Kelsey’s  administration  the  church  w>as  divided  and 
built  a chapel  at  Pearsalls  and  one  at  Rockville  Centre. 

In  1871  the  society  secured  the  services  of  Rev.  R.  S. 
Hulsart,  the  present  pastor.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  conference,  and  the  church  has 
connected  itself  with  the  same  conference. 

In  1874  a new  and  commodious  house  of  worship 
was  erected,  at  a cost  of  $15,000 

During  the  winter  of  1879  and  1880  about  two  hundred 


(66 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


professed  to  be  converted.  There  were  in  1881  390 
members  and  25  probationers. 

The  “ South  Side  Observer.” 

The  South  Side  Observer,  published  at  Rockville  Centre, 
was  founded  there  in  June  1865,  by  John  H.  Reed,  as  a 
six-column  quaito.  In  1870  Mr.  Reed  sold  out  to  George 
Wallace,  who  enlarged  the  paper  and  changed  its  name 
to  South  Side  Observer,  the  first  number  being  issued  No- 
vember 4th  of  that  year.  In  1873  Charles  L.  Wallace,  a 
younger  brother,  was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the  bus- 
iness, which  has  since  been  in  the  firm  name  of  Wallace 
Brothers,  publishers.  In  1874  George  Wallace  relin- 
quished possession  of  the  editorial  chair,  since  which 
time  Charles  L.  has  been  the  editor. 

The  paper  has  been  recently  enlarged  to  a 9-column 
quarto,  and  does  a very  flourishing  business. 

It  is  the  only  paper  in  Hempstead  to  discard  the  old- 
fashioned  hand  press,  and  has  for  years  been  printed  on 
a cylinder  press.  It  is  Republican  in  politics,  but  its 
chief  characteristic  is  that  of  a local  newspaper.  In  its 
early  years  it  had  a severe  struggle  for  existence,  but 
made  steady  progress  after  1870,  and  has  made  rapid 
progress  of  late  years.  It  occupies  a two-story  building 
specially  built  for  the  purpose,  and  has  one  of  the  largest 
and  best  fitted  printing  establishments  outside  of  the 
cities. 


PEARSALLS. 

For  more  than  a hundred  years  the  site  of  Pearsalls 
has  been  in  possession  of  persons  by  the  name  of  Pear- 
sall, two  distinct  families  of  the  same  name  having  owned 
a large  portion.  Henry  Pearsall  sen.  and  family  resided 
here  many  years,  keeping  a small  store  in  an  old-fashion- 
ed house  on  the  most  prominent  corner,  where  five  roads 
meet,  known  as  “ Pearsall’s  Corners.”  The  houses  were 
few  and  scattering  and  but  little  improvement  was  made. 

In  1853  Wright  Pearsall,  the  present  owner  of  the  site 
(who  is  not  related  to  the  former  owners,  though  of  the 
same  name),  and  his  father,  Samuel  Pearsall,  purchased 
fifty  acres  and  removed  here  from  Near  Rockaway.  The 
old  house  was  moved,  and  the  present  building  erected 
and  store  opened  the  following  year.  Two  lines  of  stages 
passed  the  door — one  daily  from  Freeport  waiting  here 
to  be  met  by  one  from  Near  Rockaway,  and  another  every 
day  from  Amityville. 

In  1857  the  water  works  for  supplying  the  city  of 
Brooklyn  with  water  were  commenced,  and  the  aqueduct 
was  built  through  this  place,  making  a great  deal  of  stir 
and  activity. 

In  1867  the  Southside  Railroad  was  commenced,  and 
with  frequent  communication  with  New  York,  but  18 
miles  distant,  Pearsalls  began  rapidly  to  improve. 
Wright  Pearsall  had  his  land  surveyed  and  laid  out  in 
building  lots,  many  of  which  found  ready  sale.  He  had 
a number  of  houses  built,  and  gave  the  land  for  the 
railroad  depot.  He  donated  the  lot  (100  by  200  feet) 


for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has  done  much 
toward  building  up  and  developing  the  place.  Hamilton 
W.  Pearsall,  his  son,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  store 
(the  former  store  having  been  torn  down  and  a new  store 
and  house  built  on  the  opposite  corner),  is  the  present 
postmaster  (1881),  and  has  assisted  in  the  development 
of  the  place.  A post-office  was  established  here  in  1873, 
mainly  through  the  instrumentality  of  D.  K.  Elmendorf, 
who  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  citizens  decided  to 
drop  “ Corners  ” from  the  name  and  call  the  place  simply 
Pearsalls. 

Henry  Pearsall,  a much  respected  citizen,  resided  here 
all  his  life  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  twenty-one  con- 
secutive years.  Doctor  Julius  Auerbach  lived  here  a 
number  of  years;  also  D.  K.  Elmendorf,  who  promoted 
the  interests  of  the  place. 

St.  James’s  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

was  built  in  1873,  at  a cost  of  about  $8,000.  The  chapel 
was  built  in  1870,  at  a cost  of  $2,500.  Rev.  C.  Kelsey 
was  the  first  pastor  of  the  society,  which  was  organized  in 
1870.  He  was  followed  in  1871  by  Rev.  C.  P.  Corner, 
who  was  assisted  the  first  year  by  Rev.  W.  W.  McGuire 
and  the  second  year  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Dutcher.  In  1873 
Rev.  Mansfield  French  became  pastor.  He  died,  greatly 
lamented,  at  the  close  of  his  three  years  pastorate.  He 
was  followed  in  1876  by  Rev.  William  Platts,  and  he 
after  two  years  by  Rev.  C.  W.  Fordham.  A parsonage 
was  built  in  1874.  The  Sunday-school  was  organized 
October  9th  1870,  with  74  members;  it  has  now  a mem- 
bership of  200.  Its  first  superintendent  was  D.  K.  El- 
mendorf; he  was  followed  by  R.  H.  Young  and  he 
by  Hamilton  W.  Pearsall. 

Schools. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  in  1855.  Shortly 
after  the  district  was  organized  a plot  of  ground  was 
bought  for  $100,  and  a house  was  built  thereon  for  $600. 
This,  at  the  commencement  of  the  last  decade,  was  found 
too  small  to  accommodate  the  increasing  necessities 
of  the  district,  and  about  1874,  at  a cost  of  $2,250  for 
building  and  furniture,  a school-house  with  two  rooms 
for  as  many  departments  was  built.  Before  that  a school- 
house  was  kept  by  Jeremiah  Foster  in  an  old  building 
(since  torn  down)  belonging  to  Charles  Abrams  (since  de- 
ceased), on  Union  avenue.  After  the  building  of  the 
school-house  the  following  persons  successively  taught 
for  periods  of  three  months  or  more:  David  Tyson, 
Alvah  Cummings,  Thomas  H.  Wheeler,  Clinton  F.  Combs, 
George  W.  Dickinson,  William  F.  Dickinson,  Thomas  D. 
Smith,  Hattie  Ketcham,  Orson  H.  Pettit,  Miss  Sayres, 
Jeremiah  Foster,  and  John  H.  Reed,  the  present  incum- 
bent. About  1874  the  school  was  divided  into  two 
departments,  the  primary  being  taught  by  Marietta  Fos- 
ter and  subsequently  by  Julia  E.  Fowler,  who  still  con- 
tinues. The  most  extended  service  was  performed  by 
Jeremiah  Foster,  who  officiated  about  seven  years.  This 
school,  with  the  other  schools  of  the  town,  is  in  part  sup- 
ported by  what  is  known  as  the  “ Plain  ” or  “ Stewart  ” 


PEARSALLS  AND  FREEPORT. 


167 


fund.  Since  the  last  school-house  was  built,  in  1874,  the 
district  has  not  raised  any  money  by  tax  on  its  property, 
except  to  pay  for  that  building,  the  income  from  the  State 
and  town  being  sufficient  to  support  the  school  and  pay 
current  expenses. 

On  the  30th  of  September  1879  there  were  215  persons 
between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty-one  years  residing  in 
the  district;  and  on  the  30th  of  September  1880  there 
were  226. 

Miscellaneous. 

In  1875  Charles  L.  Sherman,  machinist,  started  a man- 
ufactory of  sheet  and  cast  metal  goods,  toys,  etc.,  remov- 
ing from  Brooklyn.  He  employs  on  an  average  eighteen 
men,  and  ships  goods  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 

In  1879  a fire  company  was  organized,  having  seven- 
teen charter  members.  Their  house  is  on  Main  street, 
and  meetings  are  held  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month. 
The  following  are  the  officers  of  Rescue  Hook  and  Lad- 
der Company  No.  x:  Foreman,  C.  C.  Van  Dusen;  assist- 
ant foreman,  J.  W.  Dredges;  secretaries,  Henry  A.  Graef 
and  Samuel  Thompson;  treasurer,  H.  W.  Pearsall;  trus- 
tees— G.  A.  Mott,  G.  W.  Strickland,  H.  A.  Graef.  No 
fires  of  importance  have  occurred. 

James  A.  Hutcheson,  M.  D.,  has  been  the  practicing 
physician  of  Pearsalls  for  the  last  seven  years.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Long  Island  College,  Brooklyn,  and  is  a 
son  of  Robert  Hutcheson,  of  East  Rockaway.  Dr. 
Hutcheson  holds  the  position  of  county  physician,  visit- 
ing the  county-house  at  Barnum’s  Island  twice  each  week, 
and  as  much  oftener  as  circumstances  demand. 

M.  L.  Mount,  wheelwright  and  blacksmith,  has  built 
up  a business  in  the  manufacture  of  ships’  goods  which  is 
a credit  to  the  village  and  the  proprietor. 

At  present  this  village  contains  some  five  or  six  hun- 
dred inhabitants.  There  are  two  hotels,  both  near  the 
depot,  one  recently  rebuilt  and  conducted  by  Elbert 
Abrams,  and  the  Furman  House,  conducted  by  S.  Fur- 
man, in  the  upper  part  of  which  is  a court-room.  There 
are  six  stores,  the  hot-houses  of  Sealey  Brothers, 
sash  and  blind  makers,  wheelwright,  blacksmith  and  car- 
riage shops,  meat  markets,  barber  shops,  etc.,  and  rail- 
road and  telegraph  communications. 

A large  quantity  of  oysters  is  shipped  from  this  point 
to  New  York,  and  many  gentlemen  doing  business  in  the 
city  find  here  a pleasant  suburban  home. 


MINOR  VILLAGES. 

Freeport. 

This  beautiful  village  (former  known  as  Hempstead 
South,  or  Raynorville)  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  town.  It 
is  -on  the  Southern  Railroad,  about  twenty-three  miles 
from  Long  Island  City,  and,  like  Baldwins,  borders  on  the 
bay.  It  is  a great  oyster  depot,  some  of  the  residents 
being  the  first  to  inaugurate  the  business  on  the  south 
side  of  the  island.  Aside  from  the  depot  and  school 
building  there  are  two  churches,  Presbyterian  and  Meth- 


odist; two  large  hotels,  the  bakery  of  Mead  & Wright, 
Golder’s  drug  store,  the  grist,  flouring  and  saw  mill  of 
Isaac  Horsfall,  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  store  of  Nel- 
son H.  Smith  and  Franklin' P.  Smith,  the  boot  and  shoe 
store  of  William  Raynor,  the  harness  shop  of  J.  H.  Smith, 
the  barber  shop  and  store  of  Frederick  Blankerhorn,  etc. 
The  hotels  are  managed  by  B.  T.  Smith  and  George  D. 
Smith.  Both  hotels  are  first-class.  The  streets  of  Free- 
port are  well  laid  out  and  cared  for,  and  a general  air  of 
thrift  is  apparent. 

On  Saturday  February  25th  1837  a committee  of  gen- 
tlemen from  New  York  met  Captain  Raynor  Rock  Smith, 
of  Freeport,  at  the  hotel  of  Oliver  Conklin,  in  Hemp- 
stead, and  in  behalf  of  citizens  of  the  fifth  ward  of  New 
York  presented  him  with  a cup,  in  recognition  of  his  at- 
tempt at  rescuing  the  passengers  of  the  bark  “Mexico,” 
stranded  on  the  beach.  The  cup,  now  in  possession  of 
the  family,  is  described  as  follows:  “On  one  side  a de- 
vice of  the  ship  ‘ Mexico  ’ imbedded  in  the  sand,  with 
the  waves  breaking  over  her.  Her  helpless  crew  are  seen 
stretching  out  their  imploring  hands.  A boat  is  making 
its  way  to  them.  A few  figures  stand  upon  the  beach, 
surrounded  by  masses  of  ice,  which  show  the  severity  of 
the  season  and  the  peril  of  the  undertaking.”  The  re- 
verse side  bears  the  following  inscription:  “Reward  of 
Merit,  Presented  to  Raynor  R.  Smith,  of  Hempstead 
South,  L.  I.,  by  a number  of  his  fellow  citizens  of  the 
fifth  ward, -as  a token  of  regard  for  his  noble  daring,  per- 
formed at  the  peril  of  his  life,  in  saving  the  eight  persons 
from  the  wreck  of  the  fated  ship  ‘Mexico,’  on  themorn- 
ing  of  Jan.  2nd  1837.”  Raynor  R.  Smith  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 27th  1785. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  about 
1849.  From  a communication  from  J.  Davidson,  M.  D., 
of  Hempstead,  read  at  the  memorial  services  held  at 
Freeport,  at  the  close  of  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  its  or- 
ganization, December  29th  1874,  is  taken  the  following 
extract  in  regard  to  the  early  history:  “I  have  lived  in 
this  town  for  half  a century,  and  of  course  have  been  ac- 
quainted with  every  part  of  it,  and  I do  not  know  that  in 
any  other  part  of  the  town  there  was  so  much  indiffer- 
ence to  the  Sabbath,  and  to  the  subject  of  religion  gen- 
erally, as  in  Raynor  South,  as  we  then  called  it.  * * * 

At  this  time  we  had  in  this  village  [Hempstead]  for  our 
pastor  Rev.  Sylvester  Woodbridge  jr.  I saw  he  was  the 
very  man  for  this  work,  and  at  the  proper  time  I broach- 
ed the  subject  to  him.  He  gladly  fell  in  with  my  wishes, 
and  told  me  that  if  I could  get  a place  to  preach  in  he 
would  gladly  preach.  I succeeded  in  getting  the  old 
school-house  that  stood  in  the  point  of  the  crossing  of 
the  road.  Every  Sabbath  afternoon  I went  down  with 
him.  He  preached  and  I led  the  singing.  The  house 
could  not  hold  one-half  that  came.  * * * Not  long 

after  the  people  moved  in  the  matter,  and  a church  was 
built.” 

The  first  house  of  worship  in  the  village  (since  turned 
into  a private  dwelling)  stood  nearly  east  of  the  present 
church.  The  corner  stone  of  the  present  edifice  was  laid 
July  20th  1859.  The  building  committee  were  Samuel 


1 68 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


S.  Carman,  Valentine  Smith  and  G.  B.  Banks.  The 
building  and  lot  cost  $5.5°°-  The  first  Sabbath  bell  in 
Freeport  was  heard  on  the  13th  of  May  i860.  In  1875 
Mrs.  Susan  Bergen  donated  to  the  trustees  a lot  imme- 
diately south  of  the  church  and  erected  a chapel  28  by 
45  feet,  which  is  used  for  social  meetings  and  Sabbath- 
school  room.  By  action  of  the  trustees  it  was  named 
the  “ Elizabeth  Carman  Memorial  Chapel.”  The  follow- 
ing have  been  pastors:  Rev.  Franklin  Merrill,  1847; 
Rev.  H.  B.  Burr;  Rev.  James  M.  McDougall,  1856-63; 
Rev.  R.  G.  Hinsdale,  1863,  1864;  Rev.  Charles  F.  Boyn- 
ton, pastor  in  1881. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — While  there  is  no  record 
of  the  first  class  formed  in  Freeport,  it  is  known  that 
Rev.  Jonathan  Lyon  preached  in  1813  at  Willett  Raynor’s 
farm  house  (now  owned  by  Mr.  Grading).  Rev. 
Thomas  Birdsall,  in  1881  a local  preacher  at  East  Mead- 
ows, was  converted  at  that  meeting.  At  that  time  a 
class  was  led  by  Parker  Baldwin,  at  Raynortown.  In 
1827  Thomas  Seaman  was  leader  of  a class  of  eighteen. 
Services  were  held  at  Willett  Raynor’s,  William  B.  Ray, 
nor’s  and  Isaac  Post’s  until  1833,  when  a small  store  near 
the  residence  of  William  B.  Raynor  was  purchased  and 
fitted  for  religious  purposes.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev. 
N.  Bigelow,  of  Hempstead  circuit.  From  this  time  for 
a number  of  years  circuit  and  local  preachers  from 
Hempstead  conducted  services,  with  the  exception  of  a 
short  time  while  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Amityville 
circuit.  A Sunday-school  was  organized,  with  William 
B.  Raynor  as  superintendent,  a position  which  he  filled 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1867.  He  was  also  a class 
leader.  The  little  society  struggled  for  existence  until 
the  conversion  of  John  C.  Raynor,  when  it  was  decided 
to  build  a church  in  the  center  of  the  village.  The  cor- 
ner stone  was  placed  in  position  in  1858.  The  church 
was  dedicated  in  February  1859  by  Rev.  B.  Pillsbury,  of 
Hempstead.  Rev.  S.  N.  Snedeker,  a local  preacher  of 
Hempstead,  supplied  the  pulpit  until  July  of  that  year, 
when  the  Rev.  S.  M.  Hammond  took  charge  of  the  Free- 
port and  Baldwins  circuit.  In  1872  the  two  villages  were 
supplied  with  different  preachers.  In  1873  more  land 
was  bought  and  a parsonage  was  built.  The  church  was 
enlarged,  and  was  rededicated  by  Bishop  Simpson  Janu- 
ary 16th  1878.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  min- 
isters since  1859:  Rev.  S.  M.  Hammond,  1859,  i860; 
Rev.  E.  Miner,  1861;  Rev.  A.  Booth,  1862,  1863;  Rev. 
R.  Wake.  1864,  1865  (Freeport  only);  Rev.  C.  P.  Corner, 
1866,  1867;  Rev.  F.  W.  Ware,  1868,  1869;  Rev.  W.  W. 
Clark,  1870,  1871;  Rev.  S.  M.  Hammond,  1872-74  (Free- 
port only);  Rev.  E.  S.  Hebberd,  1875,  1876;  Rev.  W.  R. 
Webster,  1877,  1878;  Rev.  D.  S.  Stevens,  1879-81.  Of 
W.  B.  Raynor  Rev.  S.  M.  Hammond  says,  “ He  may 
be  called  the  father  of  the  modern  church  in  Freeport.” 
He  was  born  in  1801,  converted  in  1823  and  was  married 
to  Mary  Ann  Valentine  in  1826,  and  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1867,  served  the  church  in  various  capacities. 
Revivals  occurred  in  1865,  1872,  1873,  1874  and  1877. 
The  church  property  is  valued  at  $4,000,  the  parsonage 
at  $3,000.  The  Sunday-school  numbers  240  scholars. 


Far  Rockaway. 

Historians  in  speaking  of  Far  Rockaway  say  that  the 
Rockaway  tribe  of  Indians  were  scattered  over  the 
southern  part  of  the  town  of  Hempstead,  which,  with  a 
part  of  Jamaica  and  the  whole  of  Newtown,  formed  the 
extent  of  their  claim.  It  is  believed,  however,  that  a 
greater  part  of  the  population  was  at  Near  Rockaway 
and  as  far  west  as  the  old  Marine  Pavilion.  There  was 
a like  settlement  on  Barnum’s  Island. 

The  beach  at  Far  Rockaway  and  for  many  miles  east 
and  west  is  undergoing  frequent  local  changes.  Many 
times  the  surf  washes  away  several  rods  in  width  during 
a single  storm,  and  perhaps  the  next  storm  adds  more 
than  has  been  removed  by  the  preceding  one.  The  sea 
often  makes  inlets  to  the  bays  and  marshes  and  as  often 
fills'  up  others,  and  for  this  reason  if  for  no  other  it  is 
impossible  to  correctly  give  a geographical  history  of 
this  section. 

Of  the  original  settlers  the  conclusion  has  been 
reached  that  in  1676  this  tract  was  purchased  of  the 
Rockaway  tribe  by  one  Cornwell,  said  to  be  a younger  son 
of  Lord  Cornwall.  The  right  of  such  sale  was  subse- 
quently disputed  by  the  town  of  Hempstead.  Later  re- 
searches go  to  prove  that  the  Cornwell  family  resided  in 
this  section  for  a number  of  years.  According  to  an 
article  recently  prepared  for  publication  by  Mrs.  William 
J.  Kavanagh,  Benjamin  Cornwell  was  the  first  to  con- 
ceive the  idea  of  making  sea  bathing  here  remunerative, 
and  to  that  end  he  opened  a place  of  entertainment  on 
the  site  now  known  as  the  old  Pavilion  grounds.  Men- 
tion is  made  of  one  John  Carnagay.  His  property  was 
subsequently  sold  to  one  of  the  Mott  brothers,  of  whom 
there  were  six,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  the  Healy  family. 
The  house  is  on  Jamaica  Bay,  and  is  how  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Judge  Healy.  Another  interesting  old  residence 
is  the  Mott  homestead  at  the  junction  of  the  old  turn- 
pike road  and  Mott  avenue.  The  house,  although  over 
one  hundred  years  old,  is  still  in  an  excellent  state  of 
preservation.  Its  original  owner  was  ’Squire  John  Mott. 
Among  other  old  buildings  is  Rock  Hall,  built  by  the 
Hon.  Joseph  Martin,  now  in  possession  of  the  Hewlett 
family.  The  building  is  a large  and  imposing  structure. 
The  Morton  mansion,  now  the  country  seat  of  Edward 
N.  Dickerson,  is  situated  within  the  limits  of  Wave 
Crest  Park. 

During  the  last  half  century  Far  Rockaway  has  been 
a fashionable  summer  resort  and  to-day  it  is  a large  vil- 
lage, mainly  composed  of  fine  hotels  and  boarding 
houses.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  Marine 
Pavilion,  one  of  the  early  resorts;  here  it  probably  was 
that  the  following  lines  were  indited  by  George  P. 
Morris: 

On  old  Long-  Island’s  seagirt  shore 
Many  an  hour  I’ve  whiled  away, 

List’ning  to  the  breakers’  roar 
That  wash  the  beach  of  Bockaway. 

Transfixed  I’ve  stood  while  Nature’s  lyre 
In  one  harmonious  concert  broke, 

And,  catching  its  Promethean  fire, 

My  inmost  soul  to  rapture  woke. 


2 


FAR  ROCKAWAY  AND  NEW  BRIDGE. 


169 


Oh,  how  delightful  ’tis  to  stroll 
Where  niurm’ring'  winds  and  waters  meet, 

Marking  the  billows  as  they  roll 
And  break  resistless  at  your  feet ; 

To  watch  young-  Iris,  as  she  dips 
Her  mantle  in  the  sparkling  dew, 

And,  chas’d  by  Sol,  away  she  trips 
O’er  the  horizon’s  quiv’ring-  blue. 

To  hear  the  startling  night-winds  sigh, 

As  dreamy  twilight  lulls  to  sleep  ; 

While  the  pale  moon  reflects  from  high 
Her  image  in  the  mighty  deep ; 

Majestic  scene  where  Nature  dwells, 

Profound  in  everlasting  love, 

While  her  unmeasured  music  swells, 

The  vaulted  firmament  above. 

Within  the  last  few  years  Far  Rockaway  has  more 
than  doubled  its  resident  population.  Building  lots  that 
were  worth  $150  in  1875  in  1881  were  valued  at  three 
times  that  amount,  and  during  the  fall  and  winter  of 
1880-81  a large  number  of  buildings  were  erected.  The 
Wave  Crest  purchase,  comprising  the  tract  known  as  the 
Clark  estate,  and  the  land  once  belonging  to  the  old 
Marine  Pavilion,  enclosed  as  a private  park,  with  lodges 
at  the  entrance  gates,  contain  the  summer  residences  of 
a number  of  prominent  people.  The  village  has  a good 
school  building,  a depot,  a post-office,  built  by  Mr.  Cole, 
and  arranged  for  the  office  and  a drug  store;  an  Episco- 
pal chapel,  the  Catholic  church,  Rev.  Father  Zimmer 
pastor;’  St.  Mary’s  Academy,  several  stores  and  a large 
number  of  hotels,  among  them  the  United  States,  St. 
James  (L.  Corser  proprietor),  Coleman,  Mansion,  Arling- 
ton, Atlantic,  Wave  Crest,  Mott’s,  etc.  Through  the 
energy  of  Justice  Healy  a court-house  and  public  hall 
was  built  near  the  railroad  depot  in  1881.  At  the  beach 
is  found  every  facility  for  bathing,  while  at  the  old  and 
established  landing  of  J.  L.  C.  Norton  boats  are  always  in 
waiting  to  carry  passengers  to  the  ocean  side. 

Trinity  Episcopal  parish  at  Far  Rockaway  has  been 
divided.  It  included  Hewletts,  Woodburgh  and  Law- 
rence. These  latter  villages  will  hereafter  constitute 
Trinity  parish,  and  Far  Rockaway  will  be  known  as 
St.  John’s  parish.  The  wardens  are  William  H.  Neilson 
and  J.  A.  Hewlett,  and  the  vestrymen  are  Alfred  Neilson, 
Hewlett  Lawrence,  William  E.  Foote,  Joseph  Marsden, 
Edward  N.  Dickerson,  Edward  Brinkerhoff,  Dr.  White 
and  Mr.  Merrick.  A new  edifice  is  to  be  erected  and 
the  chapel  used  for  Sunday-school  purposes. 


New  Bridge. 

In  the  year  1818  a new  bridge  was  built  over  the 
brook  which  separates  what  was  anciently  known  as 
Whale  Neck  from  Little  Neck;  and  the  name  New 
Bridge  was  applied  to  that  section  of  country  bordering 
on  either  side  of  the  bridge.  Several  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  change  the  local  name. 
Nearly  twenty  years  ago  the  citizens  assembled  and  re- 
solved thencefoith  to  call  the  place  Bridge  Haven;  but 
the  circumstantial  name  New  Bridge  seemed  determined 
not  to  pass  into  oblivion  without  a struggle. 

Tradition  describes  this  place  as  being  the  “ happy 


hunting  ground  ” of  a band  of  Indians  related  to  the 
Merrick  or  the  Merikoke  tribe,  the  relics  of  whom  are 
often  found  by  the  farmers  on  this  neck  of  land,  which 
was  known  and  described  in  ancient  writings  as  Little 
Neck.  The  principal  village  of  this  tribe  of  Indians  was 
on  the  east  side  of  the  New  Bridge  creek  or  river  and  on 
the  southerly  part  of  the  farms  now  owned  by  David  Be- 
dell, Thomas  S.  Smith  and  John  D.  Cornelius;  large 
heaps  of  shells  extending  several  feet  into  the  ground 
still  exist  in  this  locality.  These  Indians  reluctantly  re- 
moved from  this  section  in  1658,  when  the  early  settlers 
of  the  town  of  Hempstead,  after  several  unsuccessful  ef- 
forts, secured  from  the  tribe  an  amicable  settlement. 

The  original  settler  of  this  place  was  Colonel  John 
Jackson,  who  at  an  early  day  owned  nearly  all  the  land 
on  Little  Neck.  He  resided  at  one  time  in  Jeru- 
salem, but  later  on  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Jacob  S.  J. 
Jones.  On  the  23d  of  January  1804  he  obtained  from 
the  town  of  Hempstead  a grant  of  the  Whole  liberty  and 
privilege  of  Jerusalem  River  for  a grist  and  fulling-mill, 
with  fifty  or  sixty  acres  of  land  adjoining,  which  property 
has  descended  from  father  to  the  eldest  son  to  the  fourth 
generation.  During  the  Revolutionary  period  a British 
fleet  was  lying  off  Jones’s  Beach,  where  General  Jacob  S. 
Jackson  (grandfather  of  Jacob  S.  J.  Jones)  was  stationed 
with  his  brigade  for  the  protection  of  the  south  coast  of 
Long  Island.  While  the  general  was  walking  along  the 
beach  at  a little  distance  from  his  command,  a ball  weigh- 
ing about  eight  pounds,  fired  from  a British  ship,  lodged 
a few  feet  from  him  in  the  sand.  On  turning  suddenly 
around  he  fell.  His  men,  seeing  him  fall,  supposed  he 
was  killed.  They  ran  to  his  assistance,  but  found  him  up 
and  digging  for  the  ball.  They  found  it  and.  carried  it 
away  as  a memento.  It  has  since  been  kept  in  the  fam- 
ily. When  Jacob  S.  J.  Jones  came  in  possession  of  it 
with  the  premises  in  1829  he  dug  a hole  by  his  house,  put 
the  ball  in  the  bottom  and  planted  a weeping  willow  tree 
on  it,  thinking  it  had  made  noise  enough.  The  tree  grew 
splendidly  for  forty  years.  Then  a violent  storm  blew 
down  the  tree,  which  was  five  feet  in  diameter;  with  it  a 
large  quantity  of  earth  was  taken  up  and  the  ball  was 
disclosed. 

During  the  Revolutionary  period  this  region  was  much 
molested  by  gunboat  men  who  infested  the  harbors,  came 
up  the  Jerusalem  River,  now  called  Jackson’s  Creek,  and 
raided  the  mill  and  farms  in  its  vicinity.  At  one  time 
General  Jackson  was  awakened  by  hearing  his  negro  ser- 
vant pass  through  his  room  into  an  adjoining  room,  where 
the  silverware  was  kept.  In  a moment  she  returned, 
bringing  it  with  her,  and  the  next  moment  was  heard  a 
splash.  Soon  the  servant  was  at  the  bedside,  saying, 

Mas’er,  the  gunboat  men!  Mas’er,  the  gunboat  men!  ” 
The  general  found  it  was  too  late  to  run,  which  he  had 
frequently  had  to  do  in  order  to  save  his  life.  The  win- 
dows were  barricaded,  but  by  means  of  a battering  ram 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  breaking  in  the  back  hall  door. 
They  took  General  Jackson  out  of  bed,  shook  him  around 
and  demanded  his  money  and  silverware.  He  replied 
that  he  had  none.  At  this  they  became  enraged,  again 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 7° 


caught  hold  of  him  and  commenced  roughly  to  push  him 
about  the  room.  In  so  doing  they  backed  him  against 
two  posts  which  stood  as  a support  in  a part  of  the  room, 
between  which  a sort  of  till  had  been  temporarily  made 
by  the  general;  and  by  their  violence  he  momentarily  ex- 
pected this  would  give  way  and  expose  his  falsehood. 
Still  he  obstinately  refused  to  give  up  anything,  and  still 
the  old  till  kept  in  its  place. 

After  ransacking  the  house  and  finding  nothing — for 
the  old  servant  had  thrown  the  silverware  into  the  swill 
barrel  for  safety — the  party  concluded  to  take  General 
Jackson  prisoner,  and  dragged  him  down  to  the  bank  of 
the  river.  An  alarm  was  given,  and  in  a short  time  a 
number  of  citizens  were  on  the  banks  of  the  stream;  but 
the  general  was  taken  on  board  a British  vessel  lying  off 
the  coast,  and  after  a few  weeks  was  sent  to  a place  of 
confinement  in  New  Jersey.  Here  he  was  kept  several 
months.  Through  negligence  on  the  part  of  the  keeper 
he  finally  escaped  in  open  day,  and  walked  quietly  through 
the  fields  to  a wood.  Once  in  the  woods  he  no  longer 
walked  quietly,  but  ran  rapidly,  and  late  in  the  evening 
arrived  at  the  quarters  of  an  old  negro,  who  lodged  him 
in  a garret,  about  large  enough  for  him  to  turn  around  in, 
to  which  he  gained  access  through  a trap  door  by  a lad- 
der. After  directing  the  old  negro  to  take  the  ladder  far 
away  from  the  hut,  and  if  any  one  came  to  tell  them  he 
had  seen  nobody,  he  quietly  closed  the  trap  door  and  lay 
down  upon  it.  In  the  night  he  was  awakened  by  the 
British,  who  were  in  search  of  him;  but  the  old  darkey 
was  faithful  to  the  directions  given  him,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded. In  the  early  morning  he  resumed  his  journey, 
and  after  several  days’  starvation  and  anxiety  he  reached 
home. 

The  silverware  which  was  thrown  into  the  swill  bar- 
rel for  safety  was  seen  by  the  writer  of  this  account;  it 
bears  the  initials  “ O.  A.  J.”  (Obadiah  and  Almy  Jack- 
son). 

The  residence  of  Jacob  S.  J.  Jones  will  long  be  remem- 
bered as  the  scene  of  many  interesting  events.  In  one 
of  the  upper  windows  may  be  seen  cut  upon  a pane  of 
glass  the  names  Phebe  Jackson,  Mary  Jackson  and 
Henry  C.  Bogert,  with  the  date  April  17th  1766.  Mary 
Jackson  was  the  wife  of  Major  Thomas  Jones,  who  was 
the  first  white  settler  on  Fort  Neck. 


Hamlets  and  Stations. 

East  Rockaway,  formerly  known  as  Near  Rockaway,  is 
located  five  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Hempstead,  and 
four  miles  north  of  the  Long  Beach  Hotel.  It  is  a pleas- 
ant little  village,  open  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  con- 
tains two  stores,  one  owned  by  Mr.  S.  S.  Rhame,  and  one 
in  which  is  located  the  post-office;  two  hotels,  conducted 
by  L.  C.  Smith  and  Daniel  Pettit;  a flouring-mill,  a 
school  building,  a chapel,  and  several  fine  residences. 

“ Rockaway  ” was  the  name  of  a tribe  of  Indians  who 
inhabited  Hog  Island  (now  Barnum’s  Island),  where 
many  traces  of  them  are  to  be  seen.  A few  years  ago 


there  yet  remained  on  the  island  a mount  called  “ In- 
dian Hill.”  It  was  about  fifty  feet  long,  thirty  feet  wide 
and  from  four  to  six  feet  high,  composed  of  oyster  and 
clam  shells  and  a little  soil. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  Colonel  Richard  Hew- 
lett resided  here.  He  was  an  English  officer,  and  had  a 
small  regiment  of  English  soldiers  at  his  residence  and 
under  his  command.  The  only  monument  now  existing 
of  their  doings  is  the  remains  of  a large  ditch  and  an  em- 
bankment thrown  up  by  these  soldiers  around  a piece  of 
woodland  then  owned  by  him. 

At  East  Rockaway  are  the  pumping  engine  and  well 
which  furnish  water  to  the  Long  Beach  Hotel  and  cot- 
tages. A neat  depot  accommodates  passengers.  Among 
the  artisans  are  George  Rider  & Son,  boat  builders  and 
carpenters.  Mr.  Rider  has  resided  in  East  Rockaway  a 
number  of  years,  and  has  seen  a large  part  of  its  growth. 
The  village  and  locality  are  the  home  of  many  of  the  old 
residents  of  Hempstead,  among  whom  we  may  mention 
the  names  of  Peter  Hewlett,  Oliver  S.  Denton  and  Rich- 
ard Carman. 

The  union  Sunday-school  at  East  Rockaway  was 
organized  in  the  district  school-house  by  L.  D.  Simons 
as  superintendent  on  Sunday  June  9th  1867.  The  first 
teachers  were  L.  D.  and  W.  A.  Simons,  S.  S.  Rhame, 
Mrs.  L.  D.  Simons,  Mrs.  R.  T.  Hewlett  and  Misses  Mary 
A.  Simons  and  Libbie  B.  Baiseley.  The  total  number 
present  at  the  organization  was  fourteen,  but  before  the 
expiration  of  the  year  the  membership  had  increased  to 
fifty  or  more.  At  the  present  time  (1882)  more  than 
a -hundred  names  are  upon  the  school’s  roll. 

In  1877  the  subject  of  the  erection  of  a suitable  build- 
ing for  the  use  of  the  school  was  agitated,  resulting  in 
the  election  of  a board  of  trustees,  who  purchased  a lot 
50  by  150  feet,  located  on  the  main  street.  Ground  was 
broken  for  the  erection  of  a building  30  by  50  feet,  May 
25th  1878,  and  on  Sunday  August  25th  the  opening  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  chapel.  Within  three  years  from 
that  time  the  chapel  was  entirely  completed  and  taste- 
fully furnished,  and  a fence  built  around  the  lot,  at  a 
total  cost  of  about  $2,000.  Services  are  held  in  the 
chapel  by  pastors  of  neighboring  churches. 

Long  Beach. — This  beach,  which  contains  about  1,800 
acres,  with  a frontage  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  extends 
nearly  seven  miles  in  a straight  line  of  gently  sloping 
hard  packed  sand,  as  smooth  and  even  in  its  contour  as  a 
floor  of  asphalt.  It  is  one  of  the  chain  of  beaches  of  the 
southern  part  of  Hempstead.  During  the  latter  part  of 
the  summer  of  1879  it  was  visited  with  a view  of  determ- 
ining its  availability  for  improvement,  and  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Long  Beach  Improvement  Company,  in 
the  spring  of  1880,  work  was  commenced.  A railroad 
was  built  from  Pearsalls,  a distance  of  between  five  and 
six  miles,  a part  of  the  distance  on  trestle,  and  the  first 
mudsill  for  the  foundation  of  a large  hotel  was  put  in 
place  May  13th  1880;  workmen  commenced  to  raise  the 
building  May  1 8th ; July  17th  1880  it  was  completely  en- 
closed and  opened  to  the  public.  The  building  is  875 
feet  long,  including  its  piazzas,  140  feet  wide,  three  and 


VILLAGES  IN  THE  TOWN  OF  HEMPSTEAD. 


1 7 1 


a half  stories  high,  and  170  feet  away  from  the  nearest 
building,  except  the  music  stand — no  feet  off.  The 
basement  is  used  for  storing  supplies,  and  the  first  floor 
for  offices.  In  the  center  of  the  building  is  the  great  re- 
freshment room,  175  by  80  feet,  and  on  the  sides  are  cor- 
ridors, each  50  feet  wide,  running  across  the  building 
from  north  to  south.  On  the  second  floor,  which  is 
reached  by  flights  of  stairs  20  feet  broad,  are  parlors, 
dining-rooms  and  public  rooms  for  guests,  while  a broad 
porch  runs  entirely  around  the  building.  The  third  floor 
is  the  size  of  the  second,  and  contains  sleeping  rooms, 
bath  rooms  and  lavatories.  The  fourth  floor  is  entirely  a 
chamber  floor.  Architecturally,  the  building  is  a simple 
and  quiet  rendering  of  the  so-called  Queen  Anne,  with 
low  roofs  and  projecting  gables,  running  up  with  half 
timberings  and  shingled  spandrils.  In  brief  the  hotel 
has  serving  rooms  sufficient  to  wait  upon  5,000  people  at 
the  same  time.  Water  is  supplied  from  an  immense  well 
at  East  Rockaway,  four  miles  distant.  Two  large  engines 
and  pumps  are  located  at  that  point,  and  the  water  is 
forced  to  the  beach  at  the  rate  of  275,000  gallons  a 
day.  The  building  is  lighted  by  gas,  the  tank  being 
about  i,coo  feet  away  from  the  hotel.  The  boiler  that 
runs  the  engine  in  the  hotel  is  also  about  1,000  feet  distant. 

East  of  the  hotel. a large  number  of  cottages  have  been 
erected,  which  are  rented  to  families  during  the  season. 
In  1881  the  railroad  was  extended  five  miles  to  Point 
Lookout,  the  east  end  of  the  beach,  where  cottages,  a 
pavilion  and  50  bathing  houses  were  built.  Near  the 
hotel  are  1,006  bathing  houses,  properly  arranged  for  con- 
venience; and  connected  with  these  houses,  which  are. 
under  the  care  of  a superintendent,  is  the  laundry.  An 
ice-house,  a livery  stable,  etc.,  make  up  the  rest  of  the 
hotel  attachments.  The  master  builder  of  this  hotel  was 
C.  McLean.  N.  B.  Mulliner  was  the  master  painter,  both 
gentlemen  having  a small  army  of  workmen  under  their 
command. 

Seaford , formerly  known  as  Atlanticville  and  previous 
to  that  as  Verity  Town,  was  originally  owned  by  the  Sea- 
mans, descendants  of  the  renowned  Captain  John  Sea- 
man, a historical  account  of  whom  was  written  by  Jordan 
Seaman,  of  Jericho,  and  published  by  Ardon  Seaman,  of 
Jerusalem,  in  1866.  The  Veritys  settled  in  the  southerly 
part  of  the  locality,  and  for  a time  it  was  known  as  Verity 
Town.  It  is  on  the  westerly  boundary  of  Fort  Neck. 
The  island  southerly  from  here  in  the  Great  South  Bay, 
known  as  Squaw  Island,  is  said  to  have  obtained  its 
name  in  the  determined  conflicts  between  the  Long  Isl- 
and and  Connecticut  Indians.  The  former  transported 
their  squaws  and  children  to  this  island  for  safety. 

The  general  grocery  store  of  Bayliss  & Van  Nostrand 
is  a favorite  resort  for  the  citizens  of  this  and  the  sur- 
rounding villages.  The  post-office  connected  with  it  is 
well  conducted  by  John  Bayliss.  The  new  general  grocery 
store  of  R.  B.  Jackson  is  a credit  to  the  place  and  to  its 
proprietor.  Mr.  Jackson  has  been  in  the  business  fifteen 
years.  The  well  stocked  lumber  yards  of  Curtis  S. 
Smith  & Co.,  established  in  1865;  the  planing,  moulding 
and  saw-mill  run  by  the  efficient  millwright  Edgar  Haff; 


the  old  established  blacksmith  shop  operated  by  John  W. 
Hendrickson;  and  the  carriage  factories  and  other  places 
of  business  render  this  a considerable  center  of  trade 
and  industry.  Its  quiet  and  genial  citizens  have  already 
awakened  to  the  interest  of  oyster  planting,  having 
formed  a large  company  with  a.  considerable  capital. 
Here  may  be  found  the  best  oyster  planting  grounds  on 
the  south  shore  of  Long  Island. 

Smithville  South. — Still  further  north,  on  the  Little 
Neck  road,  lies  the  thriving  village  of  Smithville  South. 
It  has  a store,  a carpenter  shop,  a post-office,  a black- 
smith shop,  a church,  a school-house  and  a hotel.  It  is 
the  home  of  ’Squire  Thomas  D.  Smith,  civil  engineer 
and  surveyor.  Vegetables,  berries,  etc.,  are  extensively 
cultivated,  and  find  a ready  market  at  Long  Beach. 

Greenville  Point  was  formerly  a great  resort  for  per- 
sons passing  from  Hempstead  to  Freeport  and  vicinity, 
and  was  for  many  years  known  as  “ Rum  P’int.”  In  1881 
there  were  only  the  traces  of  the  hotels,  and  a church 
and  school-house  form  the  nucleus  of  what  will  probably 
grow  into  a village  in  the  near  future. 

Merrick , Bellmore  and  Ridgewood  are  stations  on  the 
Southern  Railroad,  in  the  center  of  a rich  agricultural 
district.  The  houses  in  these  neighborhoods  are  so 
scattered  that  they  can  scarcely  be  called  villages.  Each 
station  has  a neat  depot  building.  At  Merrick,  about  a 
mile  from  the  depot,  are  the  Long  Island  camp  meeting 
grounds,  upon  which  numerous  cottages  have  been 
erected.  This  large  tract  of  land,  thickly  wooded, 
affords  abundant  and  delightful  shade,  and  the  locality  is 
admirably  suited  to  its  present  use.  Not  far  from  the 
camping  ground  is  the  extensive  farm  of  P.  C.  Barnum. 
The  station  is  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Long  Island. 
City.  The  Episcopal  residents  of  Merrick,  having  pur- 
chased the  Methodist  chapel,  paying  therefor  $r,ooo, 
have  deeded  it  to  the  trustees  of  the  estate  of  the  dio- 
cese. A Brooklyn  church  has  presented  the  new  parish 
with  a baptismal  font.  Money,  however,  is  needed  to 
supply  seats,  an  organ  and  a bell. 

Bellmore  is  about  a mile  further.  It  has  access  to  the 
South  Bay  by  a creek  navigable  for  vessels  of  consider- 
able size.  It  has  a carriage  manufactory  and  flour-mills, 
two  churches  and  a post-office.  Among  the  well  known 
residents  at  Bellmore  are  Charles  N.  Clement,  supervi- 
sor of  Hempstead,  and  John  D.  Cornelius. 

Ridgewood  is  a hamlet  about  half  a mile  south  of  the 
station.  It  has  two  churches,  one  newspaper  and  two 
flour-mills,  and  is  a milk  depot  for  this  section.  There 
are  two  stores  and  a post-office.  In  1880  Willet  Whit- 
more was  station  agent  and  merchant,  also  assistant  post- 
master. At  all  of  these  places  there  are  excellent  schools. 

Valley  Stream , on  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  is  seven- 
teen miles  from  Long  Island  City,  and  at  the  junction  of 
the  Rockaway  branch  railroad.  It  has  a fine  depot, 
post-office  and  telegraph  office  combined,  under  the 
charge  of  F.  E.  Janowitz  (who  is  also  a notary  public). 

A store  and  two  hotels  are  situated  near  the  depot.  K. 

P.  Chopin  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Valley  Stream  Hotel, 
built  in  1869.  A short  distance  from  the  depot  is  *a 


22 


172 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


pumping  station  of  the  Brooklyn  water  works,  simi- 
lar to  that  at  Rockville  Centre,  and  built  in  1881. 
The  large  dry  goods  and  grocery  store  of  James 
Fletcher  is  about  a mile  from  the  village.  Valley 
Stream  is  at  the  junction  of  the  branch  road  to 
Hempstead,  now  abandoned. 

Hewlett , about  nineteen  miles  from  Brooklyn,  is  a 
thriving  little  village,  containing  many  fine  houses  and 
surrounded  by  fine  farms.  A Roman  Catholic  church  is 
situated  at  this  point;  also  the  large  general  store  of 
Frank  H.  Weyant,  in  which  is  the  post-office.  Near  the 
village  is  the  undertaking  establishment  and  wheelwright 
shop  of  James  Kimball  & Son. 

Woodsburgh  is  a village  similar  in  size  to  Hewlett,  con- 
taining a post-office,  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Edward  W. 
Shaw,  several  stores  and  two  hotels.  At  the  Neptune 
House  William  O.  Mott  is  in  charge.  The  Pavilion 
Hotel,  with  accommodations  for  five  hundred  guests,  is 
complete  in  every  respect.  A short  distance  from  the 
hotel  is  fine  bathing  and  an  anchorage  for  yachts.  Con- 
nected with  the  Neptune  House  is  a half-mile  course, 
called  the  Woodsburgh  Driving  Park.  In  this  vicinity 
the  drives  are  excellent,  and  the  cottages  are  readily 
rented  every  year.  A beautiful  Episcopal  church  is  sit- 
uated a short  distance  from  the  Pavilion  Hotel;  Rev.  S. 
W.  Sayres  is  the  rector. 

Ocean  Point  and  Lawrence  are  thriving  villages  only  a 
short  distance  apart,  containing  fine  residences.  Law- 
rence, founded  by  Alfred  Lawrence,  from  whom  it 
derives  its  name,  has  over  five  hundred  inhabitants,  sev- 
eral stores,  a post-office  and  many  elegant  mansions, 
owned  by  wealthy  New  York  and  Brooklyn  gemlemen. 
On  the  avenues  leading  to  Far  Rockaway  from  these 
villages,  within  the  last  few  years  have  been  erected 
many  fine  and  costly  residences  and  large  club-houses, 
which  are  owned  by  men  of  wealth,  who  lavish  money  in 
beautifying  the  buildings  and  grounds. 

The  Lawrence  depot  is  about  midway  between  the 
village  and  Westville,  or  North  West  Point,  another 
beautiful  little  settlement.  James  Harris  has  been  the 
station  agent  since  the  building  of  the  railroad. 

Christian  Hook  ( Oceanville ). — This  settlement,  although 
not  a village,  has  been  frequently  referred  to  in  the  his- 
tory of  Queens  county.  It  occupies  a considerable  por- 
tion of  Hempstead,  bordering  on  the  bay,  and  contains 
many  fine  farms.  A Presbyterian  chapel  has  been  built, 
by  members  of  the  Hempstead  church.  Rev.  Marcus 
Burr  is  the  pastor.  A large  school  building  is  situated 
near  it.  There  are  three  stores  proper,  viz.,  Lorenzo 
Davison’s,  George  H.  Soper’s  and  Stephen  Rider’s.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  “ follow  the  bay.” 
Among  the  principal  farmers  and  residents  are  the  Pettits, 
Sopers,  Joseph  Brower,  Z.  Story  (one  of  the  oldest  men 
on  the  island)  and  Conways.  Since  1826  Ira  Pettit  has 
lived  on  his  present  farm,  a fine  one,  commanding  a beau- 
tiful view  seaward.  His  father,  James  Pettit,  was  born 
at  Hicks  Neck.  Ira,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  1812. 


The  farm  was  bought  of  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  in  1826. 
At  that  time  it  was  called  the  Parsonage,  which  name  it 
still  retains.  The  old  house  is  yet  standing,  but  a new 
one  was  built  in  1875. 

Baldwins. — This  village  is  between  Rockville  Center 
and  Freeport,  on  the  Southern  Railroad,  twenty-one  miles 
from  Long  Island  City.  In  1850  it  was  a hamlet  of  a few 
houses,  and  its  growth  was  not  rapid  until  the  completion 
of  the  Southern  Railroad,  about  fifteen  years  later,  s:nce 
which  the  population  has  increased  to  nearly  1,500,  scat- 
tered from  the  depot  to  the  meadows  bordering  Hemp- 
stead Bay.  The  name  of  the  village,  which  was  formerly 
Baldwinsville,  has  been  changed  to  Baldwins.  It  was  de- 
rived from  Francis  B.  Baldwin,  in  1881  the  treasurer  of 
Queens  county.  Mr.  Baldwin  owns  a large  tract  of  land 
west  of  the  village,  which  has  been  beautifully  arranged 
for  a home,  and  he  has  erected  many  buildings  in  the  vil- 
lage. On  his  farm  is  a half-mile  driving  park,  in  1881 
under  the  management  of  Dr.  A.  F.  Carpenter  for  the  South 
Side  Gentlemen’s  Driving  Club. 

In  the  village  are  two  Methodist  churches,  six  stores, 
including  that  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  general  grocer;  a well 
arranged  hotel,  conducted  by  Treadwell  Jones;  a pub- 
lic school  building,  a depot  and  a post  office,  the  general 
sewing  machine  agency  of  E.  S.  Raynor  & Brother, 
dealers  in  all  kinds  of  sewing  machines,  and  the  car- 
riage shop  of  Hingle  Brothers,  near  the  hotel,  established 
several  years  ago,  besides  other  smaller  shops,  etc.  A 
large  number  of  fishermen  and  oystermen  are  located  at 
this  point,  and  their  wares  greatly  add  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  village. 

Bridgeport  and  Norwood,  on  the  branch  of  the  Southern 
Railroad  from  Valley  Stream  to  Hempstead,  were  formerly 
stopping  places  for  the  accommodation  of  farmers  in  the 
vicinity.  The  road  is  not  used  at  present,  although  the 
rails  are  yet  in  place  and  it  is  thought  that  it  will  again 
come  into  use.  At  Norwood  station  is  the  general  store 
of  Smith  Du  Bois,  formerly  kept  by  Valentine  Wood,  and 
there  are  several  fine  residences.  The  store  has  been  es- 
tablished over  forty  years.  Among  the  prominent  resi- 
dents are  Martin  Wood,  son  of  Valentine  Wood;  Ezekiel 
Frost,  a farmer,  born  in  1816,  and  Smith  Du  Bois,  the 
merchant.  Mr.  Frost  attended  school  fifty  years  ago  in 
one  of  the  old  log  school-houses  of  Hempstead,  situated 
on  the  road  to  Triming  Square.  There  are  many  fine 
farms  in  the  vicinity  of  these  stations. 

Life-Saving  Stations. — Along  the  Hempstead  beaches 
are  several  United  States  life-saving  stations,  at  which 
are  stationed  quite  a number  of  men  during  the  incle- 
ment seasons  of  the  year.  The  stations  are  provided 
with  boats  and  everything  pertaining  to  the  service,  and 
the  men  employed  are  carefully  chosen  from  those  used 
to  the  sea  and  its  dangers.  During  the  winter  and  spring 
months  they  are  constantly  on  duty,  and  many  lives  and 
much  property  have  been  saved  by  them.  The  buildings, 
while  not  large,  are  substantial,  and  are  fitted  up  conven- 
iently for  those  employed. 


HEMPSTEAD  VILLAGE— “ CHRIST’S  FIRST  CHURCH.” 


M3 


HEMPSTEAD  VILLAGE. 

This  village,  the  largest  in  the  town  and  the  oldest  in 
the  county,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  populous,  is  sit- 
uated about  twenty  miles  east  of  New  York  city,  which 
is  easily  reached  by  rail  or  turnpike.  The  village  con- 
tains the  residences  of  many  New  York  families,  who 
spend  the  summer  mouths  here,  preferring  the  ocean 
breeze  and  the  country  comforts  to  the  heat  and  dust  of 
the  city.  The  streets  are  beautifully  laid  out  and  cared 
for,  many  of  them  comparing  favorably  with  avenues  in 
larger  places,  and  the  roads  leading  to  neighboring  vil- 
lages in  the  town  are,  when  in  good  condition,  the  scene 
of  many  pleasure  trips,  winding  as  they  do  amid  beautiful 
farms  and  attractive  villas.  A number  of  the  streets 
were  named  in  1834,  among  them  Fulton  street.  Others 
are  Main,  Front,  Greenwich,  Jackson,  Franklin,  Orchard, 
Prospect,  Washington,  Clinton  and  High,  and  numerous 
avenues,  the  principal  business  streets  being  those  first 
mentioned. 

Among  the  public  buildings  are  five  churches,  two 
halls,  two  school  buildings,  two  large  buildings  used  for 
the  fire  department,  the  railroad  station  and  six  hotels, 
besides  numerous  boarding  houses.  Some  of  these, 
with  the  more  important  business  firms,  are  noticed 
hereafter.  There  are  two  newspapers,  the  Inquirer 
•and  Sentinel.  The  village  is  lighted  with  gas.  Several 
small  sheets  of  water  and  parks  add  to  its  beauty. 

The  growth  of  Hempstead  during  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century  has  been  rapid,  and  it,  is  safe  to  surmise  that  the 
next  twenty  years  will  see  it  double  its  present  size,  and 
virtually  make  Hempstead  village  and  Garden  City  one. 

The  following  were  the  officers  of  the  village  elected 
on  Tuesday  March  1st  x 88 1 : Trustees — E.  Kelluin,  B.  F. 
Rushmore,  Samuel  H.  Minshull,  William  M.  Akley, 
Richard  Brower;  clerk,  Scott  Van  De  Water  jr. ; treas- 
urer, B.  Valentine  Clowes;  collector,  John  B.  Mersereau; 
street  commissioner,  Charles  Noon;  fire  wardens — Moses 
R.  Smith,  William  E.  Carman,  Horace  F.  Denton.  E. 
Kellum  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

THE  HEMPSTEAD  CHURCHES. 

“Christ’s  First  Church  (Presbyterian).” 

The  history  of  the  above  named  church  dates  back  to 
the  first  settlement  on  Long  Island  and,  as  the  name 
implies,  probably  to  the  establishment  of  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church  in  America. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch,  after  careful  research,  not 
accepting  the  written  reports  for  the  sixteenth  century 
without  carefully  studying  the  records  and  comparing 
the  same,  believes  the  following  to  be  as  nearly  correct 
as  possible,  although  there  are  periods  of  which  no  trace 
can  be  discovered.  Many  facts  have  been  gleaned  from 
a carefully  prepared  discourse  by  the  Rev.  Sylvester 
Woodbridge,  pastor  of  the  church  from  1838  to  1848, 
who  in  writing  his  evidently  carefully  prepared  manu- 
script had  recourse  to  everything  pertaining  to  the  early 
history  of  the  church,  as  well  as  many  historical  remin- 


iscences chronicled  only  in  the  memory  of  those  ad- 
vanced in  life,  who  have  since  passed  away. 

“Among  iiaose  who  emigrated  to  America  was  the  Rev. 
Richard  Denton,  a Presbyterian  minister  of  Coly  Chapel, 
parish  of  Halifax,  in  the  northern  part  of  England.  ‘ He 
was,’  says  the  Rev.  O.  Hayward,  ‘ a good  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  affluent  in  his  worldly  circumstances. 
* * * In  his  time  came  out  the  book  for  sports  on 
the  Sabbath  days.  He  saw  he  could  not  do  what  was 
required,  feared  further  persecution  and  therefore  took 
the  opportunity  of  going  into  New  England.’  Mr.  Den- 
ton came  to  Watertown,  Mass.,  A.  D.  1634;  removed  to 
Wethersfield,  Conn.,  in  1635,  to  Stamford  in  1641,  and 
in  1644  came  to  Hempstead.” 

From  Mr.  Denton’s  known  views  the  friends  of  Pres- 
byterianism reach  the  conclusion  that  the  church  was 
Presbyterian,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  first  church  was 
called  “Christ’s  First  Church”  it  is  supposed  by  many 
that  this  was  the  earliest  Presbyterian  church  in  America. 

“ The  first,  meeting-house  was  erected  in  1648.  It 
stood  near  the  pond,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  village, 
and  was  surrounded  bv  or  at  least  connected  with  a fort 
or  stockade.” 

“ It  may  be  proper  to  observe  that  at  this  time  the  most 
intimate  connection  existed  between  church  and  State  in 
all  Christian  countries.  In  towns  which,  like  Hempstead, 
were  Presbyterian  (that  is,  which  chose  their  own  officers) 
this  was  particularly  the  case.  The  same  persons  con- 
stituted ‘ the  church  ’ and  ‘ the  town,’  and  elected  the  two 
boards  of  magistrates  and  elders,  who  were  often  the 
same  individuals.” 

In  the  year  1658-9  the  Rev.  Mr.  Denton  returned  to 
England,  and  immediately  thereafter  the  congregation 
sent  Joseph  Meade  to  procure  a pastor.  In  this  he  was 
unsuccessful,  but  during  the  year  1662  the  services  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Fordham  were  obtained.”  From  1658  to  1682 
the  congregation  was  destitute  of  a settled  minister, 
although  it  is  probable  the  people  assembled  for  wor- 
ship. The  old  meeting-house  being  out  of  repair,  at 
a general  town  meeting  held  January  7th  1677  it  was 
agreed  to  erect  a new  building,  and  in  1678  a house  was 
built  a few  yards  west  of  the  present  Episcopal  church. 
It  was  to  be  “30  feet  long  and  24  wide  and  12  feet  stud, 
with  a lentwo  on  Ech  side.”  In  1734  it  was  taken  down 
and  another  erected  on  the  same  site.  The  first  parson- 
age was  erected  in  1682,  when  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Hub- 
ard  was  called  to  be  minister,  a position  which  he  filled 
until  1696.  It  is  thought  that  the  controversy  which 
took  place  between  the  Presbyterians  and  Episcopalians 
about  this  time,  and  the  course  taken  by  the  governor, 
were  the  cause  of  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hubard  from 
Hempstead. 

From  this  time  for  about  twenty  years,  Rev.  John 
Thomas,  a clergyman  who  had  received  Episcopal  ordi- 
nation, but  who  dispensed  with  some  of  the  usages  of  the 
Church  of  England,  preached  acceptably  to  the  people. 
He  died  in  1724,  after  which  came  the  formation  of  the 
Episcopal  society,  and  a general  receding  by  many  of 
the  older  Presbyterians. 


174 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Of  this  Mr.  Woodbridge  says:  “ Many  members  of  the 
congregation  entirely  deserted  all  religious  meetings,  and 
the  church,  reduced  to  a mere  lfandful,  for  a time  was 
threatened  with  extinction.  When  at  length  it  became 
certain  that  they  could  not  obtain  their  property  without 
resorting  to  a suit  at  law,  they  rallied  around  the  elders 
and  for  a time  held  religious  meetings  at  each  other’s 
houses.” 

In  1762,  thirty-eight  years  after  the  seizure  of  the 
church  property,  a small  edifice  was  erected  near  the  site 
of  the  present  church.  Soon  afterward  the  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Keteltas  supplied  the  congregation,  which  rapidly 
increased  until  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  it  received 
a check.  The  church  was  used  by  the  British  as  a stable, 
but  was  repaired  after  the  war.  It  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1803.  For  a time  it  again  appeared  as  if  the 
society  would  become  extinct.  “ The  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  church  did  not  exceed  fifteen  or  twenty,  and 
even  to  the  elders  it  seemed  impossible  that  the  congre- 
gation could  continue  to  exist.”  They  received  aid  from 
many  unexpected  quarters,  and  the  same  year  were 
enabled  to  erect  a house  of  worship,  and  March  1 6th 
1818  Rev.  Charles  Webster  was  installed  as  pastor,  after 
the  church  had  been  without  a pastor  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  years. 

Since  that  time  the  church  has  steadily  advanced,  and 
its  history  can  easily  be  traced.  The  following  is  a list 
of  ministers  since  the  organization  in  1644,  with  the  date 
of  beginning  and  the  length  of  their  service: 

1644,  Richard  Denton,  15  years;  1659,  Jonas  Ford- 
ham,  22;  1682,  Jeremiah  Hubard,  14;  1717,  Joseph 

Lamb,  7;  T736,  Benjamin  Woolsey,  20;  1760,  Abraham 
Keteltas,  5 or  6;  1770,  Mr.  Hotchkiss,  1;  1772,  Joshua 
Hart,  4;  1787,  Joshua  Hart,  3;  1791,  Mr.  Sturgiss,  2; 
1794,  Mr.  Davenport,  2;  1797,  Joshua  Hart,  6;  1805, 

William  P.  Kuvpers,  5;  1812,  Josiah  Andrews,  1;  1816, 
Samuel  Robertson,  1;  1818,  Charles  Webster,  19;  1838, 
Sylvester  Woodbridge,  10;  1849,  Charles  W.  Shields,  1; 
1850,  N.  C.  Locke,  10;  i860,  J.  J.  A.  Morgan,  7;  1867, 
James  B.  Finch,  7;  1875,  Franklin  Noble,  5J12. 

The  Sunday-sdiool  has  about  175  scholars,  25  officers 
and  teachers,  and  400  books  in  the  library. 

The  following  probably  constituted  the  earliest  board 
of  elders:  Rev.  Richard  Denton,  Robert  Ashman,  Wil- 
liam Washburne,  Richard  Gildersleeve,  John  Hicks,  Mr. 
Kirkeline. 

The  following  is  a partial  list  of  elders  who  have 
served  at  different  times  during  the  last  half  century: 
David  Hendrickson,  William  R.  Finney,  Eldred  Platt, 
John  Sealey,  James  Pine,  Robert  White,  Lefferts  Bergen, 
Charles  M.  Pine,  David  Sealey,  Reuben  Pine,  A.  S. 
Gardner,  Adrian  V.  Cortileyou,  Dr.  John  Davidson,  Cor- 
nelius Hendrickson,  Albert  W.  Hendrickson,  Henry 
Higbe,  Edwin  A.  Weeks,  Ebenezer  Kellum,  Richard  E. 
Losea,  George  W.  Rapelye,  Elias  C.  Everitt  and  Luke 
Fleet. 

At  a meeting  held  October  3d  1844  it  was  resolved  to 
erect  a new  church,  and  during  the  same  year  a branch 
church  was  organized  at  Oyster  Bay.  The  cost  of  the  new 
church  at  Hempstead,  which  was  completed  in  1846,  was 


$6,017.25.  The  old  parsonage  on  the  east  side  of  Main 
street  was  sold  for  $1,150,  and  the  site  of  the  parsonage 
on  Fulton  street  was  purchased  for  $317.10;  the  old 
church  was  removed  to  the  lot  and  rebui’t  for  a parson- 
age at  an  expense  of  $2,441.86.  The  present  lecture 
and  Sunday-school  room  was  built  in  1855  and  was  ded- 
icated February  7th  1856. 

Christian  Hook  was  so  named  because  the  glebe  or 
parsonage  lands  of  this  church  were  situated  there. 

Branches  of  this  church  have  been  established  at 
Freeport  and  Glen  Cove,  and  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Jamaica  is  said  to  be  an  offshoot  from  the  Hempstead 
church. 

A.  M.  E.  Zion  Church. 

This  church  is  situated  on  Cross  street,  near  Front. 
The  society  was  organized  in  1848;  the  site  of  the  edifice 
was  bought  of  E.  Willets,  December  6th  1848,  and  about 
the  same  time  an  old  school-house  was  purchased  and 
removed  to  the  land,  whese  ic  was  made  into  the  present 
church.  At  present  there  are  about  thirty  members,  and 
there  is  preaching  every  Sunday  and  Sunday-school  in  the 
afternoon.  The  society  is  free  of  debt.  Benjamin 
Evans,  a son  of  John  Evans,  who  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents,  is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  treasurer 
and  class  leader.  The  following  have  been  some  of  the 
preachers:  Revs.  George  Treadwell,  Peter  Corster,  Ms, 
Davis,  James  Lowery,  Mr.  Williams,  John  Seaman,  Mr. 
Cliff,  James  Landon,  John  J.  Stewart,  Thomas  C.  John- 
son, Adam  Jackson,  Charles  W.  Robinson  and  S.  C. 
Burchmore.  The  first  trustees  were  Elijah  Horton, 
William  B.  Corse  and  Benjamin  Evans. 

Church  of  our  Lady  of  Loretta. 

This  society  was  formed  about  ten  years  ago,  when 
the  land  on  Greenwich  street,  the  site  of  the  church 
property,  was  purchased,  together  with  a building  which 
has  since  been  moved  back  to  make  room  for  the  new 
church, which  was  built  a short  time  afterward.  The  parson- 
age was  already  built,  having  been  occupied  as  a private 
residence.  The  lot  is  about  100  feet  by  600.  The  church 
is  of  the  gothic  style  of  architecture,  about  45  by  85 
feet,  with  sacristy  of  16  feet  in  the  rear.  The  church  is 
nicely  seated,  lighted  and  heated,  and  has  a small  organ 
in  the  gallery.  The  entire  cost  has  been  about  $13,000. 
Rev.  Eugene  McSherrey  was  the  first  pastor,  and  died  at 
his  post  in  the  summer  of  1879.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  P.  Kearney,  under  whose  pastorate  the  church  is 
growing  in  numbers  and  prosperity.  Some  of  the  prom- 
inent members  are  Michael  Mulganr.on,  Nicholas  Gibney, 
John  Brein,  John  Hogan,  John  Mulgannon,  Senator  Fox, 
Michael  Fox,  Owen  Riley,  James  and  Barney  Powers, 
Patrick  Burns  and  Michael  Nolan. 

St.  George’s  P.  E.  Church. 

In  1702  representations  were  made  by  the  Rev.  George 
Keith,  Colonel  Heathcote  and  others,  to  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts— founded  in 
London  in  1701 — that  a Church  of  England  minister  was 


ST.  GEORGE’S  CHURCH,  HEMPSTEAD. 


f7S 


Built,  1733.  Opened,  April  22,  1735,  by  Goal  Cosby, 
Taken  Down,  1821.  New  Edifice  Erected,  1822. 


N 


W 


2,354 


much  desired  by  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Hempstead.  On  these  representations  the 
Rev.  John  Thomas  was  sent  as  a missionary 
here,  who  had  approved  himself  while  assist- 
ing the  Rev.  Evan  Evans  of  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Thomas  was  inducted  into 
the  parish  by  a mandate  from  Lord  Cornbury, 
governor  of  the  province.  There  were. a few 
influential  persons  ready  to  greet  Mr.  Thomas 
and  unite  themselves  into  a parish.  The 
number  of  English-speaking  people,  however, 
was  not  large.  The  Dutch  predominated. 
Mr.  Thomas  found  here  a church  building  of 
moderate  dimensions  and  a house  for  the 
minister — both  of  them  built  by  the  town 
and  owned  by  it.  The  church  was  but  poorly 
adapted  for  religious  purposes,  and  was  ar- 
ranged to  be  used  by  the  town  tor  civil 
purposes  on  week  days.  Neither  of  the  build- 
ings was  used  by  any  religious  society  at  Mr. 
Thomas’s  coming,  the  person  who  had 
officiated  here — the  Rev.  Jeremy  Hobart — 
having  removed  from  Hempstead  some  time 
previous.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  by  his  judi- 
cious and  kindly  manner  did  much  to  as- 
suage the  strong  prejudice  which  was  felt  by 
the  inhabitants  (who  had  been  reared  as 
Quakers  and  Presbyterians)  and  which  some- 
times manifested  itself  in  acts  of  violence. 
Mr.  Thomas  continued  his  ministry  here 
until  his  death,  in  1724 — a period  of  20 
years.  Major-General  Thomas  Thomas,  of 
the  Continental  army,  was  a grandson  of  the  Rev.  John 
Thomas. 

After  an  interval  of  two  years  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  was  filled  by  the  ap- 
pointment to  the  parish  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Jenney,  a 
graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  Ireland,  who  had  for 
some  years  been  officiating  as  the  missionary  at  Rye, 
Westchester  county.  Under  his  exertions  the  parish 
continued  to  prosper.  He  saw  the  time  had  come  to 
have  the  parish  placed  upon  an  independent  and  stable 
foundation,  and  being  a man  of  much  personal  influence 
and  enterprise  he  achieved  his  purpose.  By  a vote  of 
the  freeholders  of  the  town  he  obtained  a transfer  of  the 
church  and  parsonage  and  glebe  to  the  parish,  and  the 
release  was  followed  and  confirmed  to  the  parish  by  a 
charter  from  George  II.,  granted  in  1735.  This  charter 


Gi'onnd  Plan  of  O/d  C/unr/i . 

1 . Communion  Table. 

2 ,3  &4.  Pulpit,  Heading  and  Cler/csDesk. 

D.  Souih  jDoor. 

6-  Tower  & Wes l Door. 


Corporate  Seal  of  St.  George’s  Church,  1735. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 j6 

is  still  in  full  force  as  the  organic  law  of 
the  parish,  and  in  this  respect  is,  it  is  be- 
lieved, a single  exception  to  the  many 
charters  granted  by  the  royal  government. 

Its  authority  was  confirmed  by  the  consti- 
tution of  the  State  of  New  York  adopted 
in  1777.  It  has  never  been  submitted  to 
the  Legislature  for  alteration  or  amend- 
ment; even  the  title — “The  Inhabitants  of 
Hempstead  in  Communion  with  the  Church 
of  England  ” — remains  unaltered.  While 
other  chartered  parishes  have  petitioned 
to  have  changes  made  St.  George’s  has 
found  the  provisions  of  its  charter  adapted 
to  all  the  exigencies  which  have  arisen. 

The  old  church  which  had  been  given  by 
the  town  was  found  inconvenient  and  too 
small,  and  it  was  removed  and  another 
built — not  by  tax,  as  the  former  one,  but  by 
the  gifts  of  members  of  the  parish.  It 
was  opened,  with  a display  of  the  military 
of  the  county  and  much  ceremony,  by 
Governor  Cosby,  attended  by  many  of  the 
distinguished  citizens  of  the  province,  on 
St.  George’s  day,  April  22nd  1735.  A 
cut  of  it  is  given  on  the  preceding  page. 

Mr.  Jenney  remained  in  Hempstead  17 
years,  removed  to  Philadelphia  in  1742  and 
became  rector  of  Christ  Church.  From 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania — then  the 
“ College  of  Philadelphia  ” — he  received 
the  degree  of  LL.  D. 

To  him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury — a descendant  of  John  Alden, 
one  of  the  original  settlers  at  Plymouth,  Mass.  Mr. 
Seabury  was  educated  at  Yale  College,  but  left  it 
for  Harvard  in  consequence  of  the  excitement  attendant 
on  its  president  and  others  becoming  Episcopalians. 
Mr.  Seabury  himself  changed  his  views,  and  after 
ordination  in  1730  by  the  Bishop  of  London  and 
his  return  to  this  country  he  became  minister  of 
St.  James’s  Church,  New  London,  Conn.,  and  from  thence 
removed  to  Hempstead.  At  the  time  of  his  removal  his 
son  Samuel  was  a lad  13  years  old.  He  subsequently 
became  renowned  as  the  first  bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  North  America,  and  one  who  ex- 
erted a great  influence  in  determining  its  career. 

The  parish  of  Hempstead  by  an  act  of  Legislature  in 
1693  embraced  all  the  territory  of  Queens  county 
east  of  Jamaica  township.  This  territory  of  nearly 
20  miles  square  the  Rev.  Mr.  Seabury  did  his  best  to  care 
for.  He  held  services  regularly  in  Oyster  Bay  and  other 
villages  besides  Hempstead,  and  could  not  refuse  appli- 
cations from  Huntington  and  even  many  destitute  places 
in  Dutchess  county.  A remarkably  vigorous  frame  aided 
him  in  fulfilling  his  duties,  which  involved  almost  con- 
tinuous riding  on  horseback,  as  roads  were  few  and  car- 
riages were  hardly  used.  The  people  of  this  parish — 
though  many  of  them  were  thriving  farmers  and  well-to- 


Rev.  Thomas  Lambert  Moore  ; Died  1799. 

do  in  the  world — were  not  liberal  ; and  Mr.  Seabury, 
in  order  to  obtain  a support,  was  obliged  to  add  to  his 
care  of  all  the  churches  the  keeping  of  a classical  school. 
In  it  were  educated  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
citizens  of  New  York  State.  A classical  school  was  ac- 
quiesced in  by  the  people  of  the  parish  as  a means  for  their 
rector’s  support  for  the  succeeding  sixty  years.  Mr. 
Seabury  died  in-  1764. 

To  him  succeeded,  after  a space  of  two  years,  the  Rev. 
Leonard  Cutting,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  of  that 
name  in  this  State.  He  was  educated  at  Cambridge, 
England.  Seeking  to  benefit  his  fortune  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  accepted  the  position  of  overseer  of  a 
plantation  in  Virginia.  While  so  engaged  he  was  recog- 
nized by  a clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  for- 
merly a fellow  student  at  Cambridge.  By  the  kindly  ex- 
ertions of  this  clergyman  he  obtained  a position  more 
suitable  for  his  attainments  and  abilities;  that  of  tutor 
in  the  classics  in  Kings  (now  Columbia)  College,  New 
York  city,  which  had  been  established  in  1754.  In  this 
position  he  remained  until  1763,  when  he  returned  to 
England  an  applicant  for  holy  orders;  and,  his  papers 
being  found  eminently  satisfactory,  he  was  ordained  by 
the  bishop  of  London  in  December  1763  a deacon,  and 
some  time  afterward  a priest.  He  returned  to  this 


ST.  GEORGE’S  CHURCH  AND  RECTORY. 


T77 


St.  George’s  Church  Kectory;  Built  1793. 


country  in  1764  and  was  for  nearly  two  years  missionary 
at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  From  thence  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Hempstead.  His  career  was  peaceful  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  he  was  sub- 
jected to  some  of  the  trials  of  that  stormy  period.  Yet 
he  escaped  better  than  many  others,  because  the  people 
of  his  parish  were  almost  all  tories  and  a British  force 


was  on  the  ground  nearly  all  the  time.  But  he  found, 
like  many  other  loyalists,  that  the  British  soldier  did  not 
carefully  discriminate  between  friend  and  foe.  More  than 
once  the  rector  and  his  vestry  had  to  complain  of  out- 
rages commited.  When,  at  length,  the  arms  of  the  Con- 
tinental army  prevailed,  and  the  independence  of  the 
States  was  acknowledged,  Mr.  Cutting  found  himself  in  so 


■78 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


embarrassing  a position  that  he  left  the  parish  without 
formally  resigning  the  rectorship.  He  retired  to  Mary- 
land, and  subsequently  officiated  at  Newbern,  N.  C.  In 
1 792  he  returned  to  New  York  city,  where  he  died  in 
1794.  The  sundering  of  the  civil  and  ecclesiastical  re- 
lations of  St.  George’s  parish  with  the  English  govern- 
ment and  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
presented  some  new  questions  for  solution.  The  provis- 
ions of  the  charter  were,  however,  found  sufficient  in 
this  crisis,  and  the  vestry  of  that  period  wisely  followed 
their  direction,  with  some  slight  deviations  attributable  to 
the  novelty  of  their  position  and  their  lack  of  exper- 
ience. 

They  called  the  Rev.  Thomas  Lambert  Moore  to  fill 
the  vacancy  which  Mr.  Cutting’s  retirement  had  created. 
Mr.  Moore  was  a native  of  New  York  city.  He  had  been 
ordained  in  England  in  1781  by  Bishop  Lowth,  and  had 
remained  in  England  until,  by  the  kindly  influence  of  the 
Hon.  Edmund  Burke,  he  obtained  appointment  as  chap- 
lain to  a British  frigate,  in  which  he  sailed  first  for  Hal- 
ifax, and  arrived  in  New  York  in  1782.  He  was  officiat- 
ing as  missionary  at  Islip,  Suffolk  county,  when  he  was 
called  to  Hempstead.  During  his  rectorship  the  first 
steps  were  taken  to  organize  the  Episcopal  church  in  the 
several  United  States  into  one  body,  and  Mr.  Moore  was 
one  of  the  thirteen  persons  who  took  part  in  the  initiative 
measures.  Under  his  ministrations  the  parish  greatly 
prospered.  The  prayer  book  which  had  been  used  in  the 
church  since  17 n and  was  a gift  from  Queen  Anne,  as 
was  the  communion  set  still  in  use,  required  some 
changes  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war;  such 
as  the  substitution  of  prayers  for  the  President  and  Con- 
gress for  those  for  the  King  and  royal  family  and  for 
Parliament.  These  changes  Mr.  Moore  made  by  writing 
out  the  new  prayers  and  pasting  them  over  the  discon- 
tinued ones.  The  book  has  thus  been  made  a significant 
relic.  The  first  ordination  in  the  State  of  New  York 
took  place  in  this  parish,  in  November  1785,  in  the  person 
of  Mr.  John  Lowe,  from  Virginia.  In  1793  the  house 
which  the  town  had  built  in  1683  for  a minister’s  resi- 
dence, being  dilapidated,  was  taken  down  and  the  present 
parsonage  built.  Mr.  Moore  died  in  1799. 

He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Hobart, 
who  remained  but  a few  months,  having  accepted  a call 
to  be  an  assistant  minister  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
from  which  position  he  was  elevated  to  the  office  of 
bishop  of  New  York. 

On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Hobart  a call  to  the  rector- 
ship was  accepted  by  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  a native  of 
Connecticut.  His  rectorship  continued  till  1829,  a period 
of  more  than  twenty-eight  years,  when  he  became  dis- 
abled by  paralysis  from  performing  his  duties  and  resigned 
his  office.  He  lingered  in  infirmity  until  March  1832. 
During  his  rectorship  the  church  built  in  1734,  which  had 
become  decayed,  was  taken  down  and  the  present 
church  was  built,  which  was  consecrated  in  September 
1823. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Drason  Hall,  a native  of  Philadel- 
phia, succeeded  Mr.  Hart.  He  was  called  in  February 


1829,  and  resigned  in  April  1834,  and  removed  to  the 
neighborhood  of  his  native  city,  where  he  officiated  in 
several  places  and  died  in  1873. 

The  successor  to  Mr.  Hall  was  the  Rev.  William  M. 
Carmichael,  D.  D.,  who  entered  upon  his  duties  in  July 
1834  and  resigned  the  parish  in  September  1843.  He 
subsequently  ministered  in  Meadville,  Pa.,  Richmond, 
Va.,  Newtown,  Conn.,  and  other  places.  At  his  resi- 
dence in  Jamaica,  Long  Island — where  he  lived  in  the 
closing  years  of  his  life — he  was  stricken  with  paralysis 
and  died  in  June  1881. 

The  Rev.  Orlando  Harriman  jr.  became  rector  of  the 
parish  in  January  1844,  continued  until  June  1849,  and 
then  resigned.  He  removed  to  New  Jersey,  officiating 
as  his  strength  and  opportunities  allowed  until  May 
1881,  when  he  died  in  Florida,  whither  he  had  gone  for 
his  health. 


Rev.  William  H.  Moore,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  St.  George’s  Church. 


In  August  1849  a call  to  the  rectorship  was  given  to, 
and  accepted  by,  the  present  rector,  the  Rev.  William 
H.  Moore,  D.  D. 

In  the  course  of  years  the  following  named  parishes 
have  been  organized  and  churches  built  within  the  limits 
which,  by  the  act  of  1693,  were  designated  as  the  bounds 
of  the  original  parish  : Christ  Church,  Manhasset; 
Christ  Church,  Oyster  Bay;  St.  Paul’s  Church,  Glen 
Cove;  Trinity  Church,  Rockaway;  Grace  Church,  South 
Oyster  Bay,  and  Trinity  Church,  Roslyn.  Besides  these, 
at  Garden  City  the  Cathedral  of  the  Incarnation  and 
educational  institutions  are  in  process  of  erection  as 
memorials  of  Mr.  Alexander  Turnev  Stewart. 


THE  M.  E.  CHURCH  OF  HEMPSTEAD  VILLAGE. 


r79 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

From  a historical  sermon  preached  by  the  pastor,  Rev. 
C.  E.  Glover,  in  1877,  we  gather  the  following  facts  re- 
lating to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Hempstead 
village: 

The  first  wave  of  Methodism  reached  Hempstead 
about  the  year  1800,  when  Rev.  John  Wilson,  a preacher 
on  the  Jamaica  circuit  and  traveling  eastward,  arrived  in 
Hempstead  on  a Sabbath  morning,  near  the  close  of  the 
Episcopal  public  service.  He  mounted  a wagon  under  a 
willow  tree  in  front  of  the  site  of  Hewlett's  Hotel,  where 
he  commenced  singing.  A crowd  soon  collected,  to 
whom  he  preached.  From  that  time  for  a"  period  of 
twelve  years  no  record  appears,  although  the  Jamaica 
circuit  was  worked  by  such  men  as  Thomas  Ware,  “ Billy” 
Hibbard  and  David  Buck,  and  it  is  probable  that  services 
were  held  during  that  time. 

In  1812  William  Thatcher  was  appointed  to  the  cir- 
cuit, and  arranged  to  preach  in  Hempstead  every  four 
weeks.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  an  upper  room 
in  the  house  of  Stephen  C.  Bedell,  on  Main  and  Jackson 
streets,  by  Mr.  Thatcher,  who  was  an  excellent  scholar. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  89  years,  after  having  been  in  the 
ministry  ahout  60  years.  The  work  was  somewhat  inter- 
rupted during  the  war  with  England.  The  first  prayer 
meeting  recorded  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bedell  in 
1815,  and  the  first  class  was  formed  in  the  same  year  by 
Benjamin  Griffin,  who  was  then  twenty-three  years  old. 
Mr.  Griffin  spent  fifty  years  in  the  ministry.  He  was 
succeeded  as  leader  by  Richard  Carman,  whose  name  first 
appears  officially  in  the  conference  proceedings  as  report- 
ing $8.78  from  Hempstead  for  the  support  of  the  gospel. 
The  original  members  of  the  first  class  were  Richard 
Carman,  Ann  Carman,  Stephen  C.  Bedell,  Hannah  Bedell, 
James  Cooper  and  Mary  Cooper. 

During  the  year  1816  the  congregation  rented  a house 
standing  on  Front  street  at  the  corner  of  Franklin;  the 
partitions  were  removed,  and  seats,  made  of  slabs  fur- 
nished from  a neighboring  saw-mill,  arranged.  The 
preachers  were  Thomas  Ware  and  Marvin  Richardson. 
In  1817,  more  room  being  needed,  a school-house  was 
purchased  and  moved  to  the  common  near  the  brook, 
south  of  the  Episcopal  property,  and  fitted  up  with  pul- 
pit and  seats.  Dr.  Phebus,  John  M.  Smith,  Phineas 
Rice,  Nicholas  Morris,  Noble  W.  Thomas  and  Samuel 
Cochrane  were  the  preachers  there. 

In  1820  the  society  erected  an  edifice  on  the  site  of 
the  present  church,  which  cost  them,  including  lot,  $1,500. 
•It  was  dedicated  December  31st  1822.  Samuel  Coch- 
rane, who  rendered  38  years  of  effective  service  as  a min- 
ister, greatly  assisted  in  the  work  of  building  the  new 
church.  The  first  trustees  were  elected  May  4th  1822, 
and  were  as  follows:  James  Cooper,  Isaac  Wright,  Ste- 
phen H.  Skidmore,  Richard  Carman  and  Stephen  C. 
Bedell.  Stephen  C.  Snedeker  was  appointed  treas- 
urer. 

In  1827  Hempstead  circuit  was  formed.  In  1828  Isaac 
Snedeker  was  elected  trustee  and  secretary  of  the  board, 


a position  which  he  held  over  50  years,  until  the  time  of 
his  death. 

In  1834  a lot  adjoining  the  church  was  purchased,  on 
which  a parsonage  was  erected.  The  cost  of  lot  and 
parsonage  was  $1,400.  In  1835  the  church  was  moved 
back  to  the  proper  building  line  and  enlarged,  at  a cost 
of  $1,700.  In  1838  the  basement  was  furnished  with 
four  class  rooms  and  a lecture  room.  The  first  stewards 
were  chosen  July  31st  1837,  as  follows:  Benjamin  Rush- 
more,  Christian,  Stephen  C.  and  Isaac  Snedeker  and 
Smith  Skidmore.  Instrumental  music  was  introduced 
March  29th  1852,  and  in  1872  the  church  was  pre- 
sented with  a beautiful  organ,  the  gift  of  P.  J.  A. 
Harper. 

The  centennial  of  American  and  semi-centennial  of 
Hempstead  Methodism  were  appropriately  celebrated, 
November  25th  1866.  At  this  time  $10,000  was  raised 
for  centenary  and  church  extension  purposes.  As  a re- 
sult of  this  offering  the  present  Sunday-school  home’was 
erected  at  a cost  of  $6,958;  it  was  dedicated  July  19th 
1868.  The  Sunday-school  was  organized  August  30th 
1830,  when  Stephen  C.  Snedeker  vvas  appointed  superin- 
tendent, a position  which  he  filled  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  30  years  later.  Isaac  Snedeker  was  appointed 
secretary,  treasurer  and  librarian  at  the  same  time,  and 
has  filled  the  position  for  over  50  years.  From  12  teach- 
ers and  an  average  attendance  of  37  scholars  the  school 
has  grown  to  be  the  largest  on  the  island  outside  of 
Brooklyn,  having  an  average  attendance  of  over  400 
members,  and  over  1,000  books  in  the  library. 

In  1854  the  old  church  and  parsonage  were  sold  at 
public  auction,  and  the  present  commodious  edifice  was 
erected.  In  1856  a lot  74J4  by  200  feet  was  bought  on 
Washington  street  and  the  present  parsonage  erected,  at 
a cost  of  $3,896.  The  church  edifice  is  53  by  72  feet 
in  size,  and  has  a spire  160  feet  high.  There  are  class 
rooms  and  a lecture  room  adjoining.  The  total  cost,  in- 
cluding furnishing  and  bell,  was  $14,651.  The  new 
church  was  dedicated  June  30th  1855,  at  which  time  the 
sum  of  $3,800  was  raised,  which  left  the  church  free 
from  deb-t. 

In  1875  the  parsonage  was  enlarged,  and  a large  re- 
flector placed  in  the  audience  room  of  the  church,  at  a 
total  expense  of  $2,367. 

The  following  is  a list  of  preachers  from  1822  to  1880, 
inclusive:  1822,  1823,  Elijah  Hebbard,  Horace  Barttell; 
1826,  1827,  Daniel  De  Vinne,  David  Holmes,  Barthol- 
omew Creagh;  1828,  1829,  N.  W.  Thomas,  Daniel 
Wright,  Samuel  Green;  1830,  1831,  Jere  Hunt,  Gershom 
Pierce,  Richard  Wymond;  1832,  1833,  Noah  Bigelow, 
Alexander  Hulin,  Edward  Oldrin;  1834,  1835,  Bradley 
Sellick,  Robert  Travis,  Ezra  Jagger;  1836,  1837,  Joseph 
Law,  James  Floy;  1838,  1839,  Ira  Ferris;  1840,  1841, 
Laban  C.  Cheney;  1842-44,  W.  K.  Stopford,  Seymour 
Landen;  1845,  1846,  E.  E.  Griswold;  1847,  1848,  W.  F. 
Collins;  1849,  William  Dixon,  who  died,  and  William 
Lawrence  was  supply;  1850-53,  Buel  Goodsell,  S.  W. 
Smith;  1854,  J.  S.  Gilder;  1856,  Henry  J.  Fox;  1857,  B. 
Pillsbury;  1859,  i860,  Francis  Bottome;  1861,  1862,  M. 


23 


i8o 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


L.  Scudder;  1863-65,  J.  B.  Merwin;  1866,  1867,  D.  O. 
Ferris;  1868-70,  George  Stillman;  1871-73,  George  Lan- 
sing Taylor;  1874,  B.  M.  Adams;  1875-77,  C.  E.  Glover; 
1878-80,  C.  E.  Miller. 

The  church  property  is  valued  at  between  $40,000  and 
and  $50,000. 


The  Press  of  Hempstead. 

The  town  of  Hempstead  has  three  newspapers,  two  in 
Hempstead  village  and  one  at  Rockville  Centre.  The 
first  paper  started  here  was  the  Schoolmaster,  edited  by 
Timothy  Clowes  previous  to  1850.  Only  a few  numbers 
were  published.  Zephaniah  Thurston,  foreman  in  the 
Observer  office,  is  probably  one  of  the  oldest  printers,  if 
not  the  oldest,  in  Queens  county. 

The  Sentinel  was  established  June  1st  1858,  by  John 
H.  Hentz,  who  was  the  publisher  until  September  1st 
1863,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Lott  Van  De  Water,  the 
present  editor  and  proprietor.  Mr.  Van  De  Water  had 
been  connected  with  the  office  two  years  previous  to 
purchasing  it,  and  in  fact  has  had  control  of  the  paper 
since  1861.  The  Sentinel  is  a thirty-two  column  sheet, 
nicely  printed  and  carefully  edited,  the  editor  aiming  to 
make  it  a journal  for  the  family,  in  all  that  term  implies. 
No  advertisements  of  an  objectionable  nature  are  re- 
ceived, no  matter  what  price  is  offered.  The  office  is  on 
Main  street,  near  Fulton.  In  politics  the  Sentinel  is  in- 
dependent, treating  both  parties  fairly. 

The  Hempstead  Inquirer , published  in  the  village  of 
Hempstead,  is  one  of  the  oldest  papers  on  Long  Island — 
the  Corrector , of  Sag  Harbor,  and  the  Republican  Watch- 
man, of  Greenport,  both  of  Suffolk  county,  and  the  Long 
Island  Fanner,  of  Jamaica,  Queens  county,  being  the 
only  ones  that  antedate  it.  The  Inquirer  was  established 
under  the  name  of  the  Long  Island  Telegraph  and  Gen- 
eral Advertiser,  on  May  8th  1830,  by  Messrs.  William 
Hutchinson  and  Clement  F.  Le  Fevre.  On  November 
nth  1831  its  name  was  changed  to  that  it  now  bears.  It 
continued  to  be  conducted  by  its  founder  until  April 
1833,  when  it  was  transferred  to  James  G.  Watts.  On 
the  23d  of  June  1834  Mr.  Watts  died,  and  the  paper 
went  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  who  bore  his  father’s 
name.  He  conducted  it  until  May  1838,  when  he  sold 
out  to  John  W.  Smith.  Under  Mr.  Smith’s  supervision 
the  paper  was  successfully  edited  for  three  years.  In 
1841  Charles  Willets  became  the  editor,  having  purchased 
the  property  and  good  will  from  his  predecessor.  He 
edited  it  eight  years,  and  in  1849  disposed  of  it  to  Sea- 
man N.  Snedeker,  who  sold  it  in  1851  to  Dr.  Morris 
Snedeker.  For  eleven  years  it  continued  under  the  doc- 
'*  tor’s  management.  In  1862  it  was  purchased  by  Jesse 

S.  Pettit,  who  after  a year’s  trial  transferred  it  to  Smith 

T.  Willets  in  1863.  In  1866  Mr.  Willets  was  succeeded 
by  James  B.  Cooper,  who  in  1868  disposed  of  the  con- 
cern to  Thomas  H.  Rhodes  and  Daniel  Clark.  On  the 
16th  of  April  1869  Mr.  Clark  became  the  sole  editor  and 
proprietor,  and  he  so  continued  until  July  9th  1870, 


when  impaired  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  edi- 
torial duties. 

At  that  date  the  establishment  was  purchased  by  the 
Hon.  Henry  M.  Onderdonk.  Many  improvements  were 
made  in  the  typographical  appearance  of  the  paper,  which 
was  enlarged  and  brought  more  prominently  before  the 
public.  At  this  time  (t88i)  it  continues  to  be  edited  by 
Mr.  Onderdonk,  is  in  a flourishing  condition,  and  is  con- 
ceded to  be  a leading  paper  in  Queens  county. 

Public  Houses  and  Halls. 

Nehemiah  Sammis  built  one  of  the  early  taverns  of 
Hempstead,  a part  of  which  is  now  standing  on  Fulton 
street,  near  the  railroad  depot.  After  his  death  in  1802 
his  son  Benjamin  Sammis  continued  as  “mine  host,”  and 
he  was  succeeded  by  Harry  Sammis,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 23d  1797,  and  died  in  August  1881.  His  son, 
ex-Sheriff  Charles  Sammis,  is  the  present  proprietor  of 
the  old  hostelry.  Harry  Sammis  remembered  distinctly 
when  a barn  burned  on  the  hill  south,  about  80  rods  dis- 
tant, one  Sunday  in  the  year  1802,  the  same  year  in  which 
his  grandfather  died.  The  sparks  and  burning  shingles 
were  carried  by  the  wind  to  the  hotel  and  Presbyterian 
church  east,  which  was  also  destroyed.  At  that  time 
there  were  only  six  houses  in  Hempstead  village,  and 
only  three  buildings  within  a circle  of  a mile,  viz.,  the 
hotel,  the  church  on  the  east  and  a farm  house  west. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  British  were  encamped 
in  Hempstead,  at  that  time  making  a horse  stable  of  the 
old  Presbyterian  church,  using  the  hotel  as  headquarters 
for  the  officers.  After  the  war  General  George  Washing- 
ton passed  several  nights  in  the  old  tavern. 

Hewlett’s  Hotel,  on  Front  street  at  the  corner  of  Main, 
was  built  by  Samuel  Carman  in  1840.  It  is  a large,  three- 
story  building,  well  arranged  and  furnished  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  guests,  and  during  the  summer  season 
is  well  filled  with  visitors.  Up  to  1847  it  was  conducted 
by  the  builder;  but  during  that  year  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  Stephen  Hewlett,  whose  family  have  conducted 
it  until  this  time.  C.  A.  Hewlett  is  the  present  propri- 
etor. 

The  Germania  Hotel,  on  Main  street,  was  established 
about  twenty  years  ago  by  William  Stoffel.  The  present 
proprietor,  Anton  Miltenberger,  has  been  the  owner  for 
the  last  eight  years,  and  has  made  it  a pleasant  place, 
having  recently  furnished  and  refitted  it  It  is  the  only 
German  hotel  in  the  village,  and  is  a large  three-story 
building,  the  lower  floor  being  occupied  with  store  and 
office.  It  will  accommodate  20  guests  and  eight  horses 
can  be  provided  for.  Billiard  tables  are  provided,  and 
charges  are  as  at  other  first-class  houses. 

The  present  Central  Hotel  was  built  in  1847,  on  the 
site*of  one  of  the  early  hotels  of  Hempstead,  which  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1835.  William  Coons  commenced 
building  the  present  house,  but  died  before  it  was  com- 
pleted by  his  son  Michael  Coons.  Among  the  land- 
lords were  Benjamin  Smith,  Robert  Anderson,  Benjamin 
Curtis  and  A.  Smith.  John  B.  Pettit,  the  present  propri- 
etor, purchased  the  property  in  1854,  and  for  the  last 


SECRET  SOCIETIES  OF  HEMPSTEAD  VILLAGE. 


twenty-seven  years  has  conducted  the  business.  It  is 
centrally  located,  on  Main  street,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing hotels  of  the  village.  The  hotel  which  was  destroyed 
by  fire  was,  before  railroads  were  known  on  the  island,  the 
“stage  house,”  and  consequently  a well  known  place. 

There  are  two  halls  in  Hempstead  village  used  for 
town  purposes  and  meetings,  lectures  and  amusements. 
Liberty  Hall  is  a large  three-story  building,  with  man- 
sard roof,  situated  on  Front  street.  The  first  floor  is  di- 
vided into  three  stores.  The  second  story  is  well  ar- 
ranged for  an  amusement  hall,  having  a fair  sized  stage 
with  its  attachments,  and  being  well  seated,  accommodat- 
ing 450  people.  The  third  story  is  also  a hall,  used  for 
different  purposes.  Washington  Hall,  or  the  Town  Hall, 
situated  near  Liberty  Hall,  was  built  by  the  Ladies’ 
Washington  Association,  and  purchased  by  the  town  au- 
thorities for  village  purposes.  Aside  from  the  larger 
rooms  it  contains  the  lock-up. 

Secret  Societies. 

Morton  Lodge,  No.  63,  F.  and  A.  M.  dates  back 
to  June  23d  1797,  when  a charter  was  granted,  appointing 
David  Richard  Floyd  Jones  to  be  the  master,  Jacob  Sea- 
man Jackson  senior  warden,  and  Thomas  Carman  junior 
warden  of. a lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  to  be 
formed  at  Hempstead.  From  that  date  communications 
were  held  in  the  lodge  rooms  in  Hempstead  for  about 
half  a century,  when  the  building  in  which  the  rooms 
were  situated  was  destroyed  by  fire,  the  charter,  jewels, 
Bible,  etc.,  being  saved.  The  lodge  was  resuscitated  in 
1859,  since  which  time  stated  communications  have  been 
held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Monday  evenings  of  each 
month.  The  present  number  of  active  members  is  about 
ninety;  and  the  lodge  rooms  are  on  the  third  floor  of  the 
Cornelius  building  on  Main  street;  three  in  number,  they 
are  appropriately  fitted  up  and  furnished.  A large  fire- 
proof safe  contains  the  records,  the  original  charter,  the 
old  silver  jewels,  and  the  Bible,  on  the  fly  leaf  of  which 
is  the  following:  “ Presented  to  the  worshipful  master, 
wardens  and  brethren  of  Morton  Lodge,  No.  63,  by  their 
affectionate  brother  Jacob  Morton,  deputy  grand  master 
of  masons  of  the  State  of  New  York. — New  York,  Jan. 
8th  1798.” 

The  following  is  a list  of  officers  for  1881:  Master, 
Benjamin  A.  Haff;  S.  warden,  Robert  A.  Davison;  J. 
warden,  Daniel  Shields;  treasurer,  P.  J.  A.  Harper;  sec- 
retory, Ebenezer  Kellum;  S.  deacon,  John  W.  De  Mott, 
of  Alfred;  J.  deacon,  Lewis  H.  Clowes;  chaplain,  Rev. 
C.  C.  Lasby;  S.  M.  C.,  Henry  Heutz;  J.  M.  C.,  H.  L. 
Weeks;  tyler,  John  Crampton;  trustees — Benjamin  A. 
Haff,  Samuel  C.  Seaman,  B.  Valentine  Clowes. 

The  masters  since  1859  have  been  as  follows:  1859, 
Daniel  Raynor;  i860,  John  Charlick;  1861,  Carman 
Smith;  1862,  1865,  1866,  D.  A.  M.  Smith;  1863,  A.  R. 
Griffin;  1864,  John  W.  De  Mott;  1867-71,  1876,  1877, 
Samuel  C.  Seaman;  1872-74,  1880,  1 88 1 , Benjamin  A. 
Haff;  1875,  1878,  1879,  B.  Valentine  Clowes. 

Odd  Fellows. — A charter  was  granted  to  Hempstead 
Lodge,  No.  141,  I.  O.  O.  F.  February  18th  1845,  and  it 


181 


was  instituted  March  5th  1845.  The  charter  members 
were  Willet  Charlie,  William  Cornwell,  Thomas  S.  Dor- 
Ion,  Hiram  A.  Whittaker  and  William  Curtis.  Up  to  1880 
288  persons  had  signed  the  constitution  of  the  lodge, 
and  the  present  membership  is  about  eighty-five.  The 
lodge  room,  which  is  neatly  carpeted  and  furnished,  is 
on  Front  street  and  regular  meetings  are  held  every 
Thursday  evening.  The  following  are  the  officers:  F.  I). 
Bedell,  N.  G.;  I.  Horsfall,  V.  &.;  V.  Clowes,  P.  S.;  A.  R. 
Roads,  R.  S.;  J.  B.  Curley,  R.  S.  to  N.  G. ; W.  H.  Haw- 
kins, L.  S.  to  N.  G.;  Thomas  Bact,  R.  S.  to  V.  G.;  S.  F. 
Sprague,  L.  S.  to  V.  G.;  S.  H.  Minshull,  War.;  J.  Ham- 
let, Con.;  R.  O.  Gildersleeve,  Chap.;  J.  A.  Bedell,  I.  G.; 
W.  B.  Pettit,  R.  S.  S.;  J.  Raynor,  L.  S.  S.;  J.  R.  Bedell, 
Treas. 

Sons  of  Temperance. — This  society  was  organized  in  Au- 
gust 1869,  and  has  nicely  furnished  rooms  over  the  post- 
office,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Front  streets,  where 
regular  meetings  are  held  each  Monday  evening.  Chris- 
topher Snedeker  is  W.  P.  and  J.  S.  Snedeker  is  R.  S. 
The  following  were  the  first  officers  of  the  organization: 
John  Hammond,  W.  P.;  R.  C.  Cam  pelf,  W.'  A.;  J.  E. 
Snedeker,  R.  S.;  Edward  Searing,  A.  R.  S.;  Thomas 
Rhodes,  F.  S.;  Thomas  F.  Gilbert,  Treas.;  E.  L.  Prey, 
chaplain;  T.  B.  Hogan,  conductor;  J.  F.  Rhodes,  assist- 
ant conductor;  Samuel  Snedeker,  inside  sentinel;  James 
H.  Campbell,  outside  sentinel. 

The  Livingston  Social  Club. — -This  body  of  young  men 
was  organized  March  27th  1877.  The  following  were 
the  officers  in  1880:  President,  H.  L.  Parsons;  vice-pres- 
ident, John  Griffin;  secretary,  Henry  Miltenberger; 
treasurer,  Henry  Agnew. 

The  Fire  Department. 

The  first  organization  of  which  there  are  any  data  goes 
back  to  December  15th  1831,  when  we  find  that  the  su- 
pervisor and  justices  appointed  the  following  firemen: 
Charles  Baldwin,  Jarvis  Bedell,  Thomas  D.  Carman,  Ja- 
cob Coles,  Richard  De  Mott,  Samuel  E.  Marvin,  Samuel 
J.  Raymond,  Elbert  Rushmore,  Robert  Seabury,  Alex- 
ander W.  Seaman,  Joseph  D.  Gildersleeve,  Joseph  B. 
Gildersleeve,  Stephen  Hewlett,  Nelson  Jennings,  John 
Kellum,  Lattin  Smith,  Isaac  Snedeker,  Floyd  Sogthard, 
James  Stephenson  and  William  Van  Nostrand.  Isaac 
Snedeker  was  chosen  foreman  of  the  company,  and  an 
old-fashioned  fire  engine,  “No.  1,”  formerly  “No.  4”  in 
Brooklyn,  was  bought  in  that  city. 

The  engine  house  was  on  Main  street,  near  the  site  of 
Nostrand’s  carriage  manufactory;  it  has  since  been  re- 
moved to  the  rear  of  the  firemen’s  building  on  Ful- 
ton street,  where  the  original  fire  apparatus  of  Hemp- 
stead may  yet  be  seen.  Several  years  after  the  forma- 
tion of  the  engine  company  a hook  and  ladder  company 
was  formed,  the  truck  being  made  in  the  village.  The 
rooms  of  the  company  were  on  Fulton  street,  nearly  op- 
posite the  Episcopal  church.  It  was  a volunteer  com- 
pany. The  water  supply  was  obtained  from  private  wells 
and  cisterns. 

During  the  time  of  these  companies  a large  fire  took 


182 


HISTORY  OP  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


place,  destroying  the  block  at  the  corner  of  Greenwich 
and  Front  streets,  and  causing  a loss  of  several  thousand 
dollars.  By  the  exertions  of  the  firemen  the  buildings 
west  of  Main  street  were  saved.  The  burning  of  the 
Stage  House  was  the  next  fire  of  any  importance.  At 
that  time  other  buildings  were  saved  through  the  efforts 
of  the  companies. 

June  23d  1862  Protection  Fire  Engine  Company , No. 
3,  was  organized;  it  was  composed  of  many  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens,  some  of  whom  are  still  members  of  the 
organization. 

Harper's  Hook  and  Ladder  Company , No.  1,  is  a fine 
organization,  with  rooms  on  Fulton  street. 

Enterprise  Hose  Company  was  organized  August  14th 
1872,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Foreman, 
Ebenezer  Kellum  j r. ; assistant  foreman,  A.  F.  Rushmore; 
treasurer,  S.  B.  Mersereau;  secretary,  J.  Davison;  stew- 
ard, T.  W.  Snedeker.  Mr.  Kellum  was  foreman  five 
succeeding  years.  S.  W.  Willets  was  elected  in  1878,  B. 
Carpenter  in  1879,  and  M.  R.  Smith  in  1880,  with  other 
officers  as  follows:  Assistant  foreman,  G.  Loyvden;  sec- 
retary, G.  W.  Willets;  treasurer,  J.  Simoson;  stewards, 
E.  Abrams  and  B.  Carpenter.  The  company  has  two 
rooms  in  the  building  on  Fulton  street,  the  lower  used  for 
the  carriage  and  the  upper  beautifully  furnished  for  a 
parlor. 

Protection  Hose  Company,  Ho.  3. — This  company  was 
organized  August  nth  1874.  The  following  were  the 
first  officers:  Foreman,  Augustus  Cruikshank;  assistant 
foreman,  John  Mimno;  secretary,  Benjamin  Campbell; 
treasurer,  Robert  Cruikshank.  During  the  years  1875- 
79  John  Mimno  was  foreman,  when  he  resigned,  and 
Charles  Akley  and  John  Box  have  since  held  that 
office  until  the  following  officers  were  elected:  Foreman, 
Charles  De  Mott;  assistant  foreman,  John  Box;  secre- 
tary, Charles  Agnew;  treasurer,  William  Plyer.  The 
rooms  of  the  company  are  on  Prospect  street,  and, 
like  others  of  the  department,  are  nicely  furnished. 
When  first  organized  the  company  had  no  rooms, 
but  held  their  meetings  in  Protection  engine  room. 
The  present  house  was  built  in  1875,  by  P.  J.  A. 
Harper. 

There  are  other  organizations,  but  data  concerning 
them  were  not  furnished. 


George  N.  Paff. 

George  N.  Paff,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Hempstead,  is  a native  of  New  York  city,  where  he  was 


born  November  15th  1831.  His  father,  George  Paff,  and 
his  grandfather,  Andrew  Paff,  were  descendants  of  John 
Paff,  of  Wurtemburg,  Germany.  His  mother  was  a daugh- 
ter of  General  Robert  Henderson,  a Scotchman,  who  was 
killed  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
family  have  been  residents  of  Long  Island  since  April 
1836. 

During  his  early  days  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
employed  as  a clerk,  as  an  apprentice  to  a baker,  as  a 
daguerreotype  operator  and  as  a painter.  After  the  usual 
course  of  the  district  school  he  was  a student  in  the 
Hempstead  Seminary,  under  Professor  Dockarty,  and  in 
a private  school  under  Timothy  Clowes,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

He  is  now  working  a fine  farm  of  50  acres  near  Hemp- 
stead village,  which  was  settled  in  1777  by  Eliphalet 
Seaman. 

Before  he  became  so  exclusively  engaged  in  farming  he 
was  interested  in  the  mineral  water  business,  and  acted 
as  real  estate  agent  for  some  time.  He  has  also  traveled 
quite  extensively  in  the  west,  and  has  been  in  business 
in  Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and  Dubuque,  and  was  trading 
at  one  time  with  the  Indians  of  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Paff  is  a gentleman  whose  advice  is  not  unfre- 
quently  sought  by  his  townsmen  in  business  affairs,  and 
even  in  litigations  in  the  minor  courts  he  has  frequently 
appeared  as  an  advocate.  He  has  also  been  called  to  the 
duties  of  several  offices  of  importance  in  his  town.  In 
i860  he  was  elected  constable,  and  subsequently  served 
as  special  deputy  under  several  sheriffs.  In  1877  he  was 
elected  commissioner  of  excise,  and  in  1880,  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  term,  he  was  re-elected  by  500  majority  over 
George  A.  Mott,  the  Republican  candidate.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  the  responsible  duties  of  this  office  Mr.  Paff 
has  exercised  excellent  judgment,  and  his  administration 
has  made  him  very  popular  with  his  constituents. 

Mr.  Paff’s  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Au- 
gust 1861,  was  Charlotte  Leonard,  a granddaughter  of 
Thomas  Leonard,  a captain  in  the  Revolution.  His  father 
was  John  Leonard,  of  Freehold,  N.  J. — a brother  of 
Judge  Thomas  Leonard,  who  gave  all  the  lands  for  the 
site  of  Princeton  College.  Her  mother  was  a daughter 
of  Thomas  Hewlett,  of  the  old  and  honorable  pioneer 
family.  Mr.  Paff’s  present  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried December  17th  1877,  is  Sarah  A.,  a sister  of  Mrs. 
Paff  deceased. 

Mr.  Paff  is  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  in 
the  community  is  esteemed  as  a worthy  citizen,  willing 
to  aid  his  fellow  men  less  fortunate  than  he.  In  the  bus- 
iness relations  of  life  he  enjoys  the  reputation  of  a man 
of  unquestioned  integrity. 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  N.PAFF,  HEM  PSTEAD,  QUEENS  CO.,L.I. 

- 


Lewis  W.  Angevine. 

Mr.  Angevine,.  of  Hempstead,  the  gentleman  whose 
portrait  and  autograph  appear  at  the  head  of  this  page, 
was  born  in  New  York  city,  May  31st  1807. 

His  early  days  were  spent  in  the  store  of  his  father, 
Lewis  Angevine,  who  was  for  years  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits  in  the  city.  When  he  was  about  19  years  of 
age  the  younger  Lewis  came  to  Newtown,  w'here,  until 
1831,  he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  that  year  he  was 
married  and  removed  to  Hempstead,  locating  on  a farm 
about  two  miles  west  of  Hempstead  village.  For  five 
years  he  resided  there  and  in  the  meantime  he  purchased 
property  in  the  village  of  Hempstead. 

In  1836  he  began  the  business  of  butchering,  and  to 
that  business  he  devoted  a large  portion  of  his  active 
years  until  he  finally  retired,  about  1862. 

Mr.  Angevine  came  into  politics  in  1851  as  the  Demo- 
cratic candidate  for  county  treasurer.  To  this  office  he 
was  triumphantly  elected,  and  how  well  he  discharged 
his  duties  was  sufficiently  commented  upon  at  the  polls 
in  1857,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the  same  office. 
This  election  was  the  beginning  of  nine  consecutive  years 
of  service  in  that  position,  he  being  re-elected  in  1 860  and 
1863.  This  period,  extending  to  and  including  1866, 
covered  that  important  time  when  such  large  sums  of 
money  were  raised  by  Queens  county  in  the  prosecution 
of  the  civil  war.  Mr.  Angevine’s  period  of  service  in  this 
office  was  therefore  not  only  longer  than  that  of  any 
other  incumbent,  but  the  duties  were  more  important 
than  ever  before  or  since. 

In  the  business  ventures  of  his  lifetime  Mr.  Angevine 


has  been  successful  beyond  the  lot  of  most  men,  and 
here,  in  the  town  where  he  has  lived  for  over  half  a cen- 
tury, he  is  enjoying  in  his  pleasant  home  the  afternoon 
of  his  years,  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  A com- 
munity is  usually  correct  in  its  judgment  of  the  moral 
qualities  of  any  man  who  has  long  lived  and  held  pub- 
lic trusts  in  it.  If  there  be  any  defect  in  his 
character,  any  obliquity  in  his  life,  he  cannot  fail 
to  disclose  it  to  the  eyes  of  his  intimates.  To  be  strictly 
upright,  especially  to  those  beset  by  the  temptations  of 
power  and  office,  is  a thing  so  difficult  that  the  poet  felt 
justified  in  affirming 

“An  honest  man’s  the  noblest  work  of  God.” 

Mr.  Angevine  would  not  shrink  from  the  application 
of  even  this  severe  rule  of  judgment.  He  has  had  a 
just  pride  in  seeking  to  have  all  feel  that  his  word  was  as 
good  as  a bond. 

When,  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  it  fell  to  him 
to  disburse  immense  sums  of  money,  he  came  forth  from 
the  trials  and  temptations  incident  to  the  unusual  trust 
with  the  verdict  of  the  supervising  officials  'that 
he  had  lawfully  and  appropriately  expended  every 
dollar. 

Of  a kindly  and  benevolent  spirit,  widows  and  orphans 
have  gladly  resorted  to  him  as  one  in  whose  integrity, 
caution  and  wise  counsel  they  could  securely  trust. 

Public  spirited  and  generous,  all  sound  enterprises 
have  met  from  him  a prompt  and  hearty  support. 

As  a member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  he 
has  befriended  its  clergy  and  contributed  freely  to  all 
judicious  efforts  to  benefit  the  parish  to  which  he  be- 
longs. 


io6  HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Edwin  Webb,  M.  D. 

Doctor  Edwin  Webb,  of  Hempstead,  is  an  eminent 
physician,  whose  portrait  appears  on  the  opposite  page, 
and  whose  honorable  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born 
in  Devenport,  Devonshire,  England,  September  2nd  1804. 
His  father  and  mother,  John  and  Catherine  Webb,  came 
to  New  York  before  he  was  three  years  old,  and  soon 
after  his  arrival  his  father  was  appointed  chief  clerk  of 
the  Brooklyn  navy  yard,  which  position  he  filled  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  resided  a few  years  in  the  upper’  part  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  convenient  to  his  place  of  business. 
During  this  time  young  Edwin  was  taught  the  rudiments 
of  his  education  privately,  and  about  the  age  of  9 or  10 
years  was  sent  to  the  academy  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson, 
in  the  upper  part  of  Broome  street,  New  York.  Here  he 
continued  his  studies  until  his  father  moved  to  Brooklyn, 
where  he  was  again  taught  privately. 

He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Drs.  Ball 
and  Wendell,  who  were  in  partnership  and  were  then 
the  principal  physicians  of  Brooklyn.  After  being  with 
these  distinguished  men  for  three  years,  and  attending 
each  year  a course  of  lectures  in  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  in  New  York  city,  he  left  their  pre- 
ceptorship,  and  entered  the  office  of  John  W.  Francis, 
professor  of  obstetrics  in  the  college  he  first  attended. 
After  completing  his  full  course  of  lectures  and  term  of 
study,  he  graduated  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  of  New  York  in  the  year  1825,  and  received  his 
diploma,  conferring  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 

While  studying  with  Drs.  Ball  and  Wendell  he  became 
acquainted  and  was  a fellow  student  with  Dr.  E.  C. 
Cooper,  youngest  brother  of  Peter  Cooper,  the  distin- 
guished and  venerable  philanthropist  of  New  York.  Dr. 
Cooper  entered  the  office  of  Dr.  Francis  and  graduated  a 
year  previous  to  Dr.  Webb.  It  happened  just  after  Dr. 
Webb  was  about  to  settle  himself  in  business  that  Dr. 
Cooper  had  made  arrangements  to  commence  practice  in 
the  village  of  Hempstead;  but  an  unforeseen  and  unex- 
pected obstacle  prevented  him,  and  it  was  at  his  instance 
and  by  his  advice  that  Dr.  Webb  first  entertained  a 
thought  of  locating  in  Hempstead.  After  visiting  Hemp- 
stead and  delivering  letters  of  introduction  from  his  pre- 
ceptors and  some  of  the  professors  of  the  college  to  sev- 
eral of  the  leading  gentlemen  of  the  village  he  was  pre- 
vailed upon  by  the  Rev.  Seth  Hart,  Rev.  Charles  Web- 
ster and  others  to  make  this  village  his  place  of  residence, 
at  least  for  a year  or  two.  Here  for  over  half  a century 
has  he  constantly  and  almost  incessantly  attended  to  the 
duties  of  his  profession,  in  which  from  the  first  he  has 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  a large  circle  of  friends  as  a 
wise  and  skillful  physician  and  surgeon. 

At  an  early  period  of  his  residence  in  the  town  he  be- 
came prominent,  and  at  a large  meeting  of  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  year  1831,  to  make  preparations  for  celebrat- 
ing the  4th  of  July,  he  was  selected  as  the  orator  for  the 
occasion.  In  those  times  this  national  birthday  was 
celebrated  with  a hearty  good  will,  and  it  is  said  that 
Dr.  Webb  performed  his  part  with  great  credit.  He 


was  soon  after  this  appointed  physician  to  the  county 
and  town  poor-houses  and  the  county  jail,  and  was 
chosen  to  other  offices.  From  the  history  of  the  Queens 
County  Medical  Society  we  find  that  he  was  one  of  its 
original  founders,  of  whom  but  few  survive.  He  has 
held  all  the  principal  offices  in  that  society,  and  was 
president  four  terms.  As  many  as  six  of  the  largest  life 
insurance  companies  in  New  York,  Boston  and  Connect- 
icut appointed  him  medical  examiner  without  any  solici- 
tation on  his  part.  He  has  been  the  medical  preceptor 
of  six  students  of  medicine,  all  of  whom  received  the  de- 
gree of  M.  D.,  except  one,  who  was  compelled  to  aban- 
don his  studies.  Dr.  Webb  received  the  appointment  of 
delegate  to  the  convention  of  the  American  Medical  As- 
sociation several  times,  and  attended  their  meetings  at 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  Philadelphia,  and  became  a per- 
manent member  of  the  association  in  i860.  He  was 
also  appointed  delegate  to  the  New  York  State  Medical 
Society’s  convention  a number  of  times,  and  health  offi- 
cer once  for  the  village  of  Hempstead.  He  is  now  a 
warden  of  St.  George’s  church,  Hempstead,  and  has  held 
that  office  as  well  as  that  of  vestryman  for  many 
years. 

Dr.  Webb  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  E.,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Josiah  Hornblower,  of  Bergen,  New  Jersey,  in  the 
year  1829.  They  had  ten  children,  of  whom  the  eldest, 
Caroline  H.,  and  the  youngest,  Anna  E.,  now  the  wife  of 
Herbert  M.  Moore,  are  the  only  survivors. 

The  oldest  son,  Edwin  Webb,  adopted  the  medical 
profession  in  1856,  and  graduated  from  the  Medical  Uni- 
versity of  New  York  in  the  year  i860.  Immediately 
after  passing  his  medical  examination  he  was  appointed 
assistant  physician  to  the  Raymond  street  hospital  in 
Brooklyn,  and  shortly  after  (July  3d  i860)  died  suddenly 
of  peritonitis,  having  but  a short  time  previous  suffered 
from  a malignant  attack  of  diphtheria.  He  was  much 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  gave  rare  promise  of 
being  an  ornament  to  his  profession. 

The  youngest  son,  John  S.  Webb,  chose  the  same  pro- 
fession as  his  brother,  and  studied  under  his  father’s 
care,  residing  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  the  winter,  near 
his  preceptor,  Dr.  H.  Sands,  professor  of  anatomy  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued two  years.  He  graduated  from  his  father’s  alma 
mater  February  28th  1872.  It  was  but  a week  or  two 
after  this  that  he  again  resumed  his  studies,  to  acquire  a 
more  perfect  knowledge  of  relative  anatomy,  by  dissec- 
tions in  the  college,  alone,  to  enable  him  to  become  pro- 
ficient as  a surgeon.  Unfortunately  during  this  time  he 
was  poisoned,  through  a slight  wound  in  a finger,  while 
examining  a partially  decomposed  body.  This  injury 
proved  to  be  extremely  severe,  and  dangerous.  Before 
he  fully  recovered  from  it  he  was  tendered,  and  accepted, 
the  appointment  of  assistant  physician  to  the  Kings 
County  Hospital.  His  life,  like  that  of  his  brother, 
came  to  an  early  end.  On  the  5th  of  March  1872,  in  the 
twenty-third  year  of  his  age,  he  died  of  a malignant 
fever,  excited  and  aggravated  by  his  arduous  duties 
in  the  hospital.  Thus  these  young  and  promising  dis- 


EDWIN  WEBB,  M.  D— GARDEN  CITY. 


189 


ciples  of  the  healing  art  were  cut  down  in  the  bloom  of 
life,  with  every  prospect  of  honor  and  success,  by  their 
ambition  to  be  useful.  It  was  some  consolation,  how- 
ever, to  know  that  they  were  not  unprepared,  for  they 
were  both  active  members  of  St.  George’s  church,  in 
which  they  received  their  religious  instruction. 

The  commissioners  and  medical  staff  of  the  Kings 
County  Hospital  rendered  every  attention  and  respect  to 
the  young  physician  during  his  short  illness,  and  soon 
after  his  death  the  commissioners  of  charities  of  Kings 
county  passed  the  following  resolutions,  a copy  of  which 
was  engrossed,  elegantly  framed,  and  sent  to  the  family: 

“ Whereas , It  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  His  mys- 
terious providence,  to  take  from  our  midst  John  S. 
Webb,  M.  D.,  by  a sudden  and  unexpected  death,  from 
disease  contracted  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  at 
the  Kings  County  Hospital,  therefore 

“ Resolved , That  we  heartily  deplore  the  great  misfor- 
tune that  has  thus  cut  short  the  career  of  one  who  had 
already  given  promise  of  great  future  usefulness,  and  by 
his  talents,  energy,  and  strict  attention  to  duty  had 
proven  that  his  professional  career  could  not  be  other- 
wise than  eminently  successful. 

“ Resolved , That  in  our  mourning  for  the  departed  we 
recognize  and  appreciate  the  deeper  grief  of  those  united 
to  our  deceased  friend  by  the  tenderest  ties;  and,  while 
we  would  not  intrude  upon  the  privacy  of  their  over- 
whelming sorrow,  yet  we  would  respectfully  tender 
to  them  our  most  heartfelt  sympathy  in  their  bereave- 
ment, with  the  assurance  that  time  shall  not  impair  the 
memory  of  his  manly  virtues. 

“ Resolved , That  a copy  of  these  resolutions  be  en- 
grossed and  forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  deceased.” 

Dr.  Webb  has  written  and  read  several  articles  on 
medical  subjects,  one  of  which  was  published  in  the 
United  States  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal , reporting 
an  extraordinary  case  of  hemorrhage,  produced  by  the 
administration  of  ergot  and  arrested  by  injections  of 
a solution  of  muriate  of  soda,  thrown  into  the  placental 
vein.  He  took  a very  active  part  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Queens  County  Medical  Society,  and  attended  the 
meetings  of  other  medical  societies  as  frequently  as  he 
could.  After  a long  and  extensive  practice,  over  a large 
field,  with  more  than  he  could  attend  to,  he  now  seeks 
more  rest,  and  devotes  his  attention  to  the  less  arduous 
task  of  medical  consultations,  with  which  he  is  frequent- 
ly favored  as  a result  of  his  wide-spread  reputation. 


GARDEN  CITY. 

One  of  the  numerous  villages  of  Hempstead,  or  rather 
the  laid  out  city  of  the  town,  and  what  will  undoubtedly 
in  time  become  the  center  of  attraction  on  Long  Island, 
is  Garden  City,  situated  in  the  northern  portion  of  Hemp- 
stead, on  Hempstead  Plains.  On  the  13th  of  September 
1869  the  town  deeded  to  the  millionaire  A.  T.  Stewart 
7,170  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  paid  $55  per  acre 
($394,350).  By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  this  money  was 
invested  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools  and  the 
poor  of  the  town.  Under  the  direction  of  John  Kellurn, 
the  celebrated  architect  (now  deceased),  a resident  of 


Hempstead  and  the  agent  of  Mr.  Stewart,  surveys  were 
made,  roads  were  laid  out  and  made,  lots  were  laid  out 
and  fences  were  built-  around  each  block.  Contracts 
were  soon  awarded  for  eleven  fine  houses,  which  were 
erected  at  a cost  of  nearly  $17,000  each.  The  streets 
and  roads  were  graded  to  the  width  of  80  feet,  lines  of 
trees  were  set  out,  and  many  improvements  inaugurated. 
Mr:  Kellurn  died  July  24th  1871,  and  the  work  was  de- 
layed for  some  time.  April  1st  1874  W.  R.  Hinsdale  was 
installed  as  mariager,  and  he  immediately  commenced 
the  work  of  improvement.  In  a short  time  nearly  5,000 
acres  of  land  were  under  cultivation.  Garden  City  prop- 
er comprises  500  acres  of  land,  divided  into  blocks.  At 
the  present  time  there  are  over  two  hundred  houses 
erected,  besides  the  large  hotel,  the  cathedral,  several 
stores,  a barn  and  stable  118  feet  long,  with  accommoda- 
tions for  40  horses,  a depot  and  a freight  house  100  by 
55,  a large  building  in  the  rear  of  the  depot  for  the  of- 
fices of  superintendent  and  surveyor  D.  S.  Denton,  and 
a water  works  building;  and  there  are  in  progress  of 
construction  the  Stewart  memorial  cathedral  schools; 
St.  Paul’s  school  building,  and  a house  for  the  bishop. 

The  hotel  is  a five-story  brick  building,  ornamented 
with  marble,  with  imposing  entrances,  and  spacious  piaz- 
zas running  its  entire  length.  The  interior  of  the  build- 
ing, which  is  capable  of  accommodating  80  guests,  is 
magnificently  finished,  everything  being  substantial. 
Each  room  contains  hot  and  cold  water,  and  the  whole 
hotel  is  heated  by  steam  furnished  by  pipes  from  the  water 
works.  The  house  is  managed  by 'F.  E.  Nicholson. 

Garden  City  is  supplied  with  water  from  a large  well 
or  reservoir  nearly  a mile  north  of  the  hotel,  lhe  well 
is  50  feet  in  diameter  and  30  feet  deep,  and  the  water  is 
forced  through  pipes  to  all  parts  of  the  city  by  the  Holly 
system,  which  was  established  in  1876.  In  the  large 
brick  building  erected  for  that  purpose  are  the  pumping 
machines  and  three  37  horse  power  boilers,  which  also 
furnish  the  steam  for  heating  purposes.  The  machine, 
which  is  capable  of  pumping  2,500,000  gallons  of  water 
daily,  at  the  time  of  writing  pumped  about  500,000  gallons 
every  24  hours.  There  are  about  seven  miles  of  mains. 
It  is  in  charge  of  three  engineers,  Messrs.  H.  Myers,  J. 
Myers  and  John  C.  Miller.  The  gas  used  is  made  by  the 
‘‘maxim  process,”  and  is  confined  in  fire-proof  vaults 
under  ground.  The  steam  for  heating  the  hotel,  church 
and  many  other  buildings  is  carried  in  wrought  iron  pipes 
wrapped  with  asbestos  paper  and  other  nonconducting 
material,  to  prevent  condensation.  The  pipes  are  in- 
serted in  logs  of  vvood  and  contrived  so  that  there  is  no 
accumulation  of  water  in  any  part  of  the  main  line.  The 
steam  passes  into  service  pipes  from  the  streets  to  build- 
ings, and  by  means  of  valves  the  heat  is  properly  reg- 
ulated. 

To  show  on  what  magnitude  the  superintendent  is 
farming,  we  give  a few  figures  prepared  for  a New  York 
paper  during  the  winter  of  1 880-1 : “ Of  oats  were  raised 
14,000  bushels,  of  shelled  corn  45,000  bushels,  of  hay  300 
tons.  He  keeps  80  head  of  horses,  and  in  the  summer 
employs  450  men  and  eight  steam  engines.  All  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


190 

- y 


grain  is  trundled  in  tanks  on  wheels,  and  elevated  by 
steam  and  distributed  by  gravity.  He  has  more  than 
8,000  acres  of  soil,  all  of  which  will  be  speedily  placed 
under  cultivation.” 

The  Cathedral  of  the  Incarnation. 

On  the  28th  of  June  1877  Bishop  Littlejohn  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  this  cathedral,  one  of  the  finest  ecclesi- 
astical edifices  in  America,  although  not  as  large  as  some, 
and  for  architectural  perfection  comparing  favorably 
with  the  best  cathedrals  in  Europe. 

It  is  a gift  to  the  diocese  of  Long  Island  by  Mrs.  A. 
T.  Stewart,  as  a memorial  of  her  deceased  husband;  to- 
gether with  the  see  house,  St.  Paul’s  school  for  boys  and 
St.  Mary’s  for  girls,  and  other  institutions  which  are  to 
be  established  on  the  cathedral  foundation.  With  a 
suitable  permanent  fund  provided  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  cathedral,  the  services  will  always  be  free  and  the 
building  and  grounds  kept  in  perfect  order. 

The  plan  of  the  edifice  is  cruciform,  with  tower  and 
spire,  baptistery,  organ  apse,  crypt  and  mausoleum.  The 
style  employed  is  decorated  gothic  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, but  the  architect  has  given  freshness  and  independ- 
ence to  the  treatment  by  adopting  the  foliage  and  flowers 
of  this  country,  and  following  nature  rather  than  the 
old  and  stiff  conventional  forms.  Unusual  beauty  and 
grace  are  attained  in  this  manner  in  all  the  carved  work 
of  the  triforium,  capitals,  bosses  and  corbels,  which  fur- 
nish everywhere  varied  and  pleasing  subjects  for  study. 
The  exterior  is  constructed  of  Bellville  (New  Jersey) 
stone,  and  the  interior  of  Berlin  (Ohio)  stone,  with  the 
use  of  native  and  foreign  marbles  in  the  pavement,  chan- 
cel steps,  baptistery  and  mausoleum.  The  proportions 
of  the  building  are  admirable,  the  extreme  length  meas- 
uring 190  feet,  the  width  of  the  transept  including  the 
porches  109  feet,  and  of  the  nave  and  aisles  52  feet.  The 
choir  and  chancel  are  sixty  feet  deep,  separated  by 
marble  steps,  with  the  bishop’s  throne  on  the  north  side 
and  the  dean’s  on  the  south.  The  tower,  which  is  mon- 
umental in  character,  with  bold  buttresses,  ornate  gab- 
lets and  pinnacles,  is  124  feet  high;  and  the  delicately 
tapering  spire,  crocketed  and  surmounted  by  a large  il- 
luminated cross  of  colored  gems,  is  97  feet,  making  the 
whole  height  221  feet.  In  the  upper  stage  of  the  tower 
is  hung  the  chime  of  bells,  13  in  number,  exhibited  at  the 
Centennial  exhibition  in  Philadelphia,  from  the  noted 
McShane  foundry  in  Baltimore.  The  spiret  of  the  bap- 
tistery is  beautiful  in  design  and  workmanship,  with  its 
flying  buttresses  and  pierced  belfry;  and  from  the  aisle 
walls  also  spring  flying  buttresses  to  the  nave,  giving 
lightness  and  elegance  to  the  general  effect  of  the  exter- 
ior, while  the  cornices  are  enriched  with  gargoyles  and 
pinnacles.  The  roof  is  slated,  and  finished  at  the  apex 
with  a bronze  crest,  bearing  a crown  at  the  junction  of 
the  nave  and  transepts,  and  a cross  over  the  chancel. 

In  the  interior  the  work  is  equally  elaborate  and  care- 
fully finished.  The  baptistery  is  connected  with  the 
choir  and  transept  by  large  arches,  filled  with  elegant 
stone  tracery,  and  is  finished  with  columns  of  variegated 


foreign  marbles,  with  capitals  of  statuary  marble  exquis- 
itely carved,  supporting  the  gothic  groining  of  the  dome 
above.  Around  the  walls  runs  a wainscoting  of  statuary 
marble  with  panels  of  vert  antique.  In  the  center  of  the 
inlaid  marble  pavement  stands  the  white  marble  font, 
adorned  with  appropriate  symbols  and  figures,  and  cov- 
ered by  a rich  canopy.  The  seats  of  the  bishop  and 
dean  as  well  as  the  stalls  of  the  clergy  in  the  ante-chan- 
cel are  of  mahogany,  with  elaborately  carved  canopies; 
and  in  the  sanctuary  the  stalls  and  canopies  are  of  carved 
stone,  as  well  as  the  piscina  and  credence.  On  a plat- 
form of  raised  steps  stands  the  altar,  constructed  of  the 
purest  statuary  marble,  with  panels  presenting  in  bold  re- 
lief the  chief  events  of  our  Lord’s  incarnate  life,  with 
their  prophetical  types  in  the  old  dispensation.  The 
pavement  of  this  portion  of  the  edifice  is  a rich  mosaic 
of  colored  marbles.  In  the  choir  and  transepts  are  large 
niches  for  appropriate  figures,  executed  in  rrarble. 

The  crypt  is  connected  with  the  choir  and  nave  by 
staircases,  and  contains  a large  chapel,  with  a spacious 
hall  and  vestibules  of  carved  oak  filled  with  panels  of 
stained  glass.  At  the  west  end  under  the  choir  is  another 
smaller  chapel,  and  adjoining  it  the  mausoleum,  which  is 
polygonal  in  form,  having  14  bays,  wrought  in  the  most 
elegant  manner  in  statuary  marble,  with  clustered  col- 
umns of  the  costliest  European  marbles  at  each  angle  of 
the  walls,  supporting  the  vaulting  and  its  pendent  crown. 
The  symmetry  and  variety  of  the  columnar  treatment, 
the  exquisite  finish  of  the  floriated  capitals,  corbels  and 
mullions,  all  of  which  are  separate  studies,  the  stained 
glass  presenting  the  story  of  our  Lord’s  passion,  death 
and  resurrection,  the  graceful  statuary  and  the  massive 
sarcophagus  all  combine  to  render  this  mortuary  temple 
a triumph  of  architectural  genius. 

The  architect  is  Henry  G.  Harrison,  of  No.  67  William 
street,  New  York,  and  the  contractor  James  H. 
L’Hommedieu,  of  Great  Neck,  Long  Island.  The 
stained  glass  of  the  crypt  is  from  the  manufactory  of 
Colgate,  New  York;  and  that  of  the  mausoleum  and  the 
cathedral  itself  from  the  celebrated  London  firms  of  Hea- 
ton, Butler  & Bayne,  and  Clayton  & Bell.  When  com- 
pleted the  edifice  will  have  cost  $1,000,000. 

The  organ,  built  by  H.  L.  Roosevelt  of  New  York, 
ranks  among  the  largest,  and  in  several  respects  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  in  the  world.  It  has  four  manual 
keyboards  and  one  pedal  keyboard,  and  comprises  one 
hundred  and  twenty  speaking  stops  and  about  eight 
thousand  pipes.  Though  placed  in  different  parts  of  the 
cathedral,  it  is  all  played  from  one  key  box,  situated  in 
the  choir,  the  remote  portions  being  connected  by  cables 
of  electric  wire,  over  twenty  miles  of  which  are  used  for 
this  purpose.  The  main  body  of  the  instrument  is  in  an 
octagonal  chamber  built  or.  the  north  side  of  the  choir 
for  this  purpose.  The  next  largest  portion  is  at  the 
other  end  of  the  building,  in  the  stage  of  the  tower  imme- 
diately below  the  chimes  and  separated  from  the  church 
by  a stained  glass  window,  which  is  opened  and  shut 
from  one  of  the  swell  pedals  in  the  choir  by  means  of 
electricity.  A third  part  is  in  the  chapel  under  the  nave, 


CHURCH  INSTITUTIONS  AT  GARDEN  CITY. 


and  can  be  played  there  from  its  own  keyboard  for  chap- 
el services.  A fourth,  above  the  ceiling,  is  called  the 
Echo  organ,  and  is  played  also  from  the  choir.  Two 
other  portions  are  on  either  side  of  the  choir.  The  chimes 
are  also  played  from  the  solo  manual  by  electricity, 
or  from  a separate  keyboard  in  the  tower.  The  combi- 
nation pedals  are  so  arranged  that  the  organist  can 
change  any  combination  to  suit  himself,  small  knobs 
being  placed  above  the  drawstops  for  this  purpose. 
Three  steam  engines,  located  in  different  parts  of  the 
building,  are  employed  to  work  the  bellows.  The  cost 
of  the  instrument,  which  was  not  completed  at  the  time 
of  writing,  was  over  $60,000,  and  the  ornately  carved 
mahogany  cases  cost  about  $30,000  additional. 

Relative  to  the  site  of  the  cathedral  a writer  in  the 
Sanitarian  remarks: 

“ The  setting  of  this  gem  of  the  pure  gothic  order  of 
architecture,  instead  of  being  in  arid  metropolitan  streets, 
is  in  a locality  which  will  yet  have  a world-wide  reputa- 
tion for  all  that  is  most  attractive  to  the  eye  and  grateful 
to  refined  taste  in  landscape  and  architectural  beauty, 
and  all  the  luxury  that  wealth  can  accumulate  in  its  sur- 
roundings. Approached  by  any  of  the  various  lines  of 
railway,  or  by  the  substantial  and  well  kept  carriage 
roads,  worthy  of  the  appellation  sometimes  given  them  of 
“ Roman  roads,”  the  cathedral  seems  firmly  planted  upon 
an  elevated  plateau,  with  gently  rolling  surface,  here  and 
there  broken  by  valleys  sweeping  in  graceful  curves, 
robed  in  green,  and  enlivened  by  flowers  and  crystal 
fountains,  shaded  with  trees  luxuriant  in  growth  and  of 
every  variety  known  to  the  climate,  fanned  by  delicious 
breezes,  invigorating  and  exhilarating  to  both  body  and 
brain,  and  elevating  to  the  soul.” 

We  may  appropriately  close  our  sketch  of  this  noble 
edifice  with  the  following  eloquent  passage  from  the  ad- 
dress of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Snively  at  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone: 

“ From  this  home  of  reverent  worship  and  this  center 
of  earnest  work  there  shall  go  constantly  the  messengers 
of  peace  on  earth  and  good-will  to  men,  and  in  the  Mas- 
ter’s name  and  work  shall  kindle  upon  unseen  altars  the 
flame  that  shall  illumine  the  world.  And  this  cathedral, 
which  at  once  enshrines  the  memory  of  the  departed  and 
gives  untold  efficiency  to  the  missionary  capabilities  of 
the  church,  shall  be  both  the  instrumentality  and  the 
prototype  of  that  sublime  spiritual  temple  erected  of  hu- 
man souls  and  cemented  by  a living  faith— a temple 
which  gathers  its  stones  from  many  quarries,  and  hews 
its  timber  from  the  forests  of  many  lands,  and  which, 
without  the -noise  of  axe  or  hammer  or  saw,  is  rising 
through  the  centuries  to  its  glorious  consummation  in 
Jesus  Christ,  its  chief  Head  and  Corner-stone. 

“ The  cathedral  idea  is  an  element  in  the  organic  life 
of  the  visible  church.  It  has  been  well  said  that  its  em- 
bryo was  in  the  upper  room  in  Jerusalem,  where  solemn' 
conferences  were  held  while  waiting  the  coming  of  the 
Comforter.  From  then  until  now  the  necessity  of  a cen- 
tral rendezvous  and  rallying-point  for  the  church,  a com- 
mon altar  and  common  conference  ground  in  devotion 

A 


191 


and  debate,  has  been  profoundly  felt,  and  this  necessity 
has  been  relieved  by  the  cathedral.  We  rejoice,  then, 
not  so  much  over  the  architectural  cathedral,  whose  walls 
rise  and  beautify  this  broad-bosomed  plain;  nor  again 
over  the  memorial  cathedral,  which  shall  in  silent  elo- 
quence move  the  present  and  coming  ages  with  the  story 
of  human  love  sublimed  in  Christ,  honoring  and  soul- 
helping; but  chiefly  we  rejoice  over  the  great  spiritual 
edifice,  whose  corner  stone  we  have  laid  in  the  Master’s 
name,  whose  walls  shall  be  salvation,  and  whose  gates 
praise  through  a far-reaching  gospel  future. 

“ The  cathedra],  in  its  whole  idea,  its  theory  and 
method,  is  designed  to  fuse  into  a holy  harmony  the 
whole  evangelical  work  and  devotional  life  of  the  diocese. 
To  build  a cathedral,  equip  it,  and  endow  it,  and  then 
give  it  to  God  for  the  worship  of  his  people,  is  something 
without  precedent  in  the  annals  of  Christian  charity. 
And  then  how  beautiful  the  blending  of  the  wifely  affec- 
tion and  the  Christly  devotion,  making  a mausoleum  for 
the  loved  and  lost  of  earth,  and  vaulting  it  over  with  a 
temple  for  the  worship  of  the  King  of  heaven.” 

The  Cathedral  School  of  St.  Paul. 

This  magnificent  building,  which  has  been  erected  by 
Mrs.  A.  T.  Stewart,  occupies  a sightly  position  about  a 
quarter  of  a mile  northwest  of  the  cathedral.  It  is  in 
style  an  adaptation  of  English  gothic,  and  is  massively 
constructed  of  brick,  made  at  the  brick  works  of  the  es- 
tate, with  brown  stone  and  Dorchester  yellow  stone  for 
windows,  doorways,  porches  and  other  ornamental  fea- 
tures. 

The  edifice  consists  of  an  imposing  facade,  which  with 
the  portecochere  is  290  feet  long,  and  three  wings  170 
feet  deep,  forming  a ground  plan  something  like  the  let- 
ter E;  and  is  four  stories  in  .height,  with  additional 
stories  in  the  center  and  at  the  angles,  which  have  high 
mansard  roofs.  Besides  these  projections  the  exterior 
is  diversified  with  ornate  porches  of  carved  stone,  a clock 
and  bell  tower  and  a broach  spire  in  copper  for  the  ven- 
tilation of  the  laboratory.  Over  the  main  entrance  is  in- 
scribed: “ In  Memoriam  Alex.  Turney  Stewart,” 
with  the  name  of  the  school  beneath,  and  over  the  east 
and  west  doorways,  “ Historia  et  Scientia,”  and  “Ars  et 
Philo sophia." 

The  interior  arrangements  have  been  carefully  planned, 
and  appear  to  successfully  combine  the  best  features  of 
modern  collegiate  edifices,  whether  in  this  country  or 
abroad.  The  whole  building  is  fire-proof,  admirably 
ventilated,  and  supplied  with  gas  and  hot  and  cold  water 
in  every  room,  with  abundant  bathing  facilities,  and  steam 
heating  apparatus  after  the  Holly  system.  The  different 
stories  are  connected  by  two  elevators,  and  several  com- 
modious stairways,  constructed  of  iron  and  stone.  The 
first  floor  comprises  the  main  hall,  270  feet  long  and  10 
wide,  and  lateral  corridors  170  feet  long,  wainscoted  with 
tiles  and  marble,  and  paved  with  Minton  tiles  of  beauti- 
ful designs;  reception  rooms  on  either  side  of  the  central 
entrance,  connecting  with  a library  and  parlor,  each  21 
by  50  feet;  the  head  master’s  and  matron’s  apartments, 


192 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


dormitories  in  the  east  wing;  the  dining  hall  in  the  cen- 
tral wing,  43  by  62  feet,  with  serving  rooms;  and  the  two 
assembly  rooms  in  the  west  wing  tor  the  higher  and 
lower  school,  about  50  feet  square,  with  several  recita- 
tion and  lecture  rooms,  each  20  by  24  feet.  The  second 
story  is  devoted  to  teachers’  and  pupils’  rooms,  varying 
in  size  from  9 by  20  feet  to  18  by  25  feet;  and  in  the 
center,  occupying  two  stories,  is  the  chapel,  42  by  65 
feet,  which  is  arranged  with  longitudinal  sittings  for  some 
four  or  five  hundred  pupils,  and  has  at  the  north  end  a 
chancel,  organ  and  sacristy.  On  the  third  floor  are  sit- 
uated in  front  the  music  rooms,  the  art  gallery,  25  by  62 
feet;  the  infirmary,  25  by  40  feet,  with  apartmtnts  for 
nurses,  and  in  the  corridors  a large  number  of  dormitor- 
ies. The  fourth  story  contains,  besides  dormitories,  the 
laboratory,  20  by  44  feet,  studios  for  art  pupils,  and  the 
gymnasium,  37  by  62  feet,  with  dressing  rooms,  in  the 
central  mansard.  In  the  basement  are  play  rooms  in  the 
school  wing,  the  armory,  the  laundry  and  drying  room, 
the  steward’s  room  and  the  servants’  hall,  the  store 
rooms,  butcher’s  shop,  refrigerators,  dairy,  engine  room, 
ovens,  kitchen,  scullery,  etc.;  and  in  the  east  wing  the 
servants’  dormitories.  Throughout  the  building  the  wood 
work  is  of  ash,  black  walnut,  oak  and  mahogany,  finished 
in  the  most  elegant  and  substantial  manner,  with  solid 
and  appropriate  furniture  specially  manufactured  for  the 
school  after  the  most  approved  designs. 


The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  the  r8th  of  June  1879,  by 
the  Rt.  Rev.  A.  N.  Littlejohn,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  assisted  by  the 
clergy  of  the  diocese,  and  in  the  presence  of  a large  con- 
course of  people.  Since  that  time  the  work  has  rapidly 
progressed,  under  the  direction  of  the  architect,  Edward 
D.  Harris,  of  New  York,  and  with  the  efficient  co-opera- 
tion of  the  Hon.  Henry  Hilton,  whose  well  directed  en- 
ergy and  discriminating  taste  have  been  of  untold  value 
in  the  development  of  the  cathedral  plan,  with  its  affil- 
iated educational  institutions.  It  is  expected  that  the 
new  edifice  will  be  ready  for  occupancy  in  the  autumn  of 
the  present  year  (1882).  St.  Paul’s  school,  organized  on  the 
19th  of  September  1877  and  hitherto  temporarily  lodged 
in  several  houses  in  the  place,  will  then  be  transferred  to 
its  new  and  permanent  quarters.  With  its  increased 
faculty,  its  enlarged  accommodations,  and  thorough 
equipment  in  library,  philosophical  and  chemical  appar- 
atus, and  gymnasium  for  physical  culture,  its  spacious 
park  and  playing  fields,  its  beautiful  lake  and  healthful 
surroundings,  this  school  can  scarcely  fail  to  become  at 
an  early  day  a large  and  important  one,  furnishing  all  the 
advantages  of  an  Eton  or  a Rugby;  and  with  its  outward 
and  material  prosperity  it  is  not  too  much  to  expect  that 
during  the  coming  centuries  it  will  yield  a wide  and  ben- 
eficent influence,  and  realize  the  noble  promise  of  its 
adopted  motto,  inscribed  upon  its  corner  stone,  “ Pro 
Christo , ct  Ecclesia , et  Literis  Humanis .” 


JAMAICA. 


HIS  is  the  southwestern  town  in  Queens 
^ county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  south  by 
Rockaway  Beach,  a narrow  neck  of  land  be- 
longing to  Hempstead,  which  extends  be- 
tween the  ocean  and  Jamaica  Bay;  on  the  west 
by  the  towns  of  Flatlands  and  New  Lots,  in  Kings 
county;  on  the  north  by  Newtown  and  Flushing, 
and  on  the  east  by  Hempstead.  It  has  an  average  length 
and  breath  of  about  seven  and  one-half  miles,  and  in- 
cludes a surface  of  about  fifty-seven  square  miles.  About 
one-third  of  the  town,  in  the  southwestern  part,  is  cov- 
ered by  the  waters  of  Jamaica  Bay,  which  communicates 
with  the  ocean  through  Rockaway  Inlet.  Through  its 
central  portion  this  bay  is  thickly  interspersed  with  low 
islands,  which  are  separated  from  each  other  by  narrow 
water  passages.  Between  its  northern  boundary  and  the 
bay  the  town  occupies  a portion  of  the  level  part  of  the 
island  south  from  what  is  known  as  the  “ backbone.” 

The  Indian  inhabitants  of  the  town  previous  to  its 
settlement  by  the  whites  were  the  Canarsees  and  the 
Rockaways.  The  former  claimed  a portion  which  now 
adjoins  Kings  county,  and  the  latter  were  scattered  over 
the  southern  part  of  the  town  of  Hempstead,  with  a part 
of  Jamaica  and  the  whole  of  Newtown. 

The  prevalent  opinion  concerning  the  origin  of  the 
name  Jamaica  has  been  that  it  was  the  designation  of  a 
few  families  of  Indians  who  resided  near  the  head  of  the 


1 855 , 5,632;  i860,  6,5-15;  1865,  6,777;  187°,  7,7451  i875> 
8,983;  1880,  10,089. 

Deeds  and  Patents. 

It  is  not  known  who  were  the  first  actual  settlers  of 
the  town,  or  when  they  came.  It  is  known,  however, 
that  the  first  proprietors  came  from  Hempstead,  which 
was  settled  in  1644.  The  oldest  known  written  docu- 
ment relating  to  the  town  is  a deed  from  the  Indians,  of 
which  the  following  is  a copy: 

“Bee  it  known  vnto  all  men  by  these  presents  that  wee 
whose  names  are  vnder  written  have  sold  & set  over  from 
our  selves,  our  heires,  executors,  Administrators  or 
Asigns  vnto  Mr.  Richard  Odell,  Nicholas  Tanner,  Richard 
Ogden  & Nathaniell  Denton,  theii  Associates,  heirs,  ex- 
ecutors, administrators  Aasignes  A Certain  tract  off  land 
beginning  at  a great  swamp  lying  on  ye  west  side  off 
Rockeway  Neck  Aand  so  running  westward  to  a river  ly- 
ing on  ye  east  side  off  a neck  off  land  which  Mr.  Coe 
hath  hired  off  ye  indeans,  wch  river  is  called  by  ye  inde- 
ans Waubheag;  ye  North  line  running  Near  vnto  or  about 
ye  path  yt  goes  ffrom  Hemstead  [to?]  Midlburroug,  wt 
all  ye  uplands  & meadowing  within  ye  afforesd  bounds, 
with  all  privileges  & appurtenances  thereunto  belonging. 
In  consideration  whereoff  the  aforesd  Mr.  Richard  Odell, 
Nicolas  Tanner,  Richard  Ogden,  Nathaniel  Denton  & 
their  Associates  shall  give  vnto  theese  whose  names  are 
vnder  written  two  guns,  a coat  And  a certain  quantity  off 
powder  & lead.  In  witness  whereoff  wee  have  subscribe 
our  hands  this  13th  of  September  Ano  Domini  1655.” 


bay,  and  that  it  was  originally  spelled  Jameco,  Jemeco , 
or,  as  it  appears  in  the  town  records,  Yemacah.  It  is 
always  safe  when  the  derivation  of  a name  is  uncertain, 
as  in  this  case,  to  accept  statements  concerning  it  with 
many  grains  of  allowance;  for  very  slight  resemblances 
are  sometimes  deemed  sufficient  to  establish  relationships 
between  names.  Dr.  O’Callaghan  derives  Jamaica  from 
Amick , or,  as  it  was  spelled  by  the  French,  Antique,  the 
Indian  word  for  beaver.  The  place  was  called  by  the 
Dutch  Rusdorp,  which  means  a country  village,  and  this 
name  was  used  in  early  conveyances  of  property;  but 
after  the  colony  was  surrendered  to  the  English,  Jamaica 
soon  came  to  be  the  only  name  used.  Some  of  the  first 
settlers  preferred  the  name  Crawford. 

Census  returns  from  1845,  inclusive,  give  the  popula- 
tion of  the  town  as  follows:  1845,  3,883;  1850,  4,247; 


This  deed  is  signed  by  Daniel  Denton,  and  by  Roger 
Linas,  Casperonn,  Adam  or  Achitterenose,  Ruckquakek, 
Runnasuk,  Aumerhas,  Caumeuk,  Manguaope  and  Wau- 
metompack  by  their  “ marks.” 

In  1656  the  associated  settlers  petitioned  the  governor 
as  follows: 

“ To  the  Right  Worshipfull  Peter  Stuyvesant,  Esquire, 
Governor  General  of  the  N.  Netherlands,  with  the  Coun- 
cell of  State  there  established: 

“ The  humble  petition  of  us  subscribed  sheweth  that, 
where  as  wee  have  Twice  already  petitioned,  soe  are  bold 
once  againe  to  petition  un  to  your  worship  & honourable 
Councell  for  a place  to’improve  our  Labours  upon;  for 
some  of  us  are  destitute  of  either  habitation  or  posses- 
sion, others  Though  inhabited  yett  finde  that  in  the  place 
where  they  are  the  cannot  comfortably  subsist  by  their 
Labours  and  endeavours.  By  which  means  they  are  ne- 
cessitated to  Look  out  for  a place  where  they  may  hoye 


24 


194 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


with  Gods  Blessing  upon  theyr  Labours  more  comfortably 
to  subsist.  The  place  they  desire  & have  alreadie  peti- 
tioned for  is  called  Conorasset,  & Lies  from  a river  which 
divideth  it  from  Conarie  see  to  the  Bounds  of  heemstead, 
& may  containe  about  twentie  families.  This  place,  upon 
incoeragement  from  your  worship  by  our  messenger  that 
presented  our  petition  sent  the  second  tyme,  wee  have 
purchased  from  the  Indians,  & are  not  willing  to  Remove 
out  of  the  jurisdiction  iff  wee  may  be  tollerated  to  pos- 
sesse  our  purchase;  &,  whereas  we  are  desirous  To  set- 
tle our  selves  this  spring,  wee  humbly  crave  that  this  place 
may  bee  confirmed  unto  us  with  as  much  expedition  as 
may  be  soe.  With  Appreciation  of  all  happiness  to  your 
worship  and  honored  Councell  wee  humbly  take  our 
leave,  who  are  your  humble  petioners.” 

“ Robert  Jackson,  Nicholas  Tanner,  Nathaniel  Denton, 
Richard  Everit,  Rodger  Linas,  Daniel  Denton,  John 
Eazar,  Abraham  Smith,  Thomas  Ireland,  Thomas  Carle, 
Edward  Sprag,  John  Rhoades,  Andrew  Messenger,  Sam- 
uel Matthews. 

“Hempstead,  the  ioth  of  March  1656.” 

The  following  response  to  this  petition  has  been  trans- 
lated from  the  Dutch  records  by  E.  B O’Callaghan: 

“The  Directors  and  Council,  having  seen  the  request 
of  the  petitioners,  at  present  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Heemsteede  and  subjects  of  this  province,  do  consent 
that  the  petitioners  may  begin  a new  town  according  to 
their  plan  in  this  respect,  between  the  land  called  by  us 
Canaresse  and  the  town  Heemsteede,  on  such  freedoms, 
exemptions  and  special  ground  briefs  as  the  inhabitants 
of  N.  Netherlands  generally  enjoy;  as  well  in  the  pos- 
session of  their  lands  as  in  the  election  of  their  magis- 
trates, on  the  same  footing  and  order  as  is  customary  in 
the  towns  of  Middleborch,  Breukelen,  Midwout  and 
Aamersfoort.  Done  at  Fort  Aamsterdam,  in  New  Neth- 
erland,  March  21st  1656. 

“ P.  Stuyvesant.” 

In  Jamaica,  as  in  the  other  towns  in  the  county,  the 
title  to  the  soil  was  vested  in  the  people  of  the  town  by 
virtue  of  the  foregoing  grant  from  the  governor  and 
council  and  the  deeds  that  were  from  time  to  time  ob- 
tained from  the  Indians.  The  following  memoranda, 
which  appear  in  the  town  records,  show  what  disposition 
was  at  first  made  of  these  lands: 

“ The  town  have  given  Mr.  Robert  Coe  & and  his  son 
Benjamin  Coe  each  of  ym  a home  lot. 

“ The  town  have  Alsoe  given  Nicholas  Tanner,  Abra- 
ham Smith,  John  Eazar,  Samuel  Smith,  Morace  Smith, 
& William  Thorne  each  off  ym  a house  lying  upon  ye 
west  quarter. 

“ The  town  have  granted  Andrew  Messenger,  Samuel 
Matthews,  Thomas  Wiggins,  Richard  Chasmore,  Richard 
Harkert,  Richard  Everet,  Henry  Townsend,  Richard 
Townsend,  John  Townsend  and  John  Roades  each  off 
. ym  a house  lot  lying  upon  ye  north  quarter. 

“ To  Samuel  Dein,  Nath.  Denton,  Geo.  Mills,  Rodger 
Linas,  Dan’l  Denton  & Sam’l  Andrews  each  a house  lot 
on  ye  south  quarter  of  ye  town.  The  aforesay  home  lots 
are  to  be  six  acres  in  a Lot — 18  ffoot  to  ye  pole,  12  pole 
in  breadth,  8 in  Length.” 

“Novembrye  25th  1856,  Stylo  novo. — These  presents 
declareth  yt  wee  whose  names  are  vnderwriten,  being 
true  owners  by  vertue  off  purchase  ffrom  ye  indians  & 
graunt  ffrom  ye  Governor  & Councell  given  & granted 
ye  2 1 st  of  March  1656,  I say  wee,  who  are  ye  true  owners 
by  vertue  of  purchase,  & our  Associates,  our  names  be- 
ing vnder  written,  living  at  ye  New  plantation  near  unto 
ye  bever  pond,  Commonly  Called  Jemaica — I say  wee,  in 


Consideration  off  our  charge  & trouble  in  getting  & set- 
ting off  ye  place,  have  reserved  ffor  our  selves  ye  ffull  & 
just  sum  off  ten  acres  off  planting  Land  a man  besides 
ye  home  lotts  in  ye  nearest  & Convenientst  place  yt  can 
be  found;  & soe  likwise  20  acres  off  medowing  a man, 
Convenientst  place  they  can  find;  & yt  shall  Remain  as 
theirs,  their  heirs’,  executors’,  or  Assignes’,  ffor  their  prop- 
er Right,  every  man  taking  his  lot  according  to  their 
first  Right  to  ye  land. 

“ witnesse  our  hands  this  day  & date  above  written: 
Robert  Coe,  Nic:  Tanner,  Nat:  Denton,  And:  Messenger, 
Daniell  Denton,  Abra:  Smith,  Rodger  Linas,  Samuel 
Mathews,  John  Eazar,  Richard  Everet,  John  Townsend, 
Hen:  Townsend,  Rich:  Townsend,  Ri:  Harkert,  Ri:  Chas- 
more, George  Mills,  John  Roades.” 

“ January  ye  13  th  1657. — It  is  this  day  granted  by  ye 
town  that  Mr.  Robert  Coe  & his  son  Beniamen  shall  take 
vp,  possesse  & enjoy  Ten  acies  off  land  a peece  at  ye 
rear  off  their  home  lots.” 

“ Feb.  27 th  1658. — It  is  agreed  upon  by  the  town  yt, 
according  to  a fformer  order,  yt  ye  ffirst  proprietors  and 
their  associates  shall  have  ten  acres  off  planting  Land  a 
piece  in  ye  most  convenient  place,  wch  they  shall  chuse 
so  yt  ye  shall  now  vew  & have  there  lots  layd  out  accord- 
ing to  ye  sayd  order. 

“ Theese  men  following  doe  conclude  to  have  their 
lots  east  ward:  John  Townsend,  John  Roades,  Nathan- 
iel Denton,  Daniel  Denton,  Richard  Everet,  Richard 
Harkert,  George  Mills. 

“These  men  following  take  up  yere  ten-acre  lots  west 
ward:  Nicolas  Tanner,  Andrew  Messenger,  Samuel 

Mathews,  John  Eazar,  Richard  Chasmore,  Abraham 
Smith,  Rodger  Linas. 

“Richard  Townsend  & Nicolas  Tanner  are  chosen  to 
lay  out  the  ten-acre  lots  & to  have  2ds  an  acre  ffor  yere 
labour. 

“Henry  Townsend,  Richard  Townsend  and  Daniell 
Denton  have  each  of  ym  a ten-acre  lot  liing  to  ye  north- 
ward off  ye  way  yt  goes  to  Hempstead,  on  ye  side  ye 
Rocky  Hollow  next  adjoining  to  ye  home  lots  upon  ye 
north  east  quarter;  Henry  Townsend  liing  ye  ffirst  & 
next  adjoining  to  ye  northeast  quarter,  Daniell  Denton’s 
ye  next  & Richard  Townsend  ye  3d  & last  off  ye  three. 

“ These  ten  acre  lots  above  speciffied  are  given  and 
granted  to  ye  Afforesayd  men  by  ye  town  & layd  out  ac- 
cording to  order.” 

November  22nd  1658  a town  meeting  voted  “that  ye 
medow  shall  be  layd  out  for  the  purchasers,  17  lots,  20 
acres  A lot.  Richard  Everet,  Rodger  Linas,  Richard 
Harker  and  John  Eazar  chosen  to  lay  out  ye  medow  & 
to  have  3ds  an  acre  ffor  their  labour.” 

It  appears  from  the  record  that  not  only  was  each 
man’s  lot  designated  by  vote  at  town  meeting,  but  that 
subsequent  transfers  were  supervised  and  regulated 
by  the  people.  An  entry  made  January  21st  1659  states 
that  a man  named  Benjamin  Hubbard  had  purchased  a 
house  lot  without  the  approbation  or  knowledge  of  the 
town.  He  was  required  to  give  a pledge  of  good  be- 
havior as  the  condition  on  which  he  might  continue  in 
the  enjoyment  of  his  purchase.  The  population  of  the 
town  gradually  increased,  and  lands  were  allotted  to  ac- 
ceptable settlers.  From  the  allotment  of  1660  the  fol- 
lowing in  addition  to  those  already  named  are  found  to 
have  been  freeholders:  John  Baylis,  George  Woolsey  sen., 
Joseph  Smith,  John  Everit,  John  Carpenter,  Samuel 
Dean  sen.,  John  Oldfield,  Thomas  Smith  sen.,  Thomas 
Ward,  Samuel  Mills,  John  Ludlum,  John  Wood,  Na* 


PATENTS  AND  PATENTEES  IN  JAMAICA. 


thaniel  Denton  jr.,  Thomas  Oakley,  Waite  Smith,  Nehe- 
miah  Smith,  Samuel  Davis,  Fulke  Davis,  Abel  Gail, 
Nathaniel  Mills,  Alexander  Smith,  Caleb  Carman,  Samuel 
Matthews,  Henry  Foster,  Jonas  Holstead,  William  Rus- 
coe,  Samuel  Barker,  John  Speagler,  Samuel  Messenger, 
Nicholas  Everit,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Thurston,  Ed- 
ward Higbie,  Bryant  Newton,  John  Rowlifson,  Thomas 
Wellin,  Robert  Ashman,  John  Lynas  and  Morris  Smith. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  at  this  period,  though 
nominally  subject  to  the  Dutch  provincial  government, 
the  town  was  practically  an  independent  republic  and 
commonwealth.  The  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial 
functions  were  combined  in  the  people  assembled  in 
town  meeting;  and  matters  both  of  general  and  special 
interest  were  there  discussed  and  determined. 

One  can  hardly  repress  a smile  as  he  glances  over  the 
records  of  their  proceedings  at  these  town  meetings;  but 
when  the  circumstances  by  which  they  were  surrounded 
are  considered,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  two  and 
a quarter  centuries  have  gone  by  since  these  records 
were  made,  the  conviction  will  be  inevitable  that  their 
affairs  were  managed  wisely. 

A more  ample  charter  or  patent  was  granted  by  Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant  in  1660  to  the  town,  which  was  named 
in  it  Rusdorp.  Jealousy  of  power  that  did  not  emanate 
from  him  was  a characteristic  weakness  of  this  governor, 
and  under  the  promptings  of  this  feeling  he  was  occa- 
sionally guilty  of  arbitrary  acts,  as  well  toward  the  people 
of  this  town  as  of  others  within  his  jurisdiction. 

At  almost  every  town  meeting  during  two  centuries 
action  was  taken  concerning  the  common  lands  of  the 
town.  At  first,  as  shown  by  the  foregoing  extracts,  these 
lands  were  divided  among  the  original  settlers,  and  other 
portions  were  afterward  allotted  to  such  immigrants  as 
were  acceptable  to  these.  As  the  town  became  more  and 
more  populous  of  course  the  common  lands  became  less. 
Within  a comparatively  recent  period  the  town  has  taken 
measures  to  dispose  of  these  lands,  and  sales  have  been 
effected.  A sale  was  made  of  the  common  lands  known 
as  Little  Plains  in  1843;  and  in  1854  Beaver  Pond,  which 
was  the  last  of  the  public  lands  owned  by  the  town,  was 
sold  in  small  parcels. 

Lands  were  purchased  from  the  Indians  at  various 
times,  usually  for  trifling  considerations.  In  1662  the 
town  voted  to  the  Indians  a trooper’s  coat  and  a kettle; 
and  their  sachems  signed  the  following  release:  “Wee 
whose  names  are  vndenvritten  doe  by  these  presents  ac- 
knowledge ourselves  satisfied  for  the  8 bottles  of  licker 
yt  was  promised  vs  by  the  town  off  Rustdorp  & ffor  all 
rights  & claims  whatsoever  ffor  any  land  yt  wee  have 
fformerly  sold  to  ye  town  off  Rustdorp.  Witness  our 
hands  this  fiveteenth  off  Aprill  one  thousand  six  hundred 
sixty  and  two.”  This  was  signed  (with  thei.r  “ marks”) 
by  Waumitampack,  Rockause  and  Ramasowie,  before 
Daniel  Denton,  and  the  following  note  was  appended: 
“ The  8 bottles  of  lickrs  was  insted  of  a ketle  wch  ye 
indeans  was  to  have  had.” 

This  deed  of  confirmation  was  executed  in  1663: 

“ Know  all  men  whom  it  may  Concern  That  I,  Waumi- 


i9o 


tumpack,  Sachem  off  Rockeway,  having  fformerly  sold  to 
ye  inhabitants  off  Crafford,  Alias  Jemaica,  a tract  off  land 
bounded  eastward  by  a great  swamp  or  River  which  is 
ye  west  bounds  off  Rockeway  neck,  I say  which  makes 
Rockey  a neck  on  ye  west  side,  & so  to  run  betwixt  ye 
great  plains  & ye  little  plains  to  ye  hills,  as  appears  by 
ye  markt  trees,  I say  I,  Waumitumpak  afores’d,  doe  ffor 
my  selff,  my  heires  or  any  others  that  may  lay  any  claime 
thereunto,  Ratififie  & Conffirme  my  fformer  sale  made  to 
ye  inhabitants  off  Crafford  aforesd  in  ye  year  off  our  lord 
1655,  by  laying  out  ye  bounds  off  sd  sale  by  markt  trees 
as  above,  running  nortward  to  the  hills  betwixt  ye  sd 
playnes.  In  witness  wherevnto  I,  wt  2 others  off  Rocke- 
way, set  our  hands  ye  7th  of  March  1663.” 

The  two  others  were  Rockause  and  Nannowat,  and  the 
deed  was  subscribed  before  Daniel  Denton  and  “Thomas 
Bennydick.” 

In  1674  the  town  “voted  to  be  paid  to  the  Indians” 
for  what  was  termed  the  west  purchase  “ one  trooper’s 
coat,  five  guns,  three  blankets,  sixteen  coats,  nine  kettles, 
ten  pounds  of  powder,  ten  bars  of  lead,  one  coat  in  liq- 
uors, thirty  fathoms  of  wampum,  and  a quart  more  of 
liquor.” 

In  1686  a new  patent  to  the  town  was  issued  by  Gov- 
ernor Dongan.  This  patent  set  forth  that,  in  accordance 
with  a previous  agreement,  the  town  of  Jamaica  should 
make  no  claim  to  Rockaway  Neck,  and  that  by  “ Rocka- 
way  River  ” should  be  understood  “ the  river  that  runs 
out  of  Rockaway  Swamp,  and  to  be  Jamica’s  east  bounds;” 
and  that  the  meadows  on  the  west  thereof  should  belong 
to  Jamaica.  The  persons  named  as  patentees,  in  behalf 
of  themselves  and  their  associates,  were  Nicholas  Everit, 
Nathaniel  Denton,  Nehemiah  Smith,  Daniel  Denton  sen., 
John  Oldfield,  William  Creed,  Bryant  Newton,  Benjamin 
Coe,  Jonas  Wood,  William  Fforster,  John  Everit,  Edward 
Higbie,  Daniel  Whitehead,  John  Carpenter,  John  Free- 
man, Samuel  Smith,  Richard  Rhodes,  Joseph  Smith, 
George  Woolsey,  John  Bayles,  Thomas  Smith  sen.  and 
Wait  Smith. 

In  1665  a patent,  confirming  such  lands  as  had  been 
purchased,  was  granted  by  Governor  Nicoll  to  Daniel 
Denton,  Robert  Coe,  Bryant  Newton,  William  Hallett, 
Andrew  Messenger,  Anthony  Waters  and  Nathaniel  Den- 
ton; in  which  the  bounds  of  the  town  were  set  forth. 

A rate  made  in  1708  included  190  names  of  taxable  in- 
habitants in  the  town.  The  last  record  of  quit  rent  paid 
by  the  town  was  for  the  five  years  from  1721  to  1725  in- 
clusive. A receipt  was  given  to  the  town  of  Jamaica  for 
^5  13s.  4d.  by  Archibald  Kennedy. 

Curiosities  of  Local  Legislation. 

The  following  is  a copy  of  the  record  of  proceedings 
at  the  first  town  meeting.  The  apparent  discrepancy  in 
the  date  of  this  meeting  and  of  the  permit  to  organize  the 
town  is  accounted  for  by  the  confusion  between  old  and 
new  styles.  Previous  to  1652  the  year  commenced  on 
the  25th  of  March,  and  after  the  adoption  of  the  new 
style,  which  made  the  first  of  January  the  commencment 
of  the  year,  some  adhered  to  the  old  style  in  reckoning. 

“ A town  meeting  held  at  ye  town  ye  18th  day  off  Feb. 
1656. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 96 


“ Daniell  Denton  to  write  and  enter  all  acts  & orders 
off  publick  concernment  to  ye  town,  & is  to  have  a daies 
work  a man  ffor  ye  sayd  employment. 

“ It  is  voted  & concluded  by  ye  town  yt  whosoever 
shall  ff el  1 any  trees  in  ye  highways  shall  take  both  top 
& body  out  of  ye  highway. 

“ It  is  ffurther  voted  & agreed  upon  by  ye  town  yt 
whosoever  shall  kill  a wolff  within  ye  bounds  of  ye  town 
shall  have  ffifteen  shillings  a wolff. 

“ Likewise  it  is  agreed  upon  by  ye  town  yt  whereas 
they  have  ye  Litle  plains  by  purchase  & patent  wtt  in 
their  limits,  to  maintain  their  right  & privilege  in  ye  sayd 
place  ffrom  any  such  as  shall  goe  to  deprive  ym  off  it,  & 
so  to  make  vse  of  it  as  they  shall  see  cause.” 

The  following  extracts  from  the  records  of  the  town 
are  introduced  to  show  the  manner  in  which  public  bus- 
iness was  transacted  at  that  early  period.  These  records 
have  been  carefully  bound  and  preserved  in  an  unbroken 
series  from  1656  to  the  present  time. 

“ 30th  1658. — It  is  ys  day  voted  ordered  & 

agreed  upon  by  this  town  off  Rustdorp  that  no  person  or 
persons  whatsoever  whithin  this  town  shall  sell  or  give 
directly  or  indirectly  to  any  indian  or  indians  whatsoever 
within  or  about  ye  sayd  town  Any  strong  licker  or  strong 
drink  whatsoever  or  off  what  sort  soever,  either  much  or 
litle,  more  or  lesse,  upon  the  fforffiture  ffiffty  Guilders 
ffor  every  offence.” 

“ January  ye  21st  1659. — The  town  have  hired  2 bulls 
for  ye  ensuing  year,  one  off  Richard  Chasmore  & another 
off  Beniamin  Coe,  & are  to  give  ym  Twentie  shillings  of 
peece.” 

“ March  ye  25 th  1659. — It  is  concluded  by  ye  town  yt 
as  formerly  so  ye  ensuing  year  they  shall  mow  by  squad- 
rons. Lots  drawn:  John  Townsend  and  his  squadron  at 
ye  east  Neck,  Mr.  Coe  and  his  squadron  at  ye  Long 
Necke,  Nicolas  Tanner’s  squadron  at  ye  old  house’s 
necke,  Nathaniel  Denton  & his  squadron  at  ye  Haw  trees.” 

“It  is  ordered  ye  15th  off  January  1661  yt  A rate  shall 
be  made  ffor  ye  wolves, one  off  Abraham’s  killing,  2 off  ym 
ytt  John  Towsend  pit  cacht;  & one  bull  hired,  20  shil- 
lings; and  30  shillings  ffor  ye  dark;  ye  whole  is  4J  15s. 
John  Townsend  and  Thomos  Ffoster  chosen  to  gather 
ye  rate.” 

“ April  ye  30  th  1661. — The  town  have  agreed  to  hire  a 
cowe-keeper  jointly  together  to  keep  all  ye  town  cowes  &: 
calves  for  this  year.” 

“April ye  last. — The  town  doe  by  these  presents  promise 
& engage  to  pay  vnto  Wrn.  Coe,  off  Rustdorp,  the  sum  of 
eleven  pounds  seventeen  shillings,  to  be  payd  in  good 
passable  wampum,  sixe  months  from  ye  date  hereoff. 
This  money  above  speciffied  is  payd  to  Mr.  Coe  off  ye 
money  Nicholas  Tanner  lent  ye  town. 

“Written  by  order  from  ye  town,  by  Daniel  Denton, 
dark.” 

January  ye  30  th  1662. — The  town  doe  promis  to  give 
Abraham  Smith  30s  ffor  beating  ye  drum  a year.” 

“ March  ye  6th  1662. — It  is  voted  by  ye  town  yt  John 
Baylie,  Nathaniel  Denton  & Thomas  Ffoster  shall  act 
and  order  all  matters  off  publick  concernment  ffor  ye 
town,  unlesse  disposing  off  lands  & taking  in  off  habi- 
tants, during  ye  term  off  one  year. 

March  ye  13 th  1662.— It  is  ordered  and  Aagreed  by 
ye  Town  yt  John  Baylie  shall  keep  an  ordinary  in 
ye  Town  of  Rustdorp  ffor  entertaining  of  strangers  x'k 
allsoe  to  sell  drink,  and  that  no  man  shall  have  liberty 
to  sell  drink,  whether  bear  or  likers  or  any  sorts  of 
wine,  wt  in  <his  town  onely  ye  ordinary  keeper  affore- 
sayd;  & yt  he  shall  fforthwith  set  upon  ye  work  to  pro- 
vide ffor  strangers  & to  give  entertainment  to  such  stran- 
gers as  shall  come  at  present. 


“ It  is  ffurther  voted  & agreed  by  ye  town  that  Rich- 
ard Britnell  shall  bee  Marchall  ffor  ye  year:  It  is  ffurther 
ordered  by  ye  town  to  build  a house  ffor  ye  minister,  off 
36  ffoot  long.” 

“ November  ye  15 th  1662. — It  is  voted,  concluded  & 
agreed  upon  by  ye  town  yt  ye  neck  on  ye  west  side  off 
ye  haw  trees,  with  ye  upland  liing  to  the  hills  above  it, 
bee  bought  off  ye  indeans. 

“ The  town  have  voted  & concluded  yt,  whereas  Mr. 
Waters  have  given  ym  intelligence  off  a man  yt  is  a tan- 
ner yt  would  have  a lot  amongst  vs  and  svch  accommo- 
dations as  may  sute  his  calling  ffor  to  ffollow  his  trade, 
the  town  are  willing  to  accomadate  him  as  well  as  they 
can.” 

“ January  ye  29 th  1663. — It  is  voted  by  ye  town  yt 

John shall  be  marshall  ffor  this  ensuing  year,  & 

to  have  ye  flees  belonging  to  ye  place  ffor  his  labour. 
Aand  if  any  man  shall  deride  him  in  respect  off  his 
place  or  cast  any  aspersion  upon  him  hee  shall  be  liable 
to  ye  censure  off  ye  court. 

“ It  is  voted  by  ye  ttown  yt  Abraham  Smith  shall  have 
thirty  shillings  a year  ffor  beating  ye  Drum  vpon  sabbath 
daies  and  other  publike  meetings  daies,  & to  have  his 
pay  in  tobacco  pay;  or  wheat  at  6s.  8d.  & indean  at  4s.” 

In  1663  “all  cattle,  colts  or  hoggs”  less  than  one  year 
old  were  exempted  from  rates,  and  it  was  ordered  that 
failure  to  “give  in”  ratable  cattle  should  be  punished 
by  forfeiture  of  these  cattle  to  the  town. 

All  business  relating  to  public  worship,  such  as  the 
procuring  of  a minister,  providing  a house  for  him,  reg- 
ulating his  salary,  and  fixing  the  value  of  the  produce  in 
which  it  was  paid,  was  transacted  at  town  meetings. 
Men  were  appointed  from  time  to  time  to  look  after  his 
temporal  wants,  and  in  1663  it  was  “voted  yt  all  ye  in- 
habitants off  this  our  town  shall  pay  towards  ye  mainten- 
ance of  ye  ministry  according  to  what  ye  possesse.” 

At  different  town  meetings  in  T663  regulations  were 
adopted  concerning  animals,  especially  swine,  that  ran 
at  large.  Such  “as  doe  damage  by  coming  into  ye  corn 
fields”  were  to  be  sufficiently  yoked,  and  “such  hoggs 
as  lie  about  town,  though  ye  have  done  no  damage  at 
present,  shall  be  kept  vp  every  night.”  Fences  were  to 
be  repaired,  under  the  penalty  of  i2d.  per  rod  for  neg- 
lect. 

It  was  afterward  voted  “yt  every  hog  shall  pay  ffive 
shillings  yt  shall  be  cacht  in  ye  ffields  wt  out  a yoke, 
whether  hog  or  sow  or  shoat;  ” and  proportionate  penal- 
ties were  imposed  on  horses  and  oxen  found  tresspassing 
“ in  ye  corn  ffields.” 

In  December  1663  John  Bayles  and  Daniel  Denton 
were  appointed  “ ffor  ye  ending  off  differences  betwixt 
man  and  man  according  to  ye  laws  of  England,  in  place 
of  magistrates.”  Francis  Finch  was  chosen  constable 
and  Goodman  Benedick  “ Livtenant  off  town.”  It  was 
also  “ concluded  yt  John  Baylies,  liefftenant  Benedik  & 
Daniel  Denton  shall  meet  ye  deputies  off  ye  severall  towns 
to  agitate  wt  ym  or  act  About  such  things  as  may  bee  ffor 
ye  generall  good  off  ye  towns.”  A disposition  was  evinced 
by  these  acts  to  act  in  concert  with  other  towns  in  eman- 
cipating themselves  from  Dutch  rule. 

Five  townsmen  were  chosen  to  order  affairs  for  the 
town,  except  disposing  of  lands.  These  men  made  or- 
ders, which  were  confirmed  in  a subsequent  town  meet- 


EARLY  ORDINANCES  OF  JAMAICA— THE  REVOLUTION. 


ing,  compelling  people,  under  penalties,  to  keep  sufficient 
ladders,  and  sweep  their  chimneys.  A commission  was 
appointed  in  January  1664  to  “byy  a peece  of  land  off 
ye  indeans,  over  ye  hill  on  ye  north  side  of  ye  hills, 
about  a mile  in  breadth  or  thereabouts;”  another  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  report  this  purchase  to  the  gov- 
ernor for  his  approval,  and  still  another  “to  gather  ye  rate 
made  ffor  ye  purchase  of  ye  hills.” 

In  1665  a commission  was  appointed  to  defend  the 
town  against  a complaint  of  Flushing,  and  to  request 
of  the  governor  that  the  several  deeds  from  the  Indians 
be  recorded.  Probably  the  controversy  with  Flushing 
related  to  boundaries.  The  town  directed  Richard  Ev- 
erit  to  visit  the  sachem  Waumitampak  and  induce  him 
to  appear  before  the  general  court  and  verify  the 
several  purchases  that  had  been  made,  and  for  this  to 
promise  him  a new  coat. 

In  1679  a resolution  was  adopted  to  send  for  the  In- 
dians “ to  make  our  east  bounds  according  to  our  former 
purchases.”  Questions  as  to  boundaries  often  arose  be- 
tween this  and  the  neighboring  towns  of  Flushing  and 
Hempstead,  and  commissioners  were  appointed  to  settle 
these  questions.  In  1681  the  constables  of  Jamaica  and 
Flushing,  each  accompained  by  citizens  of  his  town,  met 
“ to  agetate  determin  marke  out  and  conclude  of  division 
boundes  to  be  and  remaine  betweene  the  land  of  Flush- 
ing and  the  land  of  Jamaica  from  time  to  time  and  to 
the  end  of  time,”  and  such  line  was  recorded. 

In  1670  fifty-two  freeholders  or  proprietors  were  re- 
corded as  residents  of  the  town. 

Nothing  which  appears  in  the  records  indicates  that 
the  revolution  of  1664  affected  the  management  of  town 
matters.  The  extracts  and  statements  that  have  been 
made  show  what  the  general  plan  of  management  was  at 
that  early  time. 

The  first  recorded  road  in  this  town  was  laid  out  in 
1727  by  Jonathan  Whitehead,  Gabriel  Luff  and  Richard 
Betts,  commissioners.  This  road  is  described  as  being 
two  rods  in  breadth,  and  running  “through  the  land  of 
Thomas  Whitehead  in  Jamaica,  beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Abraham  Montonya’s  green,  so  running 
westwardly  over  the  said  Whitehead’s  land  to  a certain 
white  oak  tree  standing  near  the  mill  pond,  with  a 
bulge  on  the  south  side  near  the  root;  and  the  said 
road  to  be  on  the  north  side  of  the  said  boundaries; 
and  from  the  said  white  oak  tree  running  southwardly 
along  the  said  mill  pond  as  near  the  said  pond  as  to 
leave  a sufficient  road  as  aforesaid;  and  from  thence 
to  a certain  place  where  the  people  passeth  over  the 
brook  below  the  mill  now  in  the  possession  of  Sami. 
Skidmore;  then  westwardly  over  the  brook  to  the  house 
of  said  Skidmore.” 

Several  other  roads  were  established  within  a few  years, 
but  the  descriptions  of  them  were  quite  as  indefinite  as 
this. 

At  a town  meeting  in  1786  it  was  “voted  that  no  hogs 
shall  run  at  large  in  this  town,  and  if  catched  at  any  time 
in  any  inclosure  shall  be  liable  to  be  pounded,  and  the 
owner  or  owners  of  such  hogs  to  pay  the  damage.”  In 


*97 


1787  it  was  enacted  “that  Abraham  Ditmars  and  Ben- 
jamin Everitt  Esqs.  be  appointed  to  bind  out  the  poor 
children  as  apprentices,  and  to  compel  such  persons  to 
work  as  have  no  visible  means  of  gaining  a livelihood.” 
In  1797  William  Ludlum,  Abraham  Ditmars  and  Benja- 
min Everitt  were  ordered  to  set  up  a “cage”  in  the 
town,  at  such  a place  as  they  should  determine;  and  the 
expense  was  directed  to  be  paid  by  the  overseers  of  the 
poor.  In  1808  Abiathar  Rhodes  was  directed  to  provide 
“a  stocks”  for  the  town,  and  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars 
was  voted  to  defray  the  expense  thereof. 

The  first  recorded  division  of  the  roads  in  the  town 
into  districts  was  made  in  1830,  by  George  Johnson, 
Michael  Skidmore  and  Abraham  Hendrickson.  Ten  dis- 
tricts were  then  established.  In  1859  the  road  districts 
were  revised  and  fourteen  were  established. 

The  following  appears  in  the  record  for  1846: 

“At  a special  town  meeting,  held  May  19th  1846  at 
the  house  of  Rem.  J.  Snedeker,  in  the  village  of  Jamaica, 
county  of  Queens,  State  of  New  York,  pursuant  to  an 
act  passed  May  14th  1845  and  February  1 6 th  1846,  to 
ballot  for  license  or  no  license;  in  which  was  316  votes 
polled  for  license,  and  204  votes  for  no  license.  Major- 
ity was  one  hundred  and  four  in  favor  of  license.” 

Jamaica  in  the  Revolution. 

In  Jamaica,  as  in  other  portions  of  Queens  county,  the 
tory  feeling  was  dominant  during  the  Revolutionary  strug- 
gle. This  feeling  was  held  in  check,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  smother  it,  during  the  latter  part  of  1775  and 
the  first  half  of  1776,  but  after  the  battle  of  Long  Island 
and  the  re-establishment  of  British  authority  there  ex- 
isted scarcely  an  obstacle  to  its  exercise. 

A company  of  “minute  men  for  the  defense  of  Amer- 
ican liberty,”  consisting  of  fifty-six,  was  formed  in  this 
town.  Of  this  company  John  Skidmore  was  captain, 
Jacob  Wright  first  lieutenant,  Nicholas  Everitt  second 
lieutenant,  and  Ephraim  Marsten  ensign.  Their  uniform 
dress  was  a linen  frock  reaching  below  the  knee,  with  a 
fringe  around  the  neck  and  arms,  and  a white  feather  in 
the  hat.  Early  in  1776  a company  of  forty  was  formed, 
of  which  Ephraim  Bayles  was  captain,  Increase  Carpen- 
ter first  lieutenant,  Abraham  Van  Osdoll  second  lieuten- 
ant, and  Othniel  Smith  ensign. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  an  effort  had  been  made  to 
disarm  the  tories  on  this  end  of  the  island,  and  when,  for 
disobeying  Captain  Bayles’s  order  to  appear  in  arms,  the 
cattle  and  effects  of  some  of  these  were  seized  and  sold 
they  petitioned  the  Provincial  Congress  for  relief,  alleg- 
ing that  they  had  been  disarmed,  and  could  not  therefore 
obey  the  order  to  appear  in  arms.  Their  sincerity  was 
doubted. 

The  Harford  Courant  for  April  25th  1776  contained 
the  following:  “Last  Saturday  the  James  pilot  boat,  one 
of  the  piratical  tenders  that  infest  this  coast,  came  into 
Rockaway  Inlet  for  plunder,  but  got  aground.  A parly 
of  American  troops,  receiving  information  of  it,  marched 
with  two  field  pieces  to  attack  her,  but  on  the  appearance 
of  our  men  her  hands  took  the  long  boat  and  fled.  Our 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1 98 


men  took  possession,  and  found  four  wooden  guns 
mounted;  got  her  off  and  brought  her  into  safe  harbor.” 

In  April  1776  the  town  committee,  which  had  ceased 
to  act,  was  revived,  and  the  chairman,  Captain  Bayles, 
gave  notice  of  the  fact,  at  the  same  time  warning  all 
people  of  the  town  that  acts  in  disaccord  with  the  reso- 
lutions of  the  Continental  Congress  would  not  be  toler- 
ated. In  May  this  committee  resolved  that  no  person 
should  be  permitted  to  move  into  the  town  without 
bringing  a certificate  of  his  faithfulness  to  the  cause  of 
American  freedom,  and  that  suspicious  persons  passing 
through  should  be  arrested  and  examined.  A man 
named  John  Livingstone,  a furloughed  soldier,  was 
arrested  by  the  committee,  and  on  refusing  to  answer 
their  interrogatories  sent  to  New  York.  For  this  contu- 
macy he  was  imprisoned. 

It  has  been  stated  elsewhere  that  a partially  success- 
ful attempt  was  made  to  disarm  the  tories  in  Queens 
county,  and  that  they  were  promptly  supplied  with  arms 
from  the  “ Asia  ” man-of-war.  Captain  Benjamin  White- 
head,  Charles  Ardin,  Joseph  French  and  Johannes  Pol- 
hemus,  who  had  been  thus  supplied,  were  summoned  be- 
fore the  Provincial  Congress  to  “ give  satisfaction  ” con- 
cerning themselves.  In  July  William  Ludlum  jr.  was 
made  captain  of  the  Jamaica  minute  men,  and  Thomas 
Denton  was  chosen  lieutenant  in  one  of  the  companies  of 
the  first  regiment  in  Queens  county. 

An  account  of  the  capture  and  death  of  General  Wood- 
hull  has  been  given  on  page  41.  Of  events  in  Jamaica 
succeeding  the  battle  of  Long  Island  the  following  ac- 
count is  taken  from  Onderdonk’s  Revolutionary  Inci- 
dents of  Queens  county: 

“The  day  after  Woodhull’s  capture  Elias  Bayles,  chair- 
man of  the  Jamaica  committee,  was  walking  over  to  Nich- 
olas Smith’s,  at  the  one-mile  mdl,  to  hear  the  news,  when 
he  was  arrested  by  a neighbor,  who  wished  to  do  some- 
thing to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  British. 

“ When  the  venerable  man,  blind  as  he  was,  was  brought 
before  the  British  officer  at  Jamaica,  he  exclaimed  in 
surprise,  ‘Why  do  you  bring  this  man  here?  He’s  blind; 
he  can  do  no  harm.’  The  unfeeling  wretch  who  had  in- 
formed against  him  replied,  ‘He’s  blind,  but  he  can  talk.’ 
Bayles  did  not  attempt  to  conciliate  the  officer,  but  unfor- 
tunately dropped  a few  words  in  vindication  of  the  Amer- 
ican cause.  This  was  enough.  He  was  shut  up  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  that  night,  and  the  next  day  carried 
to  the  prison  at  New  Utrecht.  He  was  subsequently  re- 
moved to  the  provost  in  New  York.  He  was  an  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  stood  high  in  the  com- 
munity. He  was  visited  in  prison  by  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter. After  a confinement  of  about  two  months,  at  the 
intercession  of  friends,  he  was  released,  but  barely  in 
time  to  breathe  his  last  without  a prison’s  walls.  He 
died  in  crossing  the  ferry  with  his  daughter,  and  his  mor- 
tal remains  now  repose  without  a stone  to  mark  the  spot 
or  commemorate  his  worth.  The  heartless  wretch  who 
arrested  him  fled  on  the  return  of  peace,  to  Nova  Scotia, 
dreading  the  vengeance  of  his  fellow  citizens;  after  a two 
years’  exile  he  ventured  to  return,  but  looked  so  poor 
and  forlorn  that  he  was  never  molested. 

“ Daniel  Duryee  (afterward  assemblyman),  Wm.  Fur- 
man, Wm.  Creed,  and  two  others  were  put  in  one  pew 
in  New  Utrecht  church.  Bayles  wanted  them  to  get  the 
Bible  out  of  the  pulpit  and  read  to  him.  They  feared  to 


do  it,  but  led  the  blind  man  to  the  pulpic  steps.  As  he 
returned  with  it  a British  guard  met  him,  beat  him  vio- 
lently, and  took  away  the  book.  They  were  three  weeks 
at  New  Utrecht,  and  then  marched  down  to  the  prison 
ship. 

“ As  fast  as  the  Whigs  were  seized  they  were  put  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  till  a sufficient  number  were  col- 
lected to  send  under  guard  to  the  prison  ship.  It  is 
said  that  when  these  unfortunate  prisoners,  embracing, 
as  they  did,  some  of  our  worthiest  and  most  aged  citi- 
zens, were  drawn  up  and  ready  to  march,  a crowd  of 
spectators  assembled  to  witness  their  departure,  attracted, 
some  by  sympathy,  others  gazing  with  a fiendish  smile 
on  the  Whigs  in  this  their  hour  of  retribution.  One  aged 
Whig,  named  Smith,  appealed  to  a loyalist  to  intercede 
for  him.  The  cold  reply  was,  ‘Ah,  John,  you’ve  been 
a great  rebel.’  Directly  the  old  man’s  searching  eye  de- 
tected a more  benevolent  look  in  the  face  of  another  loy- 
alist. ‘ McEvers,  this  is  hard  for  an  old  man  like  me,  to 
go  to  prison;  can’t  you  do  something  for  me  ? ’ ‘ What 

have  you  been  doing,  John  ?’  ‘Why,  I’ve  had  opinions 
of  my  own.’  ‘ Well,  I’ll  see  what  I can  do  for  you.’ 
McEvers  then  went  to  the  officer,  and  made  such  a repre- 
sentation that  Smith  was  immediately  released. 

“ John  Thurston  was  put  in  prison  and  had  his  health 
ruined.  Abraham  Ditmars,  Robart  Hinchman,  David 
Lamberson  (and  who  can  tell  how  many  more  ?)  -were 
carried  off  to  prison. 

“Rev.  Abraham  Keteltas  crossed  to  the  main;  J.  J. 
Skidmore  went  up  the  North  River,  and  returned  at  the 
peace,  his  wife  dying  in  the  meantime.  Increase  Car- 
penter was  commissary  to  the  army.” 

During  the  time  of  the  occupation  of  Long  Island  by 
the  British,  which  extended  from  August  1776  to  the 
close  of  the  Revolution,  many  incidents  of  local  histori- 
cal interest  occurred  in  Jamaica,  of  which  a lack  of  space 
prevents  the  record  of  more  than  a few  here.  Others 
will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Jamaica  village. 

A town  meeting  was  held  November  24th  1777  to  con- 
cert measures  “ for  providing  firewood  and  other  neces- 
sary articles  consisting  with  the  article  of  billeting  the 
king’s  troops,  now  quartered  in  Jamaica,  for  the  use  of 
the  hospital  and  guard-house  in  the  said  town.”  All  per- 
sons having  soldiers  billeted  on  them  were  exempted 
from  furnishing  any  such  necessaries.  “John  Polhemus 
for  the  western  district,  John  Lamberson  for  Springfield, 
John  Doughty  and  Jacamiah  Valentine  for  the  eastern 
district  and  Dow  Ditmars  for  the  southern  district  ” were 
appointed  trustees  to  provide  for  wood,  and  Edward 
Willetts  was  appointed  to  inspect  the  wood  and  give  re- 
ceipts. 

Jamaica  Bay  and  its  Fisheries. 

Jamaica  Bay,  as  before  stated,  is  thickly  interspersed 
with  islands  through  its  central  portion  from  east  to  west. 
A part  of  these  islands  are  simply  sand  bars  that  are 
completely  submerged  at  high  tide,  a portion  are  over- 
flowed by  the  highest  tides  only,  and  a few  are  composed 
of  dry  land  that  the  tide  never  overflows.  The  sand 
bars  are  of  course  destitute  of  vegetation,  and  those 
which  are  at  times  overflowed  produce  a coarse  grass 
called  sedge,  while  a few  of  the  higher  are  arable. 

The  bay  is  navigable  through  Broad  and  Beach  chan- 
nels for  vessels  drawing  six  or  eight  feet,  and  through 


THE  FISHERIES  OF  JAMAICA  BAY— SLAVERY. 


199 


many  of  the  other  channels  and  in  its  northern  portion 
at  high  tide  by  vessels  of  a lighter  draft.  It  is  crossed, 
near  its  middle,  by  the  New  York,  Woodhaven,  and  Rock- 
away  Railroad,  which  is  built  on  piles  across  it,  and  has 
draw-bridges  over  three  of  the  principal  channels. 

This  bay  has  always  been  a place  of  resort. for  pro- 
curing clams,  crabs,  and  oysters.  The  first  recorded  ac- 
tion by  the  town  prohibiting  the  indiscriminate  taking  of 
these  shellfish  was  taken  in  1763.  In  July  of  that  year 
the  following  notice  was  given: 

“ Whereas  divers  persons,  without  any  right  or  license 
so  to  do,  have  of  late,  with  sloops,  boats  and  other  craft, 
presumed  to  come  into  Jamaica  Bay  and  taken,  destroyed 
and  carried  away  quantities  of  clams,  mussels  and  other 
fish,  to  the  great  damage  of  said  town,  this  is  to  give 
warning  to  all  persons  who  have  no  right  or  liberty  that 
they  do  forbear  to  commit  any  such  trespass  in  the  bay 
for  the  future;  otherwise  they  will  be  prosecuted  at  law 
for  the  same  by  Thomas  Cornell  jr.  and  Waters  Smith. 
By  order  of  the  town.” 

The  following  is  found  in  the  colonial  manuscripts: 

“May  31  1704  Tunis  Johnson,  Derick  Johnson  Amber- 
man  and  Derick  Longstreet,  fishermen,  of  Flatlands, 
were  brought  prisoners  to  Jamaica  for  trespassing  in  Ja- 
maica Bay  by  fishing  with  nets  without  consent  of  the 
freeholders.  They  were  let  off  on  their  giving  a bond 
for  ^100  not  to  do  so  again.  But  in  May  1707  Governor 
Cornbury  ordered  them  to  attend  him  at  Rockaway  Beach, 
with  their  boats  and  nets,  and  bid  them,  when  there,  to 
fish  and  draw  their  nets.  After. Cornbury  was  out  of  of- 
fice (May  1709)  the  people  of  Jamaica  sued  the  fishermen 
for  the  penalty  of  their  bond  which  they  had  forfeited. 
The  prisoners  petition  for  a release  from  their  bond.” 

In  1791  it  was  “ voted  that  all  persons  be  precluded 
from  coming  with  boats  and  pettiaugers  in  the  bay  of  this 
town  for  the  purpose  of  getting  clams  or  oysters  without 
paying  to  the  commissioners  authorized  to  receive  the 
same  the  sum  of  one  shilling  for  every  thousand  so  taken 
as  aforesaid,  on  pain  of  paying  40s.  for  each  offence.” 
This  regulation  was  re-enacted  several  times  in  subse- 
quent years.  At  the  same  town  meeting  it  was  “ voted 
that  no  person  or  persons  other  than  inhabitants  of  the 
township  and  paying  taxes  within  the  same  presume  to 
cut  any  sedge  on  the  marshes  in  the  bay  of  this  township, 
on  the  penalty  of  40s.  for  each  offence.” 

In  1863  the  trustees  of  the  town,  for  a consideration 
of  six  cents,  granted  to  D.  H.  Waters  “ the  privilege  of 
planting  oysters  under  the  waters  of  Jamaica  Bay  to  the 
extent  of  one  hundred  square  yards,  under  said  waters 
known  as  Hell  Gate  Marsh.” 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1869  the  exclusion  of 
non-residents  from  the  fisheries  in  the  bay  was  recom- 
mended, and  at  the  town  meeting  in  1871  the  trustees 
were  instructed  to  remove  all  stakes  or  other  obstructions 
illegally  standing  in  the  waters  of  the  bay,  or  in  the 
marshes  thereof. 

In  1871  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  author- 
izing the  board  of  auditors  to  lease  to  actual  residents  of 
the  town,  on  certain  prescribed  conditions,  portions  of 
land  under  the  waters  of  the  bay  for  planting  oysters, 
and  prescribing  penalties  for  any  trespass  on  lands  so 
leased. 


In  1875  a vote  on  the  question  of  these  leases  was 
taken  by  ballot,  resulting  as  follows:  “ For  granting  ex- 
clusive privileges  in  the  waters  of  Jamaica,  167;  against 
the  same,  808.”  Notwithstanding  this  emphatic  protest 
of  the  people  lessees  are  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
rights  they  acquired  under  the  law. 

The  following  appeared  in  the  New  York  Mercury  of 
January  27th  1754: 

“ Last  Monday  morning,  the  weather  being  uncom- 
monly pleasant  and  warm,  many  people  were  induced  to 
go  into  Jamaica  Bay  for  oysters,  clams,  etc.;  but  about 
noon  such  a severe  gale  of  wind  arose  from  the  north- 
west, with  a sudden  change  from  warm  to  cold,  as  was 
scarce  ever  known  here,  when  all  the  small  craft  put  off 
to  gain  the  shore  in  the  best  manner  they  could.  A num- 
ber of  canoes  and  pettyaugers  came  on  shore  at  a point 
of  meadow  south  of  Jamaica,  and,  with  the  utmost  dif- 
ficulty, the  people  belonging  to  them  traveled  up  to  a 
house  two  miles  from  the  place  of  landing.  All  got  safe 
to  the  house,  though  much  benumbed  and  several  speech- 
less, except  Daniel  Smith,  a young  man,  who  perished  on 
the  meadows  half  a mile  from  the  house,  his  companions 
not  being  able  to  help  him  any  further,  having  dragged 
him  a mile  after  he  lost  the  use  of  his  feet.  The  same 
day  the  crews  of  two  canoes  in  Jamaica  Bay,  consisting 
of  eight  people,  from  Newtown,  not  returning  at  night 
were  sought  for  next  day,  but  the  ice  being  so  thick  it 
was  impracticable  to  go  far  in  quest  of  them  until  Friday, 
when  one  canoe  was  found  driven  on  an  island  of  sedge, 
in  which  were  found  the  bodies  of  Samuel  Leveridge, 
Amos  Roberts,  William  Saber  and  Thomas  Morrel,  alias 
Saber — all  frozen  to  death;  the  steersman  sitting  in  an 
erect  posture  at  the  helm.  The  three  former  were  mar- 
ried men,  leaving  distressed  families  behind  them.  To- 
day another  canoe  was  seen  but  could  not  be  come  at  by 
reason  of  the  ice,  in  which,  it  is  supposed,  are  the  other 
four  missing  persons — one  white  man  servant  and  three 
valuable  negroes.” 

. Slavery  in  Jamaica. 

Slavery  prevailed  in  Jamaica,  as  well  as  in  other  towns 
on  Long  Island,  down  to  the  time  of  its  abolition  by  the 
several  enactments  of  the  Legislature.  Here,  however, 
as  in  the  other  towns,  it  had  not  the  opprobrious  features 
that  characterized  it  in  other  countries,  and  in  other  re- 
gions of  this  country.  As  penalties  for  crimes  corporal 
punishments  were  inflicted  on  slaves,  but  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  freemen  were  also  subjected  to  these  pen- 
alties, for  the  pillory,  the  stocks,  the  whipping  post  and 
the  branding  iron  were  approved  institutions  in  those 
days.  The  following  paragraphs  and  advertisements, 
among  others,  have  been  collected  by  Mr.  Onderdonk 
and  recorded  in  his  “ Queens  County  in  Olden  Time.” 

In  1672  Andrus,  a negro  slave  of  Captain  Wm.  Law- 
rence, was  whipped  39  stripes,  and  branded  on  the  fore- 
head with  a hot  iron,  for  theft  and  larceny  of  some  linen 
etc.,  at  Jamaica.  “A  mulatto  fellow,  Isaac,  aged  24,” 
was  advertised  July  3d  1749,  as  having  run  away  from 
John  Betts,  of  Jamaica.  August  20th  1 764  was  advertised 
a negro  man,  “who  speaks  broken  English,”  taken  up.  In 
1766  a negro  man,  Mink,  was  advertised  by  John  Polhe- 
mus;  and  another — Primus — by  John  Combes;  both 
runaways,  from  Jamaica.  In  1775  a report  was  circu- 
lated in  Jamaica  of  a conspiracy  among  the  negroes  to 


200 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


destroy  the  whites,  and  several  were  arrested;  but  the 
report  proved  to  be  false.  In  October  of  the  same  year 
an  advertisement  appears  for  the  sale  of  some  real  estate 
at  Old  Neck,  on  which  is  a grist-mill  etc.;  also  a fine 
healthy  negro  boy  ten  years  old.  In  1781  Ray  & Fitz- 
simmons advertised  an  absconding  “ negro,  Hercules, 
apt  to  stutter  on  surprise;  and  a wench,  young  and  lusty, 
with  three  scars  on  each  cheek,  from  the  southward.”  In 
1784  Rev.  John  Bowden,  of  Jamaica,  “offers  a reason- 
able reward  and  charges  for  his  negro  boy  Bill,  who  ran 
away,”  etc. 

The  Long  Island  Farmer  of  December  5th  1822 
stated:  “In  and  about  Jamaica  are  great  numbers  of 
colored  people  growing  up  in  ignorance  of  the  Bible  and 
everything  that  belongs  to  civilization,  and  who  have  no- 
where to  look  for  instruction  but  to  the  Sabbath-schools. 
The  teachers,  having  obtained  permission,  have  opened 
a school  for  them  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  have 
already  gathered  in  about  fifty.” 

In  the  year  1814,  and  several  years  immediately  fol- 
lowing, many  certificates  of  manumission  of  slaves  by 
their  owners  were  recorded.  These  were  preceded  by 
certificates  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  that  the  slaves 
manumitted  were  less  than  forty-five  years  of  age,  and 
capable  of  providing  for  themselves. 

Schools. 

According  to  the  census  returns  of  1880  the  colored 
population  of  Jamaica  is  324,  most  of  whom  reside  in 
the  village.  Some  of  these  are  descendants  of  those 
who  were  slaves  here  before  the  “ peculiar  institution”  was 
abolished  in  the  State  of  New  York. 

The  first  known  record  concerning  a school  in  Jamaica 
was  made  between  January  and  March  1676,  as  follows: 
“ye  constable  & oversers  have  & doe  give  libberty  unto 
Richard  Jones  to  make  use  of  ye  meting  house  for  to 
teach  scoule  in  for  ye  yere  ensuing,  provided  he  keep  ye 
windowes  from  breaking  and  keep  it  deasent  & clean  one 
Saturday  nights  against  ye  Lords  day  & seats  to  be  placed 
in  order: — excepting  what  times  ye  constable  and  over- 
sers shall  have  ocation  to  make  use  of  it;  then  they  to 
have  it  at  their  disposal  by  order  of  ye  constable  and 
oversers.” 

Without  doubt  this  “scoule,”  if  Mr.  Jones  gave  much 
attention  to  orthography,  met  an  obvious  want  among 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  at  that  time.  It  is  a well 
known  fact  that,  as  a rule,  wherever  New  Englanders  or 
their  descendants  settled  the  school-house  as  well  as  the 
church  quickly  made  its  appearance;  and  this  town  was 
not  an  exception  to  this  rule,  though  the  histories  of  the 
early  schools  here  are  lost. 

The  records  for  1726  include  this  entry,  which,  it  must 
be  admitted,  does  not  give  evidence  of  astonishing  pro- 
gress: 

“Jamaica  May  the  forth  1726. — At  a town  meeting 
held  at  Jamaica  at  the  time  aforesaid  it  was  voted  ye  ma- 
jority of  the  freeholders  then  & there  assembled  voted 
that  Mr.  Pier  [Poyer]  Mr.  Cross  Just  Betts  Just  Messin- 
ger  Just  Smith  & Clerk  Smith  are  appointed  and  chosen 


to  see  what  people  are  willing  to  agree  to  doe  or  sub- 
scribe toward  ye  incorrigement  of  a free  scoule  in  ye 
town 

“ entered  by  me  nehem  Smith  clerk” 

Under  the  common  school  system  which  was  estab- 
lished in  1812  the  town  in  1813  voted  to  “receive  their 
quota  of  the  school  fund  for  the  appropriation  of  com- 
mon schools  of  thi.s  State,  and  that  the  sum  of  $125  be 
raised  for  said  fund.”  In  that  year  Benjamin  Wright, 
Jeremiah  Skidmore,  and  David  Lamberson  jr.  were 
elected  school  commissioners;  and  Daniel  Smith,  John 
Ludlum,  Johannes  S.  Lott,  Jacob  Bergen,  Abraham  Hen- 
drickson, and  John  J.  Messenger  inspectors.  The  town 
was  divided  by  the  commisioners  into  seven  school  dis- 
tricts. 

The  following  resolution,  adopted  the  next  year,  illus- 
trates the  conservative  spirit  which  renders  people 
cautious  in  adopting  what  they  regard  as  innovations: 
“ Voted  that  the  town  do  not  receive  their  quota  of 
money  from  this  State  as  regards  common  schools,  and 
agreed  that  the  town  give  the  money  to  the  poor  that  was 
raised  as  the  quota  for  common  schools.” 

In  1844  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.  was  elected  the  first 
town  superintendent  of  common  schools  under  the  law 
creating  that  office. 

There  are  now  seven  school  districts  in  the  town  out- 
side of  the  village  of  Jamaica,  and  in  these  tasteful  and 
convenient  school-houses  have  replaced  the  ruder  struc- 
tures of  former  times.  In  the  schools  taught  in  these 
houses  two  and  in  some  instances  three  teachers  are  em- 
ployed; and  as  far  as  practicable  they  are  graded. 

From  “reading,  writing  and  ciphering  ” the  curriculum 
of  study  has  come  to  embrace  many  of  the  higher 
branches,  and  a good  education  is  thus  placed  within  the 
reach  of  all,  whether  of  indigent  or  wealthy  parentage. 

Town  Officers. 

At  first  the  people  of  the  town  determined  what  offi- 
cers to  elect,  and  prescribed  the  duties  of  those  officers. 
No  machinery  of  local  government  had  then  been  devised 
for  them,  and  from  time  to  time,  when  assembled  in  town 
meeting,  they  chose  such  officers,  and  invested  them 
with  such  functions,  as  circumstances  seemed  to  require. 

At  the  first  town  meeting,  in  1656,  Daniel  Denton  was 
chosen  “ Clark.”  He  served  about  ten  years,  and  was 
followed  by  Samuel  Ruscoe,  Nathaniel  Denton,  John 
Skidmore,  Samuel  Ruscoe,  Benjamin  Coe,  and  Zachariah 
Mills;  each  of  whom  served  served  several  years  during 
the  first  half  century  after  the  settlement  of  the  town. 

In  1659  Mr.  Coe,  Richard  Everet,  Samuel  Mathews, 
and  Luke  Watson  were  recommended  to  the  governor 
for  appointment  as  magistrates.  For  the  same  office 
Robert  Coe,  John  Baylie,  Benjamin  Coe,  and  Daniel 
Denton  were  recommended  in  1662;  John  Baylie  and 
Daniel  Denton  in  1663,  and  Robert  Coe  in  16.64. 

In  1662  Richard  Brittnell  and  Richard  Darling  were 
chosen  marshals.  In  1663  William  Foster  and  Daniel 
Denton  were  elected  overseers  of  the  poor,  Francis  Finch 
constable  and  Goodman  Benedick  lieutenant  of  the 


SUPERVISORS  OF  JAMAICA— EARLY  MILLS. 


201 


town.  Subsequent  elections  resulted  as  follows:  1664— 
William  Waters,  William  Foster,  Luke  Watson,  Abra- 
ham Smith,  and  Joseph  Smith,  townsmen;  1665 — Henry 
Whitney,  Benjamin  Coe,  Thomas  Smith,  Joseph  Thurs- 
ton and  Samuel  Mathews,  townsmen;  1666 — Samuel 
Smith,  constable;  1670 — John  Carpenter  and  Nehemiah 
Smith,  overseers  of  the  poor’s  stock;  1675 — Samuel 
Smith,  constable;  1679 — Daniel  Whythead  and  Nicholas 
Everit,  overseers;  1681 — Henry  Foster  and  George  Wool- 
sey,  overseers;  1682 — Nicholas  Everit,  constable,  Sam- 
uel Smith  and  Nathaniel  Denton,  overseers;  1684 — Dan- 
iel Denton,  Joseph  Smith  and  Nicholas  Everit,  commis- 
sioners; 1686 — Thomas  Smith,  constable;  Capt.  Carpen- 
ter, Nehemiah  Smith  and  Daniel  Denton  sen.,  commis- 
sioners. 

The  first  record  of  the  choice  of  a supervisor  in  Ja- 
maica was  made  in  April  1696,  when  William  Creed  was 
chosen;  and  it  appears  he  was  re-elected  in  1697  “to 
meet  and  consult  with  those  from  the  other  towns;”  from 
which  it  is  reasonable  to  infer  that  the  functions  of  the 
office  then  and  now  were,  at  least,  similar.  It  does  not 
appear  who  were  chosen  subsequent  to  1697,  till  1703, 
when  William  Creed  was  again  elected.  In  the  following 
list  of  supervisors  each  was  annually  re-elected  until  his 
successor  was  chosen; 

Nathaniel  Denton,  1704;  Zachariah  Mills,  1705;  Jon- 
athan Whitehead,  1710;  Joseph  Smith  (clerk  of  the 
peace),  1712;  Daniel  Bull,  1719;  John  Everit,  1722; 
Clerk  Smith,  or  Joseph  Smith,  1728;  Samuel  Higbe,  1729; 
Capt.  Benjamin  Whitehead,  1731;  Abraham  Ditmars, 
1776;  Capt.  Benjamin  Whitehead,  1777;  Samuel  Doughty, 
1781;  Nicholas  Everit  (in  December),  1783;  John  J Skid- 
more, 1786;  William  Ludlum,  1799;  Isaac  Hendrickson, 
1809;  James  Foster,  1815;  John  S.  Messenger,  18.17; 
Daniel  Smith,  1820;  John  D.  Ditmars,  1823;  Daniel 
Smith,  1827;  Silas  Roe,  1829;  George  Johnson,  1831; 
John  C.  Smith,  1832;  George  Johnson,  1833;  John  C. 
Smith,  1834;  John  S.  Lott,  1840;  Martin  I.  Duryea,  1852; 
John  B.  Smith,  1866;  James  Nostrand  1868;  John  H. 
Brinkerhoff,  1874. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace,  in  1783,  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  town  meetings  were  held  in  December 
in  all  the  towns  for  the  election  of  town  officers  under 
the  new  regime. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  at  the  town  meeting  in  April 
1772  Joseph  Prue  was  chosen  “whipper.” 

Mills. 

At  an  early  day  encouragement  was  given  to  such 
settlers  as  proposed  to  establish  manufactories  or  mills. 
It  is  recorded  in  1663  that  John  Ouldfield,  a tanner,  was 
voted  a home  lot  and  twenty  acres  of  meadow,  “ at  ye 
neck  beyond  ye  haw  trees,”  as  an  encouragement  to  set- 
tle and  pursue  his  calling  in  the  town.  An  obligation, 
which  he  afterward  executed,  is  recorded,  wherein  he 
pledged  himself  to  follow  his  trade  “ as  afforesayd  and 
to  make  such  lether  as  will  passe  under  ye  seal.” 

In  1869  a lot  was  offered  to  Mr.  Hubbard  of  Graves- 
end, to  encourage  him  in  establishing  a mill  in  the  town; 
and  in  1670  the  town  stipulated  to  build  a dam  for  a 


mill  to  be  established  by  Benjamin  Coe,  who  was  “ to 
grind  ye  tound’s  corne  before  strangers’,”  the  people  to 
bring  it  on  such  days  as  he  should  designate.  At 
another  meeting  permission  was  given  to  Mr.  Coe  “ to 
set  up  a grist-mill  upon  the  river  betweene  Seller  Neck 
and  Plunder  Neck.”  An  agreement  in  accordance  with 
the  above  stipulations  was  entered  into  by  Mr.  Coe,  and 
the  town  afterward  consented  to  the  sale  of  this  mill  to 
a Mr.  Jacobson.  In  1675  an  agreement  was  made  with 
Joseph  Carpenter  and  Caleb  Carman  to  build  a grist- 
mill and  saw-mill  “ where  the  old  mill  stoode.”  Con- 
cerning the  grist-mill  they  were  to  preform  the  same 
covenant  that  Benjamin  Coe  had  made.  They  were  to 
be  permitted  to  use  timber  from  the  common  lands  of 
the  town,  “ except  clapboard  and  rayle  trees  under 
eighteen  inches.”  They  were  to  saw  for  the  town 
“ twelve  pens  in  the  hundred  cheaper  than  any  other 
person  of  any  other  tovvne  have  it,”  and  for  citizens  of 
the  town  “ that  bringeth  the  timber  one  halfe  of  the 
sawn  stuf  for  their  laboure,  provided  that  it  is  only  for 
their  owne  use.” 

It  was  voted  in  1670  “that  Nicholas  the  cooper  shall 
have  half  an  acre  of  land  by  the  Beaver  Pdnd  to  build  a 
house  on  to  supply  the  town  with  such  cooper’s  work  as 
they  shall  stand  in  need  of.” 

In  1685,  at  a town  meeting,  liberty  was  given  to  Ben- 
jamin Coe  and  John  Hansen  to  establish  a grist  and  full- 
ing-mill on  Foster’s  River.  They  were  granted  the  priv- 
ilege of  the  stream  on  the  condition  that  they  should 
maintain  a good  mill  and  grind  for  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  at  a toll  of  one-twelfth. 

In  1704,  at  a town  meeting,  “ it  was  voted  by  ye  ma- 
jority of  ye  sayd  freeholders  that  Jonathan  Whitehead  & 
Benjamin  Thirstone  shall  have  liberty  to  put  up  a full- 
ing-mill in  ye  town  of  Jamaica  aforesayd,  on  ye  terms 
and  conditions  heretofore  mentioned;  that  is  to  say,  that 
ye  sayd  Jonathan  Whitehead  and  Benjamin  Thirstone 
shall  be  obliged  both  them  & their  heirs  and  assigns  to 
full  all  sorts  of  cloth,  press  ye  same  for  three  pence  per 
yard,  and  to  full  for  ye  town’s  people  before  other  town’s 
people.” 

Three  principal  streams  flowthrough  the  town  of  Jam- 
aica, from  sources  immediately  south  of  the  range  of 
hills  that  divides  the  town  from  Flushing.  The  largest 
of  these  runs  from  the  vicinity  of  the  village  of  Jamaica, 
and  at -Cornell’s  (or  “ Three-Mile  ”)  mill  empties  into  a 
creek  that  flows  into  Jamaica  Bay.  Formerly  three  grist- 
mills were  located  on  this  stream.  The  first  was  one  mile 
south  from  the  village,  and  was  known  as  One-Mile  mill. 
Baisley’s,  or  Two-Mile  mill,  was  a mile  farther  south,  and 
at  the  distance  of  another  mile  south,  at  the  junction  of 
the  stream  with  the  before-mentioned  creek,  was  Cornell’s. 
Farther  east  a grist-mill  and  a saw-mill  are  located,  on 
a stream  that  runs  through  Springfield;  the  former  be- 
longing to  Frederick  Loerz  and  the  latter  to  Peter  Nos- 
trand. Near  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  town  is  a stream 
that  once  propelled  two  grist-mills,  Simmons's  and  Con- 
selyea’s.  Formerly,  when  grain  was  abundantly  procured, 
these  mills  did  a prosperous  business. 


202 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Water  Works. 

About  1850  the  Nassau  Water  Works  Company,  which 
supplies  the  city  of  Brooklyn  with  water,  purchased  the 
water  rights  of  One-Mile,  Baisley’s,  and  Simmons’s  mills 
and  paid  damages  for  diverting  the  water  from  Cornell’s 
and  Conselyea’s.  The  water  thus  procured  was  turned 
into  a brick  conduit,  ten  feet  in  diameter,  with  a fall  of 
six  inches  per  mile  and  a capacity  of  40,000,000  gallons 
daily.  Baisley’s  Pond  was  excavated,  and,  when  full, 
gave  a water  surface  of  forty  acres,  the  stream  deliver- 
ing 33,000)000  gallons  per  day.  Simmons’s  Pond  was 
also  cleaned  out,  and  afforded  a water  surface  of  8^ 
acres  and  a daily  supply  of  2,000,000  gallons.  The  works 
have  been  extended  to  Rockville  Centre,  in  Hempstead. 
In  1880  the  water  right  was  purchased  from  Frederick 
Loerz,  a well  fifty  feet  in  diameter  was  sunk  to  a depth 
fifteen  feet  lower  than  the  bottom  of  the  pond,  the  water 
from  the  stream  and  pond  was  turned  into  it,  and  thence 
pumped  into  the  main  conduit,  giving  an  additional 
daily  supply  of  300,000  gallons. 

These  streams  were  originally  well  supplied  with 
brook  trout,  but  on  the  completion  of  the  water  works 
pickerel  and  perch  were  introduced,  which  in  a few  years 
exterminated  the  trout. 

Civil  War  Burdens. 

At  a special  town  meeting  held  August  27th  1862  a 
resolution  was  offered  by  ex-Governor  John  A.  King,  and 
adopted,  that  a sum  not  exceeding  $15,000  be  borrowed 
on  the  credit  of  the  town,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  each 
volunteer  from  the  town,  under  the  calls  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States  for  600,000  men,  a town  bounty  of 
$75,  and  that  the  amount  expended  be  levied  on  the  tax- 
able property  of  the  town,  and  collected  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  town  taxes. 

In  pursuance  of  the  act  of  May  7th  1863  the  supervi- 
sor, town  clerk,  and  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  town 
met  on  the  29th  day  of  August  1863  and  organized  as  a 
board  of  relief.  At  a meeting  of  this  board  on  the  first 
of  September  1863  a resolution  was  adopted  to  borrow 
$30,000  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  and  to  issue  town 
bonds  of  $500  or  more  for  the  payment  thereof.  A reso- 
lution was  also  adopted  to  expend,  if  necessary,  $300  of 
this  fund  for  the  relief  of  the  family  of  any  white  volun- 
teer or  drafted  man.  It  was  also  resolved  that  the  board 
might,  in  the  exercise  of  their  judgment,  expend  this 
money  in  payment  of  substitutes,  or  exemptions  for  in- 
digent men.  This  board  met  from  time  to  time  and  made 
appropriations  under  these  resolutions;  and  the  minutes 
of  its  proceedings  show  that  relief  was  ordered  in  the 
case  of  colored  drafted  men. 

At  a special  town  meeting  held  February  19th  1864 
the  action  of  the  board  of  supervisors  in  reference  to 
raising  money  to  pay  volunteers  was  approved. 

At  a special  town  meeting  July  30th  1864  the  borrow- 
ing of  a sum  not  exceeding  $60,000  was  authorized  for 
the  payment  of  volunteers.  The  vote  by  ballot  stood — 
f 1 favor  of  the  resolution,  237;  against  it,  6. 


In  the  case  of  the  last  call  of  the  president  for  300,000 
men  the  raising  of  the  sum  of  $60,000  for  the  payment 
of  bounties  was  authorized  at  a special  town  meeting 
held  January  7th  1865. 

Agriculture. 

Within  the  last  twenty-five  years  market  gardening 
has  come  to  be  the  principal  business  of  the  people  in 
the  rural  districts  of  the  town.  The  increased  and  con- 
stantly increasing  demand  for  garden  vegetables  in  the 
city  of  New  York  and  the  facility  with  which  they  can 
be  marketed  there  have  effected  this  change.  A change 
in  one  part  of  any  business  usually  necessitates  other 
changes,  and  the  agriculture  of  Jamaica  is  not  an  ex- 
ception to  this  rule.  The  increased  production  of 
garden  vegetables  has  called  for  a greater  amount  of 
labor  than  before  on  an  equal  area  of  ground,  and  the 
result  has  been  a reduction  in  the  size  of  farms,  and  an 
increase  of  their  number.  The  successful  prosecution 
of  this  industry  has  necessitated  the  more  liberal  use  of 
fertilizers,  and  improved  methods  in  the  application  of 
these  manures.  A great  improvement  in  the  quality  of 
the  soil  and  an  increase  in  its  average  productiveness 
have  resulted.  The  change  has  also  stimulated  pro- 
ducers to  the  invention  and  adoption  of  improved 
methods  of  cultivation,  whereby  not  only  has  the  quan- 
tity been  further  increased,  but  vegetables  have  been 
produced  out  of  their  usual  season;  and  the  tables  of 
consumers  have  come  to  be  supplied  in  the  depth  of 
winter  with  the  vegetables  of  midsummer.  In  the  in- 
vention and  adoption  of  these  methods  of  forcing  the 
production  of  vegetables  out  of  their  season  Abraham 
Van  Siclen  has  been  a pioneer.  He  commenced  his 
experiments  about  twenty  years  since  with  the  produc- 
tion of  rhubarb.  From  this  he  proceeded  to  the  forc- 
ing of  cauliflower,  the  preservation  of  squashes,  and  the 
production  of  other  vegetables,  till  now  the  establish- 
ment includes  six  hot-houses,  each  108  by  22  feet,  for 
the  production  of  lettuce  and  cucumbers;  about  800 
sash,  each  3 by  6,  for  hotbeds  to  force  cauliflower  and 
produce  various  other  plants,  and  two  buildings  for  the 
preservation  of  squashes,  with  ,a  capacity  for  holding 
2,500  barrels.  The  apparatus  for  heating,  watering,  and 
attending  all  these  establishments  has  been  mostly  the 
invention  of  Mr.  Van  Siclen.  Ditmars  Van  Siclen, 
John  B.  Hopkins,  John  Selover,  James  Fredericks,  and 
others  are  also  engaged  in  this  branch  of  gardening,  and 
the  markets  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn  are  now  sup- 
plied at  all  seasons  with  the  vegetables  that  were  form- 
erly procurable  only  in  summer. 

Fanners'  Co-opera/ire  Union. — In  April  1870  a call  was 
published  for  a meeting  of  the  farmers  of  Jamaica  at  the 
hotel  of  James  S.  Remsen  “ to  take  action  in  reference 
to  the  unjust  imposition  of  a tax  upon  farmers  as  pro- 
duce brokers.”  This  call  was  signed  by  Abraham  Van 
Siclen,  John  O’Donnell,  and  eighteen  others.  At  this 
meeting  a committee,  of  which  John  O’Donnell  was  chair- 
man, was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  commissioner  of  inter- 
nal revenue  at  Washington,  and  endeavor  to  obtain  a re- 


5 

< 

x 

< 


Farmers  of  Jamaica. 


dress  of  the  grievance.  In  this  they  were  successful; 
and  their  success  led  to  the  organization  of  the  “ Farm- 
ers’ Co-operative  Union  of  Jamaica,”  in  May  of  the  same 
year,  with  Samuel  E.  Vanderveer  president,  John  O’Don- 
nell and  Abraham  Van  Sicklen  vice-presidents,  P.  W. 
Remsen  secretary,  Ditmars  Van  Siclen  treasurer,  and 
82  members. 

By  the  action  of  this  union  several  matters  affecting 
the  interest  of  the  farmers  and  gardeners  of  this  town 
have  been  accomplished,  and  the  utility  and  practicability 
of  farmers’  protective  associations  have  been  demon- 
strated. 

By  the  action  of  the  union  two  robbers  of  a farmer  in 
the  town,  on  the  highway,  were  captured,  convicted,  and 
punished;  the  Wallabout  market  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn 
was  projected,  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of  a commission; 
the  election  of  town  officers  in  the  interest  of  tax-payers 
and  the  removal  of  corrupt  officials  have  been  accom- 
plished; the  remission  of  fines  imposed  on  farmers  and 
gardeners  for  selling  produce  in  the  streets  of  New  York 
has  been  procured,  additional  market  facilities  for  such 
producers  have  been  obtained,  and  many  other  things  ac- 
complished, of  which  a want  of  space  forbids  even  the 
mention. 

Patrons  of  Husbandry. — In  February  1874  the  Farmers’ 
Co-operative  Union  took  action  which  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  Union  Grange,  No.  152,  P.  of  H.,  of  the 
town  of  Jamaica,  on  the  17th  of  March  1874,  with  fifteen 
charter  members  and  the  following  officers:  John  O’Don- 
nell, master;  E.  F.  Titus,  overseer;  E.  Vanderveer,  lec- 
turer; James  Van  Siclen,  treasurer;  Charles  Debevoise, 
secretary;  Samuel  E.  Vanderveer,  chaplain;  John  A. 
Hegeman,  gate  keeper. 

The  masters  since  have  been:  John  O’Donnell,  1875; 
E.  F.  Titus,  1876,  1877;  Oliver  P.  Lott,  1878;  John  A. 
Hegeman,  1879;  Garret  Vandvne,  1880. 

Of  the  members  of  this  grange  John  O’Donnell  has 
been  during  seven  years  a member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  State  grange. 

This  grange  meets  at  its  rooms  in  Harriman  Row,  Ful- 
ton street,  Jamaica,  the  second  Saturday  evening  of  each 
month  during  the  summer,  and  the  second  and  fourth 
Saturday  evenings,  at  half  past  seven,  during  the  winter 
months. 

New  York,  Woodhaven  and  Rockaway  Railroad. 

The  company  that  built  this  road  was  incorporated 
March  21st  1877.  It  was  organized  with  Daniel  D.  Con- 
over as  president,  Julius  F.  Chesebrough  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  James  C.  Lane,  Warren  S.  Peck,  George 
M.  Van  Nort,  Sheridan  Shook,  Daniel  D.  Conover,  Elihu 
Hosford,  James  M.  Oakley,  Martin  Freleigh,  A.  D.  Con- 
over, F.  S.  Gibbs,  E.  R.  Phelps,  F.  E.  Stewart  and  J.  F. 
Chesebrough  directors.  The  road  was  completed  so  as 
to  come  into  partial  use  September  1st  1880.  It  crosses 
Jamaica  Bay  on  piles,  with  draw-bridges  over  the  main 
channels.  This  road  connects  with  the  Long  Island 
Railroad  at  Long  Island  City  and  Woodhaven,  and  by 
steamboat  with  New  York  city.  It  is  mainly  used  for 


205 


the  conveyance  of  passengers  to  and  from  the  seaside 
resort  at  Rockaway  Beach.  It  is  equipped  with  palace 
cars  not  excelled  in  tastefulness  and  convenience  by  those 
of  any  road  in  the  United  States. 

The  present  officers  are:  A.  S.  Hatch,  treasurer;  D..  D. 
Conover;  vice-president;  J.  Chesebrough,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  J.  M.  Lunt,  superintendent. 

M.  P.  Church  of  South  Woodhaven. 

In  the  spring  of  1856  Rev.  S.  Baker,  a local  preacher 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church,  commenced  labor  in 
South  Woodhaven.  At  that  time  there  were  only  the 
famed  Union  race-course,  three  liquor  saloons,  and  a few 
dwellings  there.  Services  were  at  first  held  in  the  house 
of  a Mr.  Reeves;  then  in  a wood  near  this  house,  and 
afterward  for  about  a year  in  an  old  barn.  In  this  barn 
the  M.  P.  church  of  South  Woodhaven  was  organized, 
with  twelve  members.  In  time  this  little  congregation 
and  their  faithful  pastor  succeeded  in  erecting  a house  of 
worship,  at  a cost  of  $1,100,  the  ground  having  been 
donated  by  W.  Spencer.  The  house  has  an  upper  room, 
fitted  up  for  church  services,  and  a lower  for  Sunday- 
schools,  etc.  During  several  years  Mr.  Baker  was  pas- 
tor, superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  steward,  and 
sexton.  In  1863  he  relinquished  the  charge  of  this  little 
church,  leaving  it  in  a prosperous  condition  and  free 
from  debt.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Morley,  of 
Brooklyn,  who  served  the  church  about  seven  years,  since 
which  different  local  preachers  have  been  in  charge. 

Prominent;  Residents  of  the  Town. 

ABRAHAM  VAN  SICLEN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a son  of  James  and  Ida 
(Kouwenhoven)  Van  Siclen,  and  was  born  in  the  house 
where  he  now  lives,  October  5th  1824.  His  father  was 
a native  of  New  Lots,  Kings  county,  and  died  about 
eighteen  years  ago,  having  lived  on  the  Van  Siclen 
homestead  about  forty  years.  On  his  mother’s  side  Mr. 
Van  Siclen  is  descended  from  the  Kouwenhoven  and 
Bergen  families.  The  Van  Siclens  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  on  Long  Island.  Mr.  Van  Siclen’s  great 
uncle,  Cornelius  Cornell,  saw  service  in  the  Revolution, 
was  made  a prisoner  of  war  and  detained  in  the  prison 
ship  at  the  Wallabout,  and  died  while  being  brought 
ashore. 

Mr.  Van  Siclen  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  practical  farmers,  and  probably,  without  ex- 
ception, the  most  successful  market  gardner  on  Long 
Island.  He  has  been  a leader  in  many  improvements 
in  the  business,  being  the  first  to  introduce  green-houses 
for  vegetable  culture,  and  to  engage  in  the  cultivation 
of  lettuce  on  an  extensive  scale.  His  aim  has  ever  been 
to  produce  vegetables  of  a finer  quality  than  those  of 
any  of  his  competitors,  and  his  products  have  brought 
the  highest  market  price  and  have  a reputation  in  the 
markets  of  New  York  that  is  alone  an  attestation  of  the 
excellence  of  Mr.  Van  Siclen’s  system  and  the  success 
of  his  efforts. 


2o  6 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Van  Siclen’s  early  years  were  spent  at  home  and 
in  the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood.  Later  he 
was  for  three  years  a student  at  the  Union  Hall  Acad- 
emy, at  Jamaica,  then  under  the  management  of  Henry 
Ouderdonk  as  principal.  At  the  age  of  28  he  began 
business  for  himself,  as  a farmer  and  market  gardener, 
in  partnership  with  his  brothers,  James  and  Peter,  leas- 
ing the  home  farm  for  seven  years,  when,  their  father 
having  died,  a division  of  the  estate  was  made,  where- 
by the  homestead  became  Mr.  Van  Siclen’s  property. 
He  has  since  lived  there  and  has  continued  in  business 
alone,  with  the  result  above  stated.  He  married 
Martha  A.  Nostrand,  of  Flushing,  by  whom  he  has  six 
children:  Anna  A.,  born  March  8th  1864:  Peter  N., 
born  June  10th  1865;  Ida  K.,  born  September  17th 
1866;  Abram  J.,  born  August  15th  1868;  Samuel  B., 
born  July  18th  1870,  and  Cornelia  N.,  born  July  3d 
1873.  The  Van  Sicklen  family  were  long  members  of 
the  Reformed  church,  but  Mr.  Van  Sicklen  and  his  house- 
hold worship  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Jamaica.  Descended  from  a Whig  family,  Mr.  Van 
Siclen  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  town  and  greatly  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens, 
by  whom  he  was  tendered  at  one  time  the  nomination 
for  supervisor,  which  he  declined  to  accept.  For 
years  he  has  been  president  of  the  Union  Place  and 
Rockaway  Plank  Road  Company. 

JAMES  VAN  SICLEN. 

James  Van  Siclen  is  a son  of  James  and  Ida  Van 
Siclen,  and  was  born  July  4th  1827, ’on  the  old  family 
homestead  in  Jamaica,  now  the  home  of  his  brother  Abra- 
ham. His  education  was  obtained  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  vicinity  and  in  Union  Hall  Academy  at  Jamaica. 
He  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  was  early  acquainted  with 
all  the  details  of  successful  market  gardening,  in  which 
department  of  agriculture  he  has  since  been  remarkably 
successful.  So  high  is  his  reputation  as  a market  gardener 
that  it  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  his  brother  Abraham, 
and  the  name  of  either  is  a guarantee  in  the  markets  of 
New  York  of  the  superior  excellence  of  such  produce  as 
they  offer  for  sale.  Upon  the  death  of  the  elder  Van 
Siclen  James  began  business  alone,  taking  as  his  share 
of  the  property  of  the  three  brothers,  James,  Abraham 
and  Peter  Van  Siclen,  that  portion  where  he  now  lives. 

Mr.  Van  Siclen  was  married  August  2nd  1864,  to  Ger- 
trude R.  Lott,  of  Newtown.  He  has  served  as  executor 
of  the  estates  of  Abraham  Griffin  and  Stephen  I.  Lott, 
and  as  guardian  of  the  children  of  the  latter.  He  has 
been  director  and  superintendent  of  the  Union  Place  and 
Rockaway  Plank  Road  Company,  and  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  having  served  as  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  common  lands  of  Jamaica  and  as 
chairman  of  the  board,  and  having  been  for  two  years 
past  overseer  of  highways,  besides  having  refused  several 
important  trusts. 

Mr.  Van  Siclen’s  home  is  one  of  the  pleasantest  and 
most  completely  appointed  in  Jamaica,  and  his  farm  is  a 
model  of  neatness.  All  of  the  present  improvements  on 


the  place  were  made  by  Mr.  Van  Siclen  himself.  His 
household  are  members  and  attendants  of  the  Reformed 
church  of  Jamaica. 

THE  VAN  WYCK  FAMILY. 

Cornelius  Barentse  Van  Wyck,  from  whom  the  family 
of  Van  Wycks  in  America  descend,  was  born  in  Holland; 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1660,  settled  at  Midwout 
(now  Flatbush),  on  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,  and  was 
one  of  the  patentees  of  that  tract  of  land.  He  there  mar- 
ried Anna,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Theodorus  Johannes 
Polbemus,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  two  sons  and 
five  daughters,  all  natives  of  Flatbush. 

In  1701  his  sons  removed  from  Flatbush  to  North 
Hempstead,  Queens  county.  Theodorus,  the  eldest,  set- 
tled at  Great  Neck,  on  the  place  now  in  the  possession  of 
Benjamin  Hicks.  The  original  house  is  still  standing  and 
is  in  a good  state  of  preservation. 

Johannes,  the  second  son,  settled  at  Flushing,  at  the 
head  of  Little  Neck  Bay,  the  place  now  in  possession  of 
(Earl)  William  Douglas.  The  two  brothers  of  the  second 
generation  are  identified  with  Queens  county. 

Theodorus  was  one  of  his  majesty’s  justices  of  the 
peace.  The  oldest  registry  book  in  St.  George’s  church, 
Hempstead,  bears  the  following  inscription:  “ This  book 
was  given  to  the  parish  of  Hempstead  by  Theodorus  Van 
Wyck,  Esq.,  justice  of  peace  and  inhabitant  of  said  par- 
ish.” The  register  begins  with  June  1725,  Robert  Jenny 
being  then  rector  of  the  parish.  Theodorus  married  Mar- 
gretia,  daughter  of  Abraham  Brinkerhoff,  and  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Of  these  Cornelius  and  The- 
odorus second  left  Long  Island  after  1730  and  went  to 
Fiskill,  Dutchess  county,  and  their  descendants  are  iden- 
tified as  the  “ Fishkill  Van  Wycks.” 

Abraham,  the  third  son,  settled  in  New  York,  and  from 
him  Pierre  Courtlandt  Van  Wyck,  for  many  years  recorder 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  descended. 

Barent,  the  youngest  son,  in  1724,  when  he  was  21 
years  of  age,  settled  at  EastWoods,  now  Woodbury,  L.  I., 
in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  was  possessed  of  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  that  vicinity.  His  descendants  are 
still  upon  Long  Island,  in  Queens  and  Suffolk  counties. 
Barent  Van  Wyck  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Carman,  and  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
sons,  Thomas,  Theodorus,  Samuel  and  Abraham,  were  all 
farmers  in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  Of  these  Thomas  was 
captain  of  the  loyal  Queens  county  militia  and  Abraham 
captain  of  the  provincial  militia. 

About  1787  Captain  Abrahani  Van  Wyck  left  Queens 
county,  and  bought  200  acres  of  land  of  James  Rogers 
sen.,  at  West  Neck,  on  Huntington  Harbor,  L.  I.  This 
property  he  sold  in  1793  to  Abraham  Van  Wyck  jr., 
his  nephew  and  son-in-law.  This  farm  became  exceed- 
ingly  productive,  and  so  well  known  as  to  be  a perfect 
market  place.  Its  orchards  bear  the  finest  fruit,  and  its 
pasture  has  never  failed.  The  stock  is  watered  from  a 
spring  upon  the  shore,  and  tradition  says  whatever  drank 
therefrom  grew  fat.  The  scenery  here  is  of  surpassing 
beauty.  After  you  enter  the  gateway  a beautiful  panor- 


9 


THE  VAN  WYCK  FAMILY. 


209 


ama  is  before  you.  The  landlocked  harbor  is  at  your 
feet,  with  West  and  East  Necks  standing  sentinel,  and 
beyond  Loyd’s  Harbor  Long  Island  Sound  stretches  in 
the  distance;  and  the  rising  hills  of  Connecticut,  with  its 
beautiful  towns  reflected  back  to  view,  complete  the  pic- 
ture. The  antiquated  mansion  is  located  near  the  water 
side,  and  is  of  the  old  Dutch  style.  Its  corner  closets  and 
wainscoted  mantel,  its  half  doors  (upper  and  lower),  and 
its  small  window  panes,  its  Franklin  stove,  in  which  the 
hickory  still  burns,  and  its  large  old  kitchen,  with  its 
chimney  extending  across  the  room,  and  under  which  the 
oven  had  its  place,  are  still  before  us. 

This  homestead  was  left  to  his  eldest  son,  Samuel  A. 
Van  Wyck.  By  will  of  Samuel  A.  Van  Wyck  this  prop- 
erty was  left  to  his  nephew  Whitehead  Hewlett,  only  son 
of  his  deceased  brother  Joshna  H.  Van  Wyck,  and  he  is 
the  present  proprietor.  Abraham  of  West  Neck  had 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Of  these  Abraham  H., 
whose  name  is  so  often  repeated  in  Queens  county  rec- 
ords, invested  largely  in  real  estate  between  East  New 
York  and  Jamaica.  His  idea  was  that  by  the  increase 
of  population  Brooklyn  would  naturally  extend  itself, 
and  the  land  adjoining  would  be  as  necessary  to  it  as  the 
West  End  to  London.  Having  bought  the  property  of 
John  Polhemus,  Jamaica  (a  farm  consisting  of  200  acres, 
extending  from  the  turnpike  to  the  south  road),  he 
opened  Van  Wyck  avenue  in  September  1834.  Later  he 
sold  land  at  Woodhaven  for  a cemetery,  now  known  as 
“ Cypress  Hills  Cemetery.”  He  died  on  the  24th  of 
June  1849. 

Joshua  H.  Van  Wyck  (third  son  of  Abraham  of  West 
Neck)  removed  from  Suffolk  to  Queens  county  and 
settled  at  Jamaica  in  1836,  where  his  descendants  are 
still  identified.  He  studied  law  and  became  a member  of 
the  Queens  county  bar.  He  died  on  the  nth  of  Febru- 
ary 1847. 

William,  the  youngest  son  of  Abraham  Van  Wyck  of 
West  Neck,  was  a practicing  lawyer  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  and  was  never  identified  with  the  history  of 
•Queens  county. 

Thomas  (son  of  Barent  of  Woodbury)  was  captain  of 
the  loyal  Queens  county  militia  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. At  the  peace  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia,  giving  a 
power  of  attorney  to  his  two  sons,  Eldred  and  Barent. 
His  son  Eldred  married  and  settled  in  Cold  Spring, 
L.  I.  He  was  corporal  or  captain  in  Israel  Young’s 
troop  of  horse  for  Cold  Spring.  His  property  em- 
braced a large  portion  of  the  water  front  on  Cold  Spring 
Harbor;  he  is  recorded  as  of  Queens  and  of  Suffolk 
county.  In  1787  he  gave  a power  of  attorney  to 
Obadiah  Wright,  and  after  this  we  are  unable  to  trace 
him. 

Johannes  Van  Wyck  (second  son  of  Cors.  Barentse), 
who  settled  in  Flushing,  bought  land  at  the  head  of 
Little  Neck  Bay  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Cornwell  in  1705, 
and  subsequently  other  lands  near  Little  Neck  on  the 
Great  Neck  road.  This  land  was  held  by  the  Van 
Wyck  family  and  their  descendants  until  1819,  when 
Major  Cornelius  Van  Wyck  sold  the  last  125  acres  to 


Wynant  Van  Zandt  jr.  for  $13,750,  after  which  it  all 
passed  from  the  family  and  has  since  been  cut  up  in  lots 
and  sold  for  building  purposes.  Johannes  died  in  1734, 
leaving  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Cornelius,  his 
eldest  son,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Judge  Isaac  Hicks, 
and  settled  at  the  homestead  at  Little  Neck.  John,  his 
second  son,  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Adam  Law. 
rence  (high  sheriff  of  Queens  county),  and  settled  at 
Flushing.  He  was  sheriff  of  Queens  county  from  1747 
to  1753,  and  died  in  1762.  William,  the  third  son, 
bought  land  at  Newtown,  married  and  settled  there.  He 
died  in  1785,  leaving  a wife  and  seven  children.  He  and 
his  family  became  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in 
Newtown.  Theodorus,  the  youngest  son,  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Philip  Ritchie,  of  New  York,  and  settled  in 
Flushing. 

Cornelius,  his  eldest,  who  settled  at  the  homestead  at 
Little  Neck,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Judge  Isaac 
Hicks.  He  died  in  1759,  leaving  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Stephen,  his  eldest  son,  was  a deputy  for 
Queens  county  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in  1775,33 
was  also  his  second  son  Cornelius.  This  Cornelius  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hicks  of  Flushing,  and 
had  sons  Stephen  and  Whitehead;  and  daughters  Harriet 
and  Margaret. 

Harriet  married  Henry  son  of  Joseph  Lawrence,  Bay 
Side,  L.  I.  They  were  the  parents  of  Cornelius  Van 
Wyck  Lawrence,  who  died  in  1861.  He  held  many 
positions  of  trust,  being  at  one  time  mayor  of  New  York, 
from  1832  to  1834  member  of  Congress,  in  1836  presi- 
dent of  the  electoral  college,  twenty  years  collector  of 
the  port  of  New  York,  and  president  of  the  Bank  of  the 
State  of  New  York. 

Gilbert,  third  son  of  Cornelius  and  Mary,  was  one  of 
his  majesty’s  justices  of  the  peace  and  a loyalist  during 
the  Revolution. 

After  the  death  of  Cornelius  the  homestead  at  Little 
Neck  came  into  the  possession  of  his  eldest  son,  Stephen, 
at  whose  death  it  was  left  to  his  two  nephews  Cornelius 
(known  as  Major  Cornelius),  son  of  his  brother  Gilbert, 
and  Stephen  (son  of  his  brother  Cornelius),  the  former 
of  whom  by  purchase  became  sole  proprietor;  and  this 
property  remained  in  the  Van  Wyck  family  until  1819, 
when  it  was  sold  to  Wynant  Van  Zandt. 

JOHN  B.  HOPKINS. 

John  B.  Hopkins,  a son  of  William  Hopkins  who  came 
from  Wales  in  1828,  was  born  in  New  Utrecht,  Kings 
county,  April  1st  1837.  He  resided  with  his  parents  in 
various  parts  of  Kings  county  until  1858,  when  he  was 
married  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Luke  Eldred,  and 
came  to  Jamaica  as  a farmer  on  the  place  where  he  now 
resides.  His  father,  although  finally  successful  in  acquir- 
ing a fortune,  came  to  this  country  a poor  man,  and  hence 
the  young  man  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
in  the  battle  of  life.  He  too  has  succeeded,  and  he  is 
now  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Jamaica.  His 
property  shown  in  the  illustration  on  page  211  is  pleas- 
antly situated  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  town. 


210 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


As  a garden  farmer  he  was  one  of  those  who  saw  that 
hot-houses  would  have  to  be  used  to  compete  with  the 
South  in  supplying  the  New  York  market,  and  in  1874  he 
erected  his  first  one.  He  has  now  some  two  acres  covered 
with  hot-houses,  where  he  propagates  vegetables  and 
plants  for  the  market  in  winter  and  early  spring.  Mr. 
Hopkins  is  known  to  most  of  the  farmers  in  this  part  of 
Long  Island  as  an  agent  for  the  Excelsior  Fertilizer. 
Politically  he  has  been  allied  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  is  an  officer  and  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Jamaica.  He  was  prominently 
identified  with  the  organization,  in  1879,  of  the  Sunday 
Observance  Association,  of  which  he  is  now  president. 


Springfield. 

A settlement  was  commenced  at  Springfield,  about 
three  miles  southeast  of  Jamaica,  almost  as  early  as  that 
of  the  latter  place.  It  has  never  acquired  the  dimen- 
sions of  a village,  but  has  always  been  what  it  now  is,  a 
pleasant  rural  settlement.  It  has  a post-office,  a railroad 
station,  and  the  other  conveniences  which  the  wants  of 
the  people  have  called  into  existence. 

Springfield  Presbyterian  Church. — In  March  i860  Rev. 
P.  D.  Oakey,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Jamaica,  commenced  holding  monthly  services  in  the 
school-house  at  Springfield,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  members  of  his  congregation  residing  in  that  vicinity. 
Services  there  continued  with  increasing  interest  during 
six  years. 

On  the  14th  of  October  1865  the  corner  stone  of  the 
present  church  edifice  was  laid,  on  ground  donated  by 
Thomas  Rider,  and  on  the  7th  of  February  1866  the 
building  was  dedicated.  The  building  committee  con- 
sisted of  Gilbert  Rider,  George  Higbie,  Ephraim  Baylis, 
J.  S.  Hendrickson,  and  Aury  Mills.  An  additional  lot 
of  ground  had  been  purchased,  which  with  the  building 
and  furniture  cost  $4,454.  At  the  time  of  the  dedica- 
tion the  congregation  subscribed  $603,  which  paid  all 
indebtedness,  and  left  a surplus  of  $123  for  sheds,  fences 
etc.  The  church  has  since  been  refurnished  and  im- 
proved, at  an  expense  of  about  $1,600. 

A parsonage  was  erected  in  1870,  which,  with  a stable 
since  built,  cost  $4,785.  The  building  committee  in 
charge  of  the  erection  of  this  parsonage  were  William  FI. 
Farrington,  William  W.  Durland,  Samuel  Compton, 
Lucas  E.  Decker,  and  Thomas  B.  Rider. 

Under  the  superintendence  of  James  Pagan,  Samuel 
H.  Durland,  Nicholas  Everitt,  Morris  Watts,  and 
Thomas  Mills,  a lecture  room  was  erected  at  an  expense, 
in  money,  of  $421,  little  more  than  the  cost  of  the  ma- 
terial. The  labor  was  voluntarily  contributed,  and  the 
building  was  erected  in  a very  short  time.  The  inside  is 
not  completed. 

On  the  23d  of  October  1867  Rev.  P.  D.  Oakey,  Dr.  I. 
D.  Wells,  and  Rev.  J.  P.  Knox,  who  had  been  appointed 
a committee  for  that  purpose  by  the  presbytery,  organ- 
ized the  church  by  the  reception  of  sixty  members  from 


the  Presbyterian  church  at  Jamaica.  Foster  Hendri  k- 
son,  Ephraim  Baylis,  George  Higbie,  and  Joseph  S.  Hig- 
bie were  elected  elders,  and  Samuel  Compton  and 
Nathaniel  Baylis  were  chosen  deacons. 

The  pulpit  was  supplied  for  a time  by  Rev.  W.  W. 
Knox,  of  Woodhaven.  On  the  19th  of  July  1869  Rev. 
Alexander  Miller  was  installed  pastor,  and  he  continued 
in  that  relation  till  1876.  August  28th  of  that  year  his 
successor,  Rev.  P.  D.  Oakey,  the  present  pastor,  was  in- 
stalled. 

The  Sunday-school  of  this  society  was  organized  at 
the  time  of  organizing  the  church,  with  forty  scholars. 
The  present  number  is  200.  Nicholas  Everitt  is  the 
superintendent. 

Springfield  M.  E.  Church. — The  pioneer  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  within  the  limits  of  this 
charge  were  Daniel  Higbie  and  Mrs.  Amy  Higbie,  his 
wife,  Daniel  Murray,  Thomas  Foster,  Henry  Bedell  and 
others.  At  first  these  members  were  connected  with  the 
Foster’s  Meadow  society,  which  was  a part  of  the  Rock- 
away  circuit.  Afterward  the  number  had  so  increased 
that  services  were  occasionally  held  here.  Still  later  this 
became  a part  of  the  Far  Rockaway  and  Foster’s  Meadow 
circuit,  and  regular  services  were  held  here.  In  1867  or 
1868,  the  number  of  members  having  greatly  increased, 
the  present  church  edifice  was  erected,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1869  this  was  made  an  independent  station.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Seymour  Landon.  He  was  succeeded 
in  1872  by  Rev.  L.  P.  Perry.  In  1875  Rev.  George  Hol- 
lis commenced  his  pastorate,  succeeded  in  1877  by  Rev. 
H.  S.  Still,  and  he  in  1880  by  Rev.  William  H.  Russell, 
the  present  pastor.  During  the  year  1870  the  church  re- 
ceived a considerable  accession  of  numbers,  and  a still 
greater  increase  during  1874.  The  church  has  since  its 
organization  been  uniformly  prosperous.  Its  present 
membership  is  173.  Its  house  of  worship,  which  has  a 
value  of  $6,000,  seats  350  persons.  The  society  owns 
also  a parsonage,  worth  $2,000. 

A Sunday-school  was  organized  at  the  formation  of 
the  church,  with  Alexander  Higbie  superintendent,  and 
about  30  pupils.  John  R.  Carpenter  became  superin- 
tendent at  the  death  of  Mr.  Higbie,  in  1876,  and  was 
succeeded  by  John  Bedell,  the  present  superintendent,  in 
1880.  The  present  number  of  scholars  is  150.  The 
school  has  a library  of  500  volumes. 

Springfield  Cemetery. — The  cemetery  at  Springfield  is 
one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county,  embracing  within  its 
limits  the  land  used  for  a burial  place  by  the  first  settlers 
of  that  neighborhood.  Interments  were  made  as  early, 
probably,  as  1670.  At  an  early  period  the  inhabitants  .of 
the  vicinity  enclosed  50  square  rods,  and  allotted  the 
same,  each  taking  a plot  of  one  rod  square  for  his  sepa- 
rate use.  These  plots  passed  to  descendants  of  the  orig- 
inal proprietors,  and  most  of  them  have  living  represent- 
atives at  the  present  time.  The  first  additional  land  was 
purchased  in  1823,  when  28  square  rods  were  bought  and 
added  on  the  north.  At  that  time  the  proprietors  of  the 
original  plots  embraced  the  names  of  Amberman,  Baylis, 
Bennet,  Boerum,  Covert,  Fosdick,  Golder,  Hendrickson, 


SPRINGFIELD  CEMETERY— THE  VILLAGE  OF  QUEENS. 


2I3 


Higbie,  Lamberson,  Losee,  Mills,  Nostrand,  Remsen, 
Rider,  Skidmore,  Smith  and  Van  Ausdoll. 

September  14th  1849  the  plot-holders  met  and  incor- 
ated  themselves  into  an  association,  adopting  the  name 
of  “ The  Springfield  Cemetery  Association  ” and  elect- 
ing as  trustees  Henry  Mills,  Daniel  Hendrickson,  Samuel 
Higbie,  Daniel  Rider,  Daniel  Smith,  John  W.  Nostrand, 
Abraham  B.  Hendrickson  and  Abraham  A.  Hendrick- 
son. Since  the  incorporation  purchases  of  adjoining 
lands  have  been  made,  and  the  cemetery  now  embraces 
about  three  acres,  consisting  of  288  plots.  The  plots 
and  walks  are  kept  in  good  order,  the  cost  being  met  by 
an  annual  tax  of  fifty  cents  upon  each  plot.  Proceeds 
of  sales  of  plots  are  mainly  reserved  tor  purchases  of  ad- 
ditional land  when  required.  The  sale  of  plots  is  limited 
to  permanent  residents  and  descendants  of  old  residents 
of  the  neighborhood.  The  present  officers  of  the  asso- 
ciation are:  President,  James  Nostrand,  Springfield; 
secretary,  John  M.  Higbie,  Queens;  treasurer,  Lewis  L. 
Fosdick,  Jamaica;  superintendent,  Lucas  E.  Decker, 
Springfield.  The  other  trustees  are  Daniel  Hendrickson, 
Daniel  Smith,  Wright  P.  Higbie,  Daniel  H.  Simonson, 
William  W.  Durland,  and  Peter  Van  Siclen. 


Queens. 

This  place  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  Long  Island 
Railroad,  about  three  miles  east  from  Jamaica.  It  is  a 
fine  collection  of  residences,  with  a post-office,  a rail- 
road station,  and  such  shops  etc.  as  the  wants  of  the 
people  there  and  in  the  region  immediately  surrounding 
it  require. 

The  character  of  every  small  place  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  great'commercial  center  of  the  country,  unless  it  is 
the  seat  of  some  important  manufacturing  interest,  is 
modified  by  its  nearness  to  that  center.  The  facility  with 
which  most  of  the  ordinary  wants  and  all  the  luxuries 
and  superfluities  of  the  people  can  be  supplied  from  the 
city  prevents  the  development  of  trade  beyond  certain 
limits,  and  at  the  same  time  renders  such  a place  a desir- 
able residence  for  people  in  easy  circumstances  who  wish 
for  quiet  surroundings. 

In  1846  the  supervisor  was  authorized  to  have  surveyed 
and  fenced  for  a public  burying  place  a tract  of  not  less 
than  two  acres  of  the  public  lands  of  the  town  known  as 
“the  Little  Plains.”  This  cemetery  is  located  at  Queens, 
arid  is  known  as  Potter’s  Field. 

Queens  Episcopal  Mission. — Many  years  ago  Thomas 
Brush,  an  enterprising  citizen  of  this  town,  erected  a 
hotel,  a store,  and  a church  at  the  place  which  was  named 
from  him  Brushville.  During  some  years  regular  weekly 
services  were  held  in  this  building  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rush- 
more,  a Methodist  local  preacher  of  Hempstead.  It  was 
afterward  closed,  except  for  occasional  services.  In  the 
spring  of  1870,  at  the  suggestion  of  Rev.  Thomas  Cook, 
then  assistant  to  Dr.  W.  L.  Johnson  of  Jamaica,  it  was 
purchased  by  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  George’s  church  of 
Flushing,  and  a mission  was  established  under  the  charge 


of  Rev.  Mr.  Cook,  who  held  afternoon  services,  and 
established  the  Sunday-school.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Babcock,  who  was  followed  by  Revs.  Joshua  Kimber 
and  F.  B.  Carter,  who  officiated  alternately;  then  Mr. 
Carter  alone  till  1873,  after  which  Rev.  Henry  Bedinger 
was  in  charge  till  1S73.  The  mission  was  then  placed  in 
charge  of  lay  readers.  B.  J.  Brenton,  L.  B.  Prince,  and 
George  Van  Nostrand,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  officiated  successively  till  the  summer  of  1879, 
when  Mr.  Barnes  of  Brooklyn  took  charge  for  a few 
months,  followed  by  Mr.  Fitzgerald.  In  the  autumn  of 
1880  Mr.  Van  Nostrand  again  became  the  officiating  lay- 
man. Occasional  morning  service  is  read,  and  the  church 
is  open  for  worship  on  particular  days  in  the  church  year. 

By  the  united  efforts  of  the  people  of  Flushing  and  of 
the  mission,  and  by  the  personal  efforts  of  Hon.  L.  B. 
Prince,  the  church  is  free  from  debt  and  ready  for  con- 
secration. 

The  Sunday-school  numbers  about  eighty.  Mr.  Van 
Nostrand  has  been  superintendent  from  the  first. 

Reformed  Church  al  Queens. — It  is  said  that  the  first 
expressed  wish  fur  the  organization  of  a church  at  Queens 
was  communicated  by  Dr.  William  D.  Creed  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Macdonald,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Jamaica. 
Subsequently  the  subject  was  mentioned  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Alliger,  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church.  Though  both 
these  men  looked  with  favor  on  the  project  no  tangible 
result  was  reached. 

Soon  after  the  burning  of  the  Reformed  church  in 
Jamaica,  in  1857,  steps  were  taken  for  the  formation  of  a 
church  here.  A meeting  was  held  at  the  chapel  in 
Brushville  to  consider  the  matter,  and  a committee  was 
appointed  to  ascertain  and  report  what  denomination  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  favored.  This  committee  re- 
ported in  favor  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  on  the  t 8th 
of  April  1858  the  organization  was  effected,  with  four- 
teen members,  from  among  whom  Dr.  William  D.  Creed 
and  Thomas  W.  Tompkins  were  chosen  elders,  and 
Henry  Suydam  and  Henry  Dean  deacons.  At  first  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  Methodist  chapel  by  supply  clergy- 
men. In  September  1858  a contract  for  the  erection  of 
the  church  edifice  was  made  with  Sidney  J.  Young,  of 
Jamaica,  at  $4,479,  and  the  corner  stone  was  laid  by  Dr. 
Creed.  It  was  dedicated  May  21st  1859. 

Through  the  exertions  of  the  ladies  of  the  congrega- 
tion the  church  was  furnished  at  a cost  of  $553-75-  The 
site  was  donated  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  W.  Doughty. 
The  bell  was  the  gift  of  Henry  R.  Dunham,  and  at  the 
dedication  D.  F.  Manice  presented  his  check  for  the 
balance  of  the  indebtedness,  $776.25.  In  1S65  the  build- 
ing was  renovated,  at  a cost  of  $900,  and  a parsonage  and 
grounds  were  purchased  at  $5,000.  A Sunday-school 
and  lecture  room  was  completed  in  1876,  and  dedicated 
January  4th  1877,  and  at  about  the  same  time  the  in- 
terior of  the  church  was  again  renovated. 

Rev.  John  W.  Hammond  was  installed  as  pastor  of  this 
church  May  22nd  1859.  He  resigned  in  November 
1863,  and  his  successor,  Rev.  James  Wyckoff,  was  in- 
stalled July  3d  1864.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 


214 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Thomas  Nichols,  who  was  installed  November  1 6th  1871, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1875  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  A. 
Hageman,  was  called.  Although  this  church,  like  all 
others,  has  seen  its  lights  and  shadows,  it  has  had  a pros- 
perous career.  The  present  membership  is  136 

The  Sunday-school  of  this  church  was  organized  in 
1 860. 


WOODHAVEN. 

In  1836  John  R.  Pitkin  laid  out  the  village  of  Wood- 
haven,  which  was  at  first  called  Woodville,  in  honor  of 
an  old  resident.  The  financial'crisis  which  soon  followed 
prevented  any  growth  for  some  years. 

In  1851  John  Sharp  & Sons  erected  a chisel  factory 
on  the  site  of  the  present  establishment  of  Lalance  & 
Grosjean.  It  was  a stone  building  about  40  by  50  feet. 
He  also  built  two  houses  for  workmen’s  residences.  This 
factory  continued  in  operation  till  1855.  In  i853  ?hineas 
Walker  erected  a dwelling.  In  1854  J.  R.  Pitkin  erected 
two;  S.  H.  De  Mott,  F.  L.  Allen  and  James  M.  Wiswell 
each  one.  In  1855  Daniel  Cobleigh,  Claude  Fietie,  and 
E.  U.  Jones  built  each  a house.  During  some  years  the 
place  had  no  growth  by  reason  of  a want  of  the  facilities 
for  communication  with  New  York  which  the  people  had 
enjoyed. 

In  1863  Messrs.  Lalance  & Grosjean  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  pressed  tin  and  iron  ware  in  the  old 
chisel  factory,  and  two  years  later  they  began  to  enlarge 
the  works  and  to  build  houses  for  workmen.  From  that 
time  till  the  present  the  village  has  continued  to  increase 
in  size  with  the  enlargement  of  the  manufactory,  till  at 
present  it  has  about  175  houses  and  1,122  inhabitants. 
Unsuccessful  attempts  have  been  made  to  establish  other 
manufactories.  A post-office  was  established  in  1855, 
and  the  name  changed  to  Woodhaven.  Daniel  Cobleigh 
was  the  postmaster.  It  was  discontinued  after  a year 
and  a half.  It  was  re-established  in  1866,  with  Joseph 
Lapage  postmaster,  succeeded,  in  1875,  by  Daniel  Cob- 
leigh, the  present  postmaster. 

The  village  contains  a few  elegant  residences,  of  which 
the  summer  establishment  of  Mr.  Grosjean  is  the  most 
extensive  and  elaborate. 

The  most  important  manufacturing  establishment  in 
the  town  of  Jamaica  as  well  as  at  Woodhaven  is  that 
of  the 

LALANCE  & GROSJEAN  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

Operations  were  commenced  here  as  early  as  1863,  and 
the  building  which  had  been  erected  by  John  Sharp  & 
Sons  for  a chisel  factory  was  first  utilized.  Additions 
were  made  to  this  till  the  whole  comprised  three  build- 
ings, each  about  150  by  30  feet. 


In  1870  a stock  company,  with  the  above  title,  was  or- 
ganized. The  officers  were:  V.  Grosjean,  president; 
John  C.  Milligan,  vice-president;  E.  W.  Martin,  secretary 
and  treasurer;  John  H.  Smith,  superintendent.  The  cap- 
ital stock  of  the  company  is  $500,000,  all  of  which  is 
paid  up.  Most  of  this  stock  is  held  by  the  officers, 
clerks  and  foremen  of  the  company,  only  four  outside 
parties  having  any.  Large  additions  have  been  made  to 
the  buildings  and  machinery  of  this  manufactory  from 
year  to  year  as  the  business  of  the  company  has  in- 
creased. 

In  1876  all  the  buildings  except  the  warehouse  were 
destroyed  by  fire.  When  rebuilt  many  of  the  buildings 
were  constructed  of  brick  and  iron,  and  where  wood  is 
used  the  covering  is  of  sheet  iron.  There  are  separate 
fire-proof  vaults  for  valuable  tools.  The  works  are 
lighted  by  gas,  but  electric  lights  are  to  be  introduced. 
The  manufactory  consists  of  some  ten  buildings,  which 
cover  an  area  of  about  three  acres.  Mr.  Grosjean  owns 
about  forty  houses — residences  of  workmen — and  about 
sixty  are  owned  by  operatives  in  the  establishment.  The 
first  engine  used  was  of  50  horse  power,  of  which  only 
20  horse  power  were  required  to  propel  the  machinery. 
The  present  engine  is  of  150  horse  power,  and  its  capac- 
ity is  hardly  sufficient.  The  machinery  was  all  invented 
and  constructed  by  members  of  the  company  or  its  em- 
ployes. The  wares  manufactured  by  this  company  em- 
brace all  kinds  of  house  and  cooking  utensils  that  are 
stamped  in  one  piece,  such  as  pans,  pails,  sheet  iron  ket- 
tles, etc.  etc.,  and  very  large  quantities  of  iron,  tin  plate, 
and  block  tin  are  used  in  making  these  articles.  The 
wares  manufactured  are  sold  mostly  in  America,  to  all 
parts  of  which  they  are  sent.  They  also  find  a market  in 
almost  every  other  country.  The  company  constantly 
employs  about  500  men. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  WOODHAVEN. 

About  forty  years  ago  Abraham  Smith  and  some  others 
organized  a Sunday-school  and  prayer  meeting  in  the 
Woodhaven  school  house,  then  known  as  the  Ferry  road 
school-house.  At  that  time  the  inhabitants  attended 
church  either  in  Jamaica  or  East  New  York. 

Fifteen  or  sixteen  years  since  a chapel  was  built  at 
Woodhaven,  under  the  auspices  of  the  ladies  of  the  place, 
and  soon  afterward  a Presbyterian  church  was  organized 
in  this  building,  where  worship  is  now  held.  Many  of 
the  oldest  families  in  the  vicinity  worship  at  this  church, 
the  origin  of  which  may  be  said  to  be  in  the  organization 
of  the  Sunday-school  and  prayer  meeting.  Mr.  Smith  is 
still  living,  at  the  age  of  84,  and  is  the  ruling  elder  of  the 
church.  Revs.  James  G.  Mason,  now  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Metuchen,  N.  J.,  and  William  W. 
Knox,  now  of  the  Huntington  (L.  I.)  Presbyterian  church, 
have  been  pastors.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  Abeel 
Baldwin. 


RESIDENCE  OF  F.  GROSJEAN,  WOODHAV.EN,  QUEENS  COUNTY, 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  HENRY  OWE^WOODHAVE^QUEENS  CO.,LONG  ISLAND 


John  R.  Pitkin, 

the  founder  of  East  New 
York  in  Kings  county,  and 
of  Woodhaven,  Queens 
county,  Long  Island,  was 
a son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
Andrews  Pitkin,  and  was 
born  in  Colebrook,  Litch- 
field county,  Connecticut, 
in  the  year  1794.  His 
father  worked  at  his  trade, 
making  boots  and  shoes, 
carrying  on  also  a small 
farm.  The  son  at  the  early 
age  of  12  left  home  to  seek 
his  own  support,  the  father 
feeling  that,  although 
young,  his  habits  and 
principles  had  so  develop 
ed  themselves  that  they 
would  be  to  him  (as  his 
later  life  fully  proved)  a 
staff  and  shield  which 
would  never  fail, 
years  he  worked  on  a farm 
in  the  summer,  receiving 
from  $5  to  $10  a month, 
and  in  the  winter  his 
board  and  clothing,  he 
being  permitted  to  attend 
the  district  school,  some 
two  miles  distant.  At  20 
he  was  offered,  and  ac- 
cepted, a position  as 
teacher  in  the  New  Hart- 
ford school,  the  same  in 
which  he  had  been  an  earn- 
est and  attentive  scholar. 

Then,  embarking  in  what  were  called  “trading  expedi- 
tions,” he  in  company  with  others  fitted  out  wagons, 
loaded  them  with  dry  goods,  and  drove  through  to 
Georgia,  there  disposing  of  all.  After  making  a few  trips, 
which  took  about  four  weeks  each  (now  accomplished 
by  railroad  in  three  days),  he  became  a partner  with  S. 
& L.  Hurlburt,  of  Winchester,  Ct.,  and  the  firm  founded 
and  maintained  stores  at  Madison,  Monticello,  Eatonton 
and  Warrenton,  Ga.,  all  meeting  with  marked  success. 

But  Mr.  Pitkin’s  aims  were  still  higher,  and  he  returned 
to  New  York,  formed  a copartnership,  and  opened  a 
wholesale  dry  goods  house,  which,  not  proving  pleasant 
or  profitable,  was  dissolved  and  its  business  closed. 

At  this  time  he  became  interested  in  real  estate  and 
took  an  active  part  in  laying  out  and  straightening  some 
of  the  streets  in  New  York,  notably  the  upper  part  of 
William  street. 

Being  attracted  to  Long  Island,  he  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  George  W.  Thrall,  purchased  three  farms  lying  east 
and  south  of  the  old  “Howard  House,”  on  the  Jamaica 
turnpike;  laid  the  same  out  in  streets  and  blocks,  planted 
trees,  built  houses,  and  named  the  locality  East  New 
York.  Happy  was  he  in  later  life  to  walk  through  a then 
busy  and  thriving  town,  with  streets  traversed  by  both 
steam  and  horse  railroads,  and  with  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  population  of  15,000  people. 

In  1846  he  was  instrumental  in  drawing,  and  after  two 
years  of  diligent,  persistent  work,  succeeded  in  having 
adopted  one  of  the  general  manufacturing  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  under  which  to-day  a vast  amount 
of  individual  capital  and  enterprise  is  associated  in  the 


development  of  the  State’s 
resources;  the  capitalists 
working  for  their  own  not 
only,  but  for  the  good  of 
humanity  at  large.  A libra- 
ry of  over  50  letter  books 
to-day  attests  his  untiring 
zeal  and  persistency. 

He  became  thoroughly 
wrapped  up  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  shoe  manufac- 
turing interests,  and  was 
instrumental  in  inducing 
prominent  practical  shoe 
manufacturers  to  remove 
from  New  England  to  New 
York.  With  a few  near 
friends  in  1860-61  he 
founded  the  East  New 
York  Boot,  Shoe  .and 
Leather  Manufacturing 
Company,  now  officered 
by  his  children  and  mak- 
ing an  average  of  3,000 
pairs  a day,  their  works 
being  carried  on  at  Albany, 
New  York. 

Mr.  Pitkin,  although  liv- 
ing beyond  the  allotted 
three-score  and  ten,  was 
ever  earnest  in  advocating 
those  principles  which 
would  tend  to  elevate  the 
working  classes;  and  he 
wrote  : “ As  long  as  I am 

blessed  with  unimpaired 
faculties  of  body  and  brain 
I shall  continue  to  agitate 
the  union  of  labor  with 
education,  together  with  the  progress  of  mind  and 
wealth  combined.”  He  was  a man  of  indomitable 
energy,  untiring  perseverance,  pertinacity  of  purpose, 
an  iron  will,  never  yielding  to  the  word  “ can’t,” 
and  had  such  a clear  perception  of  what  was  yet  to 
be  that  in  forecasting  the  future  he  had  no  superi- 
ors, and  very  few  equals.  As  a father  he  was  loved 
and  respected.  He  was  indulgent,  kind,  generous 
to  a fault,  but  always  insisted  on  the  right.  He  was  tem- 
perate, even  to  total  abstinence.  He  was  ready  at  all 
times  to  do  his  part  for  the  welfare  of  others,  and  to-day 
both  in  East  New  York  and  in  the  growing  village 
of  Woodhaven  there  are  churches  and  schools 
upon  grounds  he  quietly  gave,  without  regard  to  sect  or 
religion. 

He  died  at  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  September  2nd  1874, 
and  now  rests  witli  his  father,  mother,  wife  and  children 
on  a beautiful  slope  in  Cypress  Hills  Cemetery;  a solid 
granite  sarcophagus  marking  the  spot. 

Mr.  Pitkin  was  twice  married;  first  to  Sophia  M. 
Thrall,  of  Winchester,  Conn.,  October  1st  1823.  She 
died  at  Woodhaven,  November  30th  1849.  Their 
children  (now  all  living  except  one)  were  : George  De 
Witt,  Frances  Amelia,  Henry  Fowler  (who  died  August 
1 8th  1832,  at  Symsbury,  Conn.,  and  is  buried  there; 
Georgeanna  Louise,  Frederick  Eugene,  Wolcott  Homer, 
and  John  Winfield.  June  11th  1857,  at  Woodhaven,  Mr. 
Pitkin  married  Mary  Allyn,  who  survives  him.  They  had 
three  children:  Mary  Ella,  who  died  December  13th 
1863;  William  Timothy,  who  died  January  8th  1862,  and 
Emma  Victoria. 


26 


220 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


WOODHAVEN  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

January  ist  1863  a meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Daniel  Cobleigh,  in  Woodhaven,  to  initiate  measures  for 
the  formation  of  a Congregational  church.  The  prime 
mover  was  Phineas  Walker,  a member  of  Plymouth 
Church,  Brooklyn.  Several  meetings  were  afterward  held, 
a council  was  called,  and  the  formation  of  a church  re- 
solved on.  The  constitutent  members  at  its  formation 
were:  by  letter,  Phineas  Walker,  Daniel  Bergen;  by 
confession,  etc.,  Daniel  Cobleigh,  Mary  L.  Cobleigh, 
Francis  L.  Allyn,  Elizabeth  Allyn,  Catherine  Palmer, 
Elizabeth  Light,  and  Hollis  T.  Walker.  At  first  the 
congregation  worshiped  and  held  a Sunday-school  in  a 
union  chapel  that  had  been  erected  in  Woodhaven;  and 
during  two  years  preaching  was  supplied  by  students 
from  the  theological  seminary. 

In  1865  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  William  James,  then 
a theological  student,  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  he 
entered  on  his  labors  in  November  of  that  year.  Soon 
after  the  commencement  of  his  pastorate  a movement  for 
the  erection  of  a church  edifice  was  initialed,  and  on 
the  27th  of  December  1866  the  present  house  of  worship 
was  dedicated,  free  from  debt.  The  dedication  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  H.  W.  Beecher,  of  Plymouth 
Church,  Brooklyn.  The  site  of  this  house  was  donated 
by  John  R.  Pitkin.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  be- 
tween $5,000  and  $6,000.  It  was  enlarged,  remodeled, 
beautified,  and  newly  furnished  in  1880. 

The  church  has  experienced  several  revivals,  and  190 
members  have  been  received  since  its  formation.  It  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  temperance  and  the  other 
reforms  of  the  day.  It  has  a flourishing  Sunday-school, 
under  the  superintendence  of  J.  H.  Corwin. 

WOODHAVEN  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  MISSION. 

A Roman  Catholic  church  building  has  been  erected 
in  Woodhaven  by  the  public  spirited  Mr.  Grosjean,  for 
the  accommodation  of  such  of  the  workmen  in  the  man- 
ufactory there  as  are  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith.  It  is 
a fine  brick  edifice,  and  stands  on  Atlantic  avenue.  It 
has  not  been  consecrated,  because  the  title  is  not  vested 
in  the  church.  Services  have  been  held  in  it,  and  under 
the  efficient  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Farley  the  congrega- 
tion is  prosperous. 

emanuel’s  church. 

In  1878  the  Atlantic  conference  of  the  Evangelical 
Association  sent  Rev.  C.  D.  Heinrich  to  Long  Island  as 
a missionary  in  regions  beyond  the  limits  of  Brooklyn. 
On  the  4th  of  May  in  that  year  the  first  religious  ser- 
vices were  held  by  him  in  the  chapel  at  Woodhaven,  and 
on  the  14th  of  the  following  September  a society  was  or- 
ganized there  with  21  members.  The  name  “Emanuel’s 
Church  ” was  adopted  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month. 
Permission  to  use  the  chapel  for  school  purposes  could 
not  be  obtained,  and  the  society  at  once  resolved  to 
erect  a church  edifice.  The  corner  stone  of  this  was 
laid  November  9th  1879,  and  the  house  was  dedicated 
February  1 6 th  1880.  The  land  on  which  it  stands  was 


donated  by  the  Pitkin  brothers.  The  building  is  31  by 
60  feet,  and  with  the  sheds,  fence,  etc.,  cost  $3,000; 
nearly  all  of  which  has  been  paid.  Connected  with  the 
church  are  a Sunday-school,  a ladies’  society  and  a build- 
ing society.  The  whole  is  in  a prosperous  condition. 

RICHMOND  HILL 

is  a collection  of  houses  most  of  which  have  been 
built  since  1870.  They  are  mainly  residences  of  those 
who  do  business  in  New  York,  and  many  are  unoccupied 
during  the  winter. 

BAYSIDE  CEMETERY. 

About  a mile  southeast  of  the  village  of  Woodhaven 
is  the  cemetery  of  the  Jewish  Congregation  Chaari-Ze- 
dek  (Gates  of  Righteousness)  of  New  York  city.  Until 
about  twenty  years  ago  the  members  of  this  congregation 
had  buried  their  dead  in  a cemetery  in  the  city,  but  at 
that  time  they  saw  fit  to  abandon  the  use  of  this  and  es- 
tablish their  present  tasteful  burial  place  in  the  locality 
above  indicated.  To  this  cemetery  the  remains  of  many 
were  removed  from  the  former  one,  and  here  the  dead  of 
this  congregation  have  since  been  buried.  It  is  finely 
arranged  and  well  cared  for  and  compares  favorably 
with  many  cemeteries  of  greater  age. 


JAMAICA  VILLAGE.* 

A village  charter  was  obtained  April  15th  1814;  but  a 
more  efficient  one  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  in 
1855.  The  first  meeting  was  held  May  21st,  with  William 

*0f  the  gentleman  who  wrote. the  history  of  Jamaica  village,  as  well 
as  the  general  history  of  Queens  county  (pages  49-65),  and  furnished 
other  material  as  mentioned  in  the  preface,  Drake  in  his  “ Dictionary 
of  American  Biography  ” thus  speaks: 

“ Henry  Onderdonlc  jr.,  educator  and  author,  horn  at  Manhasset, 
N.  Y.,  June  11th  1804;  graduate  of  Columbia  College,  1827;  A.  B.  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge,- 1828;  being  fifth  in  descent  from  Adrian  An- 
drewse  0.,+  who  emigrated  from  Holland  to  Flatbusli,  L.  I.,  before 
1072.  Henry  was  brought  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  from  1832  to  1865 
was  principal  and  classical  teacher  of  Union  Hill  Academy,  Jamaica, 
L.  I.,  lecturer  on  temperance,  local  history  &c.,  honorary  member  of 
various  historical  and  genealogical  societies.” 

Other  contributions  to  local  history  by  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.  are  as 


follows: 

Revolutionary  Incidents  of  Queens  County 1846 

Letters  on  the  death  of  General  Woodliullt 1848 

Revolutionary  Incidents  of  Suffolk  and  Kings  Counties 1849 

Battle  of  Long  Island  and  British  Prisons  and  Prison  Ships 1849 

Genealogy  of  the  Onderdonk  Family 1852 

Queens  County  in  Olden  Times.  1st  series 1865 

Suffolk  and  Kings  Counties  in  Olden  Times# 1865-6 

Bibliography  of  Long  Island 1866 

Dutch  Churches  and  Ministers  on  Long  Island:!: 1866 

Ancient  Agriculture,  etc.,  in  Hempstead 1867 

Gov.  Stuyvesant  and  the  Quakers# 1868 

Rise  and  Growth  of  Friends  on  Long  Island  and  New  York 1872 

Jamaica’s  Centennial.  July  4th# 1876 

School  and  College  Life# 1876-8 

Early  Annals  of  Hempstead 1878 

Roslyn  and  North  Hempstead  in  Olden  Timest 1879 

Antiquities  of  Hempstead  Parish  Church 1880 

Antiquities  of  Jamaica  Parish  Church 1880 

Induction  of  Rev.  William  Vesey  (1697)  iu  Trinity  Church 1S79 

History  of  Queens  County  Agricultural  Society 1881 


tNewspaper  cuttings  to  be  found  in  the  Astor  and  oilier  principal 
libraries  in  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Washington. 

+ Adrian  Andriese  Onderdonk  was  living  in  Flatbush  in  1672.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  had  three  sons,  Adrian.  Hendrick  and  Andrew.  Andrew 
had  two  sons— Adrian,  born  1684,  and  Andrew,  born  1686.  Fron  the  lat- 
ter are  descended  all  the  Onderdonks  of  Queens  county.  The  descend- 
ants of  Adrian  settled  on  the  Raritan  and  Hudson  rivers. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  JAMAICA  VILLAGE— CEMETERIES. 


221 


J.  Cogswell  president,  John  A.  King,  John  Simonson, 
Abraham  D.  Snedeker,  John  G.  Lamberson  and  Wessell 
S.  Smith  trustees. 

The  succeeding  presidents  have  been  Abrahan  D. 
Snedeker,  John  S.  Snedeker,  Alexander  Hagner,  John 
M.  Crane,  Aaron  A.  Degrauw  and  George  H.  Creed. 

The  present  trustees  are  S.  S.  Aymar  (president),  John 
Fleming,  John  Adikes,  Jerome  Covert  jr.,  Charles  H. 
Stewart,  J.  Tyler  Watts,  B.  S.  Brenton  (treasurer),  and 
George  L.  Powell  (secretary).  They  meet  the  first 
• Thursday  in  every  month  in  the  village  hall. 

The  place  for  holding  town  meetings  in  Jamaica  was 
the  county  court-house  till  it  was  torn  down  and  carried 
off  by  the  British  soldiers  in  1777  in  order  to  make  their 
barracks  After  that  meetings  were  held  at  the  village 
inns  as  follows:  In  1778,  at  Edward  Willett’s;  1779, 
Thomas  Rochford’s;  1781,  Hope  Mills’s;  1782,  Robarl 
Hinchman’s;  1784-1800,  widow  Johanna  Hinchman’s; 
1801,  Creed  & Willis’s;  1808,  1811-16,  1819-21,  Captain 
Joseph  Roe’s;  1809,  Captain  C.  Eldert’s;  1810,  Isaac 
Platt’s;  1817,  Hewlett  Creed’s;  1818,  1822,  1823,  Cor- 
nelius Eldert’s;  1824-26  Laurens  Reeve’s;  1827,  1836, 
Alexander  Rogers’s;  1835,  Richard  Jackson’s;  1837, 
Henry  Woolley’s;  1838,  William  Hunter’s;  1839,  James 
Carpenter’s;  1840,  Henry  Conklin’s;  1841,  1846,  R.  J. 
Snedeker’s;  1842,  1845,  James  S.  Remsen’s;  1843,  1848, 
1852,  1854,  Michael  P.  Holland’s;  1844,  Mrs.  Hunter’s; 
1847,  1850,  Caleb  Weeks’s;  1849,  O.  Conklin’s;  1851, 
Remsen  & Hentz’s;  1853,  George  C.  McKee’s;  1855, 
B.  W.  Curtis’s;  thereafter  at  the  town  hall. 

The  General  Assembly  or  Legislature  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  York  sat  at  Jamaica  twice,  once  in  1702  and 
again  in  1753. 

Washington  visited  Jamaica  April  20th  1790,  and 
lodged  at  William  Warne’s  inn,  which  he  calls  a pretty 
good  and  decent  house. 

In  1858-9  a town  hall  was  erected  on  Herriman 
avenue,  about  sixty  yards  from  Fulton  street,  at  a 
cost,  including  the  site,  of  nearly  $2,000.  It  was  a 
wooden  structure,  two  stories  in'  height,  with  a 
basement  in  which  were  five  cells  and  a police  court 
room.  The  first  floor  was  fitted  up  for  town  meetings 
and  public  business  generally.  The  second  floor  was 
used  for  justices’  courts.  Under  the  provisions  of  the 
act  for  the  erection  of  a new  town  hall  this  building 
was  in  1870  sold  to  John  H.  Brinkerhoff,  and  by  him 
converted  into  dwellings. 

In  1864  a law  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature  author- 
izing the  erection  of  a town  hall  in  the  village  of  Jamai- 
ca, and  appointing  Aaron  A.  Degrauw,  John  Gracy,  Ste- 
phen L.  Spader  and  John  H.  Sutphin  commissioners, 
with  the  supervisor  of  the  town,  for  carrying  the  provis- 
ions of  the  act  into  effect.  They  were  authorized  to  bor- 
row $30,000,  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  for  the  purchase 
of  a site  and  the  erection  of  the  building.  In  1867  the 
act  was  so  amended  as  to  make  the  commissioners  elec- 
tive, and  to  authorize  the  borrowing  of  $60,000  in  addi- 
tion to  the  sum  first  authorized.  Under  the  amended 
act  Daniel  Smith,  George  Skidmore,  John  M.  Crane,  and 


Daniel  Hendrickson  were  elected  commissioners  in  1867. 
The  building,  which  stands  on  thecornerof  Fulton  street 
and  Flushing  avenue,  was  completed  and  accepted  by  the 
town  in  1870.  It  is  of  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  with 
a basement,  and  it  covers  an  area  of  1 14  by  70  feet.  The 
basement  is  divided  jnto  the  janitor’s  residence,  thirteen 
cells,  a police  court  room,  and  several  other  rooms,  that 
are  rented  for  various  purposes.  On  the  first  floor  are  a 
large  room  for  lectures,  courts,  town  meetings,  and  other 
public  business,  a smaller  court  room  adjoining  it,  several 
town  offices,  and  some  attorneys’  offices.  On  the  second 
floor  is  a -large  hall  for  lectures,  concerts,  exhibitions,  etc. 
It  is  supplied  with  a stage,  scenery,  etc.,  for  theatrical  ex- 
hibitions, and  is  the  best  public  hall  on  the  island  out- 
side of  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  In  the  attic  is  a large  water 
tank  with  hose,  etc.,  to  protect  against  fire  on  the  stage.. 
On  the  second  floor  are  three  attorneys’  offices,  and 
over  these  a lodge  room.  The  total  cost  of  building  and 
site  was  $90,000. 

The  green  was  the  scene  of  an  execution  November 
12th  1784.  William  Guthrie  and  Joseph  Alexander  had 
robbed  Thomas  Thorne,  of  Cow  Neck,  of  a silver  tank- 
ard and  other  articles.  The  old  jail  standing  at  Mr. 
Peck’s  pharmacy  had  been  destroyed  by  the  British,  so 
the  prisoners  were  kept  in  the  Bridewell,  in  New  York, 
and  brought  up  to  Jamaica  for  trial  by  an  escort  of  sol- 
diers. The  court  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  convicts  were  taken  to  the  gallows  in  a wagon,  each 
seated  on  his  own  coffin.  Here  follow  some  items  of  the 
cost  of  the  execution  : 

Queens  County  to  Nehemiah  Hinchman , Dr. : 

£■  s. 


For  making  the  gallows,  and  my  trouble o 16 

Timber  and  spikes 1 5 

Blacksmith’s  work :....  o 17 

2 carpenters,  4 days  each 4 16 

Wagon  and  horses  to  take  the  gallows  to  the  Pond,  o 4 

William  Thurston,  for  staples o 18 

2 coffins,  each  16s 1 12 

Rope  to  hang  with,  and  handkerchiefs  to  tie  over 

their  eyes o 14 

Sheriff’s  fees  for  hanging 12  o 

Digging  the  graves. . .’ o 18 

Ringing  the  bell  for  the  procession  to  move  and 

cleaning  the  church  where  the  trial  was  held.  . . . 1 15 


■ Burial  Places. 

The  village  cemetery  is  very  ancient;  for  in  1668,  No- 
vember 5th,  the  town  agreed  with  John  Wascot  to  fence 
the  burying  place  10  rods  square  with  a sufficient  five-rail 
fence,  and  promised  him  in  current  pay  for  his  pains 
and  labor.  In  1670  William  Brinkly  was  granted  a lot 
on  the  west  side  of  the  burying  place,  leaving  a passage- 
way between  his  fence  and  Beaver  Pond. 

Many  of  the  tombstones  (called  “field  stones  ”)  were 
very  rude,  with  the  initials  and  year  of  death  scratched 
on.  Some  have  doubtless  been  covered  by  the  earth  and 
hidden  from  view.  Among  the  oldest  ones  visible  are 
those  of  Thomas  Parmyter,  who  died  February  2nd  1732, 
aged  65;  Thomas  Walton,  who  died  in  March  1737,  aged 
55,  and  Judith,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Pierson,  who  died 
October  19th  1764,  aged  67. 


222 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


In  1857  Nicholas  Ludlum  of  New  York  bought  three 
acres  of  land  east  of  the  old  burying  ground  and  had  the 
“ Chapel  of  the  Sisters  ” built  at  his  own  expense,  in  mem- 
ory of  his  daughters.  It  is  built  of  brown  and  gray  stone, 
forms  the  entrance  to  the  cemetery,  and  is  used  for  fu- 
neral services.  The  cemetery  was  incorporated  in  1879 
under  the  name  of  Prospect  Cemetery,  with  Judge  John 
J.  Armstrong  as  president,  John  H.  Brinkerhoff  treas- 
urer and  Starr  Edwards  superintendent.  Walks  and  bur- 
ial lots  have  been  laid  out,  flowers  planted  and  the 
grounds  (about  eight  acres)  beautified. 

In  the  village  are  also  the  Methodist,  Roman  Catholic 
and  Episcopal  cemeteries.  The  last  contains  the  tombs 
of  Rufus  King  and  his  son  Governor  King,  with  many 
others  of  note.  The  oldest  is  that  of  Charles  Welling, 
who  died  in  1736;  the  next  that  of  Miriam  Hinchman, 
who  died  April  26th  1745,  aged  six  years.  On  her  tomb- 
stone is  chiseled  the  archangel,  with  outstretched  wings, 
blowing  his  trumpet,  and  beneath,  these  simple  lines: 

“ Blest  angels,  sound 
Youi-last  alarms; 

Then  will  I fly 
Into  Christ’s  arms.” 

Madam  Clark,  wife  of  Andrew  Clark,  county  clerk,  has 
this  inscription,  under  a cherub’s  fact:  “ Here  lieth  in- 
terred the  body  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Clark, the  beloved  wife 
of  Andrew  Clark, who  departed  this  mortal  life  for  a blessed 
eternity  December  nth  1755,  aged  76  years.  A prudent 
wife  and  pious  Christian  ever  to  be  remembered.  Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.” 

Another  stone  reads:  “ Here  lies  interred  the  corpse  of 
Sarah,  wife  of  Jacob  Banks.  She  resigned  her  breath 
the  18th  day  of  July  A.  D.  1763.”  Beneath  the  inscrip- 
tion is  an  hour-glass,  with  the  Latin  motto  Tempus  Fugit. 

Persons  of  rank  and  wealth  were  often  buried  in 
church,  laymen  under  their  pews,  clergymen  in  the  chan- 
cel or  beneath  the  pulpit.  For  this  an  extra  charge  was 
made.  Thus  in  1775  five  shillings  was  charged  for  tak- 
ing up  the  church  floor  for  John  Troup;  in  1776  six  shil- 
lings for  taking  up  and  putting  down  the  church  floor  for 
Mrs.  Mary  Colgan;  in  1781  the  bill  of  Dr.  Field  was  ^5 
for  laying  his  wife  in  the  church,'^!  4s.  for  the  grave, 
19s.  for  taking  up  the  floor,  use  of  pall  4s.,  funeral  bell 
5s.  In  1790  Rev.  Joshua  Bloomer  died.  His  estate  was 
charged  20s.  for  laying  him  in  the  church;  cleaning  the 
church,  4s.;  tolling  bell  three  times,  15s.;  three  funeral 
bells  tolling,  15s.  The  bells  of  the  Dutch,  Episcopal  and 
Presbyterian  churches  all  three  tolled.  The  last  instance 
of  interment  in  church  was  in  1809,  when  26s.  was 
charged  by  the  sexton  for  laying  a child  of  John  Troup 
in  the  church  and  cleaning  the  building.  The  inferior 
class  of  people  were  buried  in  the  church  yard.  Hence 
these  lines,  copied  from  a tombstone: 

“ Here  I lie  outside  the  church  door, 

Here  I lie,  because  I’m  poor ; 

The  further  in,  the  more  they  pay ; 

But  here  I lie  as  snug  as  they.” 

Revolutionary  Incidents  in  Jamaica. 

When  our  forefathers  first  entered  on  the  Revolution- 
ary struggle  they  did  not  contemplate  a separation  from 


the  British  crown,  but  merely  desired  to  reform  abuses 
and  resist  the  encroachments  of  Parliament  and  the  min- 
istry on  their  rights  and  privileges.  Their  motto  was  “No 
taxation  without  representation.”  But  they  advanced 
step  by  step,  till  at  last  there  could  be  no  return,  and  then 
they  went  into  open  rebellion.  No  doubt  some  long- 
headed statesmen  saw  from  the  first  that  this  would  be 
the  final  result. 

On  the  passage  of  the  bill  in  Parliament  shutting  up  the 
port  of  Boston  on  account  of  the  throwing  of  tea  over- 
board, some  persons  in  Jamaica  assembled  at  the  inn  of. 
Increase  Carpenter,  a mile  east  of  the  village,  and  after 
an  interchange  of  opinions  requested  Othniel  Smith,  the 
constable,  to  warn  the  freeholders  to  a meeting  at  the 
court-house  (where  now  is  the  Hall  of  Pharmacy),  to 
take  into  consideration  the  state  of  public  affairs. 

The  inhabitants  met  December  6th  1774  and  resolved: 

x.  To  maintain  the  just  dependence  of  the  colonies 
upon  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  to  render  true  al- 
legiance to  King  George  III. 

2.  That  it  is  our  right  to  be  taxed  only  by  our  own 
consent;  and  that  taxes  imposed  on  us  by  Parliament  are 
an  infringement  of  our  rights. 

3.  We  glory  to  have  been  born  subject  to  the  crown 
and  excellent  constitution  of  Great  Britain;  we  are  one 
people  with  our  mother  country,  and  lament  the  late  un- 
happy disputes. 

5.  We  sympathize  with  our  brethren  of  Boston  under 
their  sufferings. 

6.  We  approve  the  measures  of  the  late  General  Con- 
gress at  Philadelphia. 

7.  We  appoint  for  our  committee  of  correspondence 
and  observation  Rev.  Abraham  Keteltas,  Waters  Smith, 
Capt.  Ephraim  Bailis,  Capt.  Joseph  French,  William 
Ludlum,  Capt.  Richard  Betts,  Dr.  John  Innes,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Elias  Bailis. 

This  meeting  would  have  been  held  much  sooner  but 
for  the  refusal  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Whitehead,  supervisor, 
to  show  the  townspeople  the  letter  he  had  received  from 
the  Whig  committee  of  New  York. 

Abraham  Keteltas,  though  a clergyman,  said  that 
sooner  than  pay  the  duty  on  tea  as  required  by  Parlia- 
ment he  would  shoulder  his  musket  and  fight. 

The  Jamaica  committee  met  January  19th  1775,  and, 
after  thanking  the  New  York  delegates  to  the  General 
Congress  for  their  important  services,  said:  “ We  joyfully 
anticipate  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  names  enrolled  in 
the  annals  of  America  and  transmitted  to  the  latest  gen- 
erations as  the  friends  and  deliverers  of  your  country, 
and  having  your  praises  resounded  from  one  side  of  this 
continent  to  the  other.” 

Only  8 days  after  the  committee  had  thus  indorsed  the 
action  of  their  delegates,  136  inhabitants  of  Jamaica 
signed  a protest  stating  that  “a  few  people  of  the  town 
have  taken  on  themselves  the  name  of  a committee.  We 
never  gave  our  consent  thereto,  as  we  disapprove  of  all 
unlawful  meetings.  We  resolve  to  continue  faithful  sub- 
jects to  His  Majesty  King  George  III.,  our  most  gracious 
sovereign.” 

March  31st  1775,  the  day  appointed  for  taking  the 
sense  of  the  freeholders  of  Jamaica  on  the  expediency  of 
choosing  a deputy  to  the  Provincial  Congress  at  New 


223 


JAMAICA  VILLAGE  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 


York,  a poll  was  opened  at  the  court-house.  The  town 
refused  by  a majority  of  nine  to  send  a deputy. 

May  18th  1775  an  address  was  presented  to  Lieu- 
tanent  Governor  Colden,  at  Jamaica,  requesting  him  to 
intercede  with  General  Gage  and  the  king  to  stop  their 
violent  measures.  His  reply  was  unsatisfactory,  though 
given  with  tears. 

September  2nd  1775  Congress  granted  Joseph  Rob- 
inson leave  to  receive  100  pounds  of  gunpowder  for  the 
use  of  the  Jamaica  militia,  on  his  paying  cash  for  it. 

By  the  general  association,  a test  paper,  the  signers 
pledged  themselves  to  stand  by  each  other  in  the  great 
struggle  for  their  rights,  and  to  support  the  Congress. 
September  16th  1775,  Congress,  having  need  of  arms 
for  the  soldiers  in  the  continental  service,  sent  troops  to 
Jamaica  to  impress  them  from  those  who  refused  to  sign 
the  general  association.  Abraham  Skinner,  of  Jamaica, 
reported  to  Congress  that  but  few  arms  had  been  col- 
lected, for  want  of  a battalion  of  soldiers  to  intimidate 
the  loyalists  : “The  people  conceal  all  their  arms  of  any 
value,  many  say  they  know  nothing  about  Congress  and 
don’t  care  for  their  orders,  and  they  will  blow  out  any 
man’s  brains  that  would  attempt  to  take  their  arms.” 

December  13th  1775,  as  some  disaffected  persons  in 
Queens  county  had  been  supplied  with  arms  from  the 
“Asia”  ship  of  war,  and  were  arraying  themselves  to 
oppose  the  measures  taken  by  the  united  colonies  for 
defending  their  just  rights,  it  was  ordered  that  Captain 
Benjamin  Whitehead,  Dr.  Charles  Arden,  Captain  Joseph 
French  and  Captain  Johannes  Polhemus,  all  of  Jamaica, 
appear  before  Congress  on  the  19th  inst.,  to  give  satis- 
faction in  the  premises;  and  that  they  be  protected  from 
insult,  coming  and  returning. 

The  following  associated  themselves  as  “minute  men” 
for  the  defense  of  American  liberty,  and  engaged  to  be 
obedient  to  the  Congress: 

John  Skidmore,  captain;  Jacob  Wright,  first  lieuten- 
ant; Nicholas  Everet,  second  lieutenant;  Ephraim  Mars- 
ton,  ensign.  Privates — Cornelius  and  Derick  Amberman, 
Isaac,  Nehemiah,  Daniel  and  John  Bayles,  John  Bremner, 
Richard  and  Robert  Betts,  William  Cebra,  Peter  Canile, 
Benjamin  and  Nehemiah  Everet,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Thomas 
and  Daniel  Higbie,  James  Hinchman,  Hendrick,  Aaron 
and  Abraham  Hendrickson,  John  Innis,  William,  Nehe- 
rniah  and  Nathaniel  Ludlum,  David  and  Waters  Lam- 
bertson,  Andrew  Mills,  Andrew  Oakley,  Urias  and  Ste- 
phen Rider,  Hope,  Richard  and  Nathaniel  Rhodes,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Richard,  Nathaniel,  Walter,  John,  Obadiah, 
Simeon,  Sylvester,  Nicholas  and  Benjamin  Smith,  Daniel 
Skidmore,  John  and  William  Stin,  William  and  Benjamin 
Thurston,  Thomas  Wiggins,  Jesse  Wilson. 

March  27th  1776  a military  company  of  40  men  asso- 
ciated themselves  as  Defenders  of  Liberty.  The  officers 
were:  Ephraim  Bayles,  captain ; Increase  Carpenter,  first 
lieutenant;  Abraham  Van  Osdoll,  second  lieutenant; 
Othniel  Smith,  ensign. 

April  26th  1776  all  friends  of  American  liberty  in 
Jamaica  were  entreated  by  Elias  Bayles,  chairman  of  the 
patriot  committee,  to  aid  the  committee.  Should  any 
officers  in  the  service  of  Congress  meet  with  insults  in 


the  discharge  of  their  duties  the  offenders  were  ordered 
to  be  treated  as  enemies  to  their  country. 

May  28th  1776  Congress  ordered  100  lbs.  of  gunpowder 
to  be  delivered  to  Captain  Bayles  to  be  distributed  to 
those  well  affected  to  the  American  cause.  At  the  same 
date  Captain  Thomas  Harriot,  of  Jamaica,  having  refused 
to  take  the  continental  money,  was  held  up  by  order  of 
Congress  as  an  enemy  to  his  country. 

May  15th  1776  Chairman  Bayles  ordered  that  no  person 
“shall  move  into  Jamaica  without  producing  a certificate 
from  the  committee  where  he  last  resided  that  he  is  a 
friend  of  the  American  cause.  All  suspicious  persons 
passing  through  the  town  will  be  arrested  for  examina- 
tion.” 

The  Whig  committee  sent  to  the  Congress  in  New 
York  (June  21st  1776)  the  following  list  of  suspicious 
characters  who  kept  in  and  about  Jamaica: 

1.  Dr.  Chas.  Arden.  He  instigated  the  tories  to  sign 
against  having  a Congress  or  committee. 

2.  Capt.  Ben.  Whitehead,  late  supervisor.  He  refused 
to  communicate  to  the  people  of  Jamaica  the  letters  he 
received  from  the  Whig  committee  of  New  York. 

3.  Alex.  Wallace,  merchant  of  New  York,  but  now 
lives  in  Waters  Smith’s  house. 

4.  Geo.  Bethune,  from  Boston.  He  is  intimate  with 
Arden  and  Whitehead. 

5.  [Samuel]  Martin,  from  Antigua.  He  lives  in  Oba. 
Mills’s  house,  and  associates  with  Jas.  Depeyster. 

6.  Chas.  McEvers,  formerly  a stamp-officer.  He  lives 
in  John  Troup’s  house. 

7.  8 and  9.  Thos.  and  Fleming  Colgan,  and  John  W. 
Livingston  jr.  They  often  go  on  Creed’s  Hill  to  look 
out  for  the  British  fleet  expected  off  Sandy  Hook. 

10  and  11.  John  and  Wm.  Dunbar  shut  themselves  up 
and  refused  to  train  or  pay  their  fines. 

12.  George  Folliot,  merchant  from  New  York.  He 
lives  at  Jaques  Johnson’s,  Fresh  Meadow. 

13.  Theophylact  Bache,  of  Flatbush.  He  comes  to  Alex. 
Wallace’s  at  Jamaica. 

14.  James  Depeyster.  He  lives  next  to  Wm.  Betts 
and  is  said  to  be  a dangerous  tory.  His  son  Frederick 
has  been  pursued  several  times,  but  can’t  be  taken. 

The  Presbyterians  of  Jamaica  were  not  slow  in  honor- 
ing our  Revolutionary  heroes,  for  we  find  January  28th 
1776  a child  baptized  John  Hancock  Marston,  and  on 
July  24th  another  named  George  Washington  Smith.  As 
an  offset  we  find  one  named  (1780)  Beloyal  Livingston. 

When  the  American  army  abandoned  Long  Island  to 
the  enemy  the  more  active  Whigs  fled.  Rev.  Messrs. 
Keteltas  and  Froeligh  crossed  to  the  main,  as  did  John  I. 
Skidmore,  Increase  Carpenter,  Joseph  Robinson,  Nehe- 
miah Carpenter  sen.  and  others.  The  property  of  those 
who  fled  was  seized  by  the  British  authorities.  But  most 
of  the  Whigs  staid  at  home  with  their  families,  and  took 
their  chance.  The  more  obnoxious  were  arrested  and 
taken  to  the  British  camp  in  Kings  county.  Among  these 
were  Elias  Bayles,  an  aged  and  blind  man,  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church;  David  Lamberson,  Abm.  Ditmars, 
Robert  Hinchman,  John  Thurston  and  others. 

The  more  quiet  Whigs  were  not  disturbed.  They  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  crown,  signed  a paper  of 
submission,  and  prayed  to  be  restored  to  the  royal  favor, 
and  wore  a red  ribbon  on  their  hats. 


224 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Some  Whigs  who  did  not  come  promptly  forward  and 
get  a protection  paper  from  the  British  general  were  in- 
formed against  by  their  malicious  neighbors,  and  hurried 
off  to  the  provost  prison  in  New  York,  where,  by  the  in- 
humanity of  Cunningham,  the  provost  marshal,  they  suf- 
fered great  privations,  and  some  even  died. 

AH  Whigs  were  notified  that  if  they  'expected  any  in- 
dulgence from  the  crown  they  must  make  proof  of  their 
attachment  to  the  royal  cause  by  supplying  fresh  pro- 
visions, cattle,  grain,  etc.,  for  the  army. 

Several  of  the  more  active  loyalists  of  Jamaica  made 
offers  of  their  services  to  the  British,  and  were  sent  into 
Suffolk  county  to  collect  wagons  and  horses,  livestock, 
forage  and  the  like  for  Howe’s  army.  Among  these 
were  Joshua  and  Hope  Mills. 

In  the  summer  season  the  British  troops  were  out  on 
expeditions  to  various  places  on  the  mainland,  as  to  Con- 
necticut, New  Jersey,  the  Carolinas,  Georgia,  etc.;  but 
in  the  winter  they  quartered  on  Long  Island,  and  Jamaica 
had  her  full  share.  Huts  were  dug  into  the  hillsides 
north  of  the  village,  and  covered  with  boards,  thatch  and 
sods. 

Some  soldiers  were  billeted  on  the  householders.  The 
first  notice  they  had  was,  “ Madam,  we  have  come  to 
take  a billet  on  your  house,”  and  they  chalked  on  the 
door  the  number  of  soldiers  each  house  must  receive; 
usually  about  half  the  house  was  taken.  Then,  to  save 
fences,  the  owner  must  keep  a big  wood  pile  at  the  door, 
for  soldiers  were  very  handy  with  their  hatchets,  and 
would  convert  fencing  stuff  into  fuel  without  hesitation. 

Billeting  is  so  called  from  the  billet  or  ticket  that  the 
soldiers  exhibited  to  the  master  of  the  house,  as  their 
warrant  to  occupy  a part  of  it. 

The  higher  officers  had  a house  to  themselves,  es- 
pecially one  that  had  been  deserted  by  its  Whig  owner. 
Thus  General  Skinner  had  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ketel- 
tas-  Rev.  Mr.  Bowden  occupied  the  Dutch  parsonage. 
Among  British  officers  who  were  quartered  in  Jamaica 
were  General  Oliver  Delaney,  who  had  command  of  all 
the  island;  General  Tryon,  Lord  Rawdon,  Sir  William 
Erskine,  and  Lord  Cornwallis.  The  English  officers  ex- 
pected the  utmost  reverence  from  all  who  came  into  their 
presence.  If  a farmer  should  meet  one  in  the  street 
and  forget  to  pull  off  his  hat  he  might  expect  a caning. 

In  the  fall  of  1780  one  Captain  Crow,  a British  half- 
pay officer,  sent  his  servant  to  Derick  Amberman’s  mill 
for  some  flour.  The  miller,  half  joking,  bid  the  servant 
tell  his  master  to  send  the  money  with  his  bag  next  time 
as  he  could  trust  him  no  longer.  This  message  so  en- 
raged the  officer  that  he  at  once  mounted  his  horse  and 
rode  to  the  mill,  and  calling  the  miller  out  beat  him  on 
the  head  with  a loaded  whip  till  he  fell  to  the  earth, 
when  a brother  officer  ran  him  through  with  a sword. 
While  this  assault  was  going  on  a wagon  came  along 
with  several -people  in  it,  who  would  have  assisted  the 
miller,  but  the  officer  bid  them  in  the  king’s  name  to 
stand;  and  such  was  their  timidity  that  they  dared  not 
lift  a hand  to  help  him.  The  miller  died  of  his  wounds. 

Soldiers  were  billeted  in  almost  every  house  in  Jamaica. 


When  they  had  behaved  well,  had  not  stolen  too  much, 
and  had  treated  the  farmers  civilly,  a parting  address  was 
often  presented  them. 

Though  the  farmers  and  laboring  classes  had  to  live 
frugally  and  on  homely  fare,  different  was  it  with  the 
British  officers.  They  spent  their  money  freely  and  loved 
good  eating  and  drinking.  A little  boy  once  got  a dol- 
lar for  a quart  of  strawberries.  A fat  turkey  would 
fetch  a guinea,  a quarter  of  veal  half  a “Joe,”  eggs  6 
pence  a piece.  Here  is  a note  from  an  officer  to  a 
farmer: 

“Sir:  If  you  can  get  me  a good  quarter  of  veal,  or  a 
good  pig,  or  half  a dozen  good  chickens,  pray  do  so,  for 
I can’t  live  on  salt  meat  every  day;  and  you’ll  oblige 
yours,  Cor’s  Van  Horne.” 

The  standing  toast  at  an  officer’s  table  was  “ a long  and 
a moderate  war.” 

The  out-door  amusements  were  fox-hunting,  shooting 
grouse  and  other  game,  horse-racing,  cricket  matches, 
hurling  matches,  billiards,  cards,  etc.  They  indulged 
in  music  also,  for  w-e  read  of  pianos,  harpsichords,  or- 
gans, etc.,  besides  military  bands. 

Some  of  the  officers  had  their  ladies  with  them;  others 
married  American  girls.  Some  of  the  common  soldiers 
brought  their  wives  with  them  from  the  old  country,  es- 
pecially the  Hessians  and  Scotch.  Their  children  were 
baptized  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  On  one  occasion 
the  sexton  had  forgotten  to  have  the  water  ready  and  was 
going  to  get  some,  when  the  mother  pulled  a bottle  out 
of  her  pocket  and  said,  “ Here’s  Water.”  This  was  poured 
into  the  baptismal  basin. 

In  1780,  1781  and  1782  each  town  was  required  to 
furnish  able-bodied  horses  for  the  army.  The  horses 
were  brought  to  Jamaica,  delivered  to  the  commissary 
general,  and  after  inspection  and  valuation  paid  for. 

As  there  were  many  refugees  from  the  mainland  with- 
out employ,  recruiting  offices  were  from  time  to  time 
opened  in  Jamaica. 

1777,  September  1st. — “The  people  of  the  little  town 
of  Jamaica  have  contributed  ^219  to  encourage  the 
raising  of  a new  corps  to  be  commanded  by  Col.  Fan- 
ning.” 

1778,  May  2. — “All  gentlemen  volunteers  who  are  dis- 
posed to  serve  His  Majesty  in  Capt.  Kinlock’s  troop  of 
light  dragoons  are  desired  to  repair  to  his  quarters  at 
Jamaica,  where  they  will  find  a horse,  clothing  and  ac- 
coutrements, and  enter  on  the  same  pay  with  British  dra- 
goons.” 

1779,  November  3d. — “ Loyal  refugees  are  now  recruit- 
ing at  Betts’s  tavern,  Jamaica,  by  Abraham  C.  Cuyler, 
who  is  authorized  to  raise  a battalion  of  600  men.” 

Jamaica,  being  somewhat  central,  was  usually  the  head- 
quarters of  the  British  commandants  of  Long  Island, 
Gen.  Oliver  Delancey,  Tryon  and  others. 

The  street  was  patrolled  day  and  night,  so  that  strag- 
glers, deserters  and  runaway  negroes  were  liable  to  be 
arrested  and  brought  before  the  commandant  for  exami- 
nation. 

Persons  traveling  without  passes  were  liable  to  be  ar- 


JAMAICA  VILLAGE  IN  BRITISH  HANDS. 


225 


rested  by  the  British  patrols.  Hence  when  an  officer 
impressed  a farmer  to  go  on  any  errand  or  business  for 
him  he  gave  him  a pass.  The  following  is  a sample: 

“ Jamaica,  29th  Aug.  1776. 

“ Permit  Isaac  Bennet  to  pass  and  repass  without 
molestation. 

Will.  Erskine,  Brig.  Gen.” 

About  4,500  cords  of  wood  were  annually  required  of 
Queens  county  for  the  use  of  the  British  army  in  and 
about  New  York. 

While  the  British  officers  were  in  Jamaica  every  occa- 
sion for  amusement  was  improved.  October  26th  was 
the  anniversary  of  the  accession  of  George  III.  to  the 
throne.  So  there  must  be  a good  time.  Accordingly  we 
read  this  advertisement  in  the  papers  (1779): 

“Tickets  for  the  Accession  Ball , for  the  inhabitants  of 
Jamaica  and  the  officers  quartered  there,  are  now  being 
issued.  A grand  band  of  music  will  be  wanted.” 

March  17th  1780  a munificent  entertainment  was  given 
by  Lord  Rawdon,  colonel  of  the  volunteers  of  Ireland, 
to  his  regiment  quartered  at  Jamaica,  in  honor  of  St. 
Patrick,  the  tutelar  saint  of  Ireland.  Here  follow  a few 
lines  of  a song  by  Barney  Thompson,  piper  of  the  regi- 
ment: 

“ So,  Yankees,  keep  off,  or  you’ll  soon  learn  your  error. 

For  Paddy  shall  prostrate  lay  every  foe.” 

“ Hand  in  hand  ! Let’s  carol  the  chorus, 

As  long  as  the  blessings  of  Ireland  hang  o’er  us ; 

The  crest  of  rebellion  shall  tremble  before  us. 

Like  brothers  while  we  thus  march  hand  in  hand.” 

There  were  several  taverns  in  Jamaica,  named  Vaux- 
hall,  Spring  Garden  etc.,  and  they  were  well  supported, 
as  British  gold  was  abundant.  They  were  named  also 
after  the  pictures  on  their  sign-boards,  as  the  Half  Moon 
tavern,  the  Queen’s  Head,  the  King’s  Arms,  the  General 
Amherst,  etc. 

Here  follow  a couple  of  advertisements: 

1779,  July  10th. — “Wm.  Betts  has  opened  the  tav- 
ern formerly  kept  by  John  Comes,  the  Gen.  Amherst, 
where  he  has  provided  choice  liquors.  Dinner  on  the 
shortest  notice,  and  good  stabling.” 

1781,  May  12th. — “ Thos.  Rochford,  of  the  Queen’s 
Head,  has  a house  of  8 rooms.  He  begs  leave  to 
inform  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  that  he  has  an  elegant 
garden — a tea  garden  with  arbors,  bowers,  alcoves,  grot- 
tos, statues  of  naids,  dryads,  hamadryads,  &c.,  &c.  He 
has  a stock  of  good  liquors,  and  can  at  any  time  furnish 
genteel  dinners.  The  ladies  -and  gentlemen  who  choose 
to  make  an  excursion  from  N.  Y.  to  the  pleasant  village 
of  Jamaica  (so  remarkable  for  the  salubrity  of  its  air) 
may  depend  on  good  cheer  at  his  house,  and  the  utmost 
attention.” 

The  drinks  at  a tavern  were  Jamaica  and  Antigua 
spirits,  sangaree,  negus,  punch,  lemonade,  slings  (i.  e. 
spirits  and  water  sweetened  with  loaf  sugar  and  nutmeg 
grated  in);  for  the  ladies  there  would  be  milk  punch,  tea, 
coffee,  chocolate,  and  wines.  The  fashion  of  brandy 
drinking  was  introduced  by  the  French  officers. 

While  the  British  were  in  occupation  of  Jamaica  stages 
to  New  York  were  in  great  demand,  and  had  odd  sound- 
ing names. 

October  6th  1777  the  new  stage  wagon  was  advertised 


to  set  out  from  Hope  Mills’s  at  7 o’clock  on  Monday, 
Wednesday  and  Saturday  mornings  for  Brooklyn  ferry 
and  return  on  the  same  days.  “For  freight  or  passage 
apply  to  the  public’s  humble  servant,  Hope  Mills.  Proper 
care  taken  of  all  the  letters  and  newspapers.” 

May  26th  1779  Loosely  & Elms  proposed  to  run  a 
caravan  to  Jamaica  and  back  to  Brooklyn  ferry  on  Tues- 
days, Thursdays  and  Sundays. 

“Benjamin  Creed’s  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn  Hall  stage 
Machine, -6s.  a passage,”  was  advertised  in  1781.  “He 
will  not  be  answerable  for  any  money,  plate  or  jewels, 
unless  they  are  entered  on  his  book  and  paid  for.” 

October  3d  1782  was  announced  a “new  Flying  Ma- 
chine on  steel  springs,  Thursday,  Sunday  and  Tuesday, 
from  Brooklyn  at  8 o’clock  to  Jamaica,  and  return  same 
evening.  Breakfasting  at  Brooklyn  on  stage  mornings.” 

Shopping  had  to  be  done  in  Revolutionary  times,  as 
well  as  now.  The  ladies  sometimes  went  to  the  city, 
though  there  were  plenty  of  good  stores  in  Jamaica.  But 
no  goods  could  be  brought  out  of  New  York  without  a 
permit.  Here  is  a copy  of  a permit: 

“ Pursuant  to  His  Excellency  Sir  Wm.  Howe’s  procla- 
mation, permission  is  hereby  given  to  Aaron  Van  Nos- 
trand to  cart  to  Jamaica  one  bushel  salt,  he  having  com- 
plied with  the  directions. 

“John  Nugent,  Dep.  Supt.” 

The  following  is  a list  of  articles  a lady  had  permission 
to  bring  out  of  the  city: 

14  lbs.  sugar,  cwt.  rice,  10  yds.  calico,  7 yds.  russet, 
6 yds.  durant,  1 lb.  whalebone,  1 lb.  pepper,  2 galls,  mo- 
lasses, 2 galls,  rum,  1 lb.  tea,  1 lb.  coffee,  t lb.  chocolate, 
r bush,  salt,  1 pair  gloves. 

The  restriction  put  on  taking  goods  out  of  New  York 
was  intended  to  prevent  smuggling  from  Long  Island 
across  the  sound  to  Connecticut.  Imported  goods  were 
scarce  on  the  mainland,  and  commanded  a high  price. 

For  the  seven  years  of  British  occupation  there  were 
no  courts,  but  military  rule  prevailed.  The  king’s  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  held  over,  and  their  decisions  were 
backed  by  the  soldiery.  Court  martials  were  the  only 
tribunal  to  which  the  injured  could  resort  till  July  15th 
1780,  when  an  office  of  police  (as  it  was  called)  was  es- 
tablished at  Jamaica,  and  George  D.  Ludlow  appointed 
superintendent.  His  jurisdiction  extended  over  the  isl- 
and. David  Colder,  was  his  assistant,  and  James  Creigh- 
ton secretary. 

On  Monday  December  8th  1783  the  glorious  event  of 
peace  was  celebrated  at  Jamaica  by  the  Whigs  of  Queens 
county.  At  sunrise  a volley  was  fired  by  the  continental 
troops  stationed  in  town,  and  the  thirteen  stripes  were  dis- 
played on  a liberty  pole  which  had  been  erected  for  the 
purpose.  At  four  o’clock  a number  of  the  gentlemen  of 
the  county,  and  officers  of  the  army  who  were  in  the 
neighborhood,  sat  down  to  an  elegant  dinner,  attended  by 
the  music  of  a most  excellent  band  formerly  belonging 
to  the  line  of  this  State.  After  drinking  thirteen  toasts, 
the  gentlemen  marched  in  column,  thirteen  abreast,  in 
procession  through  the  village,  preceded  by  the  music 
and  saluting  the  colors  as  they  passed. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


226 


In  the  evening  every  house  in  the  village  and  for  several 
miles  around  was  most  brilliantly  illuminated,  and  a ball 
given  to  the  ladies  concluded  the  whole.  It  was  pleas- 
ing to  view  the  different  expressions  of  joy  and  gratitude 
apparent  in  every  countenance  on  the  occasion.  The 
whole  was  conducted  with  the  greatest  harmony  and  gave 
universal  satisfaction.  The  church  bells  were  rung  and 
there  was  a free  table  for  the  populace.  Such  loyalists 
as  were  found  in  the  street  met  with  rough  handling. 

An  address  to  the  governor,  George  Clinton,  was  also 
agreed  on. 

Governor  Clinton  appointed  Thursday  December  11th 
as  a day  of  thanksgiving  for  the  establishment  of  inde- 
pendence. 

The  farms  of  the  more  active  loyalists  in  Jamaica  were 
confiscated:  Johannes  Polhemus’s  farm  of  200  acres  was 
sold  for  ^1,650;  George  Folliot’s  farm  of  21  acres  for 
^'500;  Joseph  Ford’s  lot  of  four  acres  for  ^450; 
George  Duncan  Ludlow’s  land,  26  acres,  for  ^265. 

Some  of  the  loyalists  of  Jamaica  at  the  approach  of 
peace  went  into  voluntary  exile  in  Canada,  New  Bruns- 
wick and  Nova  Scotia.  Most  of  them  returned  to  their 
former  homes  after  the  angry  passions  of  the  Whigs  had 
subsided.  A few,  however,  breathed  their  last  in  a land 
of  strangers. 

Fire  Companies. 

March  25th  1797  James  Waters  and  others,  owners 
of  an  engine,  petitioned  for  an  act  for  the  better  extin- 
guishing of  fires. 

April  1st  1797  the  proprietors  of  a fire  engine  in 
Jamaica  were  authorized  by  the  Legislature  to  form  an 
organization,  of  from  three  to  five  trustees,  who  were 
to  choose  thirteen  firemen  (volunteers),  to  be  exempt 
from  military  duty.  Application  was  afterward  made  to 
the  Legislature  for  leave  to  increase  the  Jamaica  fire 
company  from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  members. 

Of  the  present  fire  department  the  chief  engineer  is 
William  Durland  jr.;  assistant  engineer,  Theodore  J.  Arm- 
strong; secretary,  Jacob  Shipley;  treasurer,  Benjamin  F. 
Everitt;  fire  wardens,  John  Spader,  S.  Henderson,  James 
McDonald. 

Protection  Engine  Company,  No.  1 : Foreman,  William 
Kavanagh;  assistant  foreman,  Thomas  Carman;  sec- 
retary, S.  B.  Carman;  treasurer,  Edward  H.  Remsen. 

Neptune  Engine  Company,  No.  2 : Foreman,  Michael 
O’Brien;  assistant  foreman,  Thomas  F.  Archer. 

Atlantic  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  1 : Foreman, 
John  B.  Fosdick;  assistant  foreman,  William  E.  Tilton; 
secretary  and  treasurer,  James  A.  Betts. 

Eagle  LLose  Company  No.  1,  incorporated  December 
1st  1864,  was  disbanded  in  1871  and  organized  as  De- 
grauw  Hose  Company;  No.  1.  The  present  officers  are  : 
Wiiliam  E.  Everitt,  foreman;  John  L.  Boyd,  assistant 
foreman;  Winfield  Powell,  secretary;  Charles  Wood, 
treasurer. 

Continental  Bucket  Company  No.  1 (organized  April 
5th  i860)  : Foreman,  Martin  S.  Rapelye;  assistant  fore- 
man, John  J.  Gracy;  secretary,  Richard  W.  Rhoades; 


treasurer,  Granville  Yeaton;  fire  patrol,  Captain  George 
L.  Peck. 

Professional  and  Business  Men. 

The  Long  Island  Farmer  was  established  in  1821;  Al- 
bert B.  Pine  editor  and  proprietor. 

The  Long  Lsland  Democrat  was  established  in  1835; 
Brenton  Brothers  editors  and  proprietors. 

The  Jamaica  Standard  was  established  in  1868;  John 
O’Donnell  editor  and  proprietor. 

The  present  resident  physicians  are  Skidmore  Hen- 
drickson, William  D.  Wood,  Philip  M.  Wood,  Charles 
H.  Barker,  John  H.  Seabury,  Thomas  W.  Nadal,  C.  A. 
Belden,  C.  K.  Belden  and  R.  W.  Rockwell.  There  are 
two  resident  dentists — Dr.  Charles  H.  Stevens  and  Dr. 
P.  L.  Hull. 

The  reside.it  lawyers  are  John  J.  Armstrong,  Theodore 
J.  Armstrong,  Richard  Busteed  sen.  and  jr.,  William  S. 
Cogswell,  James  P.  Darcy,  Lewis  L.  Fosdick,  John  Flem- 
ing, W ,W.  Gillen.  Joseph  R.  Huntting,  Charles  M.  Kirby, 
Henry  A.  Montfort,  Pierrepont  Potter,  Sun  lei  Potter, 
Wm.  J.  Sayres,  Henry  H.  Smith,  Joseph  G.  Stewart  and 
William  J.  Stanford. 

There  are  four  druggists  here,  viz.  George  L.  Peck,  B. 
O.  Lamphear,  William  Barget-and  John  S.  Seabury. 

The  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Railroad  Company  was 
formed  April  25th  1832.  The  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn 
Plank  Rord  Compiny  was  formed  May  21st  1850.  The 
iron-track  horse  railroad  was  constructed  in  1863;  and 
the  two  were  consolidated  in  1880  under  the  name  of 
the  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn  Road  Company. 

The  Jamaica  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  April 
20th  1866,  with  Aaron  A.  Degrauw  president,  John  J. 
Armstrong  and  Daniel  Smith  vice-presidents,  Morris  Fos- 
dick treasurer  and  Lewis  L.  Fosdick  secretary. 

The  Jamaica  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated 
June  2nd  1856;  capital  $20,000.  George  Skidmore  was 
president,  Isaac  Amberman  treasurer,  L.  M.  Jaggar  sec- 
retary, J.  Tyler  Watts  superintendent. 

EDUCATION. 

The  earliest  date  relating  to  education  in  Jamaica  is 
fanuary  1676,  when  the  constable  and  overseers  granted 
liberty  to  Richard  Jones  to  make  use  of  the  meeting- 
house to  teach  school  in  for  the  year  ensuing,  except 
when  it  was  wanted  for  town  business;.  “ provided  he 
keep  the  windows  from  breaking  and  keep  it  decent  and 
clean  on  Saturday  nights  against  the  Lord’s  day,  and  have 
the  seats  placed  in  order.” 

The  next  mention  we  have  is  of  a female  school: 
Goody  Davis  July  4th  1685  kept  school  in  a little  house 
of  John  Rodes. 

For  fear  that  teachers  might  be  Jesuits  in  disguise,  and 
so  instill  their  pernicious  doctrines  into  the  minds  of 
their  pupils,  Governor  Cornbury  insisted  that  all  teachers 
should  first  obtain  a license  from  him.  April  18th  1705 
Lord  Cornbury  licensed  Henry,  Lindley  to^  keep  school 
in  Jamaica,  and  instruct  all  children  that  he  should  be 
intrusted  with  in  the  English  and  Latin  tongues,  and  also 


EARLY  SCHOOLS  AT  JAMAICA— UNION  HALL  ACADEMY, 


227 


in  the  art  of  writing  and  arithmetic.  December  7 th  1705 
Thomas  Huddleston  was  licensed  to  teach  the  English 
language,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  in  Jamaica.  We  sup- 
pose this  restriction  on  teachers  was  abandoned  by  Corn- 
bury’s  successors. 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts  allowed  from  _^io  to  ^15  per  annum  to 
teachers  approved  by  their  missionaries.  These  teachers 
taught  elementary  branches,  and  were  required  to  cate- 
chise their  scholars  in  the  church  catechism  and  make 
them  learn  the  Lord’s  prayer,  creed  and  ten  command- 
ments. 

Mr.  Poyer  says  (1724)  there  were  schools  in  each  town 
of  his  parish,  but  kept  by  Presbyterian  or  Quaker  mas- 
ters. In  17.26,  at  a town  meeting,  it  was  voted  that  Mr. 
Poyer,  Robert  Cross  (the  Presbyterian  minister),  and 
Justices  Betts,  Messenger  and  Smith  should  see  what  the 
people  were  willing  to  subscribe  toward  the  encourage- 
ment of  a free  school  in  Jamaica.  Probably  nothing 
came  of  this.  Mr.  Poyer  sent  his  oldest  son,  Daniel,  in 
July  1731,  to  Thomas  Temple,  and  in  October  he  was 
kept  home  from  Mr.  Rock’s  school  on  account  of  small- 
pox. 

James  Loquart  (Presbyterian  schoolmaster)  died  in 
Jamaica  in  1722.  In  1756  William  Sherlock  (Episcopal) 
was  teaching  here. 

In  1732  the  venerable  society  voted  ^15  a year  to 
Mr.  Willett,  who  was  of  exemplary  life  and  conversation 
and  taught  school  with  diligence.  In  1737  he  had  forty- 
three  scholars,  of  whom  twenty-three  were  taught  gratis 
by  the  bounty  of  the  society.  Thomas  Temple  was  also 
a teacher  here  at  times  from  1731  to  1746.  In  1743  John 
Moore,  a graduate  of  Yale  College  and  a candidate  for 
holy  orders,  was  recommended  to  the  society  by  Messrs. 
Vesey  and  Colgan  as  the  most  proper  person  to  succeed 
to  the  vacant  school  at  Jamaica;  ^153  year  was  granted 
him.  In  1761  “the  old  school-house”  was  sold  for  ^3. 

The  next  notice  of  schools  is  in  January  1777 , when 
Andrew  Wilson  opened  a grammar  school.  Board  was 
to  be  procured  in  Jamaica.  Simeon  Lugrin,  a teacher 
here  in  1778,  had  a fine-toned  double  harpsichord. 

None  of  the  ministers  of  any  denomination  appear  to 
have  taught  school  till  after  the  Revolution.  We  find  the 
following  notice  from  the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  dated  May  17th  1784: 

“ Education. — The  Rev.  Matthias  Burnet  begs  leave 
to  inform  the  respectable  public  that  he  will  undertake 
the  instruction  of  a small  number  o.f  youth  (not  exceed- 
ing twelve  or  fourteen)  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages; 
and  to  render  his  plan  more  extensively  useful  he  has 
engaged  a person  to  attend  a part  of  every  day  to  in- 
struct (such  as  may  desire  it)  in  writing,  vulgar  arithmetic 
and  book-keeping.  Those  who  shall  please  to  commit 
the  education  of  their  children  to  his  care  may  depend 
upon  the  strictest  attention  to  their  learning  and  morals.” 
Mr.  Burnet  soon  gave  over  teaching. 

Union  Hall  Academy. 

The  following,  published  in  1791,  marks  the  starting  of 


a grander  enterprise  than  had  ever  before  been  under- 
taken in  Jamaica: 

“ At  a meeting  of  a number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ja- 
maica and  Flushing,  March  1st,  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Jo- 
anna Hinchman,  in  Jamaica,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
into  effect  the  building  of  an  academy  in  Jamaica,  the 
Rev.  Rynier  Van  Nest  in  the  chair  and  Eliphalet  Wickes 
clerk,  it  was  resolved  that  twelve  persons  be  appointed 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  subscriptions,  viz.:  Nathan 
Woodhull,  William  Hammel,  Francis  Lewis,  John  Hicks, 
Abraham  Ditmars,  Daniel  Minema,  George  Faitoute, 
James  Foster,  Samuel  Brownjohn,  John  Smith,  Daniel 
Kissam  and  Charles  Roach.” 

Subscription  lists  were  circulated  in  Jamaica,  Flushing, 
Newtown  and  New  York;  and  when  £800,  the  sum  in- 
tended to  be  subscribed,  was  made  up,  James  Mackrel 
was  requested  to  report  a plan  of  the  academy,  which  he 
did,  and  was  thereupon  appointed  master  builder. 

The  persons  named  below  paid  the  number  of  pounds 
given  in  connection  with  their  names: 

John  Allen,  3;  John  Amberman,  2;  William  Ballard, 
3;  Robert  Benson,  2;  Barnet  Bennet,  4;  Ephraim  Bayles, 
2;  Daniel  Bayles,  3;  Leonard  Bleeker,  5;  Edward  Bar- 
din, 10;  Joseph  Beesley,  1;  Cornelius  Bogert,  2;  Aury 
Boerum,  1;  William  Buckle,  5;  James  Burling,  3;  Jacob 
Beadle,  1;  Samuel  Brownjohn,  10;  Benjamin  Carpenter, 

3 (and  4s.);  William  Carpenter,  1;  Whitehead  Cornell,  3; 
Lewis  Cornwall,  3;  Thomas  Cornwell,  1;  Cornelius 
Creed,  2;  William  Creed  3d,  2;  Benjamin  Coe,  2;  Wil- 
liam Creed  jr.,  5;  Charles  Crommelin,  5;  Sylvester  Cor- 
nell, .1;  Matthew  M.  Clarkson,  10;  Governor  Clinton, 
10;  Robert  Crommelin,  10;  James  Cumming,  2; 
James  Depeyster,  30;  Abraham  Ditmars  jr.,  5; 
Samuel  Denton,  3;  James  Denton,  8;  John  Dewint,  5 ; 
John  Dixon,  1;  Henry  Dawson,  2;  Abraham  Ditmars,  5; 
Jarvis  Dobbs,  3;  Thomas  Durie,  2;  John  Durye,  2; 
Aaron  Durye,  1;  John  Dudley,  3;  John  Evers,  2;  Sam- 
uel Eldert,  1;  Hendrick  Eldert,  1;  Nicholas  Everit,  10; 
William  Edgar,  20;  Rev.  George  Faitoute,  10;  Robert 
Furman,  5;  William  Forbes,  4;  Thomas  Fairchild,  1; 
James  Foster,  25;  Samuel  Forbus,  5;  Waters  Forbus,  2; 
Luke  Fleet,  10;  John  Faulkner,  2;  Matthew  Farrington, 
r (and  4s.);  James  Herriman,  30;  Stephen  Herriman,  25; 
Joanna  Hinchman,  10;  Richard  Holland,  2;  Jonah  Hal- 
let,  3;  John  Hinchman,  4;  Bernardus  Hendrickson,  5; 
John  Hicks,  4;  Rev.  William  Hammell,  4 (and  5s.);  Henry 
Higbie,  1;  Daniel  Higbie,  2;  Hendrick  Hendrickson,  5; 
William  Hendrickson,  x;  Richard  Harrison,  2;  Albert 
Hoogland,  3 loads  timber;  Jonathan  Jones,  1;  Martin 
Johnson,  5;  John  Jay.  5;  Daniel  Kissam,  5;  Dr.  William 
Lawton,  2;  Isaac  Lefferts  jr.,  5;  Dr.  Isaac  Ledyard,  2; 
David  Lamberson,  30;  Waters  Lamberson,  3;  Nathaniel* 
Lawrence,  5;  Jacobus  Lefferts,  1 (and  4s.);  William 
Lewis,  1;  Bernardus  Lamberson,  10  shillings;  Hendrick 
Lott,  1;  Francis  Lewis  jr.,  4;  William  Ludlam,  3; 
Nicholas  Ludlum,  3;  Dr.  Daniel  Minema,  10; 
James  Morrell,  2;  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell,  3; 

Uriah  Mitchell,  2 ; Lambert  Moore,  2 ; James 
Mackrel  (for  the  job  of  building  the  academy),  40; 
Nathaniel  Mills,  xo  shillings  ; Jacob  Morton,  4 ; 
Alexander  McComb,  5 (and  4s.);  Patrick  McDavitt,  1; 
John  Murray,  2;  Dr.  Jacob  Ogden,  10;  Richard  Platt, 
10;  William  Prince,  2;  Joseph  Robinson,  10;  James  Ren- 
wick,  3;  Michael  Ritter  jr.,  1;  Nathaniel  Rhoades,  2; 
Abiathar  Rhoades,  15;  James  Smith,  5;  Christopher 
Smith,  15;  Abraham  Skinner,  10;  Melancthon  Smith,  5; 
James  Southard,  3;  Mary  Smith,  2;  Rem  Snedeker,  1; 


27 


228 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Femetie  Suydam,  2;  John  Smith  sen.,  6;  Daniel  Smith, 
2;  John  Smith  jr.,  3;  Silvester  Smith,  2;  John  I.  Skid- 
more, 2;  Joshua  Sands,  5;  Eliphalet  Stratton,  5;  Thomas 
H.  Smith,  1 (and  4s.);  Captain  John  Smith,  2;  Nicholas 
Smith,  3;  Othniel  Smith,  10;  Abigail  Skidmore,  1;  Da- 
vid Sprong,  5;  Jacob  Smith,  10;  Platt  Smith  jr.,  10; 
Thomas  Tredvvell,  6;  John  Troup,  10;  Robert  Troup,  2; 
Joseph  Totten,  5;  Richard  Thorne,  1 (and  12s.);  David 
Titus,  2;  Benjamin  Thurston,  5;  John  Thatford,  3;  Dan- 
iel Tuthill,  5;  Abraham  Tuthill,  4;  James  Van  Lew,  10; 
Richard  Van  Dam,  5;  Rev.  Ryr.ier  Van  Nest,  5;  John 
Van  Lew,  1;  Jost  Van  Brunt,  3;  Abraham  Van  Arsdale, 
2;  John  Vanderbilt,  2;  Samuel  Vail,  5 ; John  Van  Lew, 
5;  John  Van  Dyne,  10  shillings;  Eliphalet  Wickes,  10; 
John  Williamson,  10;  Samuel  Welling,  3;  Thomas  Wil- 
lett; James  Willet,  2;  Lawrence  Willet,  2;  James  Wood- 
hull,  2;  James  Waters,  20;  William  Warne,  5;  William 
Waters,  10;  Thomas  Welling,  2;  John  Wykoff,  4;  William 
Wilkins,  r (and  4s.);  Stephen  Wright,  3. 

On  Tuesday  May  1st  1792  the  academy,  called  Union 
Hall,  because  built  by  a union  of  Jamaica,  Flushing  and 
Newtown,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  students. 
About  twelve  o’clock  the  trustees  moved  in  procession 
from  Hinchman’s  inn  to  the  Flail,  the  secretary  being  in 
front  and  bearing  the  charter  granted  by  the  regents.  On 
arriving  at  the  academy  they  were  conducted  by  the 
master  builder  to  the  hall.  The  company  then  being 
seated,  a psalm  was  sung  by  a number  of  young  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  selected  for  the  purpose.  An  oration 
was  delivered  by  Abraham  Skinner,  Esq.,  to  a very  nu- 
merous and  respectable  audience,  and  the  chanting  of  an 
ode  (composed  by  the  Rev.  George  Faitoute  for  the  oc- 
casion) concluded  the  business.  The  trustees  then  re- 
turned to  the  inn  and  dined  together.  After  dinner 
toasts  and  sentiments  were  drunk. 

On  the  2 1 st  of  May  1792  Maltby  Gelston,  a gentleman 
of  approved  character  and  abilities,  having  been  ap- 
pointed principal,  began  teaching  Latin  and  Greek, 
mathematics,  etc.,  for  £ 6 per  annum;  writing,  arith- 
metic and  English  grammar,  reading,  writing  and 

arithmetic,  ^3  4s.;  reading  and  writing,  £2  8s.;  read- 
ing only,  £ 2 . Board  was  to  be  had  on  very  reasonable 
terms. 

Mr.  Gelston  was  to  have  for  his  compensation  the 
profits  arising  from  the  tuition  of  the  scholars.  The  fol- 
lowing text  books  were  adopted  by  the  trustees: 

English—  The  Monitor,  to  be  read  daily  as  the  last 
lesson;  Webster’s  Grammar,  to  be  read,  or  repeated  by 
memory;  the  Testament  or  Bible,  to  be  read  by  inferior 
scholars,  and  once  a day  by  all. 

Latin. — Ross’s,  Ruddiman’s,  or  John  Holmes’s  Gram- 
mar; Colloquia  Corderii,  Erasmus,  Selectse  Veteris,  Se- 
lectse  Profanis,  Nepo's,  /Esop’s  fables,  Florus,  Mair’s  In- 
troduction, Ctesar,  Virgil,  Cicero’s  Orations  and  De  Ora- 
tore,  Horace. 

Greek. — Moore’s  Grammar,  Testament,  Lucien’s  Dia- 
logues, the  Cyropsedia,  Longinus,  the  Iliad. 

Rhetoric. — Blair’s  Belles  Lettres. 

Geography. — Guthrie’s  or  Salmon’s  grammar. 

Mathematics. — Stone’s  Euclid,  Martin’s  Trigonometry, 
or  Warden’s  Mathematics. 

Among  the  rules  are  the  following: 


3d.  Every  scholar,  when  the  tutor,  or  any  gentleman, 
comes  in  or  goes  out,  shall  rise  up  with  a respectful  bow. 

7th.  Every  scholar  shall  be  particularly  careful  to  treat 
all  men,  and  especially  known  superiors,  with  the  great- 
est modesty  and  respect. 

The  motto  of  the  seal  was  : Sigi/lum  Aalce  Unitatis. 
Semper  luceat  scientice  sol.  Within:  Hie  lux  et  veritas.  (Seal 
of  Union  Hall.  May  the  sun  of  science  always  shine. 
Here  be  light  and  truth.) 

It  was  announced  May  24th  1796  that  “ the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages,  and  sciences,  are  taught  at  Union  Hall 
Academy,  Jamaica,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  George 
Faitoute.  A room  is  devoted  to  the  instruction  of  young 
ladies  in  the  refinements  of  the  needle.” 

In  1797  Mr.  Faitoute  removed  his  school  from  the 
academy  to  his  house,  where  he  continued  to  teach  the 
Latin  and  Greek  languages,  sciences,  etc.  The  school 
has  been  in  a flourishing  condition. 

At  first  the  academy  seemed  to  fail  of  its  object.  The 
principals  were  not  successful  till  1797,  when  L.  E.  A. 
Eigenbrodt  took  charge.  He  soon  gave  it  a celebrity  by 
his  skill,  discipline  and  tact,  that  attracted  many  students 
from  abroad,  the  West  Indies  and  southern  States.  He 
was  cut  off  by  an  early  death  August  30th  1828,  in  his 
54th  year,  having  been  principal  thirty-one  years. 

In  January  1831  the  first  number  of  the  Union  Hall 
Gazette  appeared.  It  was  semi-monthly,  edited  by  the 
students  of  the  academy. 

Here  follows  a list  of  the  principals:  Rev.  Maltby 
Gelston,  Samuel  Crosset,  John  W.  Cox,  William  Martin 
Johnson,  Henry  Liverpool,  Henry  Crosswell,  Rev.  George 
Faitoute,  Albert  Oblenas,  L E.  A.  Eigenbrodt,  Michael 
Tracy,  Rev.  William  Ernenpeutch,  Rev.  John  Mulligan, 
Henry  Onderaonk  jr.,  John  N.  Brinckerhoff,  Daniel  O. 
Quimby,  Jared  Hasbrouck. 

On  March  1st  1873  the  academy  and  lot  were  sold  to 
Alexander  Hagner  for  $5,250,  and  the  male  department 
of  Union  Hall  Academy  was  closed,  after  an  existence  of 
eighty-one  years. 

Female  Schools. 

From  the  days  of  Goody  Davis  (1685)  to  modern  times 
there  doubtless  have  been  schools  for  girls,  though  the 
names  of  the  teachers  have  passed  into  oblivion. 

From  1802  to  1804  a Miss  Wooffendale  kept  a board- 
ing and  day  school  in  Jamaica.  In  1815  there  appeared 
the  following  advertisement: 

“Wanted,  to  take  charge  of  a female  academy,  in  the 
village  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  on  the  first  of  May  next,  a lady 
who  is  well  qualified  to  teach  all  the  branches  appertain- 
ing to  a polite  and  well  finished  female  education.  The 
academy  ig  sufficiently  capacious  to  enable  the  instruct- 
ress to  accommodate  from  25  to  30  boarders.  The  trust- 
ees are  determined  to  give  every  support  and  patronage 
to  the  institution,  and  feel  confident  that  the  inducements 
that  may  be  offered  will  make  it  an  object  worthy  the 
attention  of  some  person  of  the  best  talents  and  experi- 
ence. 

| “ Reference  may  be  made  to  Mr.  Henry  Kneeland,  74 


SCHOOLS  AT  JAMAICA— PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


229 


South  street,  in  New  York,  or  to  the  Rev.  Jacob  Schoon- 
maker,  at  Jamaica,  L.  I. 

“Jamaica,  November  1st  1815.” 

The  trustees  of  Union  Hall  appear  to  have  felt  the 
necessity  of  having  a young  ladies’  seminary  that  would 
rank  in  the  higher  grades  of  education  with  Union  Hall, 
which  had  now  reached  a commanding  position.  Having 
secured  suitable  teachers  they  issued  in  November  1816 
the  following  notice: 

“ The  trustees  of  Union  Hall  Academy,  Jamaica,  pur- 
pose to  open  a female  academy,  May  20th  1817,  in  a 
building  that  will  accommodate  from  thirty  to  forty 
boarders.  They  have  engaged  two  ladies  of  approved 
talent  and  experience,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bartlette  and  Miss 
Laura  Barnum,  by  whom  young  ladies  will  be  instructed 
in  all  the  branches  of  a polite  and  well  finished  educa- 
tion.” 

The  prices  of  tuition  per  quarter  were:  Reading  and 
spelling,  $3;  writing,  plain  sewing,  arithmetic  and  En- 
glish grammar.  $3.50;  geography  and  mapping,  with  use 
of  globes,  composition,  history,  chronology  and  astron- 
omy, $5;  filigree,  painting  and  embroidery,  $7;  fancy 
work  in  wax,  and  velvet  painting,  $10;  extras — French 
$5,  dancing  $10,  music  $18,  use  of  piano  $2,  entrance 
fee  $5,  board  $35,  washing  $5. 

In  1819  Mrs.  and  Miss  Dawson  opened  an  opposition 
boarding  and  day  school,  where  music,  French,  Italian 
and  English  were  regularly  taught.  In  1824  Miriam  Ann 
Simonson  opened  a female  school  at  the  house  lately  oc- 
cupied by  Mrs.  Bartlette  and  Miss  Barnum.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Halworth  also  advertised  a female  academy.  Wil- 
liam White,  from  London,  advertised  a boarding  acad- 
emy. In  1825  Rev.  Mr.  Kingsbury  opened  a female 
academy,  and  William  P.  Robertson,  with  an  assistant, 
kept  a school.  William  Puutine  about  1808  and  there- 
after kept  a school  in  the  front  room  of  his  tin  shop. 

Miss  Eliza  M.  and  Mary  Hannah  were  in  succession 
preceptresses  of  the  female  department  of  Union  Hall 
from  1828  to  1841. 

March  nth  1843  the  corner  stone  of  the  present  female 
academy  was  laid,  the  former  one,  erected  in  1792,  having 
been  burned  February  12th  1841.  The  preceptresses  in 
succession  were  Margaret  Adrain,  Helen  M.  G.  Stevens, 
Hannah  M.  Fleury  and  Anna  C.  Townsend. 

Other  Schools. 

Emile  Vienot  conducts  a classical  and  English  school 
called  Maple  Hall,  which  may  be  considered  a continua- 
tion of  old  Union  Hall. 

The  village  of  Jamaica  was  organized  as  a school  dis- 
trict by  act  of  the  Legislature  July  19th  1853.  The  dis- 
trict is  a circle  of  about  two  miles  in  diameter.  A three- 
story  frame  building  was  erected  and  subsequently  en- 
larged. The  principal  is  assisted  by  nine  teachers.  The 
board  of  education  consists  of  Lewis  L.  Fosdick,  presi- 
dent; Pierpont  Potter,  secretary;  Isaac  C.  Hendrickson, 
treasurer,  and  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  committee  on  li- 
brary. There  is  a branch  (colored)  school  maintained  by 
the  board  in  a separate  building. 


The  “ Sisters’  school  ” (Roman  Catholic),  opened  in 
1878,  is  intended  for  youth  of  both  sexes,  and  is  under 
the  supervision  of  Rev.  Anthony  Farley. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Jamaica. 

Jamaica  or  Rusdorp  was  settled  in  1656  by  colonists 
mostly  from  Hempstead,  who  were  independents  or 
Presbyterians,  and  of  one  way  of  thinking  in  religion,  so 
that  church  affairs  were  considered  and  transacted  at 
town  meetings. 

For  the  first  six  years  they  had  no  settled  minister.  In 
1661  “ some  of  the  inhabitants  earnestly  petitioned  Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant  that  he  would  send  one  of  the  Dutch 
ministers  of  New  Amsterdam  to  preach  for  them  and 
baptize  their  children.  In  compliance  with  this  request 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Drisius  (who  could  preach  in  Dutch  or 
English)  repaired  to  Jamaica  on  Saturday  January  8th, 
and  next  day  preached  two  sermons  and  baptized  eight 
children  and  two  women.” 

On  March  6th  1662  it  was  “ voted  that  the  townsmen 
shall  look  after  the  procuring  of  a minister,  and  to  build 
a house  for  him  26  feet  long,  17  feet  wide  and  10  feet  in 
the  stud,  for  ^23  in  wheat  at  6s.  and  corn  at  3s.  6d.  per 
bushel,  and  to  be  paid  by  Christmas  next.”  The  house 
was  to  have  the  sides  clapboarded,  the  roof  shingled,  two 
fireplaces,  one  above  and  one  below;  a partition,  to  be 
well  smoothed  and  “knast;”  the  chimney  well  “catted,” 
two  windows  below  and  one  above.  The  town  was  to 
provide  hinges  and  nails  and  draw  the  timber  and  other 
stuff. 

On  the  20th  of  December  Mr.  Coe,  Goodman  Bene- 
dict, Goodman  Smith,  Luke  Watson  and  Daniel  Denton 
were  appointed  to  make  the  rate  for  the  minister’s  house 
and  cost  of  transporting  him  to  Jamaica,  the  rate  to  be 
levied  on  meadows  and  home  lots. 

On  January  29th  1663  it  was  voted  that  Abraham 
Smith  should  “have  30s.  a year  for  beating  the  drum  on 
Sabbath  days  and  other  public  meeting  days,  in  tobacco 
pay,  or  wheat  at  6s.  8d.  and  Indian  corn  at  4s.  per 
bushel.” 

February  14th  1663  it  was  voted  that  Zachary  Walker 
should  have  jQ 60  per  year  by  a rate  levied  on  land  and 
estates,  to  be  paid  yearly,  in  December,  in  wheat  at  6s. 
and  Indian  corn  at  3s.  6d.  per  bushel. 

March  2nd  1663  “ the  house  and  home  lot  are  given 
to  Mr.  Walker,  provided  that  if  he  leaves  us  without  just 
cause  the  town  shall  have  the  refusal  on  paying  for  what 
he  has  expended  for  improvements;  but  if  the  town 
cause  his  leaving  then  the  property  is  to  be  his.”  To 
this  record  twenty-four  names  are  appended,  being  prob- 
ably those  of  all  the  freeholders  in  the  town,  viz.:  John 
Bayles,  William  Brinkley,  Thomas  Benedict,  Benjamin 
and  Robert  Coe,  Daniel  Denton,  Richard  Everett, 
William  and  Thomas  Foster,  George  Cummings,  John 
Hinds,  Rodger  Linas,  Samuel  Matthews,  Andrew  Mes- 
senger, Nathaniel  Denton,  John  Rodes,  Edward  Rouse, 
John  Stickland,  John  Skidmore,  Abraham  Smith,  William 


230 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Joseph  Thurston  and  Henry 
Whitney. 

August  30th  1 663  the  town  agreed  with  George  Mor- 
ton to  build  a meeting-house  20  feet  square. 

September  4th  1665  the  town  (for  his  further  encour- 
agement) agreed  to  cut  and  draw  the  minister’s  firewood 
to  till  the  ground  he  had  broken  up,  and  harvest  his  corn. 
In  lieu  of  this  ^65  per  year  was  voted  Mr.  Walker,  pro- 
vided he  agreed  to  continue  here  and  procured  ordina- 
tion so  as  not  only  to  preach  but  to  baptize  infants. 

Mr.  Walker,  now  aged  31,  concluded  to  leave  Jamaica, 
and  a final  settlement  was  made  with  him  August  7th 
1668;  he  was  paid  for  the  improvements  he  had  made  on 
the  parsonage,  and  on  September  14th  the  town  voted 
to  procure  another  minister.  His  successor,  John  Prud- 
den,  a graduate  of  Harvard,  was  25  years  old  when  he 
was  called  “ to  be  our  minister,”  at  ^40  a year  in  good 
current  country  pay  and  the  use  of  the  house,  land  and 
accommodations  commonly  called  the  “ minister’s  lot.” 

As  the  meeting-house  had  benches  instead  of  pews, 
and  a table  instead  of  a pulpit,  the  town  voted  that  a 
pew  or  pulpit  be  made  for  the  minister  to  preach  in. 

January  1st  1671  Nicholas  Everett  was  voted  20s.  a 
year  for  beating  the  drum  to  give  the  town  warning  to 
come  to  meeting  on  the  Sabbath.  The  town,  “ being 
desirous  to  come  into  a church  way  [i.  e.  the  organization 
of  a Presbyterian  church],  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
gospel  in  this  town,  by  Mr.  Prudden  and  such  as  will  join 
with  him,”  desired  a positive  answer  (January  13th  1674) 
from  him  whether  he  would  remain  as  its  minister.  He 
replied  that  he  was  engaged  to  another  people. 

June  24th  1675  the  town  agreed  to  give  Rev.  William 
Woodruff  ^60  per  year,  “ in  such  pay  as  will  pass  cur- 
rent from  man  to  man — i.  e.  wheat  at  5s.  per  bushel,  pease 
at  4s.  and  rye  at  4s.,  Indian  corn  at  3s. — and  the  use  of 
the  parsonage  and  lands  attached.” 

June  19th  1676  the  town  set  apart  40  acres  of  meadow 
in  the  East  Neck,  together  with  upland,  for  the  use  of  a 
minister.  In  the  town  records,  April  21st  1753,  it  is  said 
to  have  been  continued  “ for  the  use  of  a Presbyterian 
minister  since  June  19th  1676.” 

June  19th  1676  Mr.  Prudden  appears  to  have  come 
back  to  Jamaica  and  been  re-engaged  as  minister  on  the 
following  conditions:  The  town  agreed  to  give  him  the 
house,  land  and  accommodations  set  apart  for  a minister, 
with  all  their  privileges  and  appurtenances,  on  condition 
that  he  continue  as  minister  ten  years;  but  if  he  left  be- 
fore that  the  accommodations  were  to  revert  to  the  town 
after  he  had  been  satisfied  for  his  expenditures;  it  was 
also  agreed  to  give  him  ^40  a year,  half  in  “ merchants’ 
pay  delivered  at  York,  and  the  other  half  in  coun- 
try pay  in  this  town,  and  his  firewood  free.”  The  un- 
dersigned agreed  to  bring  Mr.  Prudden  a load  of  wood 
apiece  yearly:  John  Carpenter,  Nathaniel  Denton,  John 
Everet,  Henry  Foster,  Abel  Gale,  Jonas  Halstead,  Roger 
Lynas,  Samuel  Mathews,  John  Oldfield,  John  Rodes, 
William  Ruscoe,  Thomas  Smith,  Samuel  Smith,  Wait 
Smith,  Nehemiah  Smith,  Joseph  Smith,  John  Skidmore, 
Anthony  Waters,  George  Woolsey. 


Mr.  Prudden  was  a Congregationalist;  his  people,  some 
at  least,  were  slack  in  paying  their  rates,  and — to  satisfy 
the  preferences  of  the  congregation  it  is  thought — he  be- 
came a Presbyterian. 

December  6th  1689,  at  a town  meeting,  it  was  voted  to 
build  a meeting-house,  60  feet  long,  and  30  feet  wide, 
“ and  every  way  else  as  shall  be  convenient  and  comely.” 
January  9th  1690  Daniel  Whitehead,  William  White,  Jo- 
seph Smith,  Nathaniel  Denton,  John  Carpenter  and 
Nehemiah  Smith  were  appointed  to  agree  with  workmen 
for  building  and  finishing  the  meeting-house;  “and  the 
town  will  stand  by  them  in  paying  according  to  their 
abilities  or  estates  proportionably.” 

August  2 1 st  1691  a committee  agreed  with  Mr.  Prud- 
den about  the  proposals  he  made  respecting  his  arrear- 
ages and  for  his  encouragement  to  continue  here.  His 
proposals  were  accepted  by  the  town,  and  September  3d 
it  was  agreed  that  he  should  have  ^60  per  year  paid  him 
and  his  firewood  free. 

August  23d  1692  Mr.  Prudden  accepted  a call  to  a 
Presbyterian  church  in  Newark.  September  29th  1693 
he  conveyed  the  parsonage  to  the  town  in  exchange  for 
other  land. 

Rev.  George  Phillips  was  minister  here  from  1693  to 
1696.  He  was  a licentiate  and  not  a pastor;  a graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  aged  29.  “ The  parsonage  remain- 

ing in  the  hands  of  the  town  it  was  concluded  to  give 
Mr.  Phillips  the  money  raised  by  free  gift,  being  J~6 o 
for  one  year  from  date,  and  to  pay  for  his  diet  where  he 
shall  be  dieted.” 

March  8th  1694  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Phillips  should 
have  “ all  the  overplus  of  the  money  freely  given  above 
the  ^60  and  take  the  parsonage  in  his  own  hands,  the 
town  paying  his  first  quarter’s  diet.” 

January  1st  1694  a meeting  was  held  in  order  to  the 
building  of  a meeting-house  for  the  town,  and  five  men 
were  chosen  “ to  divide  the  town  into  five  squadrons  and 
to  see  timber,  stones  and  lime  all  gotten  and  fitted  pro- 
portionably as  shall  be  necessary  for  said  work.”- 

February  19th  1694,  at  a town  meeting  called  by  order 
of  the  justices,  Nehemiah  Smith  and  William  Creed  were 
chosen  to  be  vestrymen  for  Jamaica  pursuant  to  act  of 
Assembly,  and  to  meet  with  the  rest  of  the  vestrymen 
from  the  other  towns,  with  full  power  to  choose  two 
church  wardens. 

April  3d  1694  it  was  voted  that  “if  Mr.  Phillips  con- 
tinues his  lifetime  among  us  one  year’s  salary,  £ 60 , shall 
be  paid  his  widow.” 

July  15th  1697,  at  town  meeting,  it  was  agreed  by  lot 
that  the  meeting-house  should  stand  “ between  the  ses- 
sions-house  and  the  crossway  west  of  it.”  October  2nd 
1697  “ the  west  end  of  the  town  condescends  that  the 
meeting-house  shall  be  set  up  near  the  pound,  the  east 
end  people  agreeing  to  procure  a good  bell.  January 
5th  1698  it  was  agreed  by  vote  at  town  meeting  that 
there  should  be  a church  built,  and  to  begin  the  work  the 
next  spring  and  continue  it  with  all  diligence. 

September  13th  1698  Joseph  Smith  and  Jonas  Wood 
were  empowered  to  treat  with  the  governor  about  set 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  JAMAICA. 


23J 


tling  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hobart  in  the  ministry  here;  and 
Captain  Carpenter,  Captain  Woolsey,  Jonas  Wood,  Ben- 
jamin Thurston,  Captain  Whitehead,  Joseph  and  John 
Smith,  Edward  Burroughs  and  John  Hansen  were  deputed 
to  carry  on  the  work  on  the  meeting-house. 

April  15th  1698  “ the  people  of  this  town  did  signify 
their  willingness  for  continuing  Mr.  Hobart,  our  present 
minister,  by  holding  up  their  hands  in  a public  vote.” 

January  4th  1699  at  town  meeting  it  was  “agreed 
that  John  Oakey,  Richard  Oldfield,  Theodorus  Polhe- 
mus  and  Daniel  Smith  sr.  shall  go  amongst  their  neigh- 
borhoods to  see  what  money  can  be  raised  by  free  will 
offering  for  the  building  of  the  church.”  Their  report  is 
not  recorded,  but  Colonel  Morris  writes  that  one  party 
of  the  dissenters  resolved  to  build  a church,  and  got  sub- 
scriptions and  materials  enough  to  build  it  about  three 
feet  from  the  ground;  but,  being  unable  to  finish  it  with- 
out the  assistance  of  the  rest,  they  got  a church-building 
act  passed  which  enabled  the  town  trustees  to  make  a 
rate  for  erecting  a church  where  wanted.  By  aid  of  this 
law  the  church  was  soon  completed.  April  15th  1701, 
Frederick  Hendrickson,  John  Oakey,  William  Creed, 
Hendrick  Lott,  Theodorus  Polhemus,  Eldert  Lucas  and 
Robert  Reade  (chirurgeon),  living  at  the  west  of  Jamaica, 
refusing  to  pay  toward  the  building  of  the  church,  it  was 
referred  to  arbitrators,  who  decided  that  they  must  pay 
their  rates. 

November  25th  1700  it  was  agreed  unanimously  at 
town  meeting  that,  “ as  Mr.  John  Hubbard  has  contin- 
ued some  considerable  time  in  the  ministry  in  this  town, 
we  are  willing  to  continue  him  still  and  have  him  ordained 
according  to  the  Presbyterian  way.”  January  13th  1702 
church  wardens  and  vestrymen  (all  dissenters)  were 
chosen,  who  called  Mr.  Hubbard  (already  their  pastor)  to 
be  the  minister  of  the  town. 

The  former  governors  of  the  colony  had  mostly  been 
indifferent  in  religious  matters;  but  Lord  Cornbury 
(1702)  strove  to  enforce  the  English  statutes  of  uniform- 
ity and  set  up  the  Church  of  England,  according  to  in- 
structions he  had  received  from  Queen  Anne.  As  he  in- 
terpreted the  law  “ all  meeting-houses  raised  by  public 
tax  become  vested  in  the  ministry  established  by  law, 
and  so  of  all  lands  and  glebes  set  aside  by  public  town 
meetings.”  He  accordingly  encouraged  the  Rev.  John 
Bartow,  a clergyman  of  the  established  church,  to  crowd 
Mr.  Hubbard  out  of  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house  in 
Jamaica. 

Hence  occurred  a scene  which  we  will  allow  Mr.  Bar- 
tow to  describe  in  his  own  graphic  style: 

“I  once  met  with  great  disturbance  at  Jamaica 
[on  Sunday,  July  25th  1703].  Mr.  Hubbard,  their 
Presbyterian  minister,  having  been  for  some  time 
in  Boston  on  a visit,  returned  to  Jamaica  the 
same  Saturday  night  as  I came  to  it,  and  sent  to  me  at 
my  lodging  (I  being  then  in  company  with  our  chief  jus- 
tice, Mr.  Mompesson,  and  Mr.  Carter,  her  Majesty’s 
comptroller)  to  know  if  I intended  to  preach  on  the  mor- 
row. I sent  him  answer  I did  intend  it.  The  next 
morning  the  bell  rang  as  usual,  but  before  the  last  time 
ringing  Mr.  Hubbard  was  got  into  the  church  and  had 


begun  his  service,  of  which  notice  was  given  me,  where- 
upon I went  into  the  church  and  walked  straightway  to 
the  pulpit,  expecting  Mr.  Hubbard  would  desist,  since 
he  knew  I had  orders  from  the  governor  to  officiate 
there,  but  he  persisted  and  I forbore  to  make  any  inter- 
ruption. In  the  afternoon  I prevented  him  by  beginning 
the  service  of  the  Church  of  England  before  he  came. 
He  was  so  surprised  when  he  got  to  the  church  door  and 
saw  me  performing  divine  service  that  he  suddenly  started 
back  and  went  aside  to-an  orchard  hard  by,  and  sent  in 
some  persons  to  give  the  word  that  he  would  preach  under 
a tree.  Then  I perceived  a whispering  through  the 
church  and  an  uneasiness  of  many  people,  some  going 
out,  some  seemed  amazed  and  not  yet  determined  to  go 
or  stay.  In  the  meantime  some  that  had  gone  out  re- 
turned again  for  their  seats;  and  then  we  had  a shameful 
disturbance,  hauling  and  tugging  of  seats,  shoving  one 
another  off,  carrying  benches  out  and  returning  for  more, 
so  that  I was  fain  to  leave  off  till  the  disturbance  was 
over  and  a separation  made;  by  which  time  I had  lost 
about  half  the  congregation,  the  rest  remaining  devout 
and  attentive  the  whole  time  of  service;  after  which  we 
locked  the  church  door  and  committed  the  key  into  the 
hands  of  the  sheriff.  We  were  no  sooner  got  into  an  ad- 
joining house  but  some  persons  came  to  demand  the  key 
of  their  meeting-house;  which  being  refused  they  went 
and  broke  the  glass  windows,  and  put  a boy  in  to  open 
the  door,  and  so  they  put  in  their  seats  and  took  away 
the  pulpit  cushion,  saying  they  would  keep  that  for  their 
own  minister.  The  scolding  and  wrangling  that  ensued 
are  by  me  ineffable. 

“The  next  time  I saw  my  Lord  Cornbury  he  thanked 
me  for  what  I had  done,  and  said  he  would  do  the 
church  and  me  justice.  Accordingly  he  summoned  Mr. 
Hubbard  and  the  heads  of  the  faction  before  him,  and 
forbade  him  evermore  to  preach  in  the  church,  for  as  it 
was  built  by  a public,  tax  it  did  appertain  to  the_  es- 
tablished church.  He  also  threatened  them  all  with  the 
penalty  of  the  statute  for  disturbing  divine  service,  but 
upon  their  submission  and  promise  of  future  quietness 
and  peace  he  pardoned  the  offense.” 

On  July  4th  1704  Lord  Cornbury  ordered  Rev.  John 
Hubbard  to  give  up  to  the  sheriff  the  house  and  lands 
whereon  he  dwelt;  and  ordered  the  sheriff  to  deliver  the 
premises  to  Rev.  William  Urquhart,  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land minister.  So  the  Presbyterians  were  now  ousted 
from  both  church  and  parsonage.  They  erected  a place 
of  worship  or  used  a barn  at  the  east  end  of  the  village, 
where  they  held  services.  They  at  times  met  in  the 
county  hall.  The  parsonage  they  soon  recovered  by  an 
odd  incident:  The  daughter  of  the  rector’s  widow  had 
married  a Presbyterian  student,  and  the  widow  surren- 
dered the  parsonage  to  the  Presbyterians.  The  meeting- 
house was  recovered  by  due  course  of  law  in  1728. 

Mr.  Hubbard  died  October  5th  1705,  at  the  age  of  28. 
Francis  Goodhue  was  the  next  pastor,  licensed  (January 
1706)  by  Lord  Cornbury  to  be  the  minister  of  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  at  Jamaica.  He  died  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1707,  while  on  a visit  to  New  England. 

For  two  or  three  years  there  was  no  pastor;  but  in  the 
spring  of  1710  Rev.  George  McNish  was  called,  when  the 
Presbyterians  had  a brief  occupation  of  the  meeting- 
house, owing  to  the  death  of  the  incumbent,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Urquhart.  The  Presbyterians  were  soon  ejected 
and  six  of  them  arrested  for  riot  or  forcible  detainer  of 
the  church;  brought  before  the  court  of  sessions  April 


History  of  queens  county. 


iith  1710  and  fined  3s.  each,  which  was  afterward  re- 
mitted. The  town,  however,  by  vote  (July  25th  1712) 
confirmed  Mr.  McNish  in  the  possession  of  the  parson- 
age; and  in  a memorial  to  the  governor  complained  of 
being  “deprived  of  their  meetinghouse  by  force  and 
violence  without  any  process,  trial  or  judgment,”  and 
prayed  such  relief  as  his  excellency  should  judge  consis- 
tent with  equity  and  justice. 

Mr.  McNish  died  March  10th  1722,  and  was  succeeded 
(October  1 6th  1723)  by  Robert  Cross,  aged  34  years.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Justice  Oldfield,  and  her  sis- 
ter Sarah  married  Mr.  Poyer,  the  Church  of  England 
rector  of  Jamaica.  In  1737  Mr.  Cross  removed  to  Phil- 
adelphia. At  a town  meeting  January  20th  1725,  “ where- 
as Mr.  Thomas  Poyer,  the  Church  of  England  minister, 
brought  a suit  of  ejectment  against  several  tenants  in 
possession  of  the  parsonage  lands  and  was  cast,”  it  was 
voted  that  “Mr.  Robert  Cross  shall  have  the  use  and 
benefit  of  said  lands  during  the  time  he  shall  continue 
our  minister.” 

The  Presbyterians  had  made  several  violent  attempts 
to  regain  possession  of  their  church,  but  failed  and  were 
fined  and  punished.  At  a town  meeting  February  21st 
1727  a majority  of  the  freeholders  of  Jamaica  voted  that 
“the  ground  and  the  stone  building  or  meeting-house 
now  in  the  occupation  of  Mr.  Thomas  Poyer  shall  be 
granted  to  John  Carpenter,  Jonas  Wood  and  Benjamin 
Thurston,  some  of  the  surviving  trustees  by  whom  it  was 
built,  to  hold  in  trust  for  the  town,  and  to  be  disposed  of 
according  to  the  first  intention  of  the  builders.”  Justices 
Betts  and  Oldfield,  Richard  Comes  and  Samuel  Clowes 
protested  against  this  vote. 

On  the  strength  of  the  above  vote  they  commenced  a 
suit  at  law,  and  were  successful.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  important  suits  ever  prosecuted  on  Long  Island, 
and  aroused  all  the  bad  feelings  of  the  litigants.  In  the 
absence  of  a full  report,  we  give  the  minutes  of  the  trial 
as  we  find  them  noted  in  the  private  record  book  of  the 
judge  before  whom  the  case  was  tried.  They  are  dry 
and  technical,  but  they  are  all  we  have  to  give  : 

Supreme  Court  held  at  Jamaica,  December  23d 
1728,  Lewis  Morris,  Esq.,  chief  justice.  Stephen  Theo- 
balds on  the  demise  of  Carpenter  and  others  vs.  Thomas 
Poyer,  rector  of  the  parish  of  Jamaica. 

Evidence  for  defendant:  Copy  of  town  vote  read. 
Copy  of  warrant  for  town  meeting  read.  Benjamin  Wig- 
gins sworn.  Defendant  being  called  on  confesses  lease 
entry  and  ouster.  A vote  in  1698  empowering  persons 
to  carry  on  the  building  of  a meeting-house  or  church. 
An  act  of  Assembly  for  the  erecting  public  edifices  in 
1699  read.  Jonathan  Whitehead  sworn.  A receipt  from 
the  trustees  to  Jonathan  Whitehead  as  collector,  for 
money  gathered  by  him  in  1702.  Samuel  Smith  sworn. 
An  act  for  settling  a ministry  in  several  towns  in  the 
province  read.  A copy  of  a record  of  a trial  between 
Thomas  Poyer  and  George  McNish  in  the  supreme  court 
was  produced  as  evidence,  and  allowed.  A patent  from 
Governor  Nicoll  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jamaica  read.  A 
release  from  William  Hallett,  the  surviving  patentee,  to 
Thomas  Poyer,  for  the  church  or  building  in  dispute, 
read.  Charles  Doughty  took  his  affirmation. 

Evidence  for  plaintiffs : Nehemiah  Smith  sworn. 
Colonel  Dongan’s  patent  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jamaica 


read.  Zachariah  Mills  sworn.  Town  vote  of  Jamaica 
in  1726,  to  vest  the  ground  on  which  the  church  stands 
in  certain  persons,  read.  John  Foster  and  Samuel  Smith 
sworn.  William  Carpenter  and  Thomas  Smith  sworn. 
Thomas  Gales  took  his  affirmation.  Derick  Brincker- 
hoff,  John  Petit  and  Andrew  Clark  sworn.  A motion  of 
Mr.  Bickley,  in  an  inferior  court  held  at  Jamaica,  read. 
Daniel  Whitehead  sworn.  Three  orders  of  the  town  in 
1689  read.  Two  orders  of  the  town  in  1697  read. 
Nicholas  Berrian  sworn.  The  jury  find  for  plaintiff  6 
pence  damages  and  6 pence  costs. 

Mr.  Poyer’s  counsel  complained  of  the  partiality  of 
the  judge,  for  he  designed  to  put  the  matter  on  some 
points  of  law  which  were  in  his  favor,  and  in  the  time  of 
trial  offered  to  demur  in  law,  but  was  diverted  therefrom 
by  the  judge,  who  told  him  that  he  would  recommend  it 
to  the  jury  to  find  a special  verdict,  and  if  they  did  not 
he  would  allow  a new  trial.  This  he  afterward  refused 
to  do,  saying  a bad  promise  was  better  broken  than  kept. 

Though  the  Presbyterians  had  now  their  church  and 
parsonage  in  quiet  possession  they  were  taxed  toward 
raising  ^60  per  annum  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
Church  of  England  minister.  This  tax  was  levied  on  the 
three  towns  of  Jamaica,  Newtown  and  Flushing  from 
1704  till  the  Revolutionary  war.  This  explains  the  fol- 
lowing vote:  “At  town  meeting,  Jamaica,  April  5th 
1737,  voted  by  the  majority  of  freeholders  that  Nathan 
Smith  and  Hendrick  Eldert  are  chosen  assessors;  they 
are  obliged  to  take  a new  assessment  and  deliver  a copy 
of  it  to  the  vestrymen  in  order  to  their  making  the  parish 
rate.” 

Walter  Wilmot  was  ordained  and  installed  here  April 
12th  1738  as  pastor.  He  was  29  years  of  age.  He  mar- 
ried Freelove,  daughter  of  Jotham  Townsend,  a woman 
eminent  for  her  piety.  The  town  voted  April  21st  that 
Mr.  Wilmot  should  have  possession  of  the  parsonage  etc. 
as  long  as  he  remained  its  minister.  He  died  August  6th 
1744.  He  was  greatly  beloved  and  many  children  were 
named  after  him,  some  “Walter  ” and  some  “Wilmot.” 

David  Bostwick  was  ordained  and  installed  here  Octo- 
ber 9th  1745.  He  was  24  years  of  age. 

At  a meeting  April  21st  1753  the  town  gave  in  trust 
the  meadow  and  upland  which  in  1676  had  been  “ set 
apart  for  the  use  of  a minister  of  the  Presbyterian  denom- 
ination ” to  the  elders  and  deacons,  to  be  sold  and  the 
proceeds  to  be  put  at  interest  for  the  support  of  a Pres- 
byterian minister  forever.  Samuel  Clowes  jr.,  Robert 
Denton  and  Joseph  Oldfield  dissented.  John  Johnson 
bought  this  land  May  21st  for  ^£163. 

In  r756  Mr.  Bostwick  was  called  to  a Presbyterian 
church  in  New  York.  Elihu  Spencer  labored  here  as 
pastor  or  staled  supply  from  May  22nd  1758  to  May  1760, 
when  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  a regiment  going  to 
the  French  and  Indian  war.  Benoni  Bradner  preached 
here  from  1760  to  1761.  He  was  26  years  old,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Rebecca  Bridges,  of  this  place.  Fie  left  on  ac- 
count of  a division  in  the  congregation,  and  William  Mills, 
of  Smithtown,  aged  22,  began  to  preach  here  in  July  1761 
as  a candidate.  There  were,  he  says,  but  twelve  com- 
municants and  no  church  records.  There  was  a revival 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  JAMAICA. 


233 


and  many  were  added  to  the  church.  He  died  March 
18th  1774,  having  been  sick  about  a year. 

Matthias  Burnet  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  here 
April  1775,  at  the  age  of  26.  He  married  Ann  Combs, of  Ja- 
maica, an  Episcopalian,  and  was  perhaps  the  only  Presby- 
terian minister  who  did  not  side  with  the  patriots.  During 
the  armed  occupation  of  Jamaica  by  the  British  Mr.  Bur- 
net was  permitted  to  preach  undisturbed,  and  by  his  influ- 
ence with  the  loyalists  preserved  the  church  edifice  from 
desecration.  Soon  after  the  British  were  established 
in  Jamaica  a parcel  of  loyalists  perched  themselves  in  the 
belfry  of  the  church  and  commenced  sawing  off  the 
steeple.  Word  was  brought  to  Mr.  Burnet;  he  had 
Whitehead  Hicks,  mayor  of  Ne\y  York,  as  a guest  at  his 
house,  who  soon  put  a stop  to  the  outrage.  Though 
Mr.  Burnet  saved  the  church  from  desecration,  yet  after 
the  peace,  when  the  exiled  Whigs  returned  home,  party 
spirit  ran  so  high  that  he  was  forced  to  leave.  He  kept 
a school  for  a short  time,  but  left  for  Norwalk  in  May 
1785.  He  annually  visited  Jamaica,  and  in  1790  preached 
to  an  overflowing  assembly  in  his  old  church. 

James  Glassbrook  preached  here  some  time  in  1786-7, 
but  did  not  become  a pastor.  George  Faitoute  came 
here  in  July  1789,  aged  39  years.  The  church  then  con- 
sisted of  96  heads  of  families  and  58  communicants. 
He  died  on  Sunday  afternoon  August  21st  1815,  having 
preached  in  the  morning. 


The  above  cut  is  a representation  of  the  stone  meet- 


ing house  erected  by  the  town  of  Jamaica  as  a common 
place  of  worship  for  its  inhabitants  in  1699.  It  stood  in 
the  middle  of  the  main  street,  at  the  head  of  Union  Hall 
street,  then  and  long  after  called  “ Meeting-house  lane.” 
The  building  was  taken  down  in  1813,  when  the  present 
Presbyterian  church  was  erected. 

After  the  war  and  while  there  was  no  county  court- 
house, the  judges  held  their  courts  in  the  old  church. 
Two  r-obbers  were  here  sentenced  to  death,  and  hanged 
at  Beaver  Pond  in  1784.  The  edifice  was  of  stone,  40 
feet  square,  and  had  three  doors,  and  aisles  to  correspond. 
The  pulpit,  surmounted  by  its  sounding-board,  stood  on 
the  north  side,  facing  the  gallery.  For  a time  Mr.  Ber- 
nardus  Hendrickson,  aged  and  hard  of  hearing,  sat  in 
the  pulpit  beside  the  minister.  The  minister  had  gown 
and  bands.  There  was  no  stove.  The  women,  arrayed 
(some  at  least)  in  scarlet  cloaks,  sat  on  chairs  along  the 
wide  aisle,  and  had  foot-stoves.  The  floor  was  sanded. 
There  was  little  work  for  the  sexton,  Joseph  Tuttle,  to 
keep  the  house  in  order,  so  he  was  content  (1791)  to  take 
up  with  a yearly  salary  of  £1  for  taking  care  of  the 
church,  and  for  ringing  the  bell.  The  minister’s  sal- 
ary was  $300,  and  parsonage,  with  some  incidental  ad- 
vantages, as  marriage  fees,  spinning  parties  and  special 
gifts  when  he  had  had  sickness  in  his  family,  or  other  mis- 
fortunes. There  were  two  services  on  the  Lord’s  day,  with 
an  hour’s  intermission,  when  the  people  ate  what  they  had 
brought  from  home,  or  went  into  Capt.  Joseph  Roe’s 
bakery  (where  widow  Waters  now  lives),  and  regaled 
themselves  on  gingerbread  and  spruce  beer.  Those  that 
wished  something  stronger  could  get  it  at  William  Betts’s 
inn  (since  Hewlett  Creed’s  inn),  over  the  way.  Thomas 
Bailey,  Joseph  Tuttle  and  Charles  S.  Lord  successively 
led  the  singing.  Mr.  Lord  stood  in  the  gallery,  the 
others  in  front  of  the  pulpit. 

In  course  of  time  the  edifice,  though  often  cleaned,  re- 
paired, shingled  and  painted,  was  not  thought  sufficiently 
convenient.  The  old  glebe  was  sold  and  used  as  a female 
academy.  Richard  Creed’s  house  and  land  was  bought 
(the  present  parsonage),  and  May  24th  1813  the  workmen 
began  to  take  down  the  old  stone  church  against  whose 
walls  the  academy  boys  had  played  ball  for  years. 

After  the  rubbish  had  been  removed  the  ground  under 
the  church  (especially  benea'h  the  communion  table,  in 
front  of  the  pulpit)  was  carefully  dug  over,  and  the  re- 
mains of  those  who  had  been  buried  there  gathered  up, 
placed  in  a box,  conveyed  in  procession  headed  by  the 
sexton,  Jeffery  Smith,  to  the  village  burying  place,  and 
again  committed  to  the  earth.  So  says  the  late  Charles 
B.  Shaw,  who  was  present.  Among  these  relics  must 
have  been  the  remains  of  Rev.  Patrick  Gordon,  Rev. 
William  Urquhart,  and  two  wives  of  Rev.  Thomas  Poyer. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  January  1 8th  1814,  the 
corner  stone  having  been  laid  June  9th  1813  by  John 
Rider.  The  preacher  was  Rev.  Dr.  Milledoler,  of  New 
York.  Rufus  King  was  captivated  with  the  discourse 
and  asked  Rev.  Mr.  Sayres,  as  they  were  coming  out  of 
church,  the  name  of  the  eloquent  divine.  “Strange,” 
says  he,  “ that  I never  heard  of  him  before.” 


234 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  cost  of  the  church  was  $9,5  10.74.  The  accompany- 
ing engraving  does  not  show  the  building  in  its  original 
beauty.  It  had  a graceful  tapering  spire,  which  rose  102 
feet  from  the  ground,  and  could  be  seen  from  far.  In 
the  course  of  time  some  persons  thought  it  had  been 
strained  by  the  September  gale  of  1821,  and  that  it  was 
racking  the  frame  work  of  the  building,  and  in  spite  of 
the  protests  of  a few  objectors  27  feet  of  this  symmetri- 
cal spire  was  sawn  off  and  ignominiously  pulled  down  by 
ropes.  It  fell  with  a crash  and  was  broken  into  a thou- 
sand pieces,  which  were  gathered  in  piles  and  sold  for 
fuel  to  the  highest  bidder.  Thus  was  this  well  propor- 
tioned edifice,  peerless  among  the  churches  on  Long 
Island,  shorn  of  its  principal  ornament. 

The  people  had  become  slack  and  careless  under  the 
failing  strength  of  the  good  Mr.  Faitoute,  and  few  could 
pray  in  public.  Rev.  Henry  R.  Weed,  fresh  from 
Princeton  Seminary,  was  called  in  1815.  He  quickly 
infused  a new  energy  into  the  religious  life  of  his  people. 
He  started. week  day  lectures  and  prayer-meeting,  formed 
a Bible  class  and  (though  for  a long  time  before  there 
had  been  yearly  contributions  to  the  Education  Society) 
prompted  the  ladies  to  organize  societies  for  religious 
purposes.  The  ladies  made  a beautiful  heavy  cloth 
cloak,  which  they  presented  to  him  in  form.  After  re- 
covering from  his  surprise  he  thanked  them  for  their 
care  of  his  bodily  comfort;  and  then,  with  an  arch  smile, 
he  added  (as  if  the  cloak  were  a douceur ),  “ Ladies,  how 
can  I hereafter,  in  preaching,  call  you  sinners?”  Mr.  Weed 
was  of  acknowledged  ability,  a preacher  of  the  old  school, 


of  sterner  stuff  than  ministers  now  are.  There  was  no 
mistaking  his  notions  of  a future  state,  especially  of  the 
wicked.  Smith  Hicks,  who  from  a carpenter  had  become 
an  irreverent  publican,  used  to  say  he  “never  knew  a 
preacher  who  could  take  up  a sinner  in  both  hands,  hold 
him  out  at  arms’  length,  and  so  shake  him  over  hell  fire 
as  Mr.  Weed  could.” 

Hitherto  there  had  been  no  stove  in  the  church.  One 
Lord’s  day  Mr.  Weed  broached  the  subject,  and  said  fie 
could  stand  the  cold  and  keep  warm  by  preaching,  but 
he  feared  his  people  would  be  too  uncomfortable  to  sit 
and  listen  patiently  to  his  discourses.  So  the  stoves, 
amid  opposition,  were  set  up.  Mr.  Weed  found  the 
hour’s  intermission  too  short  to  rest  himself  in,  and  the 
services  were  held  later  in  the  afternoon.  The  church 
had  then  no  lamps  for  night  service,  nor  sheds  for  the 
horses.  He  let  the  people  know  he  sought  not  “ theirs 
but  them,”  and  when  some  one  hinted  he  should  be  con- 
tent with  less  salary  he  quietly  left. 

Mr.  Weed  discouraged  the  practice,  then  prevalent  in 
the  best  families,  of  giving  wine  at  funerals.  In  this  he 
was  seconded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sayres.  Time  out  of  mind 
in  humbler  families  rum  was  handed  from  one  to  another 
as  they  stood  out  of  doors  about  the  house,  each  man 
drinking  directly  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  upturned 
flask;  wine  was  passed  around  to  the  women  within  the 
house.  Captain  Codwise,  who  lived  at  Beaver  Pond,  had 
a cask  of  the  choicest  wine  stored  away  in  his  cellar  for 
years,  reserved  for  his  funeral.  The  last  and  most  dis- 
tinguished occasion  in  Jamaica  of  thus  regaling  the  at- 
tendants was  the  funeral  of  Rufus  King,  our  minister  to 
England,  who  died  April  29th  1827,  at  the  age  of  73.  It 
was  a warm  day,  and  the  waiters  were  kept  going  about, 
in  doors  and  out,  with  silver  salvers  before  them  loaded 
with  decanters,  glasses  and  segars. 

Mr.  Weed  and  Mr.  Sayres  were  (1818)  chosen  inspect- 
ors of  common  schools  for  Jamaica.  They  did  their 
duty  so  strictly  and  exposed  so  many  shortcomings  in 
the  teachers  that  they  were  not  re-elected. 

In  1821  an  auxiliary  missionary  society  wTas  formed 
with  150  members.  May  27th  1822  was  formed  a society 
for  ameliorating  the  condition  of  the  Jews.  December 
5th  1822,  more  than  a dozen  years  before  similar  action 
in  any  other  church,  a Sabbath-school  for  colored  people 
was  started  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  1823  a lec- 
ture room  was  built. 

April  5th  1825  Othniel  Smith  died,  leaving  $2,000  to 
this  church,  $2,500  to  the  Princeton  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  $500  each  to  the  Bible  Society,  Tract  Society 
and  Domestic  Missionary  Society.  January  31st  1839 
Miss  Mary  Hanna  presented  a beautiful  set  of  chande- 
liers to  the  church. 

Mr.  Weed  was  succeeded  in  1823  by  Seymour  P. 
Funck,  who  was  ordained  here  March  6th.  Some  dis- 
satisfaction arising,  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
May  9th  1825.  Personal  dissensions  were  rife  and  were 
not  allayed  till  the  advent  of  Asahel  Nettleton,  in  the 
winter  of  1826.  He  ignored  his  parishioners’  quarrels, 
and  instead  of  listening  to  their  recriminations  preached 


JAMAICA  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH— QUAKER  SERVICES. 


235 


to  them  all  as  sinners,  and  brought  on  a wonderful  re- 
vival. On  the  2nd  of  July  72  were  added  to  the  church 
and  18  baptized.  He  declined  the  pastoral  charge,  and 
was  followed  by  Elias  W.  Crane,  aged  30,  who  was  in- 
stalled here  October  31st  1826.  He  died  suddenly  No- 
vember 10th  1840,  a few  hours  after  preaching  an  even- 
ing lecture.  He  was  much  esteemed. 

Mr.  James  M.  Macdonald  was  installed  here  May  5th 
1841,  and  left  April  1 6th  1850.  His  successor  was  Peter 
D.  Oakey,  who  was  installed  here  May  25th  1850  and  re- 
signed September  4th  1870,  from  ill  health.  The  con- 
gregation resolved  to  present  him  with  $2,000,  and  con- 
tinue his  salary  till  November  1st. 

In  the  spring  of  1846  the  church  was  enlarged  by  the 
addition  of  1^/2  feet  to  the  length,  making  it  90  feet  by 
46,  with  144  pews. 

Lewis  Lampman,the  present  pastor,  was  ordained  here 
November  10th  1870.  In  1879  the  interior  of  the  church 
was  renovated,  the  organ  was  placed  back  of  and  over 
the  pulpit  and  104  comfortable  pews  were  made  on  the 
lower  floor. 

Ministers  have  taken  charge  of  this  church  as  follows: 

Zechariah  Walker,  February  14  1663;  John  Prudden, 
March  6 1670  and  June  19  1676;  William  Woodruff, 
June  24  1675;  George  Phillips,  1693;  Jeremiah  Hobart, 
September  13  1698  ; John  Hubbard1’  2,  February  — 
1702;  Francis  Goodhue2,  1705;  George  McNish2,  1711; 
Robert  Cross,  September  18  1723  ; Walter  Wilmot1-  2, 
April  12  1738;  David  Bostwick1,  October  9 1745;  Elihu 
Spencer,  D.  D.,  May  22  1758;  Benoni  Bradner,  1760; 
William  Mills2,  July  1761;  Matthias  Burnet,  D.  D.,  April 
1775;  James  Glassbrook3,  March  11  1786;  George  Fai- 
toute2,  July  1789;  Henry  R.  Weed,  D.  D.1,  January  4 
1816;  Seymour  P.  Funck1,  March  6 1823;  Asahel  Nettle- 
tons,  February  to  November  1826;  Elias  W.  Crane2,  Oc- 
tober 31  1826;  James  M.  Macdonald,  May  5 1 84 r ; Peter 
D.  Oakey,  May  25  1850;  Lewis  Lampmanq  November 
10  1870. 

The  “Friends”  at  Jamaica. 

In  August  1657  Robert  Hodgson,  a traveling  Quaker 
preacher,  came  to  Jamaica,  where  he  was  received  with 
gladness  and  made  his  home  at  Henry  Townsend’s,  who 
invited  his  neighbors  to  come  in  and  listen  to  a word  of 
exhortation.  As  the  governor,  Peter  Stuyvesant,  had 
forbidden  the  harboring  of  Quakers  he  fined  Townsend 
in  the  sum  of  ^8  Flemish,  or  else  to  depart  the  province 
under  the  penalty  of  coporal  punishment. 

A few  months  after  (December  29th)  another  Quaker 
preacher  found  his  way  to  Jamaica;  and  Townsend  of- 
fered him  the  use  of  his  house  to  preach  in,  for  which 
act  he  was  (January  8th  1658)  fined  300  guilders,  or 
about  $120. 

At  length  another  traveling  preacher,  Daniel  Wilson, 
guided  by  Samuel  Spicer  and  Goody  Tilton,  made  his 
way  into  Jamaica,  and  he  found  the  door  of  Townsend 
standing  wide  open  for  his  welcome  reception.  The 
names  of  those  present  (Samuel  Andrews,  Richard  Brit- 
nell,  Richard  Chasmore,  Samuel  Deane  and  wife,  Richard 

1.  Ordained  when  settled  here. 

2.  Died  pastors  of  this  church. 

3.  Not  installed  as  pastors. 


Harker,  Henry  Townsend,  John  Townsend  and  wife) 
were  reported  to  the  governor  January  9th  1661,  and 
Townsend  for  the  third  time  was  brought  before  the  now 
exasperated  governor,  who  sentenced  him  to  pay  600 
guilders  (about  $240)  and  with  his  brother  John  to  be 
banished  from  the  province.  Refusing  to  pay  his  fine 
Townsend  suffered  a long  imprisonment. 

The  governor  next  sent  a dozen  soldiers  to  inforce 
obedience  to  his  ordinance  against  Quaker  preaching, 
and  to  be  quartered  on  the  inhabitants  of  Jamaica  till 
they  should  pledge  themselves  to  aid  the  authorities  in 
putting  down  Quaker  meetings.  To  escape  the  annoy- 
ance of  having  soldiers  in  their  houses  the  following 
householders  signed  the  pledge:  Benjamin  and  Robert 
Coe,  Richard  Chasmore,  Nathaniel  Denton,  Richard 
Everitt,  Thomas  and  William  Foster,  Rodger  Lynas, 
Samuel  Mathews,  Andrew  Messenger,  George  Mills,  John 
Rods,  Samuel,  Abraham  and  Morris  Smith,  Henry  Steves, 
Thomas  Wiggins  and  Luke  Watson.  The  soldiers  were 
then  quartered  on  those  who  refused  to  sign  the  pledge, 
viz.,  John  Townsend,  Samuel  Deane,  Nathaniel  Coles, 
Richard  Britnell,  Benjamin  Hubbard  and  Richard 
Harker.  Soon  after  this  Coles,  Harker  and  the  two 
Townsends  removed  to  Oyster  Bay  to  be  beyond  the 
governor’s  jurisdiction. 

We  hear  no  more  of  Quaker  agitations  till  George  Fox 
visited  Long  Island,  when  Christopher  Holder  and  other 
Friends  came  to  Jamaica  (6th  month  1672)  and  held  a 
meeting.  Holder  was  succeeded  by  others  from  time  to 
time. 

The  persistent  preaching  of  Friends  against  “ hireling 
priests  ” had  its  effect;  for  in  1674,  May  9th,  William 
Creed  and  Humphrey  Underhill  refused  to  contribute  to 
the  maintenance  of  a minister  who  was  paid  by  the  town 
in  general.  In  1678  Samuel  Deane  complained  that  “he 
was  distrained  of  18  shillings  by  the  magistrates  of 
Jamaica  for  priests’  wages  of  Zachary  Walker  and  John 
Prudden,  and  a little  more  for  his  not  training.  Hugh 
Cowperthwaite  also  had  10  shillings  taken  from  him  by 
constraint  for  the  wages  of  the  priest  of  Jamaica.” 

Friends’  principles  had  now  taken  such  growth  in 
Jamaica  that  on  the  27th  of  December  1686  it  was  agreed 
that  a quarterly  meeting  should  be  held  there  on  the  last 
First  day  of  July  1687. 

In  1699  Roger  Gill  with  others  came  to  Jamaica  and 
“held  a pretty  large  meeting  in  an  orchard.  The  Lord’s 
power  was  there.”  In  July  1700  William  Penn  and  other 
Friends  visited  Jamaica,  held  a meeting  and  disbursed 
£1  10  for  their  entertainment  at  an  inn.  Thomas  Story, 
a preacher,  says  in  1702:  “We  had  a large,  good  meet- 
ing in  Jamaica.  Several  lawyers  who  were  attending 
the  court  there  and  other  company  came  to  listen  to  us, 
all  very  sober  and  attentive.”  The  next  year  Story  had 
another  large  meeting  there  and  visited  Samuel  Bownas, 
imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  for  preaching  against  the 
ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  England. 

In  1706  the  Friends  bought  for  ^5  a lot  of  ground  80 
by  50  feet  on  which  to  build  a meeting-house. 

In  1725  Thomas  Chalkley  had  a large  meeting  in  Ja- 


28 


236 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


maica,  at  which  “several  in  authority  were  present,  who 
were  very  loving  and  respectful.’’  In  1727  Samuel  Bow- 
nas  had  a large  meeting.  With  others  came  gener- 
ally his  old  neighbors,  among  whom  he  had  been  a 
prisoner  twenty  years  before,  and  were  glad  to  see 
him. 

In  1729  and  again  in  1738  the  meeting-house  required 
repairs;  and  from  time  to  time  it  was  rented  out  with  the 
land,  the  Friends  reserving  the  privilege  of  holding  meet- 
ings there. 

At  last  the  society  began  to  dwindle  and  the  rents  were 
not  promptly  paid,  so  that  the  yearly  meeting  offered  the 
property  for  sale.  “The  Quaker  lot”  was  bought  in 
1797  by  William  Puntine  for  ^200.  From  this  date 
Quaker  preachers  have  from  time  to  time  held  meetings 
in  some  public  room,  taking  care  to  send  word  around 
the  village. 

The  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  of  Jamaica. 

The  organization  of  this  church  at  Jamaica  is  veiled 
in  obscurity.  It  seems  to  have  occurred  before  1702,  for 
the  first  record  of  baptism  is  dated  June  istof  that  year. 
But  long  before  this  time  the  Dutch  had  gradually  been 
emigrating  from  Kings  county  into  the  western  part  of 
Queens,  for  we  find  twenty-one  Dutch  names  among  the 
contributors  of  a free  gift  (January  21st  1694)  to  Rev. 
Mr.  Phillips,  the  Presbyterian  minister  at  Jamaica.  As 
there  was  a church  built  at  the  common  expense  of  the 
town  in  1699  it  is  probably  that  the  Dutch  ministers  from 
New  York  and  Kings  county  whenever  they  visited  Ja- 
maica officiated  in  it  for  the  Dutch  congregation,  as  one 
of  them  (Antonides)  certainly  did  on  Sunday  September 
20th  1709.  In  1714  the  congregation  paid  ^40  New 
York  money  for  their  share  of  the  services  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Kings  county. 

April  29th  1715  the  elders  and  deacons  of  the  Dutch 
congregation  throughout  all  Queens  county  resolved 
unanimously  to  build  a church  at  Jamaica.  The  sum  of 
^361.18.6  was  raised  by  subscription.  The  surnames  of 
the  subscribers  were  Adriance,  Ammerman,  Antony,  At- 
ten,  Baird,  Barentse,  Bas,  Beekman,  Bergen,  Berrien, 
Blaw,  Blom,  Boerum,  Boog,  Bras,  Brinkerhoff,  Burtis, 
Carpenter,  Cockefer,  Cornell,  Covert,  Crankheid,  Demott, 
Ditmarse,  Doesenburg,  Dorlandt,  Dreck,  Dowe,  Elderse, 
Edsall,  Foreest,  Forheisen,  Fyn,  Gennon,  Gerritse,  Glean, 
Goetbloet,  Golder,  Haff,  Hardenburg,  Hagewout,  Havi- 
land,  Hendrickson,  Hegeman,  Hoogelandt,  Jansen,  Kip, 
Kolyer,  Loosie,  Lott,  Lammerse,  Lucasen,  Luyster,  Mas- 
ten,  Monfort,  Montanye,  Norstrandt,  Onderdonk,  Polhe- 
mus,  Probasco,  Rapelye,  Remsen,  Reicke,  Robertsen, 
Ryder,  Schenck,  Smith,  Snedeker,  Springsteen,  Stevense, 
Teller,  Van  Cleef,  Vanderbilt,  Van  Hoek,  Van  Lemven, 
Van  Lettingen,  Van  Nostrand,  Van  Wicklen,  Van  Wyck, 
Wiltse  and  Willemsen. 

The  surnames  of  purchasers  of  seats  from  1716  to 
1753  were  Bennet,  Clowes,  Coerten,  Cornelisse,  Durye, 
Ecker,  Freest,  Grix,  Humphreys,  Lanen,  Laton  or 
Letten,  Lefferts,  Lent,  Lupardus,  Molenarr,  Read, 
Ryerse,  Simonson,  Sherlock,  Stillwell,  Stockholm, Van  Ars- 


dalen,Van  Duyne,Van  Solingen.Van  Soolen  and  Wyckoff. 

May  13th  1715  a lot  of  25  square  roods  next  to  Henry 
Filkins’s  was  bought  for  the  site  of  the  new  church,  from 
Rev.  Benjamin  and  Abigail  Woolsey  (of  Dosoris),  for  the 
nominal  price  of  five  shillings.  The  church  having  been 
erected  the  congregation  met  in  it  for  the  first  time  on 
June  15th  1716,  and  chose  persons  to  allot  the  men’s 
and  women’s  seats.  The  building  was  an  octagon,  with 
a steep  roof,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a cupola  with  a 
bell  cast  at  Amsterdam,  at  a cost  of  j£8.  In  1720  the 
church  was  painted  at  a cost  of  ^15.10. 

June  7th  1727  the  consistory  of  the  church  wished  to 
withdraw  from  their  combination  with  the  Kings  county 
churches  and  have  a pastor  to  themselves,  because  they 
were  surrounded  by  Quakers  and  Anabaptists,  and  their 
children  were  apt  to  intermarry  with  strangers  and  go 
off  to  other  religious  bodies.  The  project  failed  for  the 
time,  but  in  three  or  four  years  afterward  churches  were 
started  at  Newtown,  Success  and  Wolver  Hollow,  all  in 
connection  with  the  mother  church  at  Jamaica.  A call 
was  made  out  August  20th  1730  for  a minister  from  Hol- 
land, at  a salary  of  ^)8o  New  York  currency;  but  no 
minister  would  leave  Holland  for  so  small  a sum.  It 
was  increased  to  £ 100 , but  still  no  minister  could  be 
found  there  who  would  accept  it. 

The  floor  of  the  church  was  sanded.  In  1737  15  pence 
was  paid  for  sweeping  the  church  and  4 pence  for  half  a 
bushel  of  sand. 

In  1741,  after  waiting  nine  years  and  having  made  sev- 
eral unsuccessful  efforts  to  procure  a minister  from  Hol- 
land, a call  was  made  on  Rev.  Johannes  Henricus  Goet- 
schius,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  installed  April  19th  in 
the  church  at  Jamaica,  by  Dominie  Freeman,  who  preach- 
ed from  these  words:  “ Lo  I am  with  you  alway,  even  to 
the  end  of  the  world.”  In  September  a parsonage  was 
bought  (where  Aaron  A.  Degrauw  now  lives)  of  Thomas 
Smith,  at  a cost  of  ^185.  Mr.  Goetschius  was  an  able 
preacher  and  a learned  man,  but  of  a warm  temperament. 
He  preached  a sermon  August  22nd  1742  on  the  unknown 
God,  wherein  he  rebuked  the  lukewarmness  of  his  con- 
gregations. This  aroused  a spirit  of  resentment,  which 
caused  a division  among  the  people  and  ended  in  his 
removal  in  1748. 

November  21st  1752  Thomas  Romeyn  preached  a 
trial  sermon,  which  proving  satisfactory  he  received  a 
call  on  condition  of  his  going  to  Holland  for  ordination. 
April  10th  1753  he  gave  his  departing  sermon  and  then 
took  ship  for  Holland;  on  April  9th  1754  he  had  re- 
turned, and  he  was  inducted  November  10th  by  Dominie 
Ver  Bryck  according  to  the  order  of  classis.  In  March 
1755  he  made  a pastoral  visitation  from  house  to  house 
throughout  the  whole  congregation  of  Jamaica,  and  met 
with  rough  handling  from  the  friends  of  Goetschius.  On 
April  6th  he  celebrated  the  Lord’s  Supper  and  admitted 
16  members.  The  divisions  continuing  in  the  congrega- 
tion caused  Mr.  Romeyn  to  leave.  He  preached  his  last 
sermon  November  30th  1760,  from  Ephesians  vi.  24, 
“Grace  be  with  all  them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  sincerity.” 


First  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  fronting  on  the  Main  Street, 
Jamaica;  intended  for  the  Congregation  spread  through 
all  Queens  County.  Erected  1716;  taken  down  1833.  It  was  of 
octagon  shape.  In  front  are  poplar  trees,  and  on  the  west 
an  old-fashioned  hay  scale. 


PLAN  OF  PEWS  AND  NAMES  OF  PEW  HOLDERS  IN  FIRST 
CHURCH,  1785. 


1. 

Minister's  Pew. 

1. 

2. 

John  Suydam. 

2. 

3. 

Hendrick  Eldert. 

3. 

4. 

Isaac  Leiferts. 

4. 

5. 

Abraham  Polhemus. 

5. 

6. 

Benjamin  Hegeinan. 

6. 

7. 

Isaac  Hendrickson. 

7. 

8. 

Stephen  Lott. 

8. 

9. 

Abraham  Lott. 

9. 

10. 

Elbert  Adriance. 

10. 

11. 

John  Amberman. 

11. 

12. 

Martin  Johnson. 

12. 

13. 

Johannis  Wyokolf. 

13. 

14. 

Garret  Van  VVicklen. 

14. 

15. 

Hendrick  Emmons. 

15. 

16 

Tunis  Covert. 

16. 

17. 

Casparus  Springsteen. 

17. 

18. 

William  Monfort. 

18. 

19. 

John  Duryea. 

19. 

20. 

John  Suydam. 

20. 

21. 

Abraham  Suydam. 

21. 

22. 

William  Hendrickson. 

22. 

23. 

Ares  Remsen. 

23. 

24. 

Stephen  Lott. 

24. 

+ •*  Fore-Singer.” 

Jost  Van  Brunt 
Barnett  Bennett. 
Hendrick  Brinckerhoff. 
Isaac  Amberman. 
Abraham  Golder. 

Dow  Duryea. 

Maretie  Ditmars. 

Isaac  Brinckerhoff. 
Jacobus  Ryder. 

William  Golder. 

Jacob  Adriance. 
Cornelius  Monfort. 
Johannis  Remsen. 

Maria  Ditmars. 

Abraham  Ditmars. 
Elbert  Hoogland. 

Ares  Remsen. 

Martin  Schenck. 
Johannis  H.  Lott. 
Hendrick  S.  Lott. 
Abraham  Van  Arsdalen. 

Cornelius  Bennett. 

John  Williamson. 


Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  Jamaica,  built  of  brick  and  roofed 
WITH  SLATE.  CORNER  STONE  LAID  SEPTEMBER  14th  1858  ; CHURCH 
dedicated  October  Gth  1859;  cost  about  $30,000. 


Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  Jamaica,  standing  near  the  site  of 

THE  FIRST  ONE.  CORNER  STONE  LAID  JULY  4th  1832  ; BUILDING 

dedicated  July  4th  1833;  consumed  by  fire  November  19th  1857. 


REFORMED  AND  EPISCOPAL  CHURCHES,  JAMAICA. 


23  7 


In  1766,  February  and,  Dominie  Boelen  arrived  in  port 
from  Holland,  and  on  the  4th  gave  his  introductory  dis- 
course from  Psalms  xxxiv.  12.  He  was  inducted 
by  Dominie  Van  Sinderen,  with  a text  from 
Hebrews  — “ Remember  them  which  have  the  rule 
over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto  you  the  word 
of  God.”  June  1st  he  had  his  first  communion, 
and  in  the  afternoon  he  gave  a thanksgiving  sermon, 
such  being  the  custom  on  sacrament  days. 

In  1768  the  collection  on  Paas  Sunday  (Easter)  was 
6s.  rod.,  on  Paas  Monday  2s.,  on  Pinkster  (Whitsunday) 
ios.,  on  Pinkster  Monday  4s.  4d.  The  congregation, 
as  the  collections  show,  was  smaller  on  the  festival  days 
thyn  on  Sundays. 

In  1772  Domine  Boelen  left.  A call  on  Rynier  Van 
Nest  in  1 773  being  declined,  Solomon  Froeligh  was  or- 
dained and  installed  in  the  church  at  Jamaica,  June  nth 
1775.  Froeligh  was  an  ardent  Whig  and  was  so  out- 
spoken in  the  pulpit  that  when  the  British  got  possession 
of  the  island  he  fled  to  the  mainland.  The  Dutch  church 
was  taken  by  the  British  for  a storehouse.  The  pulpit 
was  left,  but  the  seats  and  floor  were  ripped  up,  taken 
out  and  used  for  building  barracks  or  huts  for  the  sol- 
diers. To  this  church  every  Sunday  wagons  repaired  to 
load  up  with  the  weekly  allowance  of  rum,  pork,  flour 
and  peas  for  the  soldiers’  rations.  The  congregation 
whenever  the  ministers  (Dominies  Rubell  and  Schoon- 
maker)  from  Kings  county  visited  them  were  allowed  the 
use  of  the  Episcopal  church  for  religious  services. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war  the  church  was  repaired; 
and  March  7th  1785  Rev.  Rynier  Van  Nest,  having  ac- 
cepted a call,  became  the  minister.  In  1792  it  was 
decided  to  have  the  public  services  in  church  half  the 
time  in  the  English  language.  July  13th  1794  Zachariah 
H.  Kuypers  or  Cooper  was  called  as  assistant  to  Mr.  Van 
Nest.  His  salary  was  thought  by  classis  to  be  too  small. 
It  was  ^120  a year,  without  a parsonage. 

April  2 1 st  1795  the  treasurer  paid  the  “fore-singer” 
pZi.14  for  a year’s  service  and  ,£1.12  to  the  bell-ringer. 
January  8th  1797  Mr.  Van  Nest  left,  and  Mr.  Cooper  was 
sole  pastor  of  the  four  Dutch  churches  of  Queens  county. 
The  parsonage  was  sold  in  1801  and  the  money  dis- 
tributed to  the  four  congregations  to  buy  two  parsonages. 

Jacob  Schoonmaker  was  called  to  the  churches  of 
Jamaica  and  Newtown  April  20th  1802,  and  ordained  Oc- 
tober 24th,  and  the  connection  of  the  four  Dutch  churches 
terminated.  In  1809  a parsonage  was  bought  for  him  at 
Jamaica,  opposite  the  former  one.  In  1811  the  Jamaica 
church  comprised  107  families  and  56  communicants. 
The  parsonage  was  sold  to  Dominie  Schoonmaker. 

The  church  built  in  1716  was  now  too  small  and  in- 
convenient; and  March  20th  1832  proposals  for  building 
a frame  church  82  by  62  feet  were  issued.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  July  4th  in  presence  of  a large  concourse 
of  people,  who  were  addressed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Janeway. 
On  Sunday  June  2nd  1833  Rev.  Dr.  Schoonmaker 
preached  the  last  sermon  in  the  old  church  in  the  Dutch 
language,  which  was  understood  by  very  few.  The  next 
day  commenced  the  work  of  tearing  down  the  building, 


which  had  stood  x 1 7 years  and  was  the  last  specimen  on 
the  island  of  the  old  Dutch  churches.  The  new  church 
was  dedicated  July  4th  1833,  with  a sermon  by  Rev. 
Elihu  Baldwin. 

On  January  6th  1835  Rev.  Garret  J.  Garretson  was 
called  as  assistant  to  Dr.  Schoonmaker,  and  he  left  in 
June  1849. 

On  Sunday  August  4th  1850  Dr.  Schoonmaker,  having 
received  a satisfactory  compensation,  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon  and  celebrated  the  communion,  assisted  by 
his  old  friend  Rev.  Dr.  Brodhead. 

January  7th  1851  John  B.  Alliger  was  installed  here. 
In  May  a large  organ  was  set  up  in  the  church,  costing 
$1,200;  a melodeon  and  a seraphine  had  been  used  for 
some  time  before.  A parsonage  was  provided  for  the 
minister  in  1853,  and  a consistory  room  was  dedicated 
May  8th  1858. 

November  19th  1857  about  9 o’clock  at  night,  by  the 
mismanagement  of  the  firemen,  a fire  in  Rotten  Row  was 
allowed  to  get  under  too  great  headway,  and  the  wind, 
suddenly  veering  about,  drove  the  flames  to  the  church 
and  it  was  totally  consumed.  It  had  just  been  repaired, 
painted  and  beautified  at  a cost  of  $3,000.  The  work- 
men had  put  on  it  the  finishing  stroke  only  a few  hours 
before  the  fire.  The  books,  cushions,  carpets  and  clock 
were  saved.  The  cummunion  and  baptismal  vessels 
were  lost. 

The  burning  of  the  church  was  the  cause  of  erecting 
one  at  Queens,  which  was  dedicated  May  8th  1859. 

The  corner  stone  of  a new  church  was  laid  September 
14th  1858,  by  Richard  Brush.  Addresses  were  made  by 
Rev.  Messrs.  Cuyler  and  Van  Zandt.  The  new  church, 
of  the  round-arch  style,  built  of  brick,  covered  with  slate 
and  having  stained  glass  windows,  costing  in  all  about 
$20,000,  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Vermilye,  who 
also  preached  the  sermon. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Alliger  resigned  May  30th  1870.  No- 
vember 20th  1870  Rev.  John  G.  Van  Slyke  was  installed. 
He  celebrated  the  cummunion  and  gave  his  last  sermon 
December  4th  1876.  May  3d  1877  Rev.  William  H.  De 
Hart  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Jamaica. 

Grace  Episcopal  Church,  Jamaica. 

The  Episcopal  church  dates  from  1702,  when  the  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts 
sent  over  Rev.  Patrick  Gordon,  with  the  title  of  “rector 
of  Queens  county  ” and  an  allowance  of  ^50  per  an- 
num. In  passing  through  New  York  he  caught  a violent 
fever  then  prevalent  there,  and,  going  on  to  Jamaica  with 
intent  to  preach  in  his  parish,  was  taken  sick  the  day  be- 
fore he  designed  to  preach,  and  so  continued  till  his 
death,  about  eight  days  after.  He  was  buried  in  the 
stone  meeting-house  on  July  28th  1702. 

The  following  inventory  shows  a portion  of  Mr.  Gor- 
don’s outfit  for  his  mission:  Silver  watch  and  seal,  _£io; 
tin  tobacco  box,  9d.;  cloth  colored  cloak,  jQ 2 ; 4 old 
razors,  3s.;  rewfarino  gown  and  cassock,  old,  £ 2 ios.; 
black  coat,  ^3  ios.;  two  pair  colored  gloves,  5s.;  3 doz. 
and  8 pair  of  bands,  £2  4s.;  12  pair  of  cheat  sleeves, 


238  HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


7s.;  2 perukes,  6s.;  1 hat,  ^'1  4s.;  2 old  perukes, 
ios.;  cane  with  a prospect  glass  in  it,  jQ 1 10s.;  2 pair  of 
new  breeches  and  an  old  waistcoat,  £ 2 ios.;  fine  silk 
morning  gown  with  cape,  ^5  ios.  Besides  the  above 
there  were  saddle,  bridle,  boots  and  spurs,  two  teapots, 
some  pewter  dishes,  a half-dozen  wooden  trenchers,  two 
dozen  and  eight  napkins,  a dozen  white  handkerchiefs, 
two  flannel  shirts,  three  hats,  three  knit  night-caps, 
twenty  fine  shirts,  seven  pair  of  sham  sleeves,  a large 
collection  of  books,  etc.,  etc. 

Rev.  George  Keith  visited  Jamaica  September  24th 
1702;  and  on  Sunday  November  14th  1703  he  preached 
there  from  Hebrews  viii.  9,  10. 

Lord  Cornbury  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Gordon  Rev. 
James  Honeyman,  who  writes  (April  15th  1704)  that  “we 
have  a church  [the  meeting-house]  but  neither  Bible  nor 
prayer  book,  no  cloths  for  pulpit  or  altar.”  The  society 
sent  over  a silver  paten  and  chalice,  inscribed,  “ The 
gift  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  1704.”  This  chalice  is  still  in  use. 

The  society  had  appointed  Rev.  William  Urquhart  its 
second  missionary  to  Jamaica.  He  was  inducted  July 
27th  1704.  Lord  Cornbury  ordered  the  Presbyterian 
minister  to  give  up  the  parsonage  house  to  the  new  rec- 
tor. This  dispossessing  by  the  governors’s  warrant 
merely  and  otherwise  than  by  due  course  of  law  gave  rise 
to  a long  series  of  troubles  and  litigation.  Chief  Justice 
Mompesson  said  it  was  a “ high  crime  and  misdemea- 
nor;” a short  way  of  proceeding  but  contrary  to  law, 
and  did  the  church  more  hurt  than  can  be  easily  imag- 
ined. The  governor  also  ordered  the  money  (church 
rates)  made  from  the  sale  of  corn  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Ur- 
quhart, and  the  justices  and  vestrymen  to  lay  a tax  (ac- 
cording to  a law  enacted  September  22nd  1693)  on  the 
inhabitants  of  the  parish  for  raising  the  maintenance  of 
the  minister,  Mr.  Urquhart,  which  was  jQ6 o per  year. 
The  society  allowed  him  ^50  per  year  and  ^15  for 
books  for  the  use  of  his  mission;  so  his  salary  was  ;£no 
and  the  use  of  the  parsonage. 

“ Mr.  Urquhart  has  the  most  difficult  task  of  any  mis- 
sionary in  this  government,  for,  though  he  is  a good  man 
and  extraordinary  industrious,  yet  having  the  Presbyter- 
ians and  Quakers  to  thwart  him,  and  very  little  assistance 
in  his  parish  except  from  those  who  have  no  interest 
with  the  people,  his  work  can’t  but  go  on  very  heavily.” 
Some  of  the  most  rigid  dissenters,  however,  were  brought 
over  into  a close  communion  with  the  church. 

Mr.  Urquhart  while  in  Jamaica  became  the  third  hus- 
band of  Mary,  daughter  of  Daniel  Whitehead,  and  by 
the  help  of  her  money  became  one  of  the  patentees  of  a 
tract  of  land  in  New  Jersey.  He  died  about  the  last  of 
August  1709.  “Mr.  Urquhart,  being  settled  among  the 
adversaries  of  the  church,  was  at  great  pains  and  charges 
to  maintain  the  title  of  his  church  and  parsonage,  besides 
repairs.  His  natural  good  inclinations  to  hospitality  led 
him  into  extraordinary  expenses  to  support  the  credit  of 
his  character,  and  he  has  left  his  widow  in  such  incum- 
brances as  we  can  but  pity..”  The  society  made  the 
widow  a present  of  ^50. 


The  neighboring  clergy  continued  services  in  the 
church  till  the  arrival  of  Rev.  Thomas  Poyer,  the 
society’s  third  missionary,  who  was  inducted  July  18th 
1710. 

Mr.  Poyer  after  a stormy  passage  of  thirteen  weeks 
was  wrecked  on  the  south  side  of  the  island,  about  one 
hundred  miles  east  of  Jamaica.  After  wending  his  way 
to  his  parish  he  found  the  door  of  his  parsonage  shut 
against  him,  so  he  had  to  take  a hired  house.  He,  how- 
ever, served  the  tenant  with  a lease  of  ejectment  by  way 
of  continuing  his  claim.  Mr.  Poyer  at  once  set  about  the 
work  of  his  mission.  He  distributed  the  religious  books 
given  him  by  the  society;  took  the  names  of  the  re- 
cipients, so  as  to  look  after  them,  and  gave  private  advice 
as  he  went  from  house  to  house  in  his  large  parish.  He 
preached  in  turn  once  a fortnight  at  Jamaica  and  once  a 
month  at  Flushing  and  Newtown.  In  1714  he  reports 
that  the  church  increases,  he  has  gained  over  some  in- 
dependents, his  communicants  have  risen  from  thirty 
to  sixty,  and  at  Flushing  among  the  Quakers  he  has  fifty 
and  sometimes  one  hundred  hearers. 

In  1717  Mr.  Poyer  begins  to  complain  of  his  hardships. 
His  parish  is  fifteen  miles  long,  and  six  and  a half  broad; 
has  409  families  in  it,  but  not  above  80  come  to  church; 
he  has  400  hearers,  and  but  60  communicants;  has  worn 
out  two  gowns  and  cassocks  and  the  third  very  bare,  and 
his  family  wants  are  such  that  he  don’t  know  how  he 
shall  get  another;  he  has  not  as  yet  received  a penny  of 
his  salary  in  this  country,  though  he  got  a verdict  for 
part  of  it.  The  obstinate  independents,  being  church 
wardens,  put  him  to  as  much  trouble  as  they  can  in  suing 
for  it.  Jamaica  is  a dear  place  to  live  in  and  things  are 
costly.  [Bohea  tea  is  7s.  per  pound  and  loaf  sugar  13 
pence].  He  lives  below  the  character  of  a missionary, 
and  yet  runs  in  debt.  The  society  sent  him  a gown  and 
cassock  and  ^ro. 

The  communicants  in  1723-7  were  Justice  Betts  and 
wife,  Madam  Clarke,  Andrew  Clarke  and  wife,  Justice 

Clement  and  wife,  Mr.  Clowes  and  wife,  son  Samuel, 

Gerardus,  Mrs.  Clowes  and  son  John,  Mr.  Comes,  Daniel 
Denton  and  wife,  John  Hutchins,  Christopher  Kernan, 
Captain  Luff,  Judith  “ the  negress,”  D.  Mills,  Mr.  Power, 
Mrs.  Poyer,  Mr.  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Sawyer,  Mr.  Smith  and 
wife,  brother  and  sister  to  Mr.  Clowes,  Samuel  Smith  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Arthur  Smith  and  wife,  Mrs.  Katrina  Stillwell, 
inn-keeper,  Mrs.  Rachel  Stroud,  Mr.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Thorne,  Foster  Waters  and  wife  Mary,  Mr.  Wiggins 
and  daughter  Bedford,  Mrs.  Isabel  Wiggins,  Thomas 
Wiggins  and  wife,  Catherine  Wiggins,  Mrs.  Williamson, 
daughter  Mary,  and  her  two  daughters,  Colonel  Thomas 
Willett,  Edward  Willett  and  wife. 

Mr.  Poyer  says  that,  besides  the  service  on  the  Lord’s 
day  and  the  holidays  set  apart  by  the  church,  he  gives 
frequent  lectures  on  week  days;  many  of  his  parishioners 
live  twelve  miles  distant  and  he  must  keep  two  horses. 
This  wears  out  more  clothes  in  a year  than  would  last 
three  or  four  if  he  hadn’t  to  ride.  In  Flushing  and  New- 
town there  is  no  convenience  of  private  houses,  so  that 
he  has  to  use  public  ones,  at  a very  great  charge.  He 


GRACE  CHURCH,  JAMAICA. 


23S 


celebrates  the  communion  four  or  five  times  a year  or 
oftener,  as  he  has  health.  He  catechises  and  expounds 
the  catechism  to  all  such  as  are  sent  to  him,  twice  a week  in 
church,  and  once  a fortnight  the  year  round  at  his  house. 

At  first  Mr.  Poyer  had  to  put  up  with  many  abuses  and 
affronts  from  the  dissenters.  He  says  (in  1718):  “They 
tried  to  tire  me  out  with  their  ill-usage.  I am  threatened 
to  be  starved,  and  denied  victuals  for  my  money.  The 
miller  wouldn’t  grind  my  corn,  but  sent  it  home  and  said 
I might  eat  it  whole,  as  the  hogs  do.  They  say  if  the  con- 
stables offer  to  collect  my  salary  they  will  scald  them, 
they  will  stone  them,  they  will  go  to  club-law  with  them.” 

This  threat  was  soon  carried  out;  for  on  December  5th 
1718,  as  the  constable,  Ri.  Combs,  went  to  Daniel  Bull’s 
and  demanded  the  rate,  he  took  up  an  axe  and  swinging 
it  over  Combs’s  head  said  he  would  split  his  head  if  he 
touched  anything  there.  The  constable  commanded 
Jacamiah  Denton  in  the  king’s  name  to  assist  him,  but 
he  laughed,  said  he  was  no  constable,  and  wouldn’t  obey 
him.  He  then  went  up  and  down  the  town  and  mus- 
tered sixteen  or  seventeen  people,  with  Justices  Clement 
and  Whitehead,  and  on  coming  before  Bull’s  door  saw 
him  with  William  Carman,  Samuel  and  Henry  Ludlum, 
Robert  and  Hezekiah  Denton,  and  Ephraim  Smith, 
standing  there  with  great  clubs  in  their  hands  and 
stripped  to  their  waistcoats.  On  the  constable  saying  he 
had  come  to  distrain,  they  lifted  up  their  clubs  and 
bid  him  come  if  he  durst,  and  gave  him  scurrilous  lan- 
guage. On  seeing  that  Bull  had  between  twenty  and 
thirty  persons  in  his  company  the  constable  walked  off 
and  made  no  distress.  The  Rev.  George  McNish  bid 
the  people  not  mind  the  constable,  and  even  invited 
them  into  his  house  to  drink  cider.  These  rioters  were 
subsequently  let  off  with  a small  fine  on  promise  of  future 
peaceable  behavior.  Samuel  Clowes  acted  in  the  absence 
of  the  king’s  attorney. 

In  1724,  October  29th,  Mr.  Poyer  brought  suit  against 
the  tenants  of  the  parsonage  lands,  homestead  and  out- 
lands,  in  which  he  was  cast.  We  give  the  minutes  of  the 
trial  from  the  judge’s  book: 

At  a court,  by  nisi  prius,  held  at  Jamaica.  Present — 
Lewis  Morris,  Esq.,  chief  justice.  John  Chambers  vs. 
Joseph  Hegeman  jr.  The  same  7's.  Robert  Denton. 
Defendants  confess  lease,  entry  and  ouster.  Jury  find 
for  defendant.  Murray  for  plaintiff  and  Jamison  for 
defendant. 

Evidence  for  plaintiff:  Thomas  Welling,  John  Dean, 
Nehemiah  Smith  sworn.  A vote  of  the  town  meeting,  in 
1676,  for  parsonage  lands.  Richard  Combs.  Warrant 
from  Lord  Cornbury  to  Cardale  to  survey  church  lands. 
Act  of  Assembly  to  settle  a ministry  in  Queens  county 
(1693).  An  act  of  Assembly  to  explain  the  former  act 
(1 705).  John  Chambers  sworn,  and  Thomas  Whitehead. 
An  exemplification  of  the  special  verdict  read. 

Evidence  for  defence:  An  agreement  of  the  town  of 
Jamaica  with  Rev.  John  Prudden  read.  Votes  of  the 
town  for  Rev  John  Hubbard  and  George  McNish.  to  be 
ministers  read.  Joseph  Smith  and  Elizabeth  Stillwell 
sworn.  Mr.  Prudden’s  exchange  of  land  with  the  town 
(September  29th  1693)  read. 

The  inaugural  sermon  that  Mr.  Poyer  preached  here, 
July  30th  1710,  is  still  preserved  in  good  condition.  He 


also  preached  on  the  Gunpowder  plot,  November  5th; 
martyrdom  of  King  Charles,  January  30th;  the  negro 
plot  in  New  York,  May  2 1st  1 7 12 ; the  accession  of  King 
George  II.,  April  7th;  on  the  defeat  of  the  Pretender  in 
Scotland,  June  28th;  at  his  wife’s  funeral,  May  10th  1719; 
at  Lloyd’s  Neck,  November  27th  1722.  These  sermons 
and  many  others  are  still  preserved. 

December  28th  1728  the  Presbyterians  “ by  the  sly 
tricks  and  quirks  of  the  common  law  got  the  church  into 
their  possession,”  says  Rev.  A.  Campbell.  “In  suing  Mr. 
Poyer  ” (says  Rev.  Thomas  Colgan),  “ upon  a very  odd 
turn  in  the  trial  the  independents  cast  him.  Mr.  Poyer’s 
counsel  always  designed  to  put  the  matter  on  some  points 
of  law  which  were  clearly  in  the  church’s  favor,  and  in  the 
time  of  trial  offered  to  demur  in  law;  but  was  diverted 
therefrom  by  the  judge,  who  said  he  would  recommend  it 
to  the  jury  to  find  a special  verdict  and  if  they  did  not  he 
would  allow  a new  trial.  The  judge  did  not  hold  to  his 
promise,  and  thus  an  end  was  put  to  the  controversy.” 

June  1 6th  1731  Mr.  Poyer  complains  of  his  trials  and 
difficulties: — “I  have  been  in  poor  health  for  years  past, 
my  life  has  been  one  continued  scene  of  trouble,  kept  out 
of  my  allowance  from  this  country  for  years  and  some  of 
it  lost,  a great  deal  of  sickness  in  my  family,  buried  two 
wives  and  two  children  within  five  years,  now  eleven  in 
the  family,  house  rent  ^16  a year,  the  infirmities  of 
years  bear  hard  on  me.  I beg  to  quit  my  mission  and  re- 
turn to  my  native  land.”  The  society  granted  his  re- 
quest; but  Mr.  Poyer  died  at  Jamaica  in  the  middle  of 
January  1732. 

Rev.  Thomas  Colgan  was  inducted  here  January  31st 
1733;  ar,d  by  his  marriage  with  Mary  Reade  and  money 
acquired  thereby  took  a higher  social  position  than  Mr. 
Poyer  had.  He  bought  the  farm  of  widow  Poyer,  on  the 
west  side  of  Beaver  Pond,  which  he  enlarged  to  66  acres, 
with  an  orchard  of  100  apple  trees  that  made  100  barrels 
of  cider  a year.  This  house  had  eight  rooms  on  a floor, 
and  sash  windows.  We  hear  of  no  more  complaints  of 
non-payment  of  salary,  no  law  suits,  no  riots  or  quarrels. 
He  writes  (February  16th  1733)  that  his  congregation 
increases  very  much;  more  than  200  come  to  church 
every  Sunday. 

After  worshiping  five  or  six  years  in  the  county  court- 
house the  people  began  to  exert  themselves  toward  build- 
ing a new  church,  and  solicited  help  from  abroad.  On 
Friday  April  5th  1734  the  new  church  was  opened,  with 
the  name  of  Grace  Church,  and  divine  service  per- 
formed there  for  the  first  time.  Mr.  Colgan  preached  a 
sermon  on  the  occasion,  from  Genesis  xviii.  16,  17.  Gov- 
ernor Cosby  and  his  whole  family  were  pleased  to  honor 
the  meeting  with  their  presence,  and  by  their  very  gen- 
erous benefactions  great  encouragement  was  given.  The 
militia  was  under  arms  to  attend  his  excellency,  and  so 
great  a concourse  of  people  met  that  the  church  was  not 
able  to  contain  the  number.  After  the  sermon  was 
ended  his  excellency  and  family,  and  several  gentlemen, 
ladies  and  clergy,  were  very  splendidly  entertained  at 
the  house  of  Samuel  Clowes,  a tavern  in  the  town, 
by  the  members  of  the  church. 


40 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Grace  Church,  Jamaica. 

Opened  for  Divine  Worship  Friday  April  5th  1734. 


The  governor’s  lady  gave  cloth  for  the  pulpit,  reading- 
desk  and  communion  table;  also  a large  Bible,  prayer 
book  and  surplice. 

Mr.  Colgan  writes  (October  nth  1737):  “We  now  wor- 
ship in  the  church,  which  ’tis  thought  will  be  one  ot  the 
handsomest  in  North  America,  but  is  not  yet  completed. 
We  want  a bell.  Our  church  is  flourishing.  We  are  at 
peace  with  the  sectaries  around  us.” 

The  following  were  the  pew-holders  in  Grace  Church 
February  23d  1737:  Richard  Betts,  Richard  Betts  jr., 
Timothy  Bridges,  Andrew  Clark,  Samuel  Clowes,  Samuel 
Clowes  jr.,  Thomas  Colgan,  Robert  Freeman,  Robert 
Howell,  Gabriel  Luff,  Sarah  Poyer  gratis , George  Rey- 
nolds, Daniel  Sawyer,  Samuel  Smith,  William  Steed,  Ben- 
jamin Taylor,  Benjamin  Thorne,  Isaac  Van  Hook,  An- 
thony Waters,  William  Welling,  Benjamin  and  Daniel 
Whitehead,  Edward  Willett,  John  Willett,  William  and 
Silas  Wiggins,  Henry  Wright,  Guy  Young.  Also  see 
Documentary  History,  Vol  .III.,  page  324,  for  twenty-one 
petitioners  for  a charter. 

The  New  York  Postboy  announced  in  1747:  “The 
Jamaica  lottery  will  be  drawn  on  November  10th,  in 
Queens  County  Hall,  in  the  presence  of  three  or  more 
justices  of  the  peace  and  such  other  persons  as  the  ad- 
venturers may  nominate.  The  managers,  Jacob  Ogden 
and  Samuel  Clowes,  give  their  trouble  gratis.  There  are 
one  thousand  three  hundred  tickets,  at  8s.  each,  equal  to 
^520.  From  each  prize  i2j£  per  cent,  will  be  deducted 
for  purchasing  a bell  for  Grace  Church.” 

Rev.  Thomas  Colgan,  rector  of  the  church,  died  in 


December  1755.  The  parochial  vestry  pre- 
sented Simon  Horton,  a dissenting  minister, 
to  Governor  Hardy  for  induction;  but  he 
collated  Samuel  Seabury  jr.  to  the  cure. 

Samuel  Clowes  jr.  and  William  Sherlock 
certify  that  “Samuel  Seabury  jr.,  minister  of 
Jamaica,  on  the  23d  day  of  January  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  Christ  1757,  did  read  in  his 
parish  church  of  Jamaica,  openly,  publicly 
and  solemnly,  the  morning  and  evening  pray- 
er appointed  to  be  read  by  and  according  to 
the  book  entitled  The  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  etc.;  and,  after  such  reading,  did 
openly  and  publicly  declare  his  unfeigned 
assent  and  consent  to  the  use  of  all  things 
therein  contained;  and  did  read  certificates 
of  his  having  declared  his  conformity  to  the 
liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England,  before 
Thomas,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and  Sir 
Charles  Hardy,  captain-general  and  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  province  of  New 
York,  and  did  renew  this  declaration  in  his 
parish  church  aforesaid;  and  did  read  the 
Articles  of  Religion  and  declare  his  unfeigned 
assent  and  consent  thereto.” 

Mr.  Seabury  writes  in  1760  that  the 
people  are  remiss  in  attending  church.  His 
communicants  scarce  exceed  20.  He  labors 
publicly  and  privately  to 'bring  them  to  a 
sense  of  their  duty. 

Communicants  and  professors  of  the  church  at  Jamaica 
on  the  8th  of  April  1761  petitioned  C.  Colden,  acting 
governor  of  the  province,  for  a charter,  setting  forth 
that  some  years  before,  by  voluntary  contributions,  they 
had  erected  a decent  and  convenient  church  for  the  cel- 
ebration of  divine  worship  according  to  the  use  of  the 
Church  of  England;  but  that,  from  a want  of  some  per- 
sons legally  authorized  to  superintend  the  same  and 
manage  the  affairs  and  interests  thereof,  the  said  church 
was  greatly  decayed  and  the  petitioners  discouraged 
from  contributing  to  the  repair  thereof,  lest  the  moneys 
given  might  be  misapplied;  and  that,  on  that  account 
also,  charitable  and  well  disposed  people  were  discour- 
aged in  their  design  of  establishing  proper  funds  for  the 
future  support  of  said  church  and  the  better  maintenance 
of  its  ministry.  The  following  signatures  were  appended 
to  the  petition:  Samuel  Seabury  jr.,  rector;  Robert 
Howell,  *Jacob  Ogden,  *John  Comes,  ^Benjamin  White- 
head,  ^Richard  Betts,  ^Thomas  Betts,  Benjamin  Carpen- 
ter, Joseph  Oldfield,  Gilbert  Comes,  fSamuel  Smith  jr., 
Isaac  Van  Hook,  George  Dunbar,  John  Huchins,  Joseph 
Oldfield  jr.,  Thomas  Truxton,  ^William  Sherlock,  *Thom- 
as  Hinchman,  Thornes  Cornell  jr.,  John  Smith,  fjohn 
Troup,  ^Thomas  Braine,  John  Innes,  Adam  Lawrence, 
William  Welling. 

There  were  now  two  vestries,  one  parochial,  elected  by 
the  freeholders  of  the  parish  to  levy  the  minister’s  and 

♦Named  vestryman  in  the  charter. 
tNamed  warden  in  the  charter. 


GRACE  CHURCH,  JAMAICA. 


241 


poor  tax;  the  other  ecclesiastical,  elected  by  those  in 
communion  of  the  Church  of  England.  The  terms  of 
the  charter  (dated  June  17  1761)  were  that  the  vestry 
should  pay  yearly,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  Annuncia- 
tion of  the  Virgin  Mary,  to  the  receiver  general  at  New 
York  a pepper-corn  (if  demanded)  in  lieu  of  all  other 
rents  and  claims.  The  vestry  could  appoint  a clerk, 
sexton  or  bell-ringer  for  the  church,  and  a messenger  or 
clerk  for  themselves. 

Mr.  Seabury  writes  in  1762  that  the  church  had  been 
completely  repaired,  chiefly  at  the  expense  of  John 
Troup,  who  also ‘presented  a silver  collecting  plate,  large 
prayer  book  and  communion  table.  The  amount  of  as- 
sistance given  by  others  is  shown  in  the  following  sub- 
scription paper,  dated  Jamaica,  May  1st  1761: 

Whereas  it  becomes  neccessary  for  the  preservation 
and  decency  of  the  parish  church  of  Jamaica  that  the 
building  should  be  thoroughly  repaired,  especially  the 
steeple,  windows,  etc.,  and  also  that  the  church-yard  be 
more  decently  enclosed;  therefore  we,  the  subscribers, 
being  desirous  to  promote  and  secure  the  order  and 
decency  of  the  public  worship  of  God,  do  voluntarily  en- 
gage and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay  to  John  Troup  or 
Thomas  Braine  the  sum  annexed  to  our  names  for  the 
above  purpose: 


£ 

s. 

£ 

s. 

John  Troup 

20 

Phillip  V.  Cortland. 

I 

10 

John  Betts 

5 

Thomas  Cornell  jr. 

.1 

Richard  Betts 

2 

Hutchins  & Howell 

16 

Thomas  Betts 

2 

T unis  Polhemus . . . 

16 

Benj.  Carpenter.. . . 

2 

William  Howard.  . . 

I 

John  Comes 

2 

Isaac  Van  Hook . . . 

10 

Thomas  Truxton. . . 

4 

Fleming  Colgan. . . . 

3 

3 

Dr.  John  Innes . . . . 

4 

John  Jauncey 

I 

10 

Thomas  Braine. . . . 

2 

10 

Thos.  Hammersly. . 

1 

5 

Tacob  Ogden 

2 

10 

John  Armstrong. . . 

I 

Benj.  Whitehead . . . 

2 

10 

William  Murray..  . . 

r 

4 

Sam.  Smith  jr 

2 

George  Dunbar.  . . . 

8 

Joseph  Oldfield 

2 

John  Smith,  Union. . 

2 

Wm.  Sherlock 

2 

William  Betts 

1 6 

Thomas  Hinchman. 

2 

Joseph  Robinson... 

2 

Robert  Troup 

I 

10 

Dan.  Horsmanden.. 

5 

John  Burnett 

2 

Old  school  - house 

Thomas  Jones 

2 

sold  for 

3 

£93  18 

February  1st  1762  the  following  advertisement  was 
published  : 

“To  be  sold  and  entered  on  when  the  purchaser 
pleases,  a small  plantation  [since  Walter  Nichols’s] 
half  a mile  east  of  Jamaica  village,  on  which  Mr.  Seabury, 
rector  of  the  church,  now  lives.  It  contains  twenty-eight 
acres  of  good  land,  a good  dwelling-house  (one  end  new), 
a genteel  building,  a dry  cellar  under  the  whole  house,  a 
well  of  good  water,  new  barn,  hovel  and  smoke-house. 
There  is  a fine  orchard  that  makes  fifty  barrels  of  cider  ; 
also  a screw-press  and  cider  mill  of  a new  invention,  that 
grinds  fifty  bushels  of  apples  in  an  hour.  Also,  fourteen 
acres  of  woodland  two  miles  from  the  farm,  and  eight 
acres  of  salt  meadow  that  cuts  twenty  loads  of  salt  hay. 
Apply  to  the  above  said  Samuel  Seabury  j r.,  who  will 
give  a good  title.” 

In  1766  Mr.  Seabury,  whose  necessary  expenses  at  Ja- 
maica far  exceeded  the  amount  of  his  professional  income, 
seeing  but  little  hope  of  the  congregation  redeeming  the 
p'edge  which  they  gave  on  his  coming  among  them,  of 


providing  him  with  a parsonage  house,  intimated  to  the 
venerable  society  his  wish  to  accept  the  offer  of  the 
mission  at  Westchester,  made  to  him  by  the  church  ward- 
ens and  vestry.  He  was  installed  there  Decem- 
ber 30th. 

Joshua  Bloomer  was  appointed  missionary,  with  a grant 
of  ^30  yearly,  to  the  parish  of  Jamaica,  including  Flush- 
ing and  Newtown,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  people, 
signified  to  the  society  bv  the  church  wardens  of  those 
towns.  He  came  to  Jamaica  in  those  troublous  times 
that  intervened  between  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  act  and 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  inducted 
May  23d  1769.  He  writes  (February  15th  1770):  “I  preach 
generally  to  crowded  assemblies,  who  behave  whith  deco- 
rum. Though  I enjoy  the  love  and  esteem  of  my 
hearers  I have  a troublesome  lawsuit  against  the  parish 
for  £ 60  yearly  salary  which  they  refuse  to  pay  me.”  He 
had  to  institute  a suit  in  chancery  against  Hendrickson 
& Edsall,  church  wardens.  It  was  long  pending,  and 
not  till  April  1774  did  Governor  Tryon,  the  chancellor, 
decide  in  Bloomer’s  favor,  each  party  to  pay  their  own 
costs.  To  alleviate  the  misfortune  of  the  losing  party, 
Mrs.  Tryon,  before  her  departure  for  London,  kindly 
made  them  a present  of  the  costs,  amounting  to  ^(Bo. 
The  chancellor’s  decree  was  as  follows: 

“ I decree  that  the  defendants  shall,  on  or  before  the 
fourth  day  of  June  next,  at  the  door  of  the  parish  church 
of  Jamaica,  between  the  hours  of  ten  and  twelve  in  the 
forenoon,  pay  Mr.  Bloomer  his  salary  from  the  time  of 
his  induction  to  the  commencement  of  his  suit  in  this 
court,  out  of  any  moneys  that  may  have  accrued  under 
the  Ministry  act  and  have  been  received  by  the  defend- 
ants, as  church  wardens,  prior  to  the  filing  of  the  bill, 
but  without  any  interest.  And  I recommend  the  parish 
of  Jamaica  to  pay  all  arrears  of  salary  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Bloomer  that  are  due  him  since  filing  the  bill,  as  any  de- 
lay or  further  dispute  would  justly  subject  them  to  pay- 
ment of  costs.” 

In  1778  was  published  the  following: 

“ Scheme  of  a lottery  for  raising  the  sum  of  £t&o  for 
the  benefit  of  the  established  church  in  the  parish  of 
Jamaica,  on  Nassau  Island,  toward  purchasing  a glebe 
near  said  parish  church. 

“ The  lottery  will  be  drawn  under  the  inspection  of  a 
number  of  persons  of  character,  who  are  appointed  for 
that  purpose. 

“Adventurers  in  the  first  class  are  desired  to  renew  their 
tickets  within  ten  days  after  drawing  each  class,  otherwise 
they  will  be  excluded.  Very  little  more  than  two  blanks 
to  a prize.  The  whole  subject  to  a deduction  of  fifteen 


per  cent. 

“ 1st  class, 

2,000 

tickets  at 

4s-* 

$1,000 

2nd  “ 

2,000 

8s.,  . 

. . 2,000 

3d  “ 

2,000 

U 

1 6s., 

. 4,000 

4th  “ 

2,000 

a 

24s.,  . 

. . 6,000. 

With  the  money  realized  from  this  lottery  a farm  was 
bought,  but  it  did  not  suit  Mr.  Bloomer,  and  it  was  after 
some  years  offered  for  sale,  as  appears  by  the  following 
advertisement,  February  9th  1786: 

“ For  sale,  the  farm  belonging  to  the  Epicsopal  church, 
Jamaica,  pleasantly  situated,  a mile  west  of  the  village. 
It  contains  seventy  acres  (six  of  which  are  wood),  good 
for  pasture  or  tillage,  a house,  barn  and  young  orchard, 
with  a variety  of  other  fruit.  Enquire  of  Christopher 


242 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Smith,  Jamaica;  Daniel  Kissam,  Flushing  Fly,  or  Rev. 
Mr.  Bloomer,  Newtown.” 

Mr.  Bloomer  writes  (April  9th  1777)  that  the  principal 
members  of  his  congregation,  who  refused  to  join  in  the 
measures  of  the  Congress  in  1775-6  had  their  houses 
plundered,  were  seized,  some  put  in  prison,  and  others 
sent  under  guard  to  Connecticut,  where  they  were  de- 
tained as  prisoners  several  weeks.  “I  administered  the 
sacrament  at  Newtown,  where  I had  but  four  or  five  male 
communicants,  the  rest  being  driven  off  or  carried  away 
prisoners.  I was  forbidden  to  read  the  prayers  for  the 
king  and  royal  family.  On  consulting  my  wardens  and 
vestry,  rather  than  omit  any  portion  of  the  liturgy,  we 
shut  up  our  church  for  five  Sundays;  but  on  the  arrival 
of  the  king’s  troops  services  were  resumed,  and  in  1777 
I had  sixty-six  communicants;  and  since  my  last  have 
baptized  twenty-four  infants  and  two  adults.” 

In  1779-80  Rev.  John  Sayre,  a refugee,  then  residing 
at  Hushing,  assisted  Mr.  Bloomer.  The  Rev.  John  Bow- 
den, who  occupied  the  vacated  Dutch  parsonage  at  Ja- 
maica, occasionally  assisted  also.  The  Dutch  church 
was  taken  by  the  British  and  occupied  as  a storehouse. 
Whenever  their  ministers  (Schoonmaker  and  Rubell)  came 
to  Jamaica  they  were  allowed  the  use  of  the  English 
church. 

Mr.  Bloomer  wrote  in  1781  that  his  mission  went  on 
well.  He  was  punctual  in  the  duties  of  his  office  and 
the  p<  ople  were  regular  in  their  attendance  on  public 
worship.  He  died  unmarried  and  intestate,  June  23d 
I79°>  aged  55,  universally  regretted,  and  was  buried  in 
the  chancel  of  the  church. 

1786  the  church  was  shingled,  painted  and  other- 
wise repaired.  In  1790  Rev.  William  Hammell  was 
called,  at  a salary  of  ^40  from  Newtown,  ^35  from 
Flushing,  ^40  from  Jamaica,  and  j£ 30  additional  in  lieu 
of  the  glebe,  which  was  sold  for  ,£603.  He  was  present- 
ed with  a horse,  saddle  and  bridle.  His  eyesight  be- 
came so  weak  that  he  could  not  read  the  prayers.  He 
resigned  in  1795  and  received.^ioo  yearly  from  Trinity 
Church  for  thirty  years. 

Rev.  Charles  Seabury,  son  of  the  bishop,  was  called 
January  15th  1796,  and  continued  till  March  2nd. 

March  3d  1797  a church  glebe  was  bought  for  ^300, 
and  it  being  out  of  repair  £100  was  expended  on  it. 

Newtown  having  withdrawn  from  the  three  united 
churches  Elijah  D.  Rattoone  was  called  May  12th  1797 
by  Jamaica  and  Flushing,  at  a salary  of  $500  and  the  in- 
terest of  ^900,  the  glebe  money.  He  purchased  for 
himself  a country  seat  of  no  acres,  with  1,200  peach 
trees  on  it  and  a fine  large  house,  having  a widely  ex- 
tended prospect.  In  1802  he  resigned  and  went  to  Balti- 
more. 

Rev.  Calvin  White  was  called  December  10th  1802. 
He  soon  complained  that  his  house  was  out  of  repair, 
leaky  and  smoky.  The  vestry  complained  of  his  neglect 
in  visiting  the  people  in  a friendly  way,  and  more  es- 


pecially the  sick.  He  left  abruptly  August  17th  1804. 

Rev.  George  Strebeck,  who  had  been  a Methodist  and 
also  a Lutheran  minister,  was  called  for  six  months  from 
May  1st  1805.  April  8th  1806  Rev.  Andrew  Fowler  was 
called  for  six  months,  and  May  1st  1807  Rev.  John  Ire- 
land for  six  months. 

April  1st  1808  Rev.  Edmund  D.  Barry,  a teacher  in  New 
York,  was  called  for  a year  at  a salary  of  $500,  the  vestry 
engaging  to  pay  his  stage  expenses  and  board  from  Sat- 
urday night  till  Monday  morning. 

The  church  was  now  at  a low  ebb.  The  communi- 
cants on  June  6th  1808  were  John  and  Mrs.  Hewlett, 
Mrs.  King,  Aaron  Van  Nostrand,  Jeremiah  Valentine, 
David  Rowland,  James  Mackrell  sen.  and  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Barry,  John  Hogland,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brewer  and  Tom, 
a black.  The  communion  money  was  only  $2.34.  Some 
members  had  gone  over  to  the  Methodist  church,  which 
was  now  being  started. 

Rufus  King,  who  had  settled  in  Jamaica,  procured  for 
the  church  a gift  from  Trinity  Church  of  three  lots  in  New 
York,  which  yielded  -£ 100  per  year  for  the  support  of  a 
clergyman. 

Rev.  Timothy  Clowes  was  called  April  23d  1809,  at  a 
salary  of  $700  per  year;  but  left  April  23d  1810.  He 
boarded  at  the  widow  Dunbar’s  and  became  engaged  to 
her  niece  Mary.  The  engagement  was  broken  off  by 
mutual  consent.  The  people  would  not  let  the  matter 
drop  thus,  but  took  sides  for  and  against  the  girl.  She 
brought  suit  against  Mr.  Clowes  for  slander  and  recovered 
$4,000  damages. 

Rev.  Gilbert  H.  Sayres  was  called  May  1st  1810,  at  a 
salary  of  $750  per  year.  At  his  first  coming  he  wore  the 
conventional  dress  of  that  day,  viz.,  breeches  buckled  at 
the  knee,  black  stockings  and  shoes.  His  health  failing 
him  he  retired  from  the  charge  May  1st  1830,  on  an 
allowance  of  $100  per  year  for  five  years;  though  a grate- 
ful vestry  made  him  further  allowances  till  near  the  time 
of  his  death,  April  27th  1867,  aged  80. 

May  5th  1812,  the  old  glebe  having  been  sold,  the  farm 
of  Smith  Hicks  was  bought  for  ^1,800;  a part  was  sold 
off  at  once,  and  the  remainder  Mr.  Sayres  bought  for 
himself  in  1826  for  $1,400. 

The  old  church  had  been  often  repaired,  but  kept 
getting  out  of  order,  so  that  on  receipt  of  a gift  of  $1,000 
from  Trinity  Church,  and  $1,000  by  home  subscription, 
the  plan  of  a new  church  was  adopted  September  7th 
1820;  $750  was  borrowed.  The  church  was  consecrated 
July  15th  1822.  Rufus  King  gave  $500  and  a stove,  and 
he  with  Timothy  Nostrand  and  L.  E.  A.  Eigenbrodt 
assisted  the  carpenters  in  planning  the  edifice.  The  taste 
for  church  music  was  at  a low  ebb.  Music  books  were 
few  and  not  much  studied,  the  singing  being  by  rote 
rather  than  by  note.  Music  such  as  it  was  was  vocal. 
In  1827  a flute  was  introduced,  and  then  a bassoon.  Not 
till  1835  was  an  organ  introduced,  a gift  of  the  ladies  of 
the  missionary  society. 


GRACE  CHURCH,  JAMAICA. 


243 


Grace  Church,  Jamaica.  Consecrated  July  15  1822. 

On  December  3d  1829  Ceo.  E.  Ryerson  was  arrested 
for  stealing  prayer  books,  altar  decorations  and  carpet 
from  Grace  Church. 

Rev.  Wm.  L.  Johnson  commenced  his  labors  here  May 
1st  1830,  at  a salary  of  $600  a year  and  finding  his  own 
dwelling.  He  was  then  rich  in  Brooklyn  lots,  but,  being 
a better  minister  than  a financier,  he  lived  to  see  the  end 
of  his  wealth.  Being  a good  classical  scholar  of  a literary 
turn  he  published  several  sermons.  He  died  August  4th 
1870,  aged  70.  Masonic  honors  were  superadded  to  the 
usual  funeral  solemnities. 

In  January  1837  a free  school  for  negroes  was  estab- 
lished by  the  church,  It  had  55  scholars.  Soon  after 
this  a Sunday-school  was  started;  but  it  did  not  succeed 
very  well  till  Jeremiah  Valentine  became  superintendent 
and  Miss  Anne  Van  Wvck  taught  and  drilled  the  scholars 
in  singing.  On  December  30th  1856  the  grateful  scholars 
and  teachers  presented  Mr.  Valentine  with  a gold  pen 
and  pencil  worth  $22;  and  January  1st  i860  they  gave 
him  a handsome  Bible. 

April  20th  1841  the  vestry  voted  to  repair  the  church, 
at  a cost  of  $1,550. 

In  i860  the  church  was  repaired,  improved  and  beauti- 
fied at  a cost  of  $3,200,  stained  glass  windows  being  put 
in  at  a cost  of  $300,  mostly  given  by  the  ladies  through 
Miss  Anne  Van  Wyck;  but  on  New  Year’s  morning  of 
1861  this  comely  edifice  was  burned  to  the  ground  by  a fire 
originating  in  the  flues  of  the  furnace.  The  organ,  two 
tablets  containing  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  creed  and  ten  com- 
mandments, a communion  table  of  English  oak  and 


graceful  pattern,  a bell  weighing  over  400  lbs. 
cast  in  1748,  two  old  locust  trees  and  some 
tombstones  were  included  in  the  ruin. 

On  May  21st  1861  the  vestry  contracted 
with  Hendrick  Brinkerhoff  and  Anders  Peter- 
sen to  build  for  $14,900  a gothic  edifice  of 
Jersey  blue  stone,  43  by  90  feet.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Potter  July  6th 
1861,  and  the  building  consecrated  January 
8th  1863.  The  rector  being  infirm  Rev.  S.  J. 
Corneille  was  engaged  as  assistant  Nov.  1st 
1852.  Rev.  Augustine  Cornell  was  settled  as 
assistant  in  January  1864.  Rev.  Thos.  Cook 
was  called  May  10th  1866,  at  a salary  of  $800 
per  year,  as  assistant. 

Rev.  George  Williamson  Smith  was  called 
January  1 8th  1872.  He  was  the  twelfth  rector 
and  twenty-second  minister  of  this  ancient 
parish.  His  salary  was  $2,000  and  the  use 
of  the  parsonage,  which  was  bought  in  May 
1872  at  a cost  of  $8,000.  He  preached  his 
farewell  sermon  August  28th  18S1. 

The  church  has  been  robbed  several  times. 
On  Tuesday  night  December  17th  1855  thieves 
entered  the  church  by  placing  a barrel  under 
one  of  the  rear  windows  and  so  climbing 
inside;  carpets,  pulpit  cushions,  etc.,  to  the 
value  of  $50  were  stolen.  On  the  night  of 
May*3ist  1866  the  church  was  robbed  of  its 
carpets  in  the  center  and  one  side  aisle.  The  thieves 
entered  in  the  rear  by  the  northwest  window. 

On  the  night  of  February  26th  1874  thieves  entered 
the  church  by  breaking  a pane  of  glass  from  the  west 
window  near  the  organ.  They  tore  up  the  carpets  in  the 
aisles,  cut  the  letters  from  the  altar-  cloth  and  destroyed 
one  surplice,  leaving  a gown  and  another  surplice  un- 
harmed. The  vestry  had  a burglar  alarm  put  in;  but  on 
the  night  of  June  17th  1881  some  thieves  set  up  a ladder 
and  took  a pane  of  glass  out  of  a rear  window,  detached 
the  wires  of  the  burglar  alarm  and  carried  off  the  altar 
cloth,  the  rector’s  black  gown  and  vest,  and  the  com- 
munion wine. 

The  greatest  Denefactors  of  the  church  have  been  the 
King  family.  Rufus  King  procured  much  help  to  the 
church  from  “Old  Trinity.”  His  son,  Governor  John 
A.  King,  besides  bountiful  contributions  in  money  gave 
land  for  enlarging  the  church  yard  at  different  times.  In 
1847  he  gave  a baptismal  font  of  Italian  marble.  In  1862 
an  organ  was  given  the  church  in  the  name  of  John  A. 
King  and  Mary,  his  wife.  Mrs.  James  G.  King  gave  a 
large  Oxford  Bible  and  four  large  prayer  books.  Mrs. 
James  G.  King  sen.  gave  a beautiful  stone  font.  The 
bishop’s  chair  and  books  for  the  reading  desk  were  gifts 
of  the  King  family.  On  January  15th  1867  Mrs.  Charles 
King  had  three  tablets  for  the  creed,  the  Lord’s  Prayer 
and  the  ten  commandments  set  up  in  the  rear  of  the 
chancel.  On  the  death  of  John  A.  King  it  appeared 
that  he  had  left  $1,000  to  the  church  to  keep  the  bury- 
ing ground  in  good  order,  and  his  executors  gave  the 


29 


244 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Grace  Church,  Jamaica. 

Opened  for  Worship  Sunday  Sept.  21  1862 ; Consecrated  Thursday  Jan.  8 1863. 


church  more  land  for  a cemetery  at  a nominal  price.  On 
St.  John’s  day  1873  the  children  of  Mrs.  Mary  King 
endowed  a bed  in  St.  John’s  hospital  for  the  needy  sick, 
to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  vestry.  On  August  7th  1878 
a memorial  lectern  of  carved  oak  was  placed  on  the 
steps  of  the  choir.  The  inscription  on  it  was,  “A.  D. 
1878.  Inmemoriam  Mary  King,  1873.”  On  the  north 
wall  of  the  church  is  a marble  tablet  with  a raised  profile 
of  John  Alsop  King,  who  was  born  January  3d  1788  and 
died  July  7th  1867. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Jamaica. 

In  1767  Captain  Webb,  a converted  soldier  of  the  Brit- 
ish army,  having  a relative  living  in  Jamaica,  came  here 
on  a visit,  hired  a house  and  preached  in  it,  and  24  per- 
sons received  justifying  faith.  From  that  time  till  1784 
(when  Philip  Cox  was  sent  to  the  circuit)  we  hear  noth- 
ing more  of  that  denomination.  Jamaica  was  at  first 
included  in  the  Long  Island  circuit  and  then  in  the 
Brooklyn  circuit — called  circuit  from  the  fact  that  the 
ministers  rode  around  from  place  to  place — and  was  not 
made  into  a separate  appointment  till  1843,  when  Rev. 
Joseph  Henson  was  pastor.  Jamaica  first  appears  in  the 
printed  annals  of  the  Methodist  church  in  1810,  with 
Francis  Ward  and  Isaac  Candee  as  pastors,  who  reported 
for  the  circuit  (which  included  all  of  Queens  county  and 
the  western  part  of  Suffolk)  629  members.  In  a private 
manuscript  of  1807  Luman  Andrews,  John  Kline  and 
Joseph  Lockwood  are  named  as  preachers  and  Joseph 
Crawford  as  presiding  elder. 


The  site  of  the  first  Methodist  church  was 
the  free  gift  of  Israel  Disosway  and  his  sister 
Ann,  of  New  York,  who  on  July  28th  1810 
“sell  for  one  dollar  to  Mark  Disosway,  Peter 
Poillon  and  John  Dunn,  of  Jamaica;  to  Joseph 
Harper  and  Thomas  Hyatt,  of  Newtown;  to 
Andrew  Mercein,  John  Garretson  and  Joseph 
Mason,  of  Brooklyn,  and  to  Israel  Disosway, 
of  New  York,  as  trustees,  8 lots  (that  were 
conveyed  by  Edward  and  Mary  Bardin  Janu- 
ary 27th  1803  t0  Nicholas  Roosevelt)  bounded 
east  by  Church  street  and  west  by  Division 
street,  being  100  by  225  feet  on  the  north  and 
south  sides,  to  build  thereon  a place  of  worship 
for  the  use  of  the  meeting  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  to  permit  Methodist  preachers,  and 
none  others  to  preach  in  and  expound  God’s 
word.’’  • 

A subscription  list  of  December  4th  1809 
reads  as  follows: 

“ Whereas  the  Methodist  society  in  Jamaica 
are  about  to  build  a house  there  for  the 
worship  of  God,  we,  willing  to  encourage  the 
undertaking,  promise  to  pay  the  sums  an- 
nexed to  our  names:  Mark  Disosway,  $751 
Peter  Poillon,  $50;  George  Codwise,  $10; 
James  Denton,  $5;  Abraham  D.  Ditmars, 
$15;  Abraham  Ditmars,  $3.50;  John  Ryder, 
$3:  John  Thatford,  $3;  William  Creed,  $4; 
a friend,  $30;  William  Sales,  $3;  Smith  Hicks,  $5;  John 
Martson,  $2;  Mary  P.  Austin,  $2;  Daniel  Rhodes,  $2.50; 
Michael  Skidmore,  $2;  John  S.  Messenger,  $2;  Cary 
Dunn  j r.,  $5;  Joseph  Seeley,  $4;  Joseph  Robinson,  $10; 
B.  T.  Rowland,  fi;  Silas  Roe,  $i;  David  Lamberson,  $3; 
Nicholas  Ludlum,  $2;  Miss  Clarissa  Keteltas,  $2;  Anna 
Scriba,  $5;  J.  P.,  $2.50;  Elizabeth  Brewer,  $4;  S.  S. 
Carman,  $1;  Abraham  Snedeker,  $1;  Elisha  Sweet,  $3; 
from  a friend  (C.  Elderd),  $3;  Jacob  Smith,  $5;  Wash- 
shington  Smith,  two  days’  work.” 

Besides  the  above  $711  were  subscribed  by  residents 
in  New  York. 

A class  paper  of  1808  has  the  following  names  of  mem- 
bers : Mark  and  Judith  P.  Disosway,  John,  Deborah  and 
Amasa  Dunn,  Adra  and  Peter  Poillon,  Elizabeth  and 
Rebecca  Jones,  Joseph  and  Hannah  Dunbar,  Abraham 
and  William  Cole,  Mary  Pettit,  Lenah  Leech,  William 
and  Charity  Francis,  Garret  Murphy,  Daniel  Stringham. 

The  frame  was  got  out  by  contract  and  transported 
from  Smith  town  to  Jamaica.  At  the  raising  of  it  a 
serious  accident  occurred.  All  the  frame  had  been 
erected  except  the  rafters,  and,  instead  of  erecting  these 
two  by  two,  they  were  first  all  piled  together  on  the  beams 
of  the  newly  erected  frame,  which  broke  down  under  the 
superincumbent  weight  and  severely  injured  Smith 
Hicks  and  Joseph  Dunbar. 

Several  of  the  Methodists  had  withdrawn  from  the 
Episcopal  church,  such  as  Mark  Disosway,  John  Dudley, 
John  Dunn,  Obadiah  and  Abraham  Leech,  Joseph  Dun- 
bar and  others.  Before  the  erection  of  the  church,  meet- 
ings were  held  in  private  houses.  Disosway  was  the  fa- 


CHURCHES— SOCIETIES. 


245 


ther  and  chief  patron  of  the  denomination  in  Jamaica. 
He  lived  in  the  house  now  George  Nostrand’s.  He  was  im- 
poverished by  his  unbounded  hospitality.  The  ministers 
were  then  itinerant  and  rode  the  circuit  on  horseback, 
with  saddle  bags  which  contained  their  books  and  cloth- 
ing. Sometimes  nine  horses  at  once  stood  in  Mr.  Disos- 
way’s  stables,  feeding  from  his  mangers,  while  the  riders 
sat  at  his  table  and  slept  under  his  roof. 

The  Methodist  congregation  did  not  increase  much  for 
some  years.  In  1844  there  were  only  33  members;  but 
under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  M.  E.  Willing  about  90  joined 
the  church  on  probation. 

In  1846  a second  church  was  erected,  on  the  corner  of 
Fulton  street  and  New  York  avenue,  at  a cost  of  nearly 
$4,000.  The  building  committee  consisted  of  O.  P. 
Leech,  A.  D.  Snedekerand  Harvey  Parcel.  At  his  death 
Mr.  .Leech  left  $300  to  buy  a bell  for  the  church.  An 
organ  costing  $500  was  put  in  the  church  in  1868.  In 
1866  an  acre  of  ground  was  bought  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Hunt- 
ting  for  $9,000,  and  the  place  was  used  as  a parsonage 
till  1873,  when  the  old  house  was  sold  and  removed 
The  corner  stone  of  a new  church  was  laid  October  9th 
1873  by  Rev.  R.  C.  Putney,  the  pastor.  The  building  was 
dedicated  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  William  T.  Hill,  October  1st 
1874.  It  was  a frame  structure  50  by  80  feet,  and  cost 
about  $14,000. 

A parsonage  on  the  same  lot  with  the  church  was  com- 
pleted in  April  1874.  In  the  rear  of  the  church  is  a 
Sunday-school  building  and  lecture  room.  The  plan  of 
the  church  and  parsonage  was  devised  and  drawn  by  John 
C.  Acker,  who  with  Rev.  W.  T.  Hill,  Isaac  B.  Strang, 
John  B.  Hopkins,  John  W.  Selover,  Thomas  W.  Clary, 
Smith  B.  Crossman  and  Isaac  B.  Remsen  constituted  the. 
building  committee.  The  total  cost  of  the  church  prop- 
erty was  about  $40,000. 

The  present  membership  is  about  240.  Rev.  Thomas 
Stephenson  is  now  the  pastor. 

The  Sunday-school  in  1844  numbered  only  34  scholars. 
In  1881  it  had  increased  to  149  scholars,  with  29  officers 
and  teachers  ; John  C.  Acker  being  superintendent,  Geo. 
E.  Tilly  assistant,  and  Richard  W.  Rhoades  secretary. 
The  library  has  about  400  volumes. 

Other  Churches. 

The  first  Roman  Catholic  church  (St.  Monica)  was  a 
small  edifice  of  wood,  erected  in  1839,  in  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  James  O’Donnel,  at  a cost  of  $1,000.  The  pres- 
ent building,  of  brick,  costing  $25,000,  was  planned  by 
Rev.  Anthony  Farley,  the  pastor,  and  erected  on  lots 
given  by  a lady  in  New  York,  in  1856. 

The  Baptist  church  was  organized  November  nth  1868. 
A church  was  built  at  a cost  of  $1,800.  The  pastors  have 
been  Revs.  George  H.  Pendleton,  Mr.  Fuller,  A.  Stewart 
Walsh,  Charles  Colman,  Charles  Edwards  and  Samuel 
Taylor. 

The  Baptist  Shiloh  negro  church  was  organized 
December  22nd  1872,  and  the  building,  valued  at  $1,200, 
was  dedicated  in  November  1877.  There  are  25  church 
members.  The  Sunday-school  was  started  in  1873.  The 


preachers  have  been  Charles  Colman,  Joseph  Francis  and 
John  Cary. 

The  German  Reformed  church  of  St.  Paul  was  erected 
in  1873,  at  a cost  of  $5,000.  The  society  was  taken 
under  the  care  of  the  north  classis  of  Long  Island  in  1876. 
The  pastors  have  been  P.  Quirn,  S.  H.  Gundt,  Ernest 
Oxee,  Julius  Hones  and  Henry  F reeh. 

SOCIETIES. 

Free  Masons. 

Morton  Lodge  (1802). — R.  W.  Isaac  Hagner,  M.;  W. 
William  Mott,  S.  W.;  W.  Henry  Hagner,  J.  W. ; Abram 
Bedell,  treasurer;  Silvanus  Smith,  secretary;  Daniel  Be- 
dell, S.  D.;  Wright  Nichols,  J.  D.;  William  Anson,  stew- 
ard; William  Crooker,  tiler;  R.  W.  David  R.  Floyd-Jones, 
P.  M.  Number  of  members,  40. 

Jamaica  Lodge , No.  546,  was  organized  under  dispen- 
sation from  the  grand  lodge  of  the  State  of  New  York 
March  3d  1864.  The  first  communication  was  held 
March  15th  1864,  when  the  officers  were  as  follows: 
Henry  Pooley  Cooper,  master;  Peter  Waters,  S.  W.; 
Thomas  Barker,  J.W.;  Clinton  A.  Beldin,  treasurer;  Pier- 
pont  Potter,  secretary;  P.  D.  Hoffman,  S.  deacon;  Ber- 
nard Muldoon,  J.  deacon;  William  L.  Johnson,  chaplain ; 
Benjamin  B.  Wood,  S.  master  of  ceremonies;  Joseph 
Hawkins,  J.  master  of  ceremonies;  Michael  Shaw,  tiler. 

A charter  was  granted  and  the  lodge  constituted  by 
the  officers  of  the  grand  lodge  June  14th  1864. 

The  officers  in  1882  were:  George  M.  Gale,  W.  mas- 
ter; John  Ryder,  S.  warden;  Charles  H.  Acker,  J.  war- 
den; Pierpont  Potter,  chaplain;  Samuel  S.  Aymar,  secre- 
tary; Charles  H.  Stevens,  treasurer;  John  S.  Denton,  S. 
deacon;  J.  E.  Spillett,  J.  deacon;  David  L.  Brinkerhoff, 
S.  M.  of  C.;  Elijah  Raynor,  J.  M.  of  C.;  George  W.  Al- 
len, musical  director;  Theodore  J.  Armstrong,  organist; 
Stephen  Ryder,  marshal;  William  F.  Rosst,  tiler;  John 
J.  Armstrong,  John  H.  Brinckerhoff  and  George  VV.  Allen, 
trustees. 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  first  and  third  Wednesday 
evenings  in  each  month. 

Queens  County  Medical  Society. 

There  have  been  three  medical  societies.  The  first 
was  formed  October  1st  1806,  with  Daniel  Minema  pres- 
ident, Henry  Mott  vice-president,  Thomas  Cock  secretary, 
and  James  Searing  treasurer. 

The  second  medical  society  was  formed  December  17th 
1829,  with  Nathan  Shelton  president,  Lucius  Kellog 
vice-president,  James  C.  Townsend  secretary,  and  Austin 
Chapman  treasurer. 

About  1853  the  present  society  was  formed.  It  num- 
bers about  180  members.  The  officers  are:  James  D. 
Trask,  president;  W.  P.  Overton,  vice-president;  Dr. 
Finn,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

Odd-  Fellows. 

Jamaica  Lodge , No.  81,  I.  O.  O.  F.  was  instituted  Jan- 
uary 2 1 st  1843.  In  i860  the  charter  was  surrendered 


246 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


to  the  grand  lodge;  but  in  1870  it  was  restored  and  the 
lodge  was  reinstituted  as  Jamaica  Lodge,  No.  247,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  with  the  following  officers:  James  A.  Kilburn,  N. 

G. ;  Joseph  B.  Everitt,  V.  C.;  William  T.  Brush,  secre- 
tary; George  L.  Peck,  treasurer. 

The  present  officers  are:  John  A.  Campbell,  N.  G.; 
William  Dykes,  V.  G.;  James  S.  Jones,  secretary;  Lewis 
C.  Buckbee,  treasurer.  Meetings  are  held  in  the  lodge 
room,  No'.  20  Washington  street,  Monday  evenings. 

Royal  Arcanum. 

Jamaica  Council,  No.  433,  was  instituted  January  28th 
1880,  by  Charles  Davis,  grand  regent  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  It  meets  every  second  and  fourth  Thursday 
evening  at  Odd  Fellows’  Hall,  Jamaica.  The  trustees 
are  George  A.  Hicks,  George  Durland  and  George  W. 
Sullivan. 

• Religious  Societies. 

The  Long  Island  Bible  Society  was  formed  August  1st 
1815.  The  following  is  a list  of  its  officers  to  the  pres- 
ent time:  Presidents — Adrian  Van  Sinderen,  Rev.  John 
Goldsmith,  Laurens  Reeve,  John  A.  Lott,  John  J.  Arm- 
strong; corresponding  secretaries — Revs.  David  S.  Bo- 
gart, John  V.  E.  Thorne,  John  Goldsmith,  M.  W.  Jaco- 
bus, Jonathan  Greenleaf,  N.  C.  Locke,  John  P.  Knox,  B. 
F.  Stead,  Franklin  Noble,  Cornelius  L.  Wells;  recording 
secretaries — Revs.  Jacob  Schoonmaker,  Thomas  M. 
Strong,  Elias  W.  Crane,  Ichabod  Spencer,  George  A. 
Shelton,  William  H.  Moore,  G.  H.  Sayres  and  Rev.  A. 

H.  Allen;  treasurers — John  Titus,  Van  Wyck  Wickes, 
Hosea  Webster,  Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  L.  L.  Fosdick. 
The  Suffolk  County  Bible  Society,  formed  October  3d 
1815,  was  merged  in  the  Long  Island  Bible  Society  in 
1826. 

The  Jamaica  Bible  Society  was  formed  in  1816,  with 
William  Ludlum  president,  and  collected  $153  the  first 
year.  It  has  usually  raised  from  $ roo  to  $200  a year,  and 
sometimes  over  $400. 

Charitable  Visitation. — There  is  also  a Queens  county 
society  for  visiting  prisons,  poor-houses  and  asylums,  of 
which  William  H.  Onderdonk  is  president. 


The  Queens  County  Sunday-School  Teachers'  Association 
was  organized  June  13th  1872,  as  auxiliary  to  the  State 
society.  Its  meetings  are  held  quarterly,  at  places  con- 
venient of  access  by  railroad.  The  officers  are:  A.  H. 
Downer,  president;  Adam  Seabury,  treasurer;  Joseph 
Bernhard,  secretary. 


Morris  Fosdick. 

Morris  Fosdick,  of  Jamaica,  was  born  at  Springfield 
in  that  town  November  7th  1814.  He  received  a 
common  school  education  and  entered  upon  business  life 
at  an  early  age.  His  father,  Morris,  was  a teacher,  land 
surveyor  and  conveyancer  by  profession,  and  on  his 
death,  in  1833,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  succeeded  him, 
beginning  to  teach  at  the  age  of  nineteen  in  the  same 
district  where  his  father  had  taught  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  continuing  to  teach  there  until  1849.  During  this 
period  his  surveys  were  extensive,  reaching  throughout 
the  county  and  beyond  its  limits.  Besides  attending  to 
his  profession  he  took  an  active  interest  in  local 
and  public  affairs.  He  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner of  deeds  in  1838,  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
in  1841,  re-elected  in  1845  and  again  in  1849,  and  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  by  Governor 
Silas  Wright  in  1846.  His  acquaintance  with  the  law 
(although  he  was  never  formally  admitted  to  the  bar) 
gave  him  a large  practice  as  counsellor,  and  led  to  his 
election  in  1849  to  the  office  of  county  judge  and  surro- 
gate of  Queens  county,  to  which  office  he  was  re-elected 
in  1853.  On  the  separation  of  these  offices  in  1857  he 
was  elected  surrogate,  and  re-elected  in  1861,  his  term 
ending  January  1st  1866.  He  was  also  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  from  1856  to  1865,  and  has  been  one 
of  the  trustees  of  Union  Hall  Academy  since  1851. 
Since  his  retirement  from  public  life  he  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  the  affairs  of  the  Jamaica  Savings  Bank,  of 
which  he  has  been  the  treasurer  since  its  organization  in 
1866,  and  to  the  financial  interests  of  his  large 
clientage. 


John  J.  Armstrong. 


John  J.  Armstrong  was  born  September  6th  1828,  in 
the  town  of  North  Hempstead.  He  received  an  academic 
education  at  the  seminary  at  Hempstead,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  law  in  November  1849.  He  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Jamaica,  where  he  has  re- 
sided ever  since. 

He  was  elected  district  attorney  in  November  1859, 
and  was  re-elected  in  November  1862. 

He  was  elected  county  judge  of  the  county  of  Queens 
in  November  1865,  and  re-elected  in  November  1869, 
November  1875,  and  November  1879. 

In  December  1872  he  was  a member  of  the  constitu- 
tional commission  (appointed  by  the  governor  and 
confirmed  by  the  Senate)  to  prepare  amendments  to  the 
constitution  for  submission  to  the  people. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  connected  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party. 


Judge  Armstrong  is  a man  habitually  kind  and  cour- 
teous, methodical  in  his  habits,  and  a hard  worker — going 
to  his  office  before  breakfast  and  returning  to  it  after 
supper  to  continue  his  labors  in  the  evening.  His  suc- 
cess as  a professional  man  has  been  worked  for  and  fairly 
won. 

He  is  a member  and  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Jamaica,  regular  in  attendance  at  its  services,  and  always 
ready  to  contribute  labor  or  money  for  the  church.  His 
temperament  is  nervous  and  quick.  His  leading  charac- 
teristic is  his  loyalty:  he  does  not  forget  his  friends — he 
spares  neither  time  nor  labor  to  serve  them.  He  is  free 
from  the  taint  of  intemperance  or  profanity.  He  is  most 
careful  in  speaking  of  others,  having  the  quality  of  jus- 
tice in  an  eminent  degree.  He  is  devoted  to  his  home 
and  family,  and  toward  the  poor  and  unfortunate  sym- 
pathetic and  generous. 


248 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  Johnson  Family. 

The  Johnson  family,  though  wearing  an  English  sur- 
name, is  originally  of  French,  and  more  immediately  of 
Holland  extraction.  The  original  relationship  between 
the  Rapalje  and  Johnson  families  is  as  follows: 

Gaspard  Colet  de  Rapalje  was  born  in  France,  at 
Chatillon  sur  Loir,  in  1505.  He  signalized  himself  during 
the  reigns  of  Francis  I.  and  Henry  II.,  and  was  made 
colonel  of  infantry,  December  22nd  1545.  He  was  a 
Protestant,  and  when  the  king,  in  1548,  began  to  enforce 
with  great  severity  the  edicts  issued  against  the  Protest- 
ants he  was  deprived  of  his  commission  and  compelled 
to  flee  to  Holland.  There  he  married  the  daughter  of 
Victor  Antonie  Jansen  of  Antwerp,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children,  Gaspard  Coligne  de  Rapalje,  Abram  Colet 
de  Rapalje,  and  a daughter  named  Breckje. 

Victor  Honorius  Jansen  married  in  1669  his 
cousin  Breckje  Rapalje.  They  had  one  son,  Abram  Jan- 
sen, who  is  said  to  have  been  a historical  painter  of  con- 
siderable eminence.  There  are  some  of  his  works  in  the 
churches  of  Antwerp,  and  his  chief  work,  the  “ Resurrec- 
tion of  Lazarus,”  is  in  the  Dusseldorf  gallery. 

Abram  Jansen  married,  June  15th  1594,  a daughter 
of  Hans  Lodewyck  of  Amsterdam,  by  whom  he  had 
three  sons — William  Jansen  de  Rapalje,  Joris  (George) 
Jansen  de  Rapalje,  and  Antonie  Jansen  Van  Salers, 
which  title  he  acquired  from  an  inheritance  left  him  by 
one  of  his  grandfather’s  relations,  who  resided  at  Salers, 
a town  of  France,  in  Upper  Auvergne. 

The  elder  brother,  William,  persuaded  his  brother 
George  to  accompany  him  to  America,  and  they  set  sail 
in  1623,  with  the  commercial  agent  of  the  West  India 
Company,  Peter  Minuit,  in  the  ship  of  Captain  Korne- 
liss  Jacobse  Mey.  William  never  married,  but  after 
having  been  a successful  merchant  for  several  years  in 
New  Amsterdam  (New  York)  he  died  at  Gravesend,  L. 
I.,  at  the  house  of  his  younger  brother,  Antonie  Jansen 
Van  Salers,  who  left  Holland  and  followed  his  brothers 
to  America  in  1631. 

Joris  (George)  Jansen  de  Rapalje  settled  at  the  Walle- 
bocht  (Wallabout)  and  founded  Brooklyn.  Here  was 
built  the  first  house  on  Long  Island,  in  which  he  and  his 
wife  lived;  and  here  (June  9th  1625)  was  born  Sarah 
Rapalje,  the  first  white  child  of  European  parentage  born 
in  the  State  of  New  York. 

Antonie  Jansen  Van  Salers,  the  youngest  son  of  Abram 
Jansen,  was  born  in  Holland,  and  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1631.  He  founded  Grave-zande  (Gravesend),  situ- 
ated on  the  southwestern  part  of  Long  Island,  about 
twelve  miles  from  the  Wallebocht  (Wallabout),  where  his 
brother  George  resided.  The  patent  for  lands  granted 
to  Antonie  Jansen  bears  date  August  1st  1639  (see  Book 
1,  page  124,  Alb.  Recv,  and  the  tract  comprised  100 
morgens  (a  little  less  than  200  acres),  extending  along  the 
strand  253  rods,  opposite  Coney  Island.  The  easterly 
part  of  this  island  is  now  known  as  Manhattan  Beach, 
one  of  the  most  noted  summer  resorts  in  the  world. 

Antonie  Jansen  married  a Quakeress,  by  whom  he 


had  four  sons:  1,  Claes;  2,  Pieter  (who  had  four  sons — 
Hans-Pieter,  Rem-Jan,  Daniel  Rapalje,  and  Jan);  3,  Pa- 
rent (who  had  three  sons — Jan-Barentse,  Jeronimus  de 
Rapalje,  and  Lodewyck);  4,  Hendrick,  who  had  four 
sons:  Jan  (John),  Claes,  Barent,  and  William. 

Hendrick  Jansen,  the  youngest  son  of  Antonie, 
settled  at  Gravesend  and  married  a Stil well,  by  whom  he 
had  four  sons:  1,  Jan  (John),  who  settled  at  Jamaica, 
L.  I.;  2,  Claes,  who  settled  at  Six  Mile  Run,  N.  J.;  3, 
Barent*,  who  settled  at  Gravesend;  4,  William,  who  set- 
tled at  Gravesend. 

Hendrick’s  children  changed  the  Holland  name  Jansen 
to  the  English  name  Johnson , yet  the  Holland  name  was 
retained  for  many  years  in  the  family  records. 

John  Johnson,  the  oldest  son  of  Hendrick,  was  born 
at  Gravesend,  L.  I.,  December  5th  1705.  He  married 
(September  23d  1732)  Catalina  Schenck,  who  was  born 
May  7th  1705.  They  had  seven  children:  1,  Maria,  born 
August  1 1 th  1733,  married  Douw  Ditmars  of  Jamaica; 

2,  Catalina,  born  August  15th  1735,  remained  unmarried; 

3,  Elizabeth,  born  November  21st  1737,  married  Abra- 
ham Ditmars  of  Jamaica;  4,  Barent,  born  April  2nd  1740, 
married  Anne  Remsen;  5,  Martin,  born  October  25th 
1742,  married  Phebe  Rapalje;  6,  Catharine,  born  Febru- 
ary 1 8th  1746,  died  in  infancy;  7,  Johannes,  born  July 
25th  1748,  died  in  infancy. 

John  Johnson  held  office  in  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church  at  Jamaica.  He  died  March  27th  1776.  His 
wife  died  October  5th  1779. 

Martin  Johnson,  of  Jamaica,  born  October  25th 
1742,  married  (May  10th  1772)  Phebe,  daughter  of  George 
Rapelje  of  New  Lots.  She  was  born  February  25th 
1754.  Their  children  were:  1,  Catalina,  born  May  14th 
1773,  married  (November  5th  1791),  John  D.  Ditmis  of 
Jamaica,  and  had  children  Martin,  Dow  I.,  John.  Abra- 
ham, Phebe,  Maria,  Catalina,  and  George;  2,  Maria,  born 
August  20th  1775,  died  in  infancy;  3,  Johannes  (John), 
born  February  27th  1777,  died  in  infancy;  4,  Maria, 
born  May  10th  1778,  married  (November  30th  1798)  Rem 
Suydam  of  Newtown,  and  had  children  Phebe,  Catalina, 
John,  Maria,  Nelly,  Martin,  Gitty,  and  George  and  Henry 
(twins);  5,  Johannes  (John),  born  September  26th  1780, 
died  in  infancy;  6,  Martin,  born  March  14th  1782,  died 
in  infancy;  7,  Phebe,  born  July  19th  1783,  married  (De- 
cember nth  1800)  John  I.  Duryea,  and  had  children 
Jane  Ann,  Maria,  Alletta,  Martin  I.,  Sarah,  Catalina,  and 
John  I.;  8,  Martin,  born  September  13th  1785,  died  in 
infancy;  9,  Elizabeth,  born  January  25th  1788,  married 
Willett  Skidmore  and  had  children  Phebe  and 
Samuel;  10,  Jannetie  (Jane),  born  May  15th  1790, 

* Barent,  the  third  son  of  Hendrick,  was  the  father  of  the  Kev,  John 
B.  Johnson,  a noted  preacher  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  who  was 
settled  first  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  at  Brooklyn,  where  he  died 
in  1803.  Rev.  John  B.  Johnson  had  three  childreu:  1,  Maria  L.,  who 
married  the  Rev.  Evan  M.  Johnson,  rector  of  St.  James’s  Church,  New- 
town, L.  I.,  from  1814  to  1827,  when  he  removed  to  St.  John’s  Church, 
Brooklyn;  2,  Rev.  William  L.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  who  from  1830  to  the  time 
of  his  death  (1870)  was  rector  of  Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  L.  I.;  3,  Rev. 
Samuel  R.  Johnson,  D.  D„  who  was  rector  at  different  times  of  several 
Episcopal  churches,  and  professor  in  the  Episcopal  Theological  Semi- 
nary, New  York  city. 


THE  JOHNSON  AND  SNEDIKER  FAMILIES. 


249 


died  in  infancy;  11,  Joris  (George),  born  August 
30th  1791,  married  (June  28th  1815)  Catharine  Snediker 
and  had  children  Martin  G.,  Catharine,  and  Phebe;  12, 
Johannes  (John),  born  May  17th  1794,  married  (August 
22nd  1815)  Maria  Lott  and  had  children  Martin  I., 
Stephen,  Phebe,  Eldert,  George,  Maria  Ann,  Catalina, 
Henry,  Jeremiah,  Sarah,  Ditmars,  and  Catharine;  13, 
Jannetie  (Jane),  born  February  22nd  1797,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Martin  Johnson,  the  grandfather  of  Martin  G.,  died 
April  27th  1798.  Phebe,  his  wife,  died  October  27th 
1828. 

Martin  Johnson  was  earnest  in  the  cause  of  independ- 
ence, and  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  best  part  of  his 
house  to  the  British  officers,  who  occupied  it  while  their 
army  was  encamped  at  Jamaica.  He  and  his  family  were 
greatly  discommoded,  but  it  was  better  to  submit  quietly 
than  to  object  and  perhaps  suffer  more.  Martin  John- 
son was  an  active  member  and  an  elder  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  and  one  of  the  committee  to  repair  the 
church  edifice  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  during  which 
it  was  dismantled  by  the  British  soldiers.  He  was  one 
of  the  contributors  to  the  fund  for  founding  Union  Hall 
Academy.  The  first  building  was  erected  on  the  south 
side  of  Fulton  street,  where  Herriman’s  brick  row  now 
stands,  and  was  opened  May  1st  1792.  Here  his  sons 
George  and  John  were  educated,  when  Lewis  E.  A. 
Eigenbrodt,  LL.D.,  was  principal,  which  position  he  held 
from  1796  to  1828. 

George  Johnson,  born  August  30th  1791,  married 
(June  28th  1815)  Catharine  Snediker,  who  was  born 
December  5th  1788.  They  had  three  children:  r,  Martin 
G.  Johnson,  born  April  26th  1816,  married  (May  31st 
1859)  Margaret  T.  Nostrand,  who  was  born  February 
19th  1815 — no  children;  2,  Catharine  Johnson,  born 
July  8th  1819,  married  (May  13th  1856)  Elias  J.  Hen- 
drickson,* who  was  born  August  10th  1812 — no  children; 
3,  Phebe  Johnson,  born  January  4th  1824,  married 
(June  19th  1854)  George  O.  Ditmis  (who  was  born  July 
22nd  1818)  and  died  December  27th  1866. 

George  O.  and  Phebe  Ditmis  had  six  children:  1, 
Catharine,  born  November  26th  1856;  2,  Georgianna  J., 
born  May  5th  1859;  3,  John  D.,  born  December  18th  i860; 
4 and  5,  Martin  G.  J.  (born  January  30th  1862,  died 
February  1 8th  1878)  and  Margaret  N.,  born  January 
30th  1862,  died  in  infancy;  6,  Caroline  Maria,  born  No- 
vember 9th  1863,  died  in  infancy. 

George  Johnson,  the  father  of  Martin  G.,  held  at  dif- 
ferent times  the  town  offices  of  supervisor,  commissioner 
of  common  schools,  inspector  of  common  schools, 
inspector  of  election,  commissioner  of  highways,  and 
assessor.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  of  Jamaica,  and  one  of  its  most  liberal  sup- 
porters. He  died  May  14th  1865.  His  wife  died 
December  15th  1858. 

A short  genealogy  of  the  Johnson  family  is  as  follows: 
Gaspard  Colet  de  Rapalje,  from  France,  married  the 

♦James  Hendrickson,  the  father  of  Elias  J.,  was  an  elder,  and  one  of 
the  pillars  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Jamaica. 


daughter  of  Victor  Antonie  Jansen,  in  Holland,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons  and  a daughter  Breckje,  who  married 
her  cousin,  Victor  Honorius  Jansen,  who  was  the 
father  of  Abram,  who  was  the  father  of  Antonie,  who  was 
the  father  of  Hendrick,  who  was  the  father  of  John,  who 
was  the  father  of  Martin,  who  was  the  father  of  George, 
who  was  the  father  of  Martin  G. 

THE  SNEDIKER  FAMILY  AS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE 
JOHNSON  FAMILY. 

Jan  Snediker,  the  common  ancestor  of  the  Snediker 
family,  came  from  Holland  to  this  country  as  early  as 
1642,  and  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  Flatbush,  and 
his  name  appears  in  the  patent  of  New  Lots,  1667;  by 
his  will  (1670)  he  devised  his  land  to  his  son  Gerret. 
(New  Lots  was  then  part  of  the  town  of  Flatbush.) 

Gerret  Snediker  of  New  Lots  (son  of  Jan)  married 
1st,  Willemtje  Vooks;  2nd,  Elstje  Denyse;  he  died  in 
1694.  Children:  Jan  of  Jamaica,  Margaret,  Christian 
of  Jamaica,  Abraham,  Isaac  of  New  Lots,  Sara,  born 
1683  (married  Adrian  Onderdonk);  Gerret,  and  Elstje. 

Abraham  Snediker  of  New  Lots  (son  of  Gerret), 
born  1677,  married,  and  had  children  Abraham,  Johan- 
nes, Gerret,  Theodorus,  Elizabeth,  Altie,  and  Sara. 

Isaac  Snediker  of  New  Lots  (son  of  Gerret),  born 
1680,  married  Catryntje  Janse;  died  in  1758.  Children: 
Garret,  Abraham,  Antie,  Sara,  Isaac,  Catryntje  (born 
1721,  married  Douwe  Ditmars),  Jacob  of  New  Lots, 
Femmetie  (Phebe),  and  Elstje,  born  1731. 

John  Snediker  of  New  Lots  married  Neiltje,  daughter 
of  Johannes  Lott,  of  Flatbush;  she  was  born  November 
13th  1730.  They  had  a son  Isaac  I.  (grandfather  of 
Martin  G.  Johnson). 

Isaac  I.  Snediker  of  New  Lots  (son  of  John),  born  July 
17th  1759,  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Jacob  Rapelje 
of  Newtown.  She  was  born  January  18th  1760.  They 
had  four  children:  1,  Jacob,  born  May  18th  1787,  died 
in  infancy;  2,  Catharine,  born  December  5th  1788  (the 
wife  of  George  Johnson  and  mother  of  Martin  G.),  died 
December  15th  1858;  3,  Nelly,  born  November  5th 
1790,  married  (October  5th  1815)  John  E.  Lott,  of  New 
Utrecht,  L.  I.  (who  was  born  December  16th  1789),  had 
one  daughter,  Catharine,  and  died  May  1st  1866;  4, 
Jacob,  born  November  2nd  1792,  married  (March  1822) 
Anne  Lott,  daughter  of  Hendrick  Lott  of  Jamaica;  no 
children. 

Jacob  Snediker  belonged  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church  of  New  Lots,  and  was  one  of  its  firmest  friends 
and  supporters.  He  died  September  20th  1859.  His 
wife  died  August  22nd  1867. 

Isaac  I.  Snediker  (father  of  Jacob)  died  February  1st 
1804.  His  wife  died  September  9th  1796. 

The  Snediker  homestead,  on  which  Jacob  Snediker 
and  his  forefathers  were  born  and  lived  and  died,  is  sit- 
uated on  both  sides  of  the  New  Lots  road,  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  New  York  and  Manhattan  Beach  Railroad 
and  the  Brooklyn  and  Rockaway  Beach  Railroad.  The 
house,  probably  200  years  old,  still  stands  in  a good  state 
of  preservation  This  farm  originally  extended  to  what 


250 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


is  now  the  center  of  East  New  York;  but  Jacob  Snedi- 
ker  sold  45  acres  of  the  northerly  part  to  Whitehead 
Howard,  and  69  acres  of  the  middle  and  easterly  part 
to  Abraham  Vanderveer.  The  homestead  still  belongs 
to  the  heirs  of  Jacob  Snediker.  It  has  been  in  the  family 
215  years. 

THE  NOSTRAND  FAMILY  AS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE 
JOHNSON  FAMILY. 

The  Nostrand  family  derives  its  origin  from  Hans 
Jansen,  who  came  to  Long  Island  in  1640  from  the 
Noortstrandt  in  the  duchy  of  Holstein.  He  married 
Janneken  Gerrits  Van  Leuwen,  and  had  four  sons — Jan, 
Gerrit,  Peter  and  Folkert.  His  sons  adopted  the  name 
of  the  place  from  which  their  father  emigrated,  which  in 
the  course  of  time  has  been  changed  to  the  present 
name,  Nostrand.  Different  branches  of  the  family  have 
in  former  times  lived  and  their  descendants  still  live  in 
New  York,  Brooklyn,  Flatbush,  New  Utrecht,  Flatlands 
and  New  Lots,  Kings  county;  in  Jamaica,  Flushing  and 
Hempstead,  Queens  county;  and  in  Huntington,  Suffolk 
county. 

Margaret  T.  Nostrand,  the  wife  of  Martin  G.  Johnson, 
is  the  daughter  of  Timothy  Nostrand,  who  for  many  years 
was  a merchant  in  New  York.  When  he  retired  from 
business  he  bought  the  farm  on  which  his  son  George 
now  lives,  situated  on  the  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Plank 
Road,  one  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Jamaica,  where  he 
died  December  21st  1831.  Her  grandfather,  John  Nos- 
trand, owned  and  lived  and  died  on  the  homestead  farm 
at  Valley  Stream,  in  the  town  of  Hempstead;  it  descend- 
ed to  his  son  John  Nostrand  jr.,  and  there  he  lived  and 
died;  after  his  death  it  belonged  to  his  son  Foster,  who 
also  lived  and  died  there.  On  this  farm  Timothy  Nos- 
trand was  born,  February  8th  1767. 

Timothy  Nostrand  married  first  (September  27th  1793) 
Garchy,  daughter  of  John  Suydam  of  Newtown.  Their 
children  were:  Sarah,  born  October  1st  1794,  married 
James  Bogart,  died  October  14th  1845;  and  John  S., 
born  March  16th  1796,  who  died  unmarried,  February 
6th  1836. 

Timothy  Nostrand  married  second  (September  8th 
1804)  Catharine,  daughter  of  Stephen  Lott  of  Jamaica. 
Their  children  were: 

1,  Stephen  L.,  born  August  31st  1805,  married  (Janu- 
ary 30th  1826)  Cornelia  L.  Remsen  of  Flatlands.  They 
had  one  child,  Catharine  Ann,  who  married  Jacob  Ryer- 
son  of  Flatlands. 

2,  Garchy  (Gitty)  Ann,  born  March  1 6th  1807,  died, 
unmarried,  January  8th  1831. 

3,  George,  born  February  5th  1809,  married  first 
(March  26th  1846)  Mary  Bogardus  They  had  one  child, 
Henry  L.  Nostrand,  who  married  Phebe  W.,  only  child 
of  Dominicus  Vanderveer  of  Jamaica.  George  married 
second  (October  12th  1859)  Cornelia  C.  Van  Siclen  of 
Jamaica.  No  children. 

4,  Catharine  L.,  born  December  31st  1810,  married 
(April  7th  1836)  Dr.  Richard  T.  Horsfield  of  New  York. 
Their  children  are:  Richard  T.,  Timothy  N.  (who  mar- 


ried Sophia  Frisbie),  and  Catharine  L.  (who  married  John 
K.  Underhill).  Catharine  L.  Horsfield  died  February 
2nd  1879. 

5,  Margaret  T.,  born  February  19th  1815,  married 
(May  31st  1859)  Martin  G.  Johnson.  No  children. 

6,  Timothy,  born  April  21st  1817,  married  first  (Octo- 
ber 19th  1853)  Catharine  Lott  of  New  Utrecht  (cousin 
of  Martin  G.  Johnson).  Their  children  were  Elbe  (de- 
ceased), J.  Lott,  T.  Foster,  Margaret  (deceased),  and 
George  E.  Timothy  married,  second,  Belinda  Hegeman 
of  New  Utrecht,  who  survives  him.  He  died  December 
6th  1878. 

All  the  children  of  Timothy  Nostrand  sen.  are  dead 
except  George  Nostrand  and  Margaret  T.,  wife  of  Martin 
G.  Johnson. 

Timothy  Nostrand  sen.  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 
members  of  Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  and  was  for  many 
years  warden,  and  for  several  years,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  senior  warden.  The  following  notice  of  his 
death  appears  on  the  records  of  the  church,  January  2nd 
1832: 

“The  vestry  have  heard  with  deep  regret  of  the  de- 
cease of  Mr.  Timothy  Nostrand,  their  clerk,  the  senior 
warden  of  this  church,  and  treasurer,  and  sincerely  con- 
dole with  the  congregation  with  whom  he  was  connected, 
and  with  his  family,  in  the  great  bereavement  they  have 
been  called  to  sustain;  and  we  implore  the  Divine  com- 
passion on  them  that  this  afflictive  providence  may  be 
sanctified  to  them,  and  to  the  church  of  which  he  was  a 
member.” 

He  was  a member  of  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  a trustee  of  Union  Hall  Academy.  He 
died  December  21st  1831.  His  wife  Catharine  died 
February  13th  i860. 

THE  DITMARS  FAMILY  AS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  JOHNSON 
FAMILY. 

Jan  Jansen  Ditmars,  the  common  ancestor  of  the 
family,  emigrated  from  Ditmarsen  in  the  duchy  of  Hol- 
stein. He  married  Neeltie  Douws;  obtained  a patent 
March  23d  1647  for  24  morgens,  at  Dutch  Kills,  New- 
town, Queens  county;  died  prior  to  1650. 

Douw*  Jansen  Ditmars  f resided  first  at  Flatbush,  and 
finally  settled  at  Jamaica.  He  died  about  1755.  He 
held  office  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  Jamaica. 

Abraham  Ditmars,  of  Jamaica,  married  (June  18th 
1725)  Breckje,  daughter  of  Abraham  Remsen,  of  New- 
town, and  died  on  his  farm  at  Jamaica,  August  7th  1743. 
He  was  the  father  of  Douw  Ditmars  and  Abraham  Dit- 
mars jun.,  the  two  brothers  who  married  two  sisters, 
Maria  and  Elizabeth,  the  daughters  of  John  Johnson  of 
Jamaica  (great-grandfather  of  Martin  G.  Johnson). 

Douw  Ditmars  of  Jamaica,  born  August  24th  1735, 
married  Maria,  the  oldest  daughter  of  John  Johnson  of 
Jamaica.  They  had  five  children,  John  D.,  Abraham, 
Breckje,  and  Maria  and  Catalina,  who  were  twins.  He 
was  an  office  holder  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church. 
He  died  August  25th  1775. 

* Variously  spelled,  Douwe,  Douw,  Dowe  and  Dow. 

+ Spelled  Ditmarse,  Ditmars,  Ditmis  and  Ditmas. 


THE  JOHNSON  AND  DITMARS  FAMILIES. 


25°-a 


John  D.  Ditmis  of  Jamaica  (son  of  Douw  Ditmars) 
married  (November  5th  1 791)  Catalina,  the  oldest  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  Johnson  (grandfather  of  Martin  G.  John- 
son). They  had  eight  children:  Martin,  Dow,  John, 
Abraham,  Phebe,  Maria,  Catalina  and  George,  who  are 
all  deceased  except  Maria. 

Dow  I.  Ditmis,  son  of  John  D.,  married  (April  22nd 
1817)  Catharine  Onderdonk*  of  Cow  Neck  (Manhasset). 
Their  children  are:  George  O.,  John  and  Jacob  Adrian 
Ditmis,  all  of  Jamaica. 

Abraham  Ditmis,  son  of  John  D„  married  (April  1 8th 
1827)  Katie  Onderdonk  of  Cow  Neck  (Manhasset). 
They  had  one  child,  Henry  O.  Ditmis. 

John  D.  Ditmis  held  the  military  office  of  major;  he 
was  a member  of  Assembly  in  1802  and  1804,  and  a 
State  senator  from  1816  to  1820,  and  held  the  office  of 
surrogate  of  Queens  county.  He  was  a trustee  of  Union 
Hall  Academy;  he  belonged  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  He  died  March  1 ith  1853;  his  wife  July  6th  1847. 

Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  (son  of  Abraham  of  Jamaica), 
born  December  9th  1738,  married  Elizabeth,  the  third 
daughter  of  John  Johnson  (great-grandfather  of  Martin 
G.  Johnson).  They  had  four  children — Abraham,  born 
October  6th  1760;  Catalina,  born  September  20th  1762, 
married  Samuel  Eldert  of  Jamaica;  John  A.,  born  April 
9th  1766,  and  Dow,  born  June  12th  1771. 

John  A.  Ditmars  married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Johannes 
Wyckoff  of  Jamaica.  They  had  three  children  — 
Margaret  Ann,  A.  Johnson  and  Elizabeth,  all  deceased. 

Elizabeth  Ditmars  married  (December  30th  1839) 
Martin  I.  Johnson,  who  was  for  some  years,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  county  clerk.  He  was  the  eldest  son 
of  John  and  Maria  Johnson,  and  cousin  of  Martin  G. 
Johnson.  Martin  I.  and  Elizabeth  are  both  deceased,  but 
one  son,  A.  Ditmars  Johnson,  of  Jamaica,  survives  them. 

Dow  Ditmars,  son  of  Abraham  Ditmars  jr.,  studied 
medicine,  and  went  to  Demarara,  South  America,  where 
he  had  a lucrative  practice  for  fourteen  years.  When  he 
returned  he  married  Anna  Elvira,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Riker  of  Newtown,  and  bought  a farm  at  Hell  Gate  (now 
Astoria),  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and 
died,  at  an  advanced  age,  in  i860.  Their  children  were 
Thomas  T.,  Richard  R.,  Abraham  Dow,  and  Anna. 
They  are  all  deceased  but  Abraham  Dow  Ditmars,  who 
is  a lawyer  in  New  York. 

Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  held  office  in  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church,  Jamaica,  and  so  did  his  son  John  A.  Ditmars. 

Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  (father  of  John  A.)  was  a captain 
of  militia  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  known  among  the 
British  soldiers  who  were  quartered  at  Jamaica  as  the 
“rebel  captain,”  and  he  suffered  much  from  their  depre- 
dations. They  stole  the  crops  from  his  farm,  the  provis- 
ions from  his  cellar,  and  all  of  his  fowls  but  one,  which 
went  to  the  top  of  the  barn  to  roost.  One  day  the  sol- 
diers ordered  him  and  his  family  to  leave  the  house,  as 
they  intended  to  burn  it.  He  had  to  obey,  and  his  sick 
wife  was  taken  on  a bed  and  placed  in  the  door-yard  ! 
But  it  seemed  that  an  Almighty  Power  interposed;  the 
consciences  of  the  fiends  stung  them,  and  the  dreadful 
threat  was  not  executed. 

So  great  became  the  demands  upon  him  for  the  pro- 
duce of  his  farm,  and  for  the  use  of  his  men  and  teams 
in  carting  the  supplies  of  the  British  army,  that  he  at 
last  refused  to  comply.  For  this  the  petty  officer  who 
made  the  demand  arrested  him,  took  him  to  the  village 
of  Jamaica,  and  locked  him  up  in  the  dungeon  in  the 
cellar  of  the  old  county  hall,  which  stood  on  the  spot 
now  covered  by  Herriman’s  brick  row.  He  was  confined 
until  the  next  day,  when  he  was  brought  before  a supe- 

* Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  A.  M.,  married  Maria  H.,  sister  of  Catharine 
Onderdonk,  wife  of  Dow  I.  Ditmis. 


rior  officer  of  the  British  army,  to  whom  he  made  a frank 
statement  of  the  sufferings  he  had  endured,  and  of  the 
unreasonable  claims  continually  made  upon  him.  The 
officer  at  once  gave  him  an  honorable  discharge;  and  at 
the  same  time  severely  reprimanded  the  underling  who 
had  arrested  him.  This*decision  had  a good  effect,  as  he 
afterward  did  not  suffer  much  annoyance.  It  is  proper 
to  say  that  the  highest  British  officers  always  condemned 
the  cruel  and  barbarous  acts  which  were  committed  by 
"the  dregs  of  the  army. 

The  home  of  Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  was  the  farm  of 
the  late  William  C.  Stoothoff,  one  and  a half  miles  south- 
west of  the  village  of  Jamaica;  and  the  old  house,  in 
which  he  lived  and  died,  still  remains.  The  home  of  his 
daughter  Catalina,  who  married  Samuel  Eldert,  was  the 
old  house  on  Eldert’s  lane  now  belonging  to  Henry 
Drew;  and  the  old  house  on  the  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica 
plank  road  now  belonging  to  Dominicus  Vanderveer  was 
formerly  the  home  of  Douw  Ditmars,  of  another  branch 
of  the  Ditmars  family.  It  is  a singular  circumstance 
that  these  three  old  houses,  probably  the  oldest  in  the 
town,  should  all  have  belonged  to  members  of  the  Dit- 
mars family.  They  still  stand  as  monuments  of  the  solid 
style  of  building  of  the  early  Dutch  settlers. 

Abraham  Ditmars  and  Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  were  con- 
tributors to  the  fund  for  building  Union  Hall  Academy 
and  were  two  of  the  first  trustees,  at  the  time  its  charter 
was  signed  by  Governor  Clinton,  March  9th  1792. 

Abraham  Ditmars  jr.  died  November  19th  1824. 

John  A.  Ditmars  was  colonel  of  the  State  militia  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  he  and  his  cousins  George  and 
John  Johnson  and  their  nephew  Dow  I.  Ditmis  were  en- 
camped at  Fort  Greene  (now  Washington  Park),  Brook- 
lyn. They  were  under  the  command  of  General  Jere- 
miah Johnson  of  Brooklyn,  who  was  the  cousin  of 
George  and  John  Johnson  and  John  A.  Ditmars.  There 
our  soldiers  were  for  some  time,  in  daily  expectation  of 
the  landing  of  the  British  forces,  whose  vessels  of  war 
were  lying  off  the  harbor  of  New  York;  but  the  British 
wisely  concluded  to  depart  without  landing. 

INTERMARRIAGES  OF  JOHNSON,  DITMARS,  AND  RAPELJE 
FAMILIES. 

The  union  of  the  Johnson  and  Ditmars  families  in  this 
country  began  by  the  marriage  of  two  sisters  of  Martin 
Johnson,  Maria  and  Elizabeth,  daughters  of  John  John- 
son of  Jamaica  (great-grandfather  of  Martin  G.),  to  two 
brothers,  Douw  and  Abraham  Ditmars  of  Jamaica. 

Catalina,  daughter  of  Martin  Johnson  of  Jamaica 
(grandfather  of  Martin  G.),  married  John  D.  Ditmis,  the 
son  of  Douw. 

Martin  I.  Johnson,  a great-grandson  of  John  Johnson 
above  named,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  A. 
Ditmars. 

Phebe,  daughter  of  George  Johnson  of  Jamaica,  mar- 
ried George  O.  Ditmis,  a grandson  of  John  D.  Ditmis. 

Victor  Honorius  Jansen  of  Holland  married  Breckje 
Rapalje*.  Martin  Johnson  of  Jamaica  married  Phebe 
Rapelje.  General  Jeremiah  Johnson,  of  Brooklyn,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Rapelje. 

Breckje,  sister  of  John  D.  and  daughter  of  Douw 
Ditmars  of  Jamaica,  married  (December  29th  1791) 
Peter  Rapelje,  of  New  Lots.  Their  children  were 
Jacob,  Dow  and  Peter. 

Maria  and  Catalina  were  twin  daughters  of  Douw 
Ditmars,  of  Jamaica,  and  sisters  of  John  D.  and  Breckje 
Ditmars.  Maria  married  Jacob  Rapelje,  of  Newtown. 
They  had  one  child,  Susan.  Catalina  married  John  R. 

♦Written  by  different  families  Rapalje,  Rapelje,  Rapelye,  and  Rapel- 
yea. 


2 5°-b 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Residence  op  Martin  G.  Johnson,  Liberty  Avenue,  Jamaica. 


Ludlow,  of  Newtown.  She  was  his  second  wife.  They 
had  one  son,  Ditmars. 

Susan,  the  only  child  of  Jacob  and  Maria  Rapelje, 
married  the  Rev.  Gabriel  Ludlow,  D.  D.,  who  for  many 
years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  pastor  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  church  at  Neshanic,  New  Jersey.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  R.  Ludlow  by  his  first  wife.  Another 
son  was  John  Ludlow,-  D.  D.,  who  was  twice  professor 
in  the  Theological  Seminary,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  for 
many  years  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  at 
Albany,  and  afterward  provost  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania. 

MARTIN  G.  JOHNSON. 

Martin  G.  Johnson  was  born  and  has  always  lived  on 
the  farm  which  he  inherited  from  his  father,  situated  on 
Liberty  avenue,  one  and  three-quarter  miles  west  of  the 
village  of  Jamaica  and  one  mile  south  of  Richmond 
Hill.  This  farm  was  bought  October  5th  1744  by  his 
great-grandfather  John  Johnson,  who  removed  from 
Flatbush  to  this  place,  which  was  his  home  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  son  Martin,  the  grandfather  of  Martin 
G.,  inherited  the  farm,  and  here  he  spent  his  life;  and 
here  was  born  George  Johnson,  the  father  of  Martin  G., 
and  here  he  lived  and  died.  There  are  few  cases,  if  any, 
in  Queens  county  where  property  has  remained  in  the 
same  family  for  nearly  140  years.  There  is  a tradition 
that  when  his  great-grandfather  was  looking  for  a home 
he  noticed  a fine  growth  of  natural  white  clover  on  the 
road  through  this  farm,  which  evidence  of  the  fertility  of 
the  soil  induced  him  to  buy  it. 

Barent,  another  son  of  John  Johnson,  remained  at 
Jamaica  for  many  years,  when  he  removed  to  Wallabout 
in  Brooklyn.  He  was  the  father  of  the  late  General  Jere- 
miah Johnson,  of  whose  children  there  are  still  living 
Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Nicholas  Wyckoff,  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Brooklyn;  Jeromus  J.  Johnson, 
and  Susan,  widow  of  Lambert  Wyckoff. 

Martin  G.  Johnson  commenced  his  education  at  the 
district  school,  and  then  attended  Union  Hall  Academy, 
Jamaica;  but  his  mathematical  education  was  completed 
under  Thomas  Spofford,  the  teacher,  and  author  of  a prac- 
tical work  on  astronomy,  who  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  principal  of  the  Yorkville  Academy,  New  York  city. 


At  the  age  of  15  and  for  several  years  while  at  school 
young  Johnson  made  the  calculations  for  Spofford’s 
Almanac,  and  at  the  same  age  began  to  make  surveys, 
thus  combining  theory  and  practice,  which  his  teacher 
considered  essential  to  a perfect  understanding  of  sur- 
veying. At  16  he  was,  with  his  teacher  Mr.  Spofford, 
one  of  the  assistants  in  making  the  preliminary  surveys 
of  the  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Railroad,  which  work  was 
in  charge  of  Major  Douglass  of  Brooklyn  as  chief  en- 
gineer. At  that  time,  1832,  Brooklyn  was  only  a small 
village  and  extended  but  a short  distance  from  Fulton 
Ferry.  Above  Henry  street  the  houses  were  “ few  and  far 
between,”  and  on  the  line  run  for  the  railroad,  near  the 
present  Atlantic  avenue,  it  was  mostly  farming  land.  The 
business  on  Fulton  street  was  nearly  all  below  Sands  street. 

Then  (1832)  there  were  only  two  railroads  in  the  United 
States — the  Albany  and  Schenectady  (opened  in  1831)  in 
this  State,  and  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad  in  New 
Jersey.  The  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  Railroad,  opened  in 
1836,  was  the  third. 

At  the  age  of  18,  19,  20  and  21,  in  the  years  1834, 
1835,  1836  and  1837,  Martin  G.  Johnson  surveyed  a great 
number  of  farms  in  the  westerly  part  of  Queens  county 
and  the  easterly  part  of  Kings  county,  nearly  all  of 
which  were  laid  out  into  lots  and  mapped.  He  made  all 
the  surveys  and  maps  for  John  R.  Pitkin,  who  purchased 
in  1835  and  1836  many  farms  at  New  Lots,  Kings  county, 
and  Jamaica,  Queens  county.  It  was  Mr.  Pitkin’s  inten- 
tion to  lay  out  in  one  general  plan  all  lands  from  the 
easterly  limits  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn  to  the  westerly 
line  of  the  village  of  Jamaica;  and  four  separate  maps 
were  made,  in  accordance  with  this  plan.  The  westerly 
part  was  to  be  used  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  the 
easterly  part  was  laid  out  into  parks,  avenues,  streets  and 
sections  for  country  seats.  East  New  York  was  to  be 
the  name  of  the  whole  tract.  This  name  was  for  some 
time  kept  strictly  secret,  as  he  feared  it  would  be  taken 
by  the  village  of  Williamsburgh  (now  part  of  Brooklyn), 
which  then  began  to  expand.  So  careful  was  he  to  con- 
ceal his  plans  that  the  planning  and  mapping  were  mostly 
done  in  a rear  office  in  Wall  street,  New  York,  which 
overlooked  the  South  Reformed  Dutch  church  in  Garden 
street  (now  Exchange  place)  and  its  burial  ground.  (The 
human  remains  were  about  being  removed  from  the  burial 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  JAMAICA. 


25T 


ground  at  that  time,  1837).  At  last  he  had  his  plans 
ready  and  presented  them  to  the  public;  but  gradually 
yet  surely  the  downfall  of  real  estate  came,  and  the 
grand  scheme,  as  a whole,  was  defeated.  But  he  was 
able  to  hold  some  land  at  East  New  York,  and  some  at 
Woodville  (now  Woodhaven),  and  he  laid  the  founda- 
tions for  these  villages,  which  have  grown  and  are  grow- 
ing rapidly.  At  that  time  there  was  not  a building  at 
East  New  York,  except  a few  farm  houses  and  out-build- 
ings  along  the  Brooklyn  and  Jamaica  turnpike;  and  the 
land  was  used  for  farming  purposes. 

Martin  G.  Johnson  has  been  actively  engaged  in  his 
profession  from  1834  to  the  present  time;  and  has  sur- 
veyed, divided  into  lots  and  mapped  very  many  of  the 
farms  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  in 
New  Lots  and  in  the  westerly  part  of  Jamaica,  and  some 
in  adjacent  towns,  comprising  an  area  of  thousands 
of  acres.  Besides  the  land  laid  out  into  lots  he  has 
made  many  farm  surveys  and  maps. 

He  has  made  several  surveys  by  authority  of  different 
acts  of  the  Legislature:  Town  of  Bushwick,  southerly 
part  (now  part  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn) — surveying,  plot- 
ting, planning  new  avenues  and  streets,  monumenting, 
and  drawing  map  showing  the  same  as  laid  out;  Bush- 
wick, southerly  part — leveling,  making  profiles,  determin- 
ing grades,  and  drawing  grade  and  sewerage  plan;  town 
of  New  Lots — surveying,  plotting,  planning  new  avenues 
and  streets,  monumenting,  and  drawing  map  showing  the 
town  as  laid  out;  and  surveying  and  drawing  maps  and 
profiles  for  the  opening,  grading,  and  paving,  or  graveling, 
of  several  of  the  principal  avenues  leading  through  and 
from  East  New  York  into  the  city  and  into  the  country. 

Many  of  his  maps  are  in  the  register’s  office  of  Kings 
county  and  the  clerk’s  office  of  Queens  county. 

Politically,  he  is  a very  decided  Democrat,  and  in  early 
life  was  frequently  a delegate  to  the  county  convention, 
and  several  times  to  the  State  convention;  but  he  never 
would  indorse  the  nomination  of  any  one  wanting  in 
honesty  and  integrity,  and  always  held  it  to  be  his  duty 
to  oppose  any  unfit  and  improper  nomination. 

He  has  been  and  is  executor  of  several  estates,  which 
trusts  he  managed  with  the  strictest  fidelity. 

For  many  years  he  has  been  a director  of  the  Williams- 
burgh  City  Fire  Insurance  Company;  was  for  many  years 
a director  of  the  Brooklyn  and  Rockaway  Beach  Rail- 
road (East  New  York  and  Canarsie  Railroad);  has  been 
from  its  organization,  and  until  lately,  a director  of  the 
New  York,  Bay  Ridge,  and  Jamaica  Railroad  (now  part 
of  the  New  York  and  Manhattan  Beach  Railroad),  and  was 
a director  of  the  Eastern  Railroad  of  Long  Island  (which 
was  abandoned  after  the  Long  Island  Railroad  came  into 
the  hands  of  Austin  Corbin,  as  receiver  and  president). 

He  is  an  elder  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  Ja- 
maica, the  church  of  his  fathers,  and  takes  a deep  inter- 
est in  its  welfare,  being  one  of  the  foremost  in  furnishing 
the  means  which  are  constantly  needed  for  keeping  the 
church  and  all  things  connected  with  it  in  a prosperous 
state.  He  is  a friend  of  religious,  benevolent  and  char- 
itable societies  and  institutions;  and  does  not  confine 
his  gifts  to  the  charities  of  his  own  church.  The  needy  are 
kindly  remembered.  He  is  a life  member  of  the  American 
Bible  Society,  and  of  the  American  Tract  Society. 

Although  much  engrossed  in  professional  business  and 
engagements,  yet  he  is  greatly  interested,  and  takes  much 
pleasure,  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  which  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  county.  He  is  a life  member  of  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society. 

The  roads  in  his  district  of  the  town  have  been  in  his 
charge  for  many  years;  and  their  good  condition  is  the 
best  evidence  of  the  judgment  and  care  which  have  been 
used  in  constructing  and  keeping  them  in  order. 


James  S.  Remsen. 

James  S.  Remsen  was  born  at  Jamaica,  Queens  county, 
in  1815.  Mr.  Remsen  is  a hotel  keeper  of  over  40  years’ 
experience  as  proprietor  of  the  Jamaica  Hotel.  He  was 
to  the  manor  born,  his  father  before  him  having  followed 
the  same  calling  for  a livelihood,  in  the  village  of  Queens 
(then  called  Brushville),  his  hotel  standing  opposite  the 
tobacco  factory.  Our  subject  was  quick  to  learn,  of 
close  observation,  and  possessed  of  judgment  and  fore- 
sight that  have  made  him  a famous  man.  In  1854,  28 
years  ago,  he  bought  5^  miles  of  Rockaway  Beach — 
nearly  one  half  of  the  present  Rockaway — for  $550. 
The  same  year  he  built  the  Seaside  Hotel,  showing  that 
his  forecast  had  compassed  the  future  of  to-day;  that  he 
was  not  a visionary,  but  a practical  man,  who  had  deep- 
laid  plans,  with  confidence  in  his  own  judgment.  In 
1875  Mr.  Wainwright  became  a partner.  Only  a few 
years  ago  there  were  but  two  men  on  the  beach  who  paid 
taxes,  and  they  paid  less  than  $25  per  year.  Now  Mr. 
-Remsen  owns  20  hotels,  and  Remsen  & Wainwright  have 
recently  enlarged  and  improved  the  Seaside  Hotel  and 
all  its  surroundings.  He  gave  the  land  (comprising  half 
a mile  of  beach)  to  the  company  that  built  the  mammoth 
hotel  which  enjoys  the  proud  distinction  of  being  the 
largest  in  the  world.  This  beach  will  soon  draw  a crowd 
for  which  the  great  house  will  be  none  too  large.  The 
strip  of  barren  sea  coast  that  sold  28  years  ago  for  so 
small  a sum  could  not  be  bought  to-day  for  half  a million 
dollars. 

Mr.  Remsen  married  Mary  Seaman,  by  whom  he  has 
had  a family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  only  the  following 
are  living:  John  A.,  who  is  married  and  is  keeping  one 
of  the  hotels  on  the  Beach;  Charles  and  Sarah,  both  un- 
married and  living  at  home.  A brother  of  Mr.  Remsen 
was  once  sheriff  of  Kings  county.  Mr.  Remsen  has  al- 
ways belonged  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  has  enter- 
tained at  his  hotel  some  of  the  most  prominent  politi- 
cians of  both  parties  in  the  nation. 


'-C  dfamt/  JkziZcL'  'At?  88 


Abraham  De  Bevoise. 

Abraham  De  Bevoise  is  a son  of  Charles  and  Ann  De 
Bevoise,  of  Bushwick,  Kings  county,  and  was  born  in 
Bushwick,  February  nth  1819,  the  only  son  and  the 
eldest  of  three  children.  His  father  died  in  1858,  his 
mother  in  1856.  Mr.  De  Bevoise  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  reared  to  farm  life.  December 
6th  1843  he  married  Ann  Maria  Covert,  of  Newtown. 
They  have  five  children  (one,  a daughter  named  Ellen 
Amanda,  having  died  in  infancy),  named  in  the  order  of 
their  birth  Charles  C.,  Jane  Amenia,  Anna  Delia,  Eliza- 
beth Augusta,  and  Abraham  Underhill. 

About  1846  Mr.  De  Bevoise  began  business  life  on  his 
own  account  in  Bushwick.  There  he  lived  till  1861,  when 
he  removed  to  Jamaica, where  he  had  purchased  his  present 
farm  and  erected  his  elegant  and  commodious  residence, 
one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  convenient  in  that  por- 
tion of  the  village,  the  plans  of  which  were  designed  and 
drafted  by  Mr.  De  Bevoise,  who  has  great  talent  for 
architecture,  drawing  and  the  construction  of  remarkably 
finely  wrought  mosaics  of  different  kinds  of  wood,  in  the 
forms  of  center-tables,  jewel-caskets  and  various  other  ar- 
ticles of  beauty  and  utility. 

Mr.  De  Bevoise  has  long  been  a Republican  politically, 


and  has  taken  an  earnest  though  passive  interest  in  public 
affairs.  His  judgment  is  much  esteemed  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  he  has  been  appointed  to  serve  on  several 
commissions  for  opening  roads  in  Jamaica,  and  was  for 
several  terms  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  village. 

In  1858  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De  Bevoise  identified  themselves 
with  the  old  Bushwick  Reformed  church.  In  Novem- 
ber 1861,  upon  their  removal  to  Jamaica,  they  united 
with  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  that  village,  which 
with  their  family  they  have  constantly  attended  since. 
Mr.  De  Bevoise  was  a deacon  in  the  Bushwick  church, 
and  during  most  of  the  period  of  his  connection  with  the 
Jamaica  church  he  has  held  the  office  of  an  elder.  In 
1879,  in  connection  with  Rev.  Mr.  Alliger,  then  pastor, 
Mr.  De  Bevoise  and  others  opened  a Sunday-school  at 
East  Jamaica,  of  which  Mr.  De  Bevoise  was  superintend- 
ent until  he  had  firmly  established  it  as  a permanent  in- 
stitution. For  years  he  has  been  a teacher  in  the  Re- 
formed Sunday-school  at  Jamaica,  of  which  he  has  been 
superintendent  since  1873. 

In  his  domestic  relations  Mr.  De  Bevoise  has  been 
most  happy,  it  often  being  remarked  by  those  who  know 
best  whereof  they  speak  that  “ his  wife  has  ever  been  to 
him  a help-meet  indeed.” 


253 


John  H.  Brinckerhoff. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  living  representatives  of 
the  old  and  honorable  family  of  Brinckerhoff  is  he  whose 
portrait  and  autograph  appear  at  the  head  of  this  page. 

The  ancestor  of  this  numerous  American  family,  Jores 
Derrickson  Brinckerhoff,  emigrated  from  Holland  in  1638 
and  in  1661  settled  in  Brooklyn.  His  third  son,  Abra- 
ham Jores  Brinckerhoff,  was  born  in  Flushing,  Holland,  in 
1632,  and  died  at  Flushing,  Long  Island,  in  1714.  He  had 
but  one  child,  Jores  Brinckerhoff  (1644-1729),  whose  tenth 
child  and  youngest  son,  Hendrick,  formed  the  connect- 
ing link  in  the  line  of  descent  to  the  next  generation. 
Hendrick  was  born  in  1709  and  died  in  1777,  leaving 
eight  children,  one  of  whom,  Abraham,  became  the 
father  of  the  sixth  generation  of  this  family  in  America. 
Abraham’s  oldest  son,  John,  was  married  in  1791  to  Re- 
becca Lott,  and  thus  their  seven  children  were  lineal  de- 
scendants of  another  one  of  the  oldest  families  on  Long 
Island.  Their  oldest  son,  Abraham,  had  seven  children. 

His  oldest  son,  John  H.  Brinckerhoff,  the  gentleman 
first  alluded  to  in  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Jamaica,  No- 
vember 24th  1829,  and  in  1853  was  married  to  Laura 
Edwards,  a daughter  of  Gouverneur  Edwards  of  West- 
chester county,  N.  Y.  Their  three  children  are  of  the 
ninth  generation  of  Brinckerhoffs  in  America,  and  of  each 
generation  the  family  has  definite  records. 

Mr.  Brinckerhoff  has  had  an  experience  as  varied  as 
most  men  of  his  years,  and  has  reached,  unaided,  a sum- 
mit of  success  rarely  attained  by  those  whose  lot  is  cast 
in  this  land  and  age  of  stern  competition.  His  school 
days  terminated  when  he  was  fifteen,  and  he  began  an 
apprenticeship  as  engineer  and  machinist  with  the  Long 
Island  Railroad  Company.  For  this  he  seems  to  have 


had  an  especial  aptitude;  for  within  two  years  he  was 
given  charge  of  a locomotive  as  engineer.  In  1854,  the 
year  after  his  marriage,  he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
as  machinist  for  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  before  the  close  of  the  following  year  the 
Michigan  Southern  and  Indiana  Railroad  Company  gave 
him  charge  of  its  shops  at  Adrian. 

In  September  1857  he  began  his  present  mercantile 
business  in  Jamaica. 

In  1866  Mr.  Brinckerhoff  came  into  politics  as  trustee 
of  his  native  village;  he  served  in  that  capacity  four 
years,  and  within  that  period  he  was  a member  of  the 
board  of  education  and  treasurer  of  the  board  for  four 
years.  In  1869  he  was  also  elected  commissioner  of 
highways,  and  in  the  last  year  of  his  term  he  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  entered  upon 
its  duties  January  1st  1872.  Here  he  served  very  accept- 
ably, but  had  only  just  completed  one-half  of  the  term 
for  which  he  was  elected  when  he  resigned  his  seat  as 
justice  to  accept  from  the  Democratic  party  the  super- 
visorship  of  the  town  of  Jamaica  in  April  1874. 

In  the  capacity  of  supervisor  Mr.  Brinckerhoff  has 
made  a record  with  which  he  has  just  reason  to  be  satis- 
fied. That  his  constituents  thoroughly  appreciate  the 
straightforward  way  in  which  he  has  administered  this 
important  trust  is  fully  evidenced  by  his  re-election  to 
the  office  year  after  year  from  that  time  until  the  present. 
In  the  board  of  supervisors  his  ability  and  worth  are 
recognized  by  his  associates,  who  elected  him  their  chair- 
man the  second  year  he  was  a member;  and  in  1881, 
being  one  of  the  most  experienced  gentlemen  in  the 
board,  he  was  again  chosen  chairman,  in  which  capacity 
he  is  now  ably  and  acceptably  serving. 


J.  M.  Oakley. 


Hon.  J.  M.  Oakley  is  a son  of  J.  M.  and  Frances 
(Smith)  Oakley,  and  was  born  in  New  York  city, 
June  19th  1838.  His  father  died  when  our  sub- 
ject was  but  seven  years  old,  and  his  mother  sub- 
sequently married  Richard  W.  Smith,  of  Suffolk 
county. 

Mr.  Oakley  has  long  been  well  known  and  popular  on 
Long  Island  and  in  New  York.  His  official  career  began 
by  his  choice  to  the  position  of  chief  engineer  of  the  fire 
department  of  Jamaica  village.  In  1870  he  was  a candidate 
for  member  of  Assembly  and  was  elected,  after  a hot  con- 
test, over  two  well  known  opponents  (Francis  B.  Baldwin, 
the  candidate  of  a rival  Democratic  faction,  and  George 
Everett,  a Republican)  and  subsequently  was  re-elected 
four  times.  In  the  fall  of  1875  Mr.  Oakley  was  a candi- 
date for  nomination  for  State  senator,  but  was  defeated 


by  the  nomination  of  Stephen  D.  Stephens,  of  Richmond 
county,  who  was  defeated  at  the  polls  by  Hon.  L.  Brad- 
ford Prince.  April  5th  1876  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Lucius  Robinson  one  of  the  commissioners  of 
quarantine,  and  he  served  in  that  capacity  three  years. 
In  1877  he  received  the  nomination  for  State  senator 
and  was  elected  over  James  Otis  (Republican),  of  Suffolk 
county,  by  a majority  of  about  2,500.  Since  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  service  Mr.  Oakley  has  not  been  a 
candidate  for  office,  but  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
railroad  interests,  having  become  a director  in  the  New 
York,  Woodhaven  and  Rockaway  Railway  Company,  or- 
ganized in  1877,  and  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the 
corporation  in  April  r88t. 

February  4th  1869  Mr.  Oakley  married  Hester  A., 
daughter  of  ex-Sheriff  Durland,  of  Jamaica. 


•-T  3 Hail 


RUFUS  KING 


I 


RUFUS  KING. 


255 


The  King  Family. 

RUFUS  KING. 

Rufus  King,  an  American  statesman,  born  in  Scar- 
borough, Me.,  in  1755,  died  in  New  York  city,  April  29th 
1827.  His  father,  Richard  King,  a successful  merchant, 
gave  him  the  best  education  then  attainable.  He  was 
admitted  to  Harvard  College  in  1773,  graduated  in  1777, 
and  went  to  Newburyport  to  study  law  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Theophilus  Parsons.  In  1778  he  served  as  aide 
de  camp  to  General  Glover  in  the  brief  and  fruitless 
campaign  in  Rhode  Island. 

He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1780,  and  at  once  en- 
tered upon  a successful  practice  in  Newburyport.  He 
was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  in  1782  was  chosen  a member 
of  the  general  court  of  legislature.  In  that  body,  to 
which  he  was  repeatedly  re-elected,  he  took  a leading 
part,  and  successfully  advocated,  against  a powerful  op- 
position, the  granting  of  a 5 per  cent,  impost  to  the  Con- 
gress as  indispensable  to  the  common  safety  and  the 
efficiency  of  the  confederation. 

In  1784  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  a delegate 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  then  sitting  at  Trenton. 
He  took  his  seat  in  December,  and  in  March  1785  moved 
a resolution  “ that  there  be  neither  slavery  nor  invol- 
untary servitude  in  any  of  the  States  described  in  the 
resolution  of  Congress  of  April  1784,  otherwise  than  in 
punishment  of  crime  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been 
personally  guilty;  and  that  this  regulation  shall  be  made 
an  article  of  compact,  and  remain  a fundamental  princi- 
ple of  the  constitution  between  the  original  States  and 
each  of  the  States  named  in  said  resolves.”  This  reso- 
lution was,  by  the  vote  of  seven  States  (New  Hampshire, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland)  against  four  (Virginia, 
North  Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia)  referred  to 
the  committee  of  the  whole,  where  for  the  time  it  slept. 
The  ordinance  offered  by  Thomas  Jefferson  in  the  pre- 
vious year  (April  1784)  proposed  the  prospective  pro- 
hibition of  slavery  in  the  territories  of  the  United  States 
after  the  year  1800.  Mr.  King’s  proposition  was  for  its 
immediate,  absolute  and  irrevocable  prohibition.  When 
two  years  afterward  the  famous  ordinance  of  freedom 
and  government  for  the  Northwest  Territory  was  reported 
by  Nathan  Dane,  of  Massachusetts  (July  11th  1787),  Mr. 
King,  who  was  a member  of  that  Congress  (then  sitting 
in  New  York),  had  gone  to  Philadelphia  to  take  the  seat 
to  which  he  had  been  elected  by  Massachusetts  as  a 
member  of  the  convention  for  framing  a constitution  for 
the  United  States;  but  his  colleague  embodied  in  the 
draft  of  his  ordinance  the  provision,  almost  word  for 
word,  which  Mr.  King-  had  laid  before  Congress  in 
March  1785. 

While  occupied  with  his  duties  as  a member  of  Con- 
gress he  was  designated  by  his  State  as  one  of  the  com- 
missioners to  determine  the  boundary  between  New 
York  and  Massachusetts,  and  was  empowered  with  his 
colleague  to  convey  to  the  United  States  the  large  tract 
of  land  beyond  the  Alleghanies  belonging  to  his  State. 


On  August  14th  1786  Rufus  King  and  James  Monroe 
were  appointed  a committee  on  behalf  of  Congress  to 
wait  upon  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  and  explain 
the  financial  embarassments  of  the  United  States,  and  to 
urge  the  prompt  repeal  by  that  State  of  the  embarrassing 
condition  upon  which  it  had  voted  its  contingent  of  the 
5 per  cent,  impost  levied  on  Congress  on  all  the  States. 
The  speech  of  Mr.  King  on  this  occasion,  though  no 
notes  of  it  remain,  is  commemorated  as  most  effective 
and  brilliant. 

On  May  26th  1787  he  took  his  seat  in  the  Federal  con- 
vention. The  journals  of  the  convention  and  the  frag- 
ments of  its  debates  which  have  come  down  to  us  attest 
the  active  participation  of  Mr.  King  in  the  important 
business  transacted;  and,  although  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  that  body,  he  was  selected  as  one  of  the  com- 
mittee of  five  to  “ revise  the  style  of  and  arrange  the 
articles  ” agreed  on  for  the  new  constitution.  Having 
signed  the  constitution  as  finally  adopted,  Mr.  King 
went  back  to  Massachusetts,  and  was  immediately  chosen 
a delegate  to  the  State  convention  which  was  to  pass 
upon  its  acceptance  or  rejection.  Fierce  opposition  was 
made  in  that  convention  to  this  instrument,  Mr.  King 
successfully  leading  the  array  in  defense. 

In  1788  he  took  up  his  permanent  residence  in  New 
York,  where  in  1786  he  had  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
John  Alsop;  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  elected 
a representative  of  that  city  in  the  Assembly  of  the 
State. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  he  was  chosen  by  the 
Legislature  the  first  senator  from  the  State  of  New  York 
under  the  new  constitution,  having  for  his  colleague  Gen- 
eral Schuyler. 

In  this  body  he  took  rank  among  the  leaders  of  the 
Federal  party.  In  the  bitter  conflict  aroused  by  Jay’s 
treaty  he  was  conspicuous  in  its  defense,  both  in  the 
Senate  and  as  the  joint  author  with  Alexander  Hamilton 
of  a series  of  newspaper  essays,  under  the  signature  of 
“ Camillus.” 

In  1795  Mr.  King  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate,  and 
while  serving  his  second  term  was  nominated  by  Wash- 
ington minister  plenipotentiary  to  Great  Britain,  having 
previously  declined  the  office  of  secretary  of  state,  made 
vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Edmund  Randolph.  He 
embarked  with  his  family  at  New  York  in  July  1796,  and 
for  eight  years  ably  fulfilled  the  duties  of  the  office.  No 
foreign  minister  was  more  sagacious  in  ascertaining  or 
divining  the  views  and  policy  of  nations,  or  more  careful 
in  keeping  his  own  government  well  informed  on  all  the 
public  questions  of  the  day.  His  diplomatic  corre- 
spondence is  a model  both  in  style  and  in  topics.  The 
Federal  party  having  lost  its  ascendancy  in  the  public 
councils  Mr.  King,  shortly  after  Mr.  Jefferson’s  acces- 
sion, asked  to  be  recalled.  He  was,  however,  urged  by 
the  president  to  remain,  as  he  had  in  hand  important 
negotiations.  The  recurrence  of  war  in  Europe  conse- 
quent upon  the  rupture  of  the  peace  of  Amiens  leaving 
little  hope  of  success  on  the  point  to  which  his  efforts 
had  been  chiefly  directed,  that  of  securing  our  seamen 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


256 


against  impressment,  he  renewed  his  request  to  be  re- 
lieved; and  accordingly  a successor  was  appointed,  and 
Mr.  King  returned  to  his  country  in  1804,  and  withdrew 
to  a farm  at  Jamaica,  L.  I. 

In  1813,  during  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  took 
his  seat  for  the  third  time  as  United  States  senator. 
Yielding  no  blind  support  to  the  administration,  and  of- 
fering to  it  no  partisan  opposition,  he  yet  was  ever  ready 
to  strengthen  its  hands  against  the  common  enemy. 
When  the  capitol  at  Washington  was  burned  by  the  Brit- 
ish forces  he  resisted  the  proposal  to  remove  the  seat  of 
government  to  the  interior,  and  rallied  the  nation  to  de- 
fend the  country  and  avenge  the  outrage.  His  speech 
on  this  occasion  in  the  Senate  was  one  of  those  that 
marked  him  as  a great  orator. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  applied  himself  to  maturing 
the  policy  which  should  efface  its  evils  as  speedily  as 
possible,  and  build  up  permanent  prosperity.  To  a bill, 
however,  for  a United  States  bank  with  a capital  of 
$50,006,000  he  made  earnest  opposition.  He  resisted 
the  claim  of  Great  Britain  to  exclude  us  from  the  com- 
merce of  the  West  India  Islands;  and  to  his  intelligent 
opposition  of  the  laws  of  navigation  and  defense  of  the 
mercantile  interests  and  rights  of  the  United  States  we 
are  indebted  for  the  law  of  1818. 

He  likewise  early  discerned  the  danger  of  the  sales  of 
the  public  lands  on  credit,  a-nd  by  his  bill  substituting 
payment  and  a fixed  but  reduced  price  for  these  lands, 
stipulating  a remission  of  interest  and  of  a portion  of 
the  principal  of  the  debt  then  due  therefor,  he  averted  a 
great  political  peril  and  gave  order  and  security  to  the 
receipts  from  the  sale  of  those  lands. 

In  1819  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate,  as  in  the  pre- 
vious instance  by  a Legislature  of  adverse  politics  to  his 
own.  In  1816  he  had  been,  without  his  knowledge, 
named  as  the  candidate  of  the  Federal  party  for  gover- 
nor of  New  York.  He  reluctantly  accepted  the  nomi- 
nation, but  was  not, elec, ted. 

Shortly  afterward  the  so-called  Missouri  question  be- 
gan to  agitate  the  nation.  Mr.  'Kingtwas  pledged  against 
the  extension  of  slavery;  and  when  Missouri  presented 
herself  for  admission  as  a State  with  a constitution  au- 
thorizing the  holding  of  slaves  he  was  inexorably  op- 
posed to  it.  The  State  of  New  York,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote  of  its  Legislature,  instructed  him  to  re- 
sist the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a slave  State;  and  the 
argument  made  by  Mr.  King  in  the  Senate,  though  but 
partially  reported,  has  been  the  repertory  for  almost  all 
subsequent  arguments  against  the  extension  of  slavery. 
He  also  opposed  the  compromise  introduced  by  Mr. 
Glay,  which  partially  yielded  the  principle,  and  voted  to 
the  last  against  it.  His  fourth  term  in  the  Senate  ex- 
pired in  March  1825,  when  he  took  leave  of  that  body, 
and,  as  he  hoped,  of  public  life,  in  which  for  40  years  he 
had  been  engaged.  One  of  his  latest  acts  was  to  pre- 
sent the  following  resolution,  February  16th  1825: 

“That  as  soon  as  the  portion  of  the  existing  funded 
debt  of  the  United  States  for  the  payment  of  which  the 
public  land  of  the  United  States  is  pledged  shall  have 


been  paid  off,  then  and  thenceforth  the  whole  of  the 
public  land  of  the  United  States,  with  the  net  proceeds 
of  all  future  sales  thereof,  shall  constitute  and  form  a 
fund  which  is  hereby  appropriated,  and  the  faith  of  the 
United  States  is  pledged  that  the  said  fund  shall  be  in- 
violably applied,  to  aid  the  emancipation  of  such  slaves 
within  any  of  the  United  States,  and  to  aid  the  removal 
of  such  slaves  and  the  removal  of  such  free  persons  of 
color  in  any  of  the  said  States,  as  by  the  laws  of  the 
States  respectively  may  be  allowed  to  be  emancipated  or 
removed  to  any  territory  or  country  without  the  limits  of 
the  United  States  of  America.” 

The  resolution  was  read,  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Benton 
of  Missouri  ordered  to  be  printed. 

John  Q.  Adams,  now  become  president,  urged  Mr. 
King  to  accept  the  embassy  to  England,  with  which 
country  unadjusted  questions  of  moment  were  pending, 
which  the  president  believed  Mr.  King  was  specially 
qualified  to  manage.  He  reluctantly  accepted  the  mis- 
sion, but  his  health  gave  way,  and  after  a few  months 
spent  in  England,  where  he  was  warmly  welcomed, ’he 
resigned  and  came  home. 

His  son  John  Alsop,  born  in  New  York,  January  3d 
1788,  was  seven  times  elected  to  the  State  Legislature, 
was  a member  of  Congress  in  1849-51,  and  governor  of 
the  State  in  1857-59.  He  was  for  many  years  president 
of  the  State  agricultural  society,  and  died  in  Jamaica, 
L.  I.,  July  8th  1867.  His  second  son,  Charles,  born  in 
March  1789,  was  for  some  time  a merchant,  member  of 
the  Legislature  in  1813,  from  1823  to  1845  editor  of  the 
New  York  American , afterward  associate  editor  of  the 
Courier  and  Enquirer,  and  from  1849  to  1864  president 
of  Columbia  College.  He  died  in  Frascati,  Italy,  Sep- 
tember 27th  1867.  He  was  the  author  of  a “ Memoir  of 
the  Croton  Aqueduct”  (1843),  “History  of  the  New 
York  Chamber  of  Commerce,”  “New  York  Fifty  Years 
Ago  ” and  other  historical  pamphlets. 

GOVERNOR  JOHN  A.  KING. 

John  Alsop  King,  the  eldest  son  of  Rufus  King  and 
Mary,  the  only  child  of  John  Alsop,  was  born  in  New 
York,  on  the  3d  of  January  1788.  During  his  father’s 
residence  in  England  as  ambassador  from  the  United 
States,  from  1797  to  1803,  he  was  placed  with  his  younger 
brother  Charles  at  Harrow,  where  they  obtained  the  fine 
classical  and  manly  education  which  characterized  their 
after  life.  In  1803  they  were  sent  to  Paris  for  a year  to 
study  mathematics  and  the  French  language.  Returning 
to  New  York  John  entered  the  office  of  Edmund  Pen- 
dleton for  the  study  of  law,  and  when  admitted  to  the 
bar  began  his  practice  in  the  court  of  chancery.  In  Jan- 
uary 1810  he  was  married  to  Mary,  the  only  daughter  of 
Cornelius  Ray,  a gentleman  of  wealth  and  culture  in 
New  York. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britain  broke  out 
Mr.  King  applied  for  and  secured  from  Governor  Tomp- 
kins a commission  as  lieutenant  of  hussars,  to  be  sta- 
tioned at  New  York,  thus  practically  carrying  out,  as 
did  his  brothers  Charles  and  James,  the  principle  upon 
which  their  father  had  acted — that,  though  in  judgment 


GOVERNOR  JOHN  A.  KING. 


opposed  to  the  war,  as  citizens  they  had  but  one  duty, 
to  sustain  the  country.  Upon  the  return  of  peace  he  re- 
signed his  commission,  and  soon  after  removed  to  a farm 
which  he  had  bought  at  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  near  to  his 
father’s.  In  the  cultivation  of  this  and  in  advancing  the 
agricultural  and  various  interests  of  the  county  the 
next  ten  years  were  passed,  as  he  often  said,  the  happiest 
years  of  his  life.  His  means  were  moderate,  but  by  his 
habits  of  close  application  and  personal  industry,  rising 
early  and  working  late,  plowing,  sowing,  reaping, 
assisting  in  putting  up  fences  and  out-buildings,  he  was 
enabled  to  live  in  comfort.  When  the  work  was  over,  as 
there  was  an  abundance  of  game  on  the  island,  he 
enjoyed  the  use  of  his  fishing  rod,  his  gun,  and  his 
sporting'  dogs,  and  rode  in  the  fox  hunt  on  a famous 
mare.  A lover  of  fine  cattle,  and  especially  of  fine 
horses,  he  constantly  attended  the  races  on  the  Union 
course,  within  a few  miles  of  his  home  and  at  that  time 
the  field  upon  which  the  speediest  and  best-blooded 
horses  from  north  and  south  contended  for  victory,  and 
he  was  for  many  years  the  president  of  the  Jockey  Club. 

The  affairs  of  the  State  were  always  matters  of  deep 
interest  to  him,  and  so  well  pleased  were  the  people  with 
his  stirring  addresses  that  he  was  by  them  sent  to  the 
Assembly  in  1819,  1820  and  1821.  These  were  years  in 
which  political  feelings  were  much  excited,  and  Mr. 
King  took  an  active  and  prominent  part,  arraying  him- 
self, with  many  of  his  Federal  friends,  upon  the  disrup-- 
tion  of  the  Federal  party,  in  opposition  to  the  ambitious 
schemes  of  Mr.  Clinton.  Though  opposed  to  him  polit- 
ically Mr.  King  was  with  him  an  early  and  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  the  Erie  Canal,  and  continued  to  be  so  to  the 
latest  hour  of  his  life. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  and  took  his  seat  in  1824,  drawing 
the  shortest  term.  His  onward  career  in  State  politics 
was  at  this  time  checked  by  his  appointment  as  secretary 
of  legation  to  Great  Britain,  in  order  that  he  might  ac- 
company his  father,  who  had  been  charged  by  Mr. 
Adams  with  a special  mission  to  the  court  of  St.  Tames; 
and  when,  in  consequence  of  impaired  health,  his  father 
was  obliged  after  a brief  sojourn  to  return  home,  Mr. 
King  remained  behind  as  charge  d'affaires  until  the 
arrival  of  the  new  ambassador.  It  was  a pleasant  service 
to  him,  for  he  was  thus  brought  into  official  and  friendly 
relations  with  many  of  his  old  comrades  at  Harrow,  now 
the  leading  men  of  Great  Britain. 

In  1827,  after  his  father’s  death,  he  bought  from  his 
brother  the  fine  old  mansion  at  Jamaica,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  his  death.  During  his  absence 
abroad  great  political  changes  had  taken  place,  many  of 
his  old  friends  having  became  adherents  of  General 
Jackson,  and  he  was  defeated  as  a candidate  for  Con- 
gress, for  which  he  had  been  nominated  by  the  friends  of 
Mr.  Adams.  In  1832  the  people  of  Queens  county,  de- 
siring to  secure  several  privileges,  among  others  a rail- 
way between  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn,  sent  Mr.  King  to 
the  Assembly;  a charter  for  one  was  obtained,  he  was 
made  president  of  the  road,  and  was  active  in  locating 
and  finishing  it.  Nor  did  his  interest  in  such  improve- 
ments stop  here,  for  he  assisted  in  developing  the  rail- 
way system  on  the  island,  as  well  as  in  the  making  of 


257 


turnpike  and  plank  roads  to  benefit  the  farmers  in  trans- 
porting their  crops  to  market.  In  1838  and  1840  he  was 
again  sent  to  the  Legislature.  In  1839  he  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  national  convention,  where,  though  earnestly 
pressing  Mr.  Clay,  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  finally  to  cast 
his  vote  for  General  Harrison.  At  this  time  and  always 
he  firmly  maintained  the  distinctive  views  of  the  Whig 
party,  and  especially  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Elected 
to  Congress  in  1848,  he  was  enabled  to  act  upon  these 
opinions  and  to  assist  in  moulding  the  public  action 
during  the  two  sessions  of  the  31st  Congress,  from 
1849  to  1851.  Both  in  private  and  in  public  debate  he 
strenuously  resisted  the  passage  of  the  compromise 
measures  and  of  the  fugitive  slave  bill,  one  of  the  meas- 
ures which  exposed  the  purposes  of  advocates  of  the  ex- 
tension of  slavery  and  exasperated  the  manly  sentiment 
of  the  north  against  their  demands.  He  also  took  an 
active  part  in  discussing  the  measures  which  resulted  in 
making  California  a free  State — the  first  decided  evidence 
of  the  determination  of  the  people  to  restrain  slavery 
within  its  then  limits;  a result  which  his  father  had  so 
ably  but  so  unsuccessfully  contended  for  on  the  admis- 
sion of  Missouri. 

In  1852  he  was  a delegate  to  the  national  convention 
which  nominated  General  Scott,  and  in  1856  he  was  sent 
to  the  Philadelphia  convention,  where  his  earnest  and 
active  efforts,  resulting  in  the  nomination  of  Fremont,  so 
commended  him  to  the  other  members  that  he  was 
prominently  named  as  the  candidate  for  vice-president, 
but  he  yielded  to  the  plea  of  New  Jersey  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Dayton. 

In  the  previous  year  he  had  been  chairman  of  the 
Whig  convention  of  New  York,  at  Syracuse,  which  fused 
with  the  Republican  convention  and  thus  blended  the 
Whigs  with  the  independent  Democrats  and  formed  the 
Republican  party.  By  this  party  he  was  in  1856  nomi- 
nated for  governor  of  New  York,  and  was  elected  by  a 
very  large  majority.  He  took  the  oath  of  office  on  the 
1st  of  January  1857,  and,  as  has  been  said,  “discharged 
the  duties  with  rare  firmness  and  sagacity.”  In  his  first 
message  he  advocated  the  cause  of  popular  education 
and  that  of  internal  improvement.  He  assumed  that  the 
people  of  New  York,  by  his  election,  declared  as  “their 
deliberate  and  irreversible  decree  that  so  far  as  the  State 
of  New  York  is  concerned  there  shall  be  henceforth  no 
extension  of  slavery  in  the  territories  of  the  United 
States.”  “ This  conclusion  I most  unreservedly  adopt, 
and  am  prepared  to  abide  by  it  at  all  times,  under  all 
circumstances,  and  in  every  emergency.” 

In  i860  Mr.  King  was  at  the  Chicago  convention,  and 
with  the  New  York  delegation  earnestly  sought  the  nom- 
ination of  Mr.  Seward;  but  the  convention  cast  its  vote 
for  Mr.  Lincoln.  Mr.  King  was  afterward  chosen  one 
of  the  electors  at  large. 

Once  again  he  was  tempted  from  his  retirement  at  Ja- 
maica, by  the  vain  hope  that  some  means  might  .be  dis- 
covered to  stop  the  effusion  of  blood  and  the  desolation 
which  threatened  the  country,  and  accepted  from  Gov- 
ernor Morgan  the  appointment  of  delegate  to  the  peace 
conference  which  assembled  in  Washington  February  4th 
1861  at  the  invitation  of  Virginia.  The  effort  was  un- 
successful, but  Mr.  King  lived  long  enough  to  see  slavery, 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


258 


the  cause  of  so  many  troubles  and  of  the  civil  war,  en- 
tirely abolished,  and  the  country  again  united,  with  the 
national  flag  floating  in  peace  over  every  State  in  the 
Union.  While  addressing  the  young  men  at  Jamaica  on 
the  4th  of  July  1867,  and  commending  that  flag  to  their 
care,  telling  them  in  warm  and  heartfelt  words  that  their 
aim  should  ever  be  the  service  of  their  country  and  their 
God,  he  was  seized  with  sudden  faintness,  and,  sinking 
paralyzed  into  the  arms  of  his  friends,  he  was  carried  to 
his  home,  where,  on  the  7th,  he  died  peacefully,  sur- 
rounded by  his  family. 

Mr.  King  gave  much  of  his  time  and  thought  to  agri- 
culture, both  as  a practical  and  a scientific  pursuit,  labor- 
ing earnestly  in  the  Queens  County  Agricultural  Society, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders  and  often  president. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  afterward  president  of 
the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society,  from  whose 
meetings  he  was  rarely  absent;  one  of  the  founders  and 
a vice-president  of  the  United  States  Agricultural  So- 
ciety. and  a promoter  of  the  agricultural  college  at  Ovid, 
which  was  afterward  transferred  to  Cornell  University. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  Jamaica, 
and  especially  in  the  educational  and  religious  institu- 
tions, in  advancing  which  he  spent  much  time  and 
thought,  as  well  as  money. 

An  earnest  and  faithful  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  in  which  he  was  brought  up,  he  was 
for  many  years  a vestryman  and  warden  of  Grace  church, 
Jamaica,  to  whose  welfare  he  was  warmly  devoted  and 
under  the  shadow  of  whose  walls  he  now  rests  in  peace. 
Nor  was  his  love  for  the  church  confined  within  the  nar- 
row limits  of  his  parish,  for  he  was  long  an  able  and 
trusted  councillor  in  the  affairs  of  the  diocese  of  his  na- 
tive State  and  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary.  He 
was  an  honorary  member  of  the  New  York  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  a member  of  the  New  York  and  Long  Island 
Historical  Societies,  and  of  the  St.  Nicholas  Society,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 

Inheriting  a manly  and  vigorous  constitution,  quick 
and  active  in  his  movements,  and  having  lived  a temper- 
ate and  well  regulated  life,  he  retained  his  physical  and 
intellectual  qualities  almost  unimpaired  until  the  end  of 
his  long  life.  The  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Union 
Club  of  New  York,  of  which  he  had  long  been  president, 
briefly  but  truly  sum  up  his  character: 

“ Resolved , That,  individually,  we  have  lost  the  compan- 
ionship of  a cultivated  gentleman,  a man  of  spotless  in- 
tegrity and  a kind  and  genial  friend. 

“ Resolved , That  our  State  has  lost  a distinguished  cit- 
izen, the  purity  of  whose  motives  and  the  sincerity  of 
whose  patriotism  have  never  in  the  bitterest  contest  of 
party  been  questioned,  and  whose  long-life  example  of 
unvarying  integrity  and  of  uniform  public  and  private 
virtue  is  a rich  and  endearing  legacy  to  his  countrymen.” 

Mrs.  King  continued  to  reside  in  the  house  at  Jamaica 
where  she  had  lived  so  happily  for  nearly  half  a century, 
and  there  after  a brief  illness  she  passed  away  in  August 
1873 — a Christian  lady,  beloved  of  all,  full  of  gentleness, 
sound  judgment  and  good  works.  A large  family  sur- 
vived her.  The  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  married  P.  M. 
Nightingale,  of  Georgia,  a grandson  of  General  Nathan- 
iel Greene. 

Charles  Ray,  an  alumnus  of  Union  Hall  Academy,  of 
Columbia  College  and  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  studied  medicine  in  Phila- 
delphia and  Paris.  He  married  Hannah  Wharton,  and 
after  her  decease  Nancy  Wharton,  daughters  of  William 
W.  Fisher  of  Philadelphia.  After  practicing  medicine 
in  New  York  and  Philadelphia  he  bought  a farm  upon 
the  Pennsylvania  bank  of  the  Delaware,  in  Bucks  county, 
where  he  now  resides.  Though  an  earnest  Republican 


he  has  never  sought  political  life,  but  has  occupied  him- 
self in  striving  to  advance  the  interests  of  agriculture 
and  the  education  of  the  people.  A lifelong  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  as  vestryman  and 
warden  since  1851  in  his  own  parish,  as  deputy  to  the 
convention  of  the  diocese  of  Pennsylvania  for  thirty 
years,  and  as  an  overseer  in  the  divinity  school  in  Phila- 
delphia from  its  foundation,  he  has  given  his  time  and 
efforts  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  church  of  his 
affection. 

Elizabeth  Ray  married  Colonel  Henry  Van  Rensselaer, 
who  was  a son  of  the  elder  Stephen  Van  Rensseiaer  and 
died  in  the  service  of  his  country  during  the  late  war  of 
the  rebellion.  Caroline  married  her  cousin  James  Gore 
King,  son  of  James  G.  King.  Richard  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Mordecai  Lewis  of  Philadelphia,  and 
has  always  been  honorably  engaged  in  commercial  and 
banking  business,  being  now  president  of  the  National 
Bank  of  Commerce  in  New  York  and  a vestryman  of 
Grace  Church,  Jamaica.  Cornelia,  the  youngest  child, 
unmarried,  lives  at  the  homestead  at  Jamaica;  given  to 
hospitality  and  zealous  in  good  works  and  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  parish. 

JOHN  ALSOP  KING. 

John  Alsop,  second  son  of  John  Alsop  and  Mary 
King,  was  born  July  14th  1817,  at  Jamaica,  where  he 
went  to  school,  graduating  at  Harvard  University  in 
1835.  He  entered  a counting-house,  and  then  went  into 
business,  but  soon  left,  to  study  law.  He  was  married,  in 
1839,  to  Mary  Colden,  only  daughter  of  Philip  Rhine- 
lander. He  lived  in  the  city  until  1854,  when  he  pur- 
chased part  of  Hewlett’s  Point,  at  Great  Neck,  North 
Hempstead,  where,  with  the  exception  of  several  visits 
abroad,  he  has  since  resided,  carrying  on,  personally  and 
assiduously,  the  various  labors  of  the  farm,  actively  con- 
nected with  the  agricultural  societies  of  Queens  county, 
the  State,  and  the  United  States.  He  is  an  interested 
member  of  many  of  the  societies  devoted  to  the  educa- 
tional, material,  historical  and  charitable  affairs  of  the 
county  and  of  the  State;  warden  of  the  church,  delegate 
to  the  diocesan  conventions,  twice  deputy  to  the  General 
Convention,  one  of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
General  Theological  Seminary  and  a manager  of  the 
board  of  missions. 

In  politics  he  was  a Whig,  and  then  a Republican;  he 
has  often  been  sent  to  the  State  conventions,  and  in  1872 
was  a delegate  to  the  national  convention  which  renomi- 
nated General  Grant,  and  a member  of  the  college  of 
electors.  Chosen  to  the  State  Senate  in  1873,  he  was  a 
zealous  supporter  and  defender  of  the  Erie  Canal,  and 
of  the  constitutional  amendments,  which  brought  about 
many  reforms  in  the  State  government.  With  the  aid  of 
the  members  from  the  first  district  he  succeeded  in 
having  the  infamous  act  of  1868  repealed,  by  which,  un- 
known to  the  owners,  the  salt  meadow  water  fronts  of 
Staten  and  Long  Islands  had  been  sold  for  a trifling  sum 
to  a land  company.  He  received  a vote  of  thanks  from 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  relation  to  the  act  estab- 
lishing the  court  of  arbitration.  He  was  defeated  for 
Congress  in  1876,  and  again  in  1880.  He  was  appoint- 
ed by  Governor  Cornell,  in  1881,  the  commissioner  for 
the  State  of  New  York  at  the  Yorktown  Centennial;  and 
was  made  chairman  of  a commission  of  fifteen  citizens, 
named  by  the  governor,  under  a resolution  of  the  Senate 
of  the  State,  to  receive  and  extend  the  courtesies  and 
hospitalities  of  the  State  to  the  delegation  from  France, 
and  the  other  foreign  guests  invited  by  the  United  States 
to  take  part  at  Yorktown  in  the  centennial  celebration. 
Both  duties  were  faithfully  discharged. 


LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


ONG  ISLAND  CITY,  the  seat  of  justice  of 
Queens  county,  comprises  the  localities  long 
known  as  Astoria,  Hunter’s  Point,  Ravens- 
wood,  Dutch  Kills,  Blissville  and  Middle- 
town.  The  more  populous  of  these  places 
still  geographically  distinct,  the  spaces  inter- 
ng  between  them  not  having  been  built  up  as 
yet,  and  the  new  city  name  is  by  many  ignored  in  conse- 
quence. The  city  is  located  on  Long  Island,  opposite 
the  upper  part  of  New  York.  It  is  bounded  southeast  by 
Newtown,  of  which  it  was  originally  a part.  On  the 
south  it  is  separated  from  Brooklyn  by  Newtown  Creek. 
The  East  River  forms  its  western  and  northern  boundary, 
and  Blackwell’s,  Ward’s  and  Randall’s  Islands  lie  oppo- 
site this  city.  North  Brother,  South  Brother  and 
Berrien’s  Islands  are  included  within  the  city  limits. 

Astoria,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  extends  along 
the  shore  of  the  East  River.  It  was  long  known  as 
Hallett’s  Cove,  and  was  afterward  named  in  honor  of 
John  Jacob  Astor.  The  place  contains  many  charming 
suburban  dwellings,  some  of  which  are  old  and  almost  all 
of  which  are  very  well  located.  The  boulevard  is  a drive 
which  extends  through  the  village  parallel  with  the  shore, 
and  which  is  skirted  on  the  water  side  with  residences 
having  water  front  and  between  which  delightful  views 
of  the  river  and  the  islands  in  it  may  be  obtained.  There 
are  several  manufacturing  enterprises  located  here. 

Hunter’s  Point  is  a great  oil-refining  depot  and  the  lo- 
cality of  many  manufacturing  interests.  The  refineries 
extend  more  than  a mile  along  the  East  River  front.  The 
depots  of  some  of  the  Long  Island  railroads  are  lo- 
cated here,  the  place  being  the  distributing  point  for 
travel  by  rail  and  railway  freight  traffic  for  Long  Island. 

Ravenswood,  lying  between  Hunter’s  Point  and  Astoria, 
contains  numerous  suburban  residences,  many  of  which 
are  surrounded  by  handsome  grounds. 

Dutch  Kills  was  an  early  Dutch  settlement.  The 
population  is  now  small  and  somewhat  scattered. 

Blissville,  situated  east  of  Hunter’s  Point,  near  Calvary 
Cemetery,  the  great  Roman  Catholic  burying  ground  of 
New  York  and. its  suburbs,  is  a small  and  not  very  popu- 
lous village,  containing  some  manufacturing  concerns 
of  more  or  less  importance. 


Middletown,  near  the  eastern  border  of  the  city,  is  a 
small  settlement  which  was  more  prominent  years  ago 
than  it  is  now.  The  Bowery,  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  city,  was  an  early  Dutch  settlement. 

Long  Island  City  is  connected  with  New  York  by  a 
number  of  ferries,  from  92nd  street,  New  York,  to  Asto- 
ria (with  horse  railway  connections  with  Ravenswood, 
Plunter’s  Point  and  other  parts  of  the  city  to  the  south), 
and  from  the  foot  of  James  slip  and  of  East  Thirty-fourth 
street,  New  York,  to  Hunter’s  Point,  with  street  rail- 
road connections  with  various  parts  of  the  city. 

The  population  was  15,587  in  1875,  and  17,096  in  1880. 

Early  Settlers  and  their  Descendants. 

RICHARD  BRUTNELL. 

Nearly  two  centuries  and  a half  have  elapsed  since  the 
beginning  of  the  settlement  by  whites  of  the  territory  now 
included  in  the  corporate  limits  of  Long  Island  City.  As 
early  as  1640  the  attention  of  colonists  had  been  directed 
thither.  As  nearly  as  can  now  be  ascertained  the  spot 
first  occupied  was  at  the  junction  of  the  kill  of  Mespat 
(Newtown  Creek)  and  Kanapaukah  Creek  (Dutch  Kills), 
on  either  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  latter.  On  the  east 
side  was  the  plantation  of  Richard  Brutnell,  nearly  a 
hundred  acres  in  extent.  Brutnell  was  born  in  Bradford, 
England.  A few  years  later  he  removed  to  Hempstead. 
This  property  was  deeded  to  Brutnell  in  July  1643,  and 
later  passed  into  the  possession  of  William  Herrick, 
whose  widow  subsequently  married  Thomas  Wandell, 
who  became  the  purchaser  in  1659,  adding  fifty  acres  to 
it  for  which  Richard  Colefax  had  obtained  a patent  in 
1652.  This  estate  later  became  known  as  the  Alsop 
farm,  having  been  inherited  by  Richard  Alsop,  a nephew 
of  Wandell,  in  1691,  at  the  latter’s  death.  The  name 
of  Alsop  has  become  extinct  in  the  neighborhood  and 
the  farm  has  been  sold,  a large  part  of  it  now  being 
known  as  Calvary  Cemetery.  The  old  Alsop  house  stood 
just  outside  the  city  limits. 

BURGER  JORIS THE  DUTCH  SETTLERS. 

On  the  west  side  of  Dutch  Kills  Creek,  at  its  mouth, 
was  the  plantation  of  Tymen  Jansen,  who  had  been  a 
ship  carpenter  in  the  employ  of  the  West  India  Company 


260 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and  who  received  a grant  of  this  land  about  the  time  of 
the  grant  to  Brutnell.  The  farm  of  Jansen  was  pur- 
chased several  years  later  by  Joris  Stevensen  de  Caper, 
the  ancestor  of  the  Van  Alst  family.  To  this  estate  he 
added  subsequently  a neighboring  plantation,  which  had 
been  granted  March  23d  1647  to  Jan  Jansen,  from  Dit- 
marsen,  in  Lower  Saxony,  from  whom  the  family  of  Ditmar 
descended.  Next  to  the  Tymen  Jansen  plantation,  to  the 
north,  lay  the  land  of  Burger  Jorissen,  who  took  out  his 
“ground-brief”  July  3d  1643.  According  to  Riker, 
“ Burger  Joris  ” (the  name  appears  to  have  been  abbrevi- 
ated in  time)  was  a native  of  Hersberg,  in  Silesia,  and 
came  to  Rensselaerwyck  in  1637,  being  by  occupation  a 
smith.  There  he  lived  for  about  five  years,  and  then 
bought  a vessel  and  became  a trader  on  the  Hudson,  but 
he  eventually  settled  on  his  farm  at  Dutch  Kills.  “ Du- 
ring this  absence  it  appears  ” he  rented  his  bouwery  and 
stock,  consisting  of  goats,  etc.,  to  Robert  Evans  and 
James  Smith.  “Prior  to  1654  he  had  erected  a tide-mill 
on  his  farm,  and  the  creek  was  on  that  account  named 
Burger’s  Kill.  He  died  in  1671,  aged  59.  He  was  evi- 
dently a man  of  character  and  ability,  as  he  was  repeat- 
edly called  to  assist  in  the  civil  government  of  the  town. 
He  married,  in  1639,  Engeltie  Mans,  from  Compst, 
in  Sweden,  and  had  sons:  Joris,  born  1647;  Hermanus, 
born  1652;  Claes,  born  1657;  Johannes,  born  1661;  and 
Elias,  born  1664.  These  took  the  patronymic  Burger, 
and  in  fact  the  father  was  sometimes  called  Mr.  Burger. 
They  settled  in  New  York,  and  from  them  the  Burger 
family  of  that  city  is  descended.  Burger  Joris’s  farm 
was  sold  to  John  Parcell,  the  progenitor  of  the  Parcell 
family,  and  subsequently  was  owned  by  Abraham  and 
William  Paynter. 

The  “ out  plantations”  of  this  period,  which  fell  with- 
in the  territory  of  the  present  city,  were  farms  lying  along 
the  East  River  at  Hunter’s  Point  and  above  that  locality 
(which  was  then  called  Dominie’s  Hook).  They  had 
been  granted  by  the  government  of  New  Netherland,  on 
the  prevailing  conditions  of  tenure,  to  a number  of  plant- 
ers, most  of  whom  were  Dutch.  One  of  the  most  noted 
holders  of  “ out  plantations,”  however,  was  the  English- 
man William  Hallett,  who  was  granted  a good  sized  farm 
at  Hell  Gate,  and  who  is  spoken  of  somewhat  at  length 
hereafter. 

“Dominie’s  Hook”  as  early  as  1643  gained  its  name 
from  its  owner,  Dominie  Everardus  Bogardus,  the  first 
minister  of  New  Amsterdam,  whose  widow,  Annetie  Jans 
(whose  name  slightly  modified  is  very  familiar  to-day  from 
its  connection  with  certain  famous  real  estate  claims),  ob- 
tained a deed  for  the  property,  which  was  then  estimated 
at  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  on  the  26th  of  Novem- 
ber 1652. 

THE  HUNTER  HOMESTEAD. 

Nearly  two  hundred  years  ago,  upon  the  site  at  pres- 
ent somewhat  conspicuous  in  the  traveler's  record  as 
the  starting  point  of  the  several  railroads  at  Long  Island 
City,  was  erected  a picturesque  family  mansion,  built  in 
the  ancient  Knickerbocker  style  of  architecture  peculiar 


to  those  days,  and  situated  upon  the  sunny  brow  of  a hill, 
overlooking  the  East  River,  and  at  the  junction  of 
that  river  with  Newtown  Creek,  or  “Mespat  Killitio,”  as 
it  was  originally  called.  There  are  individuals  yet  living 
who  remember  the  pleasant  surroundings  of  this  ancient 
dwelling,  known  through  all  the  country  as  the  Hunter 
homestead,  bearing  the  name  of  the  family  after  whom 
“Hunter’s  Point”  was  called.  It  was  low-roofed,  wide- 
hailed  and  many-roomed,  with  an  extensive  piazza  on 
the  front  of  the  house,  from  which  could  be  ob- 
tained a fine  view  up  and  down  the  East  River. 
Here  was  to  be  found  that  quaint  old-fashioned 
model  of  a door  divided  in  upper  and  lower  halves, 
which  is  now  nearly  if  not  quite  extinct,  or  dwelling  only 
among  the  old-time  legends  of  architecture.  A famous 
brass  knocker  ornamenting  the  upper  portion  of  this 
door  gave  notice  of  the  arrival  of  the  welcome  guest; 
while  within,  an  ancient  family  clock  (still  in  possession 
of  the  descendants)  ticked  its  timely  warning,  and  around 
a wide  old  fireplace  on  Sabbath  evenings  was  ever  the 
genial  gathering  corner  of  the  household  children,  who 
from  motherly  lips  (silent  long  ago!)  were  taught  their 
earliest  and  doubtless  most  impressive  lessons  of 
Scriptural  lore. 

We  have  now  before  11s  a plain  picture  of  the  Hunter 
homestead,  wherein  Jacob  Hunter  passed  the  earlier  days 
of  his  life,  returning  from  time  to  time  in  later  years,  as 
the  urgent  cares  of  business  and  the  much-occupied  life 
of  a leading  New  York  citizen  allowed  him  leisure,  for  a 
visit  to  the  home  of  his  mother  and  the  haunts  of  his 
childhood.  He  was  the  eldest  and  last  surviving  son  of 
Captain  George  Hunter,  an  English  gentleman,  whose 
predilection  for  a seafaring  life  brought  him  to  this  coun- 
try some  years  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Cap- 
tain Hunter  was  at  that  period  the  commander  of  a vessel 
sailing  to  and  fro  on  errands  of  mercantile  interest  be- 
tween the  two  countries,  but  at  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  being  in  port,  his  vessel  was  ordered  out  of  the 
city,  and  harbored  in  the  waters  of  Newtown  Creek.  At 
this  epoch  he  became  acquainted  with  the  daughter  of 
Jacob  Bennett,  a wealthy  landholder,  who  with  his  family 
had  long  owned  and  occupied  as  a residence  the  locality 
which  was  afterward  so  well  known  as  Hunter’s  Point. 

CAPTAIN  PRAA’S  ESTATE. 

The  children  of  Mrs.  Annetie  Praa  Bennett  had  orig- 
inally inherited  this  estate  from  their  grandfather  Cap- 
tain Peter  Praa.  This  gentleman  was  of  an  ancient 
Huguenot  family,  but  was  himself  born  in  Leyden,  Hol- 
land, and  came  to  this  country  in  1659,  the  family  having 
gathered  their  household  effects  and  fled  out  of  the  reach 
of  religious  persecution,  to  which  they,  in  common  with 
all  others  of  their  faith,  were  at  that  time  subjected.  As  a 
military  officer  Captain  Praa  was  especially  distinguished. 
Being  otherwise  a man  of  considerable  note  in  his  time, 
and  the  possessor  of  a vast  amount  of  real  estate,  his 
name  was  a prominent  one  among  the  patroons  of  that 
day.  Not  only  upon  the  shores  of  Long  Island  was  he 
the  owner  of  an  extended  tract  of  land,  reaching  from 


EARLY  OWNERSHIP  OF  HUNTER’S  POINT. 


261 


Ravensvvood  to  Williamsburgh  (and  including  what  is 
now  called  Green  Point)  on  one  side,  and  to  the  outskirts 
of  Bushwick  on  the  other;  but  he  had  much  valuable 
property  in  New  York  city  and  the  surrounding  colonies 
and  townships. 

A MISSING  DEED THE  JANS  ESTATE. 

Some  curious  and  even  romantic  facts  it  is  said  have 
come  to  light  in  more  recent  years  with  regard  to  his 
ownership  of  a large  district  in  an  adjoining  State,  the  title 
deeds  of  which  were  lost  to  the  family  for  so  many 
years  that  even  their  existence  was  forgotten,  until  one 
day  a descendant  of  one  of  Captain  Praa’s  daughters,  hav- 
ing occasion  to  destroy  an  old  piece  of  furniture,  found  a 
secret  drawer  attached  to  it,  covered  by  a piece  of  tin,  and 
within  it  she  most  unexpectedly  discovered  the  long  lost 
title  deeds  of  her  forefather’s  estate.  This  claim  was 
also  said  to  cover  a large  amount  of  property  in  the 
heart  of  New  York  city,  and  a goodly  tract  of  land 
in  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  with  about  50,000  acres  of  val- 
uable land  in  New  Jersey.  Upon  the  basis  of  this 
discovery  an  association  of  the  heirs  of  Peter  Praa 
was  formed,  and  the  matter  put  into  the  hands  of 
lawyers,  who  seemed,  at  least,  eminently  busy;  but 
we  have  good  reason  to  believe  the  lawsuits  have 
never  been  satisfactorily  settled,  since  the  claimants  are 
to  this  day  as  far  off  as  ever  from  any  pecuniary  benefits 
which  those  long  lost  title  deeds  should  legally  have  af- 
forded them. 

It  was  in  1697  that  Captain  Praa  became  the  purchaser 
of  “ Dominie’s  Hook,”  which  was  the  earliest  name  of 
“ Hunter’s  Point.”  He  bought  it  from  the  heirs  of  An- 
neke  Jans,  widow  of  Dominie  Everardus  Bogardus,  who  in 
1652  had  received  the  grant  of  this  land  from  Peter  Stuy- 
vesant,  then  governor  of  the  colony  of  New  York.  This 
Dominie  Bogardus  was  the  first  Dutch  minister  settled 
in  New  York  city,  and  was  afterward  drowned  on  his  re- 
turn to  Holland  with  Governor  Kieft.  The  children  and 
heirs  of  Anneke  Jans  Bogardus  had  afterward  received 
a confirmatory  patent  from  the  English  Governor  Nicolls, 
dated  March  1669.  All  of  these  ancient  grants  or 
patents  have  had  the  good  fortune  of  being  carefully 
kept  and  handed  down  from  one  generation  to  another. 
The  original  Nicolls  patent  is  now  to  be  seen  in  the  li- 
brary of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  having  been  pre- 
sented by  the  late  Hon.  Clarkson  N.  Potter,  a grandson  of 
Dr.  Eliphalet  Nott,  who  so  long  presided  over  that  insti- 
tution. In  a letter  to  the  writer  Mr.  Potter  says:  “ Like 
all  the  papers  which  were  issued  when  Matthias  Nicoll 
was  secretary  of  the  province,  it  is  a beautiful  specimen 
of  clerical  work,  and  in  perfect  preservation.”  It  was 
during  his  interesting  researches  into  the  early  history  of 
the  “ Old  Farm,”  as  it  was  familiarly  designated,  that 
Mr.  Potter  came  into  possession  of  many  ancient  papers, 
yellow-tinged  with  time,  but  important  in  the  primitive 
history  of  Long  Island  City.  From  this  gentleman’s  rec- 
ords we  have  also  a boundary  of  the  demesne,  which  is 
likely  to  prove  of  historical  value  and  interest  in  the  fu- 
ture. “ The  original  farm,”  wrote  Mr.  Potter  “consisted 


of  212  acres.  It  was  in  its  early  days  almost  an  island, 
bounded  on  the  north  by  a ditch  on  the  sait  meadow 
south  of  Ravensvvood,  partly  by  a run  of  water  called  Jack’s 
Creek,  which  ran  east  and  then  curved  to  the  south  and 
thus  formed  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  farm;  south  by 
Newtown  creek,  and  west  by  the  East  River.” 

THE  NAME  OF  HUNTER’S  POINT. 

People  in  recent  times  have  frequently  desired  to 
learn  why  this  locality  was  called  a point.  The  explan- 
ation is  a very  characteristic  and  natural  one.  It  re- 
ceived the  appellation  from  a prominent  ledge  of  rocks 
which  jutted  out  into  the  East  River,  the  last  one  form- 
ing a distinct  point,  which  could  be  seen  from  a distance 
and  became  a sort  of  landmark  to  vessels  passing  up  and 
down  the  river.  These  rocks,  which  in  days  of  modern 
progress  were  either  built  upon  by  the  ferry  owners  or 
destroyed,  were  useful  in  early  years  as  a private  boat 
landing  when  the  tide  in  Newtown  Creek  was  too  low 
for  a nearer  approach  to  the  homestead  by  that  more 
convenient  water  route.  Captain  Peter  Praa  at  the  time 
of  his  purchase  of  this  farm  (first  called  Dominie’s  Hook, 
then  Bennett’s  Point  and  afterward  Hunter’s  Point)  had 
his  family  residence  on  the  opposite  side  of  Newtown 
Creek,  upon  a portion  of  land  bounded  also  by  the  East 
River,  and  which  is  now  familiarly  known  under  the 
name  of  Green  Point.  In  1684  Captain  Praa  married 
Maria,  daughter  of  Jacob  Hay  and  widow  of  a staunch 
Knickerbocker  named  Joost  Molenaer.  The  Praa  family 
consisted  of  five  daughters,  nearly  all  of  whom  survived 
their  father.  The  eldest  seems  to  have  remained  un- 
married. The  second  sister,  Maria,  became  Mrs.  Wy- 
nant  Van  Zandt,  and  was  widely  known  and  admired  in 
the  social  circles  of  the  period  as  a belle  and  a very 
beautiful  woman.  The  remaining  sisters  were  married, 
one  to  a Messerole,  and  another  to  a Provost;  and 
Annetie  Praa,  who  was  born  in  1694,  became  the  wife  of 
William  Bennett.  To  the  children  of  this  daughter, 
whom  he  survived,  Captain  Praa  bequeathed  their 
mother’s  home  (the  Dominie’s  Hook  purchase),  which 
thereafter  took  the  name  of  the  resident  family  and  was 
recognized  as  “Bennett’s  Point.”  A peculiar  and  inter- 
esting feature  of  Captain  Praa’s  will  was  his  thoughtful 
care  of  an  old  family  servant.  To  this  favorite  negro, 
“Jack,”  as  he  was  called,  was  left  a small  piece  of  land 
originally  belonging  to  the  Dominie’s  Hook  territory, 
but  which  was  in  itself  almost  an  island  (for  it  bore  the 
name  of  “Jack’s  Island”),  being  situated  on  high  ground 
nearly  isolated  from  the  mainland  by  a branch  of  Newtown 
Creek  passing  through  and  around  the  adjoining  salt 
meadows.  This  bit  of  land  was  given  to  his  favorite 
negro  servant  “as  long  as  he  lives,  to  maintain  himself 
out  of  it.”  And  Jack  dwelt  there  as  lawful  sovereign  of 
his  little  island  for  many  years  after  his  kind  master  was 
gone,  and  supported  himself  and  family  (as  the  records 
tell)  by  fishing  and  clamming,  and  finally  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  leaving  his  name  associated  with  creek, 
orchard  and  island,  with  its  kindly  memories  to  be 
handed  down  to  posterity. 


262 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


JACOB  BENNETT. 

In  1767  Jacob  Bennett,  a son  of  Mrs.  Annetie  Praa 
Bennett  (or  rather  Bodet,  for,  having  early  lost  her  first 
husband,  she  had  married  again),  bought  the  family  resi- 
dence and  adjoining  land  from  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
and  he  lived  in  the  old  homestead  until  his  death,  in  1817, 
at  the  ripe  age  of  94  years.  That  this  gentleman  of  the 
olden  time  was  contented  never  to  roam  very  far  from 
the  delights  of  his  own  fireside  may  be  inferred  from  the 
fact  that,  although  in  the  habit  of  sending  a boat  every 
day  to  the  city  for  marketing  and  other  family  jrurposes, 
he  could  never  be  persuaded  to  visit  New  York  in  per- 
son, having  a natural  unconquerable  fear  of  catching  the 
smallpox! 

CAPTAIN  GEORGE  HUNTER. 

After  the  demise  of  Mr.  Bennett  the  old  farm  by  his 
will  became  again  an  inheritance  in  the  female  line,  and 
was  given  to  his  daughter  Mrs.  Anne  Hunter  and  her 
husband  Captain  George  Hunter,  who  some  time  after 
their  marriage  had  settled  in  New  York  city.  After 
some  family  troubles,  arising  out  of  an  unsuccessful  con- 
test of  Mr.  Bennett’s  will  by  the  residue  of  his  heirs, 
Captain  Hunter  and  his  wife  returned  to  the  old  home, 
which  they  occupied  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Mrs.  Hunter  died  there,  March  10th  1833,  leaving  a 
family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom,  her  sons  Jacob, 
John  B.,  and  Richard  B.,  were  by  her  will  appointed  ex- 
ecutors of  the  estate.  The  ancient  homestead  had  now 
long  been  known  as  Hunter’s  Point.  Captain  Hunter 
died  in  October  1825.  He  was  a man  greatly  admired, 
esteemed  and  beloved.  He  was  a model  of  manly 
virtues,  and  when  after  his  marriage  he  gave  up  his 
seafaring  vocation,  to  become  a shipping  merchant  in 
New  York,  no  name  stood  higher  than  his  among  the 
mercantile  interests  and  community.  In  the  city  and 
land  of  his  adoption  he  had  thus  become  a highly  hon- 
ored citizen,  and  there  is  a true  legend  of  his  wedding 
day  to  the  effect  that  upon  that  happy  occasion  the  ship- 
ping merchants  of  New  York  celebrated  the  event  by  a 
universal  hoisting  of  their  bunting  in  the  harbor  and 
vicinity.  It  is  one  hundred  and  four  years  since  that 
auspicious  wedding  day!  New  York  city  then  only  cov- 
ered the  lower  part  of  Manhattan  Island;  but  a vivid 
picture  is  before  us  of  the  fair  young  wife  and  her  chosen 
partner  in  life’s  journey,  as,  gazing  adown  the  river  from 
the  windows  of  their  ancestral  home,  they  are  made 
aware  of  the  fact  that  the  little  city  lying  so  pleasantly  in 
the  distance  is  decked  with  such  gorgeous  festal  attire  in 
honor  of  their  union.  From  the  windows  of  this  time- 
honored  family  mansion,  how  many  scenes  of  note  and 
interest  were  previously  and  afterward  witnessed!  There 
were  occasions  of  social  and  family  festivities,  when  it 
was  a cheering  and  pretty  sight  to  behold  the  shores  of 
Newtown  Creek  lined  with  the  boats  of  neighbors  and 
friends  as  they  came  from  miles  around  to  attend  a 
christening  or  a wedding.  One  reminiscence  of  this  sort 
may  be  particularly  mentioned:  Upon  the  visit  of  the 
minister  of  that  section  (an  event  which  in  those  days 


occurred  only  once  in  a prolonged  period,  on  account  of 
the  wide  circuit  under  a “ dominie’s  ” charge  and  the  dif- 
ficulties of  traveling)  several  affianced  couples  took  ad- 
vantage of  the  opportunity  and  were  married  under  the 
friendly  roof  of  the  ancient  homestead;  and  a number  of 
children  from  households  of  the  neighboring  farm-houses 
received  the  sacred  rite  of  baptism,  the  font  used  during 
the  services  being  a silver  bowl,  still  in  existence  and 
preserved  by  the  family  as  a memorial  of  the  occasion. 

NOTEWORTHY  INCIDENTS. 

During  the  stirring  events  of  the  Revolutionary  war 
here  was  a “ Point  Lookout  ” from  which  could  be  dis- 
tinctly viewed  the  maneuvers  of  the  enemy.  Gazing 
forth  from  their  airy  hill-top  the  household  beheld  with 
sorrow  the  capture  of  New  York  city  by  the  British,  Sep- 
tember 13th  1776.  History  tells  us  that  the  first  division 
of  the  royal  army,  under  Cornwallis  and  others,  embarked 
from  the  head  of  certain  waters  called  Newtown  Bay, 
where  they  were  out  of  sight  of  their  opponents.  Num- 
bering five  ships  of  war,  on  their  entrance  into  the  East 
River  they  went  over  to  Kipp’s  Bay.  Forts  were  already 
erected  there  by  the  Revolutionists  and  troops  stationed 
for  their  defense,  but  the  firing  from  the  ships  caused 
them  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  British  took  possession. 
This  locality,  called  “ Kipp’s  Bay,”  is  now  that  part  of 
New  York  city  lying  opposite  and  above  Hunter’s  Point 
ferry.  It  was  afterward  offered  to  Captain  Hunter  for  a 
few  hundred  pounds  purchase  money,  and  he  was  tempted 
to  risk  the  speculation;  but  his  prudent  helpmate  dis- 
suaded him  from  it,  being  firmly  persuaded  in  her  mind 
that  this  proposed  acquisition  of  real  estate  would  never 
prove  a paying  investment. 

A daring  robbery  took  place  in  the  old  Hunter  home- 
stead shortly  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  As  one 
of  the  members  of  the  Bennett  family  was  rowing  home- 
ward one  evening  he  observed  a strange  boat  on  the 
shore,  a little  distance  from  the  house.  An  old  negro 
servant  who  accompanied  him  immediately  scented  dan- 
ger, remarking  to  his  master,  “ There  must  be  robbers  in 
our  house— let  us  scuttle  the  boat!  ” This  praiseworthy 
precaution  was  at  once  taken.  As  they  neared  the  dwel- 
ling the  marauders  had  already  tied  in  his  chair  old  Mr. 
Bennett,  father-in-law  of  Captain  Hunter,  and  were 
threatening  to  burn  him  unless  he  revealed  where  his 
money  was  kept.  After  successive  efforts  they  had  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  about  $6,000,  together  with  some  other 
valuables  and  articles  of  family  silverware,  when  the  sig- 
nal of  alarm  was  given  by  the  observing  party  without, 
and  soon  a multitude  of  friends  and  neighbors  were  seen 
hastening  by  creek  and  shore  to  the  rescue.  In  dismay 
the  daring  intruders  now  sought  their  boat  as  a means  of 
speedy  flight,  but  as  they  put  off  from  the  land  it  filled 
with  water,  and  hurriedly  jumping  from  it  they  followed 
a track  across  the  meadows,  in  their  hasty  exit  leaving 
behind  them,  hidden  in  the  sedge,  the  money  they  had 
stolen  and  the  silverware.  One  of  them  was  arrested 
soon  after  the  occurrence.  A large  reward  was  offered 
by  Captain  Hunter  for  the  capture  of  the  whole  party. 


MRS.  ANNE  HUNTER  AND  HER  DESCENDANTS. 


265 


but  they  were  never  found.  The  whole  of  this  story  we 
think  has  never  before  been  told.  As  it  gives  an  instance 
of  a woman’s  bravery  under  peculiarly  trying  circum- 
stances, we  think  it  deserving  of  notice  in  the  present 
record.  At  the  time  of  this  bold  robbery  the  wife  of 
Captain  Hunter  was  lying  ill  in  a room  adjoining  that  of 
her  father.  She  dared  not  make  any  outcry  for  fear  of 
instant  butchery  to  herself  and  aged  father;  and  in  seem- 
ing quietly  submitted  to  their  depredations.  But  while 
these  ruffians  were  joyfully  inspecting  the  treasures  they 
had  gained,  weak,  ill  and  terribly  frightened  as  she  was, 
Mrs.  Hunter  managed  to  leave  her  sick  couch  and  pos- 
sess herself  of  another  large  sum  of  money  that  was  lying 
in  a drawer  near  by.  This  she  secreted  more  securely  in 
a corner  of  the  bed  curtain.  This  duty  effected  she  be- 
came unconscious,  just  as  she  had  realized  the  flight  of 
the  robbers  and  that  help  was  close  at  hand.  She  after- 
ward described  this  marauding  party  as  men  who  were 
handsomely  equipped  in  military  accoutrements,  such  as 
were  worn  at  that  time  by  British  officers.  An  officer’s 
sword,  which  was  found  in  the  meadows  at  the  time,  gave 
assurance  of  a higher  rank  in  rascality  than  the  outward 
circumstances  of  life  might  have  warranted. 

THE  HUNTER  HEIRS  AND  ESTATE. 

After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hunter,  in  1833,  her 
family  continued  to  occupy  the  old  homestead  about 
two  years.  The  daughters  with  one  exception  had  mar- 
ried, and  resided  in  their  own  homes  in  the  adjacent  city. 
The  elder  sons,  Jacob  and  John  B.,  had  also  long  since 
been  recognized  as  prominent  citizens  in  New  York, 
while  their  youngest  brother,  Richard  B.,  had  located  on 
an  adjoining  section  of  the  Van  Alst  farm  lands,  which 
he  had  purchased  from  his  father-in-law,  Henry  Van 
Alst.  This  locality  at  present  forms  an  eastern  district 
of  Hunter’s  Point,  and  is  still  owned  and  resided  upon 
by  Jacob  B.  and  George  H.  Hunter,  the  sons  of  Richard, 
who  died  about  twenty-one  years  ago.  In  the  natural 
division  of  family  interests  and  the  changes  induced  by 
time  and  progress — and  also  by  the  will  of  Mrs.  Hunter, 
which  provided  that  her  estate  should  be  divided  among 
her  children  within  three  years  after  her  death — it  most 
fortunately  happened  that  an  offer  of  purchase  came  about 
this  period  (1835)  to  Jacob  Hunter,  the  eldest  son  and 
acting  executor,  from  General  Jeremiah  Johnson,  who 
proposed  to  buy  Mrs.  Hunter’s  farm  in  behalf  of  Dr. 
Eliphalet  Nott,  president  of  Union  College,  Schenectady. 
The  business  arrangements  were  concluded  between  Gen- 
eral Johnson  and  Jacob  Hunter  June  13th  1835,  and  with 
the  deed  thereby  given  the  ancient  homestead  and  its 
broad  adjacent  lands  passed  forever  out  of  the  possession 
of  the  old-time  owners.  It  was  a change  necessitated  by 
the  march  of  progress  and  modern  improvements.  The 
picturesque  hill-top,  with  its  antique  homestead  and  the 
characteristic  rocky  (though  evermore  mystical)  “ Point,” 
stretching  out  its  stalwart  arm  as  if  in  mute  prophecy 
toward  the  opposite  friendly  shores  of  New  York  city, 
have  all  diappeared  from  human  vision.  Yet,  the 
thoughtful  spirit  cannot  but  ask  while  musing  over  the  his- 


tory of  Hunter’s  Point — was  not  that  rocky  ledge  jutting 
far  out  into  the  river  intended  as  an  omen  to  the  mul- 
titudes of  travelers  and  pleasure-seekers  who  in  coming 
years  should  cross  and  recioss  certain  ferries,  hereafter  to 
be  planted  upon  the  spot  where  nature  had  previously 
stationed  these  rocks  as  sentinels  of  the  past  and  sybils 
of  the  future?  Daily,  hourly  from  these  ferries  at  the 
present  day,  what  busy  excited  throngs  are  coming  and 
going — some  to  the  gardens  and  farm  lands  of  Newtown, 
Flushing,  Whitestone  and  the  adjoining  “north  side” 
region,  others  to  Jamaica,  Rockaway,  Coney  Island, 
Long  Beach,  Shelter  Island  and  the  Hamptons,  with 
their  tempting  allurements  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
seashore! 

JACOB  HUNTER. 

Jacob  Hunter,  who  was  the  last  representative  in  the 
original  family  line  of  ownership  associated  with  Hun- 
ter’s Point,  was  a gentleman  of  quiet,  genial  nature,  pos- 
sessed of  excellent  financial  abilities  and  a soundness  of 
judgment  that  caused  him  to  be  much  valued  as  an  ad- 
viser and  friend.  In  personal  appearance  he  was  exceed- 
ingly fine  looking,  with  a dignity  of  manner  that  beto- 
kened a gentleman  of  the  olden  school.  His  life  proved 
a singularly  fortunate  one  in  every  respect.  He  seemed 
one  of  those  who  are  born  to  success  in  whatever  they 
undertake.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  posses- 
sor of  a goodly  share  of  real  estate  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  Honorable  and  benevolent  in  all  his  dealings, 
his  popularity  was  often  shown  by  the  avidity  with 
which  his  fellow  citizens  would  have  placed  him  in  of- 
fices of  trust  and  responsibility,  whose  honors  he  in- 
variably declined;  not  because  he  did  not  appreciate 
the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  coadjutors, 
but  from  a modesty  peculiar  to  his  nature,  which  fain 
would  have  thrown  the  official  mantle  upon  shoulders 
which  he  deemed  better  fitted  to  wear  it.  The  only  pub- 
lic position  which  he  was  ever  induced  to  accept  was  an 
office  in  the  eleventh  regiment  New  York  State  artil- 
lery, of  which  he  became  commander  at  an  early  period  of 
his  life.  He  seems  thus  to  have  been  the  only  one  of  his 
family  who  had  inherited  the  proclivities  of  their  ancestor, 
Captain  Peter  Praa.  Born  in  the  year  1791,  we  find  him 
when  scarcely  out  of  his  boyhood  serving  actively  in  the 
war  of  1812.  When  the  war  was  ended  he  continued  to 
belong  to  the  military  corps,  serving  in  an  official  capac- 
ity with  such  men  in  his  ranks  as  Prosper  M.  Wetmore, 
Thomas  M.  Adriance  and  Joseph  Hopkins,  who,  contin- 
uing to  serve  until  toward  the  close  of  his  life,  became 
commander-general  of  all  the  forces  of  New  York  city. 
In  the  year  1821  the  cares  of  business  obliged  Mr.  Hun- 
ter to  resign  his  position  as  captain  in  the.  eleventh  regi- 
ment of  artillery,  which  was  in  later  years  merged  in 
Company  D of  the  New  York  seventh.  His  sincere  re- 
gret on  leaving  is  expressed  in  a letter  which  has  been 
carefully  preserved,  and  in  which  he  says:  “Circum- 
stances over  which  I have  no  control  oblige  me  to  take 
this  step,  while  inclination  strongly  pleads  to  detain  me 
in  the  ranks.  But  rest  assured  that  while  absent  from 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


2 66 


my  accustomed  post  I shall  still  watch  with  interest  from 
the  distance,  and  should  any  emergency  occut:  I can  only 
add  that  when  my  country  calls  it  will  ever  find  me  ready 
to  follow.”  That  pressing  hour  of  need  came  not  again 
until  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  when  Mr.  Hunter  was 
70  years  old,  and  consequently  too  far  advanced  in  life 
to  take  any  active  part  in  the  contest.  Thus  the  antique 
sword  rested  in  its  scabbard,  watched  over  and  cared 
for  as  a family  relic,  until  about  a year  ago,  when  it  was 
thought  best  to  accept  an  honorable  abiding  place  offer- 
ed it  in  the  relic-room  of  the  veterans  of  the  New  York 
seventh  regiment  at  their  new  and  elegant  armory  at 
the  corner  of  Sixty-seventh  street  and  Fourth  avenue, 
New  York  city.  In  the  year  1815  Mr.  Hunter  married 
Miss  Charlotte  Lahy,  a young  English  lady  of  ancient 
and  noble  family  connections,  her  father  being  the 
nephew  and  adopted  son  of  General  Gwynn,  who  was 
aide  de  camp  in  the  courtly  retinue  of  King  George 
III.  Outliving  his  wife  ten  years,  Mr.  Hunter  died 
September  30th  1875,  when  he  had  attained  to  the 
advanced  age  of  84  years.  A family  of  four  children 
survived  him,  one  of  whom  still  resides  in  the  old  fam- 
ily mansion"  in  Twenty-ninth  street,  purchased  by  her 
father  more  than  a quarter  of  a century  since.  These, 
with  their  own  especial  connection  and  descendants, 
were  from  the  only  family  of  the  name  known  in  connec- 
tion with  the  earlier  history  of  the  metropolis  and  its 
immediate  vicinity. 

WILLIAM  HALLETT. 

The  “out  plantations”  received  a valuable  accession  to 
their  population  in  the  person  of  William  Hallett,  who, 
December  1st  1652,  obtained  a brief  for  a hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  which  had  previously  been  in  posses- 
sion of  Jacques  Bentin  (Bentyn)  a member  of  Director- 
general  Van  Twiller’s  council.  It  was  described  as  “a 
plat  of  ground  at  Hellegat,  upon  Long  Island,  called 
Jacques’s  farm,  and,  beginning  at  a great  rock  that  lies 
in  the  meadow,  goes  upward  southeast  to  the  end  of  a 
very  small  swamp,  two  hundred  and  two  rods;  from 
thence  northeast  two  hundred  and  thirty  rods;  on  the 
north  it  goes  up  to  a running  water,  two  hundred  and  ten 
rods.”  Mr.  Hallett  was  born  in  Dorsetshire,  England, 
in  1616;  he  emigrated  to  New  England,  settling  at 
Greenwich,  Conn.;  thence  he  removed  to  Hell  Gate 
about  the  date  mentioned.  In  1655  his  house  and 
other  buildings  there  were  destroyed  by  the  Indians 
and  he  removed  to  Flushing.  The  next  year  he  was 
appointed  sheriff,  but  “was  deposed  by  Stuyvesant,” 
says  Riker,  “fined  and  imprisoned  for  entertaining 
the  Rev.  William  Wickenden  from  Rhode  Island, 
allowing  him  to  preach  at  his  house,  and  receiving  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  from  his  hands.  Dis- 
gusted at  this  treatment,  Mr.  Hallett,  on  the  revolt  of 
Long  Island  from  the  Dutch,  warmly  advocated  the 
claims  of  Connecticut;  and,  being  sent  as  a delegate  to 
the  general  court  of  that  colony,  he  was  appointed  a 
commissioner  or  justice  of  the  peace  for  Flushing.  After- 
ward he  again  located  at  Hell  Gate.”  The  date  of  his 


return  is  perhaps  indicated  quite  nearly  by  an  additional 
land  purchase  which  he  made  later. 

LAND  PURCHASED  AT  HALLET’s  COVE  AND  ELSE- 

* 

WHERE. 

Mention  is  made  of  the  “ purchase  by  William  Hallett 
sen.,  of  the  town  of  Flushing,”  August  1st  1664,  of  “a 
large  tract  of  land  near  Hallett’s  Cove,  from  Shawestcont 
and  Erramorhar,  Indians  residing  at  Shawcopshee,  upon 
Staten  Island,  upon  authority  of  Mattano,  then  sagamore, 
and  in  the  presence  of  two  Indians,  Warchan  and 
Kethcanaparan,  and  Randell  Hewitt,  John  Coe,  Jonathan 
Rite  and  Edward  Fisher.”  It  is  described  as  “beginning 
at  the  first  creek,  called  Sunswick;  westward  below  Hell 
Gate,  upon  Long  Island,  and  from  the  mouth  of  the 
aforesaid  creek  south  to  a markt  tree  fast  by  a great 
rock;  and  from  that  said  markt  tree  southward,  fifteen 
score  rods,  to  another  markt  tree,  which  stands  from  an- 
other little  rock  a little  westward,  and  from  that  markt 
tree  east  right  to  the  point  of  an  island  which  belongs  to 
the  poor’s  bouwery;  and  from  the  point  of  the  island  be- 
longing to  the  poor’s  bouwery  round  by  the  river,  through 
Hell  Gate,  to  the  aforesaid  creek  westward,  where  it  be- 
gan. Also  an  island  which  is  commonly  called  Hewlett’s 
Island,  which  island  the  aforesaid  Hewlett  did  formerly 
live  upon;  as  also  all  other  islands  within  the  tract  of 
land  aforementioned.”  December  5th  1664  the  sagamore 
Mattano,  “chief  of  Staten  Island  and  Nyack,”  confirmed 
the  above  sale  and  acknowledged  to  have  received  in  full 
payment  for  the  land  “ fifty-eight  fathom  of  wampum, 
seven  coats,  one  blanket  and  four  kettles.”  This  trans- 
action is  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state, 
Albany  (Deeds,  II.,  74,  75.)  This  tract  was  called  by  the 
Indians  “ Sintsinck,”  and  it  embraced  nearly  the  whole 
of  Hell  Gate  Neck.  It  (or  so  much  of  the  aforesaid  In- 
dian deed  or  purchase  as  had  not  been  disposed  of  to 
others  by  ground-brief  or  patent)  was  afterward  con- 
firmed to  Hallett  by  the  English  governors  Nicolls  and 
Dongan.  Therefore  this  sale  did  not  affect  the  several 
grants  to  individuals  lying  within  the  limits  of  this  terri- 
tory described.  In  1667  Mr.  Hallett  began  a suit  against 
Captain  Thomas  Lawrence  for  the  recovery  of  Berrien’s 
Island,  which  the  latter  had  obtained  a patent  for,  but 
Hallett’s  claim  was  not  admitted.  As  Mr.  Hallett  no 
longer  held  himself  amenable  to  the  government  of  New 
Netherland,  it  is  improbable  that  he  consulted  Stuyves- 
ant in  making  this  purchase. 

ABRAHAM  RVCKEN — THE  HEWLETT  FAMILY. 

That  he  did  not  do  so  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  on 
August  19th  1664  Abraham  Rycken,  a planter  on  the 
northern  border  of  'the  town,  obtained  from  the  director- 
general  a patent  for  Hewlett’s  Island.  This  island  was 
so  named  in  honor  of  the  ancestor  of  the  Hewlett  family 
of  Long  Island  (probably  Lewis  Hewlett,  a native  of 
Buckinghamshire,  England),  who  at  an  earlier  day  had 
been  driven  from  it  by  the  Indians,  who  destroyed  his 
house  and  other  property.  Recognizing  the  authority 


EARLY  RESIDENTS  OF  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


267 


of  the  Dutch  governor  to  dispose  of  the  island,  Governor 
Nicolls  confirmed  it  to  Rycken,  December  24th  1667. 
It  was  afterward  owned  by  the  descendants  of  the  origi- 
nal patentee,  and  has  long  been  known  as  Riker’s  Island, 
the  old  name  having  gone  out  of  use. 

THE  SITE  OF  ASTORIA INDIAN  OWNERS.  - 

Hallett's  purchase  at  Hell  Gate  Neck  included  much 
of  the  territory  later  incorporated  as  the  village  of 
Astoria.  The  original  proprietor  lived  there  to  the  age 
of  about  ninety,  and  was  foremost  in  many  early  improve- 
ments. He  divided  his  property  at  that  point  in  1688 
between  his  sons  William  and  Samuel,  the  former  re- 
ceiving the  lands  south  of  the  road  since  forming 
Greenoak  street,  St.  George’s  Place,  Welling  and  Main 
streets  and  Newtown  avenue,  the  latter  the  lands  lying 
north  of  that  road. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Indians  who  sold  Hell  Gate 
Neck  to  William  Hallett  were  of  the  Canarsie  tribe,  a 
clan  of  reputed  power  whose  jurisdiction  extended  over 
the  whole  of  Kings  county,  the  islands  in  Hell  Gate,  and, 
O’Callaghan  says,  some  part  of  Newtown.  A large  tract 
of  land  including  the  southwestern  portion  ot  the  pres- 
ent city  was  deeded  “to  the  inhabitants  of  Newtowne, 
alias  Middleburg,”  by  Pomwaukon  and  Roweroenesteo 
of  the  above  tribe,  July  9th  1666. 

PLANTATIONS  AT  GREEN  HOOK. 

In  the  direction  of  Newton’s  Point,  or  the  Green 
Hook,  thirty  years  ago  the  property  of  Mr.  Woolsey, 
were  the  small  plantations  owned  by  Jan  Jacobson  Car- 
penel  (otherwise  called  Jan  Van  Haerlem)  Adrian  Derickse 
Coon,  Hendrick  Jansen  Van  Dueren,  Lieven  Jansen 
and  Simon  Joost.  These  five  lots,  contained  in  strips 
of  about  fifty  acres  each,  abutted  on  the  river  or 
meadow,  and  extended  back  west-southwest  some 
three  hundred  Dutch  rods,  to  the  Great  Swamp,  also 
called  Lubbert’s  Swamp.  The  briefs  for  these  lots  all 
bore  date  in  1653  or  1654,  and  were  afterward  bought  up 
by  Major  Thomas  Lawrence,  who  also  obtained  from 
Governor  Nicolls,  August  23d  1665,  a patent  for  the 
small  island  adjoining, 'commonly  called  “ Round  Island,” 
now  known  as  Berrien’s  Island;  which,  together  with  “a 
neck  of  land  ” included  in  the  patent  to  Adriaen  D. 
Coon,  was  afterward  possessed  by  Ezra  N.  Berrien. 
Thomas  Lawrence  was  the  youngest  of  three  brothers. 
The  others  were  John  and  William,  who  came  to 
America  from  England  in  1635,  landing  in  Massachusetts, 
but  soon  removing  to  New  York.  Both  were  men  of 
ability  and  enterprise.  Thomas  came  at  a later  date 
and  became,  as  has  been  seen,  a somewhat  extensive 
landowner  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  city..  He 
was  very  prominent  in  military  matters,  locally,  during 
the  stormy  times  consequent  upon  the  removal  of  Gov- 
ernor Andros.  Berrien’s  Island  was  purchased  of 
Timothy  Wood,  in  1727,  by  Cornelius  Berrien,  and  has 
since  been  known  by  his  name. 


GERARDY — CRAYE THE  GREENOAKS — OTHER  PIONEER 

NAMES. 

The  Green  Hook,  since  known  as  the  G.  M.  Woolsey 
farm,  was  patented  to  Jean  Gerardy,  November  5th 
1653.  On  the  same  day  Teunis  Craye  took  out  a brief 
for  the  Polhemus  estate,  and  another  had  been  granted 
three  days  earlier  to  Philip  Gerardy  for  the  Dr.  Ditmars 
farm.  March  7th  1654  Annetie  Jans  Bogardus  obtained 
a patent  for  forty-two  morgen  and  fifty-four  rods  of  land 
lying  adjacent  to  the  Pot  Cove,  and  which  later  was  in- 
cluded in  the  estates  of  ’Squire  John  and  Major  Richard 
Lawrence. 

John  Greenoak,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  of  that 
name,  came  to  Newtown  early  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
from  England,  and  in  1717  married  Mary  Lawrence,  who 
after  his  death  married  Joseph  Hallett  in  1728.  His  son 
John  Greenoak  located  on  the  farm  near  Hallett’s  Cove 
afterward  owned  by  the  Messrs.  Higgins,  carpet  manu- 
facturers. Pie  was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife 
having  been  Jemima  Hallett.  His  son  John  Greenoak 
came  into, possession  of  an  estate  at  Hallett’s  Cove,  after- 
ward known  as  the  H.  F.  Blackwell  place.  His  wife  was 
Lydia  Hallett. 

Nothing  more  has  been  attempted  in  the  foregoing 
sketch  than  to  give  some  account  of  the  early  settlement 
of  the  territory  now  included  within  the  borders  of  Long 
Island  City.  No  effort  has  been  made  to  pursue  the 
subject  beyond  what  may  properly  be  termed  the  pioneer 
period.  The  date  of  beginning  was  so  remote  and  the 
sources  of  information  have  been  found  so  meagre  that 
no  claim  is  made  that  all  who  deserve  mention  in  the 
preceding  pages  have  been  referred  to.  What  has  been 
written  is  offered  with  the  explanation  that  it  is  as  nearly 
complete  as  it  can  be  made,  and  in  the  hope  that  it  will 
in  some  measure  add  to  the  interest  of  an  article  which 
has  been  prepared  more  especially  to  trace  the  growth 
and  development  of  Long  Island  City  than  to  give  an 
account  of  early  affairs  of  old  Newtown.  Among  the 
more  prominent  families  in  different  portions  of  what  is 
now  Long  Island  City  in  the  past  may  be  mentioned  the 
Blackwells,  Halletts,  Lawrences,  Lents,  Ditmars,  Suy- 
dams,  and  Greenoaks,  of  Astoria;  the  Bennetts  and 
Hunters,  of  Hunter’s  Point;  the  Paynters,  Tottens,  Mil- 
lers, Delafields,  Gibbses,  and  Parcells,  at  Ravenswood; 
the  Van  Alsts,  Bragaws,  Rapelyes,  De  Witts,  Brinker- 
hoffs,  De  Bevoises,  Duryeas,  Morrells,  Alsops,  Polhe- 
muses,  and  Van  Marters,  of  Dutch  Kills,  and  the  Wil- 
lings,  of  Middletown.  Of  many  of  these  families  des- 
cendants are  now  living  in  the  city,  and  some  of  them 
rank  among  its  most  prominent  citizens. 

Early  Land  Troubles. 

The  year  1700  gave,  says  Riker,  “publicity  to  a dis- 
satisfaction of  certain  inhabitants  of  Hell  Gate  Neck 
because  they  were  excluded  from  a voice  in  the  disposal 
of  the  common  land  of  the  town;  a right  which  the 
original  purchasers,  their  heirs  or  assigns,  had  hitherto 
continued  exclusively  to  enjoy.  A bill  was  accordingly 


268 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


brought  before  the  Assembly,  on  the  30th  of  October  1 
1700,  entitled  ‘An  act  for  quieting,  settling  and  confirm-  > 
ing  the  legal  rights  and  possessions  of  Thomas  Lawrence,  ‘ 
William  Lawrence,.  Robert  Burgess,  Bergoon  Bragaw,  ( 
Henry  Martensen,  George  Van  Alst,  John  Lawrence,  t 
Andrew  Van  Alst,  Johannes  Van  Alst,  John  Parcell  and  : 
other  ancient  freeholders,  possessors  of  land  and  inhab-  ( 
itants  of  Hell  Gate  Neck,  within  the  bounds  of  New-  ‘ 
town,  on  Long  Island,  now  called  the  Island  of  Nassau;  | 
and  vacating  all  under  patents,  privately  obtained,  of  any  : 
of  the  said  land,  against  the  just  rights  of  said  freehold-  ! 
ers,  and  other  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  having  rights.’ 
After  the  third  reading  this  bill  was  rejected  on  the  first 
of  November. 

“The  same  bill,  or  one  with  a similar  title,  was  intro- 
duced to  the  Assembly  September  23d  1701  and  submit- 
ted to  a committee,  which  reported  in  favor,  provided 
that  nothing  therein  contained  should  be  understood  to 
affect  the  patents  of  the  towns  of  Flatbush  and  Brook- 
lyn, with  which  the  people  of  Newtown  were  yet  at  issue. 
The  bill  accordingly  passed  the  Assembly,  on  the  14th 
of  October,  but  it  met  with  defeat  in  the  council.  Upon 
this  second  failure  a bill  was  filed  in  the  court  of 
chancery.  The  purchasers  of  Newtown  took  prompt 
measures  to  resist  this  procedure,  and  met  on  February 
9th  1702;  the  record  of  which  meeting  states  that  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Lawrence  and  certain  other  persons  have 
put  a bill  in  chancery  against  several  of  the  freeholders’ 
patents  within  the  township  of  New'town,  and,  as  is  sup- 
posed, against  the  patent  that  includes  the  whole  town, 
in  order  to  destroy  the  said  patents  and  make  them  void 
and  of  no  effect;  to  prevent  which  the  town  chose  a 
committee  of  three  to  employ  counsel  and  act  in  their 
defense.  The  means  thus  taken  were  successful,  and 
the  residents  of  Hell  Gate  Neck,  determined  not  to  be 
thw’arted  in  their  purpose,  drew  up  the  following  peti- 
tion, and  presented  it  to  the  governor  and  council  on  the 
nth  of  May  1703: 

“To  his  excellency  Edward  Viscount  Cornbury,  Her 
Majesty’s  Captain-General  and  Governor-in-Chief  of  the 
province  of  New  York,  and  territories  depending  there- 
on, in  America,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  same,  &c.,  in 
council:  The  humble  petition  of  several  of  the  free- 
holders and  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  in 
Queens  county,  on  the  Island  of  Nassau,  sheweth:  That 
Richard  Nicolls,  Esq.,  in  the  year  r666,  being  governor- 
general  of  this  province  under  the  Duke  of  York,  granted 
unto  Captain  Richard  Betts,  Captain  Thomas  Lawrence, 
and  others,  as  patentees  for  and  on  behalf  of  themselves 
and  their  associates,  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of 
said  town,  their  heirs,  successors,  and  assigns,  a parcel  of 
land  then  commonly  called  by  the  name  of  the'town  of 
Newtown,  bounded  as  in  the  said  patent  is  more  partic- 
ularly expressed,  given  to  the  said  patentees  and  their 
associates,  their  heirs,  successors  and  assigns  forever. 
That  your  excellency’s  petitioners,  or  those  they  claim 
under,  being  at  and  before  the  time  of  the  granting  of  said 
patent  actually  possessed  of  and  entitled  to  houses,  lands 
tenements,  and  hereditaments  within  the  bounds  of  the 
said  patent,  as  well  as  several  other  persons,  and  thereby 
equally  entitled  with  them  to  such  lands  which  were  then 
unpossessed  and  remained  in  common,  hoped  and  be- 
hooved to  have  had  the  advantage  of  said  patent  in  com- 


mon amongst  the  rest  of  the  patentees;  but  so  it  is,  may 
it  please  your  excellency,  that  Samuel  Moore,  Thomas 
Stevenson,  Joseph  Sackett,  Edward  Hunt  and  John 
Way,  with  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town,  of 
their  own  heads,  without  any  power  or  authority  for 
their  so  doing,  have  from  time  to  time,  as  they  think  fit, 
assembled  and  met  together,  and  given  away,  sold  and 
disposed  of  great  parts  of  the  said  town  lands  lying  in 
common,  as  aforesaid,  without  the  consent  of  your  excel- 
lency’s petitioners,  or  without  any  allowance  to  them  for 
their  right  and  interest  therein,  contrary  to  all  justice 
and  equity.  Your  excellency’s  petitioners  therefore 
humbly  pray  that  your  excellency  in  council  will  please 
to  order  the  said  persons  to  be  summoned  before  your 
excellency,  and  require  them  to  bring  with  them  all  such 
books,  papers  or  other  things  as  are  in  their  or  either  of 
their  custody,  possession  or  power,  relating  to  the  prem- 
ises, in  order  that  the  same  may  be  fully  discovered,  and 
that  your  excellency,  being  particularly  informed  of  the 
hardships  your  petitioners  lie  under,  may  grant  them 
such  redress  as  in  your  wisdom  you  may  think  fit.  And 
your  excellency’s  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall 
ever  pray,  &c.” 

“This  petition  was  signed  by  William  Lawrence,  John 
Lawrence,  John  Van  Alst,  George  Van  Alst,  William  Par- 
cell,  John  Parcell,  Jacob  Fyn,  Roelof  Pietersen,  Thomas 
Skillman,  Cornelius  Bries,  Andrew  Van  Alst,  Peter  Praa, 
Daniel  Lawrence,  Jonathan  Lawrence,  Syrach  Titus, 
Peter  Lott,  Tennis  Titus,  William  Post,  John  Coe,  Ja- 
cobus Harcks,  John  Hart,  Robert  Coe,  Jonathan  Coe, 
and  David  Coe. 

“ Pursuant  to  the  prayer  of  the  petitioners  the  council 
summoned  the  clerk  of  Newtown  to  produce  the  books 
and  papers  of  the  town,  which  were  given  into  the  hands 
of  three  gentlemen  of  the  council  to  examine  the  same 
and  report  ‘how  far  the  said  books  and  papers  do  make 
out  the  allegations  contained  in  the  petition.’  These 
gentlemen  rendered  a report  on  January  6th  1704,  upon 
which  the  council  directed  a second  examination  of  the 
records  to  be  made  by  a new  committee.”  The  members 
of  the  first  committee  were  Rip  Van  Dam,  Gerard  Beek- 
man  and  Caleb  Heathcote.  The  second  was  composed 
of  Sa.  Sh.  Broughton,  Thomas  Wenham  and  Matthew 
Ling.  They  rendered  a report  to  Lord  Cornbury,  dated 
New  York,  February  3d  1704,  in  which,  after  referring 
to  the  report  of  the  former  committee  and  the  “allega- 
tions of  the  petitioners  and  those  petitioned  against,” 
they  stated : 

“We  find  that  before  the  granting  of  Colonel  Nicolls’s 
patent  to  the  town  of  Newtown  a society  of  people  had 
purchased  and  did  occupy  and  enjoy  a parcel  of  land 
commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  town  of 
Middleburg,  and  that  the  said  Colonel  Richard  Nicolls, 
by  his  patent  bearing  date  the  sixth"  day  of  March  one 
thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-six,  did  confirm  to  them 
the  said  purchase,  and  adjoin  certain  out  plantations,  not 
any  ways  concerned  in  the  purchasing  of  the  aforesaid 
tract  of  land,  and  made  them  all' one  township  without 
any  distinct  reservation  of  the  properties  of  the  said 
purchasers  entire  to  themselves;  notwithstanding  which 
; the  inhabitants  of  Middleburg  (afterward  called  New- 
■ town)  have  acted  distinct  as  to  the  sale  and  disposal  of 
' the  lands  purchased  by  them,  or  those  under  whom  they 
1 claim,  and  have  by  themselves,  at  their  own  proper 
charges,  maintained  suits  at  law  to  maintain  the  bounds 
- and  title  of  their  said  purchase,  without  any  contribu- 


MURDER  OF  THE  HALLETT  FAMILY. 


269 


tion  from  the  out-plantations.  And  we  do  further  find 
that  the  Lawrences  and  Coes  and  some  few  others  of  the 
petitioners  were  original  purchasers  of  the  said  town  of 
Middleburg,  and  have  had  their  proportionable  shares  of 
the  said  purchase  laid  out  to  them;  and  particularly  that 
the  father  of  William  Lawrence,  one  of  the  petitioners, 
hath  transferred  his  right  in  the  said  purchase  to  one 
George  Wood,  as  appears  by  the  books  of  said  town; 
that  it  appears  to  us  that  the  matters  complained  of  now 
by  the  petitioners  were  stirred  in  Colonel  Dougan’s  time, 
who,  by  his  patent  dated  the  five-and-twentieth  day  ot 
November  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-six,  like- 
wise makes  them  one  township,  but  reserves  to  the  orig- 
inal purchasers  of  the  town  of  Middleburg  their  distinct 
right  to  the  said  lands  to  them  and  their  heirs  only.  And 
we  do  further  find  that  the  books  of  the  town  of  New- 
town have  been  very  imperfectly  kept,  but  that  on  the 
whole  it  does  appear  to  us  that  the  said  patent  granted 
by  the  said  Colonel  Dongan  was  issued  on  mature  con- 
sideration, and  that  ever  since  the  granting- thereof  the 
patentees  have  acted  according  to  the  settlement  of  the 
said  patent,  and  that  all  parties  have  rested  satisfied  un- 
der the  said  grant  without  any  complaint  made  by  them 
until  the  exhibiting  of  the  said  petition.  They  do  not 
seem  to  us  to  be  gudty  of  the  matters  therein  alleged 
against  them.” 

February  10th  1704  a final  hearing  of  the  case  before 
the  council  was  had,  when  it  was  decided  that  “ the  sub- 
ject matter  of  the  petition  was  frivolous”  and  it  was  re- 
jected. This  seems  to  have  been  one  of  those  unfortu- 
nate disagreements  which  seem  almost  inseparable  from 
the  process  of  settling  new  sections  and  vesting  the  title 
to  the  land  in  individuals  after  it  has  long  lain  in  a body 
under  the  ownership  of  a company  or  association.  That 
the  inhabitants  of  Hell  Gate  Neck  imagined  themselves 
really  wronged  is  more  than  indicated  by  the  persistency 
with  which  they  all  and  severally  urged  their  claim. 
Once  settled,  the  disagreement  was  soon  lost  sight  of  in 
the  march  of  improvement. 

A Tragedy  of  Long  Ago. 

The  following  account  of  the  cold-blooded  murder 
of  seven  people,  committed  within  the  present  borders  of 
Long  Island  City  nearly  a century  and  three  quarters  ago, 
is  extracted  from  Riker’s  “ Annals  of  Newtown  “ Very 
near  the  present  settlement  of  Middletown  there  lived 
a thrifty  farmer,  William  Hallett  j r. , who  held  a portion 
of  the  land  which  his  paternal  grandfather  had  purchased 
of  the  natives.  Near  neighbors  there  were  few  or  none, 
but  his  domestic  hearth  was  enlivened  by  the  presence  of 
five  children  and  a fond  wife  who  was  expected  soon  to 
add  another  to  their  store  of  conjugal  comforts.  In  the 
family  were  two  colored  slaves,  a man  and  wife,  the 
former  an  Indian.  Incensed,  as  was  said  at  the  time, 
because  they  were  restrained  from  going  abroad  on  the 
Sabbath,  the  woman  meditated  revenge  and  assured  her 
husband  that  if  he  would  only  kill  the  whole  family  then 
the  farm  and  everything  pertaining  to  it  would  become 
his  own.  He  at  last  yielded  to  the  wicked  suggestion 
and  accomplished  the  atrocious  deed  while  his  victims 
were  asleep.  It  was  on  Saturday  night,  the  24th  of  Janu- 
ary 1708.  Hoping  to  screen  themselves  from  suspicion 
they  concluded  to  be  the  first  to  announce  the  tragedy, 


and  with  this  intent  the  female  fiend,  the  prime  instigator 
of  the  deed,  set  out  early  the  next  morning  for  Hallett’s 
Cove.  Entering  a house,  her  first  exclamation  was:  “Oh, 
dear!  they  have  killed  master  and  missis  and  the  children 
with  an  axe,  and  only  Sam  and  1 have  escaped.”  The 
truth,  however,  was  too  palpable  and  the  guilty  creature 
soon  confessed  who  was  the  real  murderer.  Both  were 
straightway  arrested  and  lodged  in  Jamaica  jail.  Tidings 
of  the  affair  were  at  once  sent  to  Governor  Cornbury, 
who  immediately  issued  a special  warrant  to  the  judges, 
before  whom,  at  Jamaica,  the  prisoners  were  arraigned 
for  trial,  and  being  found  guilty  they  were  executed  on 
the  plains  east  of  that  village,  on  Monday  February  2nd  in 
the  presence  of  a large  concourse  of  spectators.  The  * 
woman  was  burnt  at  the  stake.  Her  accomplice  was 
hung  in  gibbets  and  placed  astride  a sharp  iron,  in  which 
condition  he  lived  some  time;  and  in  a state  of  delirium 
which  ensued,  believing  himself  to  be  on  horseback,  would 
urge  forward  his  supposed  animal  with  the  frightful  im- 
petuosity of  a maniac,  while  the  blood  oozing  from  his  lac- 
erated flesh  streamed  from  his  feet  to  the  ground.  How 
rude  the  age  that  could  inflict  such  tortures,  however  great 
the  crime  committed.  * * * Mr.  Hallett  was  a son 

of  Captain  William  Hallett,  then  one  of  His  Majesty’s 
justices  of  the  peace.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  life  and  had 
served  the  town  in  various  public  capacities.  The  event 
which  so  prematurely  terminated  his  life  and  those  of 
his  family  produced  a strong  sensation  in  the  province, 
and  a law  was  passed  shortly  after,  making  mention  of 
the  occurrence  and  entitled  “An  act  for  preventing  the 
conspiracy  of  slaves.”  The  dwelling  where  the  murder 
was  committed  is  still  (1852)  remembered  by  many,  it 
having  remained  until  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury. It  was  built  of  brick  and  stood  in  the  hollow  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road,  opposite  the  late  residence  of 
Mr.  Marks  and  within  a few  feet  of  the  small  house  now 
erected  there.  The  well  which  belonged  to  these  prem- 
ises remains  still  in  use.  With  this  spot  the  juveniles 
were  wont  to  associate  the  idea  of  ghosts  and  hobgob- 
lins; it  was  noted  as  the  scene  of  marvelous  appearances 
witnessed  by  the  timid  traveler  at  the  dim,  mysterious 
hour  of  twilight,  and  was  often  pointed  at  by  the  passing 
school  boy  as  “the  haunted  house.”  By  some  it  is  stated 
that  the  assassination  of  the  Hallett  family  was  only  part 
of  a plot  among  the  slaves  of  the  vicinity  to  possess 
themselves  of  the  property  of  their  masters.  There  must 
have  been  some  evidence  in  support  of  this  theory,  for  it 
is  related  that  on  Tuesday,  February  10th,  a week  and  a 
day  after  the  execution  of  the  murderers,  two  negro  men 
were  put  to  death  for  complicity  in  the  crime  and  several 
others  had  been  arrested  and  were  awaiting  trial.  Yet, 
had  the  murderous  movement  been  a general  one  it 
would  doubtless  be  recorded  that  still  others  were  pun- 
ished. In  the  absence  of  such  a statement  it  is  fair  to 
presume  it  was  not. 

Revolutionary  Incidents. 

In  common  with  other  portions  of  Long  Island  the  ter- 
ritory now  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  city  was 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


the  scene  of  stormy  events  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Some  of  the  more  prominent  of  these  are  referred 
to  herein. 

On  the  morning  of  August  29th  1776  the  British  light 
dragoons  from  Jamaica  scoured  Newtown,  “ and  while  it 
was  yet  early,”  wrote  Riker,  in  his  “Annals  of  Newtown,” 
“ guided  by  one  George  Rapelye,  a loyalist,  came  along 
the  poor  bowery  and  halted  at  Jacobus  Lent’s  (late  Isaac 
Rapelye’s)  to  get  some  bread.  Brandishing  their  naked 
swords  they  declared  that  th.ey  were  in  pursuit  of  that 
d- — d rebel,  Dr.  Riker.  The  doctor  had  spent  the  night 
in  visiting  different  sections  of  the  town  and  tearing  down 
Howe’s  proclamations,  that  none  might  be  mislead  and 
induced  at  this  critical  juncture  to  remain  and  accept 
British  protection  instead  of  hastening  to  the  support  of 
the  American  arms.  The  females  at  Mr.  Lent’s  were 
terrified  at  the  ferocious  appearance  of  the  light  horse, 
and,  observing  the  greediness  with  which  they  broke  and 
ate  the  dry  bread,  Balche,  a colored  woman,  innocently 
inquired  of  her  mistress  whether  they  would  not  eat 
them.  They  dashed  off  toward  Hell  Gate,  but  the  doc- 
tor had  escaped  in  a boat  to  Barn  Island  and  thus  eluded 
the  demons  in  human  form.” 

August  31st  General  Robertson,  in  command  of  a 
British  force,  was  marching  from  Brooklyn,  via  Bedford 
and  Cripplebush,  to  Hell  Gate  to  oppose  General  Lee, 
who  was  reported  to  be  landing  there  with  an  army. 
When  he  arrived  at  Hallett’s  Cove,  finding  no  enemy,  he 
took  up  his  quarters  at  William  Lawrence’s  place  (known 
later  as  Whitfield’s  and  Halsey’s)  and  encamped  his  army 
of  10,000  in  tents  on  the  hill  and  in  Hallett’s  lot.  At  that 
time  nearly  the  whole  English  army  was  within  a few 
miles  of  there.  Says  Riker:  “ The  East  River  now  only 
separated  these  hostile  legions  of  Britain  and  the  army  of 
Washington.  Two  such  combatants  were  not  calculated 
to  remain  inactive  in  such  close  juxtaposition  longer  than 
was  required  to  recover  from  the  confusion  of  the  recent 
battle.  Indeed,  no  sooner  had  General  Robertson  made 
an  encampment  at  Hell  Gate  and  his  cannon  arrived  than 
a battery  was  planted  on  a point  of  land  at  Hallett’s 
Cove,  which  opened  on  Sunday  September  1st  at  Horn’s 
Hook,  on  New  York  Island,  and  being  returned  in  a 
spirited  manner  an  incessant  firing  was  kept  up  on  both 
sides  the  whole  day,  during  which  the  enemy  threw  above 
a hundred  shells,  killing  one  of  our  men  and  wounding 
several.  Some  of  the  American  shot  fell  on  the  land  of 
William  Lawrence,  but  it  is  not  known  what  damage  the 
British  sustained.  This  cannonading  continued  for  sev- 
eral days,  by  which  the  enemy  were  so  emboldened  that 
on  Tuesday  they  crossed  in  considerable  numbers  to 
Blackwell’s  Island,  but  the  shot  from  our  batteries  prov- 
ing too  warm  for  them  they  soon  recrossed  the  river.” 

In  the  meantime  the  British  troops  made  frequent  in- 
cursions upon  the  contiguous  portions  of  the  island  and 
a number  of  residents  of  Whig  proclivities  were  made 
prisoners  and  subjected  to  detention  and  indignity.  Gen- 
eral Robertson’s  army,  a little  after  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, vacated  Hell  Gate,  which  was  invested  by  the 
Hessians  under  General  De  Heister,  who  in  company 


with  General  Clark  was  quartered  in  the  house  of  Wil- 
liam Lawrence.  The  Hessians  remained  three  weeks 
and  then  left  to  join  in  the  movement  against  New  York. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1780  the  British  frigate  “ Hussar,” 
bound  for  New  England  with  pay  for  the  British  army, 
in  attempting  to  pass  Hell  Gate,  struck  the  Pot  Rock, 
and,  floating  as  far  as  Morris  Island,  “ there  filled,”  ac- 
cording to  Riker,  “ and  sunk  in  deep  wat(  r,  carrying 
down  several  of  the  crew,  who  were  drowned.”  In  a 
note  he  added:  “ Since  the  Revolution  several  attempts 
have  been  made  to  raise  and  search  this  vessel,  under  the 
impression  that  the  military  chest  had  not  been  removed. 
As  far  as  disclosed  nothing  has  been  recovered  except 
fragments  of  the  wreck,  a few  pieces  of  cannon,  some 
cases  of  bottled  wine  spoiled  by  the  sea  water,  etc.  A 
specimen  of  canister  shot  taken  up  from  the  ruins  is  in 
possession  of  the  compiler,  who  visited  the  spot  during  a 
recent  attempt  to  explore  the  wreck.  She  lies  in  very 
deep  water,  has  fallen  to  pieces,  and  is  nearly  imbedded 
in  mud.  It  is  said  that  this  vessel  lay  anchored  in  Hal- 
lett’s Cove  one  or  two  days  before  she  attempted  to  pass 
the  gate,  and  that  circumstances  favored  the  belief  that 
the  money  she  contained  was  smuggled  ashore  during 
that  time  and  then  the  vessel  purposely  run  upon  the 
rocks  to  sink  her  and  conceal  the  embezzlement.  If  this 
be  true,  much  useless  labor  has  been  expended  upon  the 
wreck.” 

The  Prince  of  Hesse’s  infantry,  under  Captain  Alden- 
berg,  were  quartered  in  the  fall  of  1779  at  John  Morrell’s 
at  Dutch  Kills.  Another  force  of  Hessians  was  quar- 
tered near  Jacobus  Riker’s,  with  orders  to  supply  itself 
with  fuel  from  the  lands  of  William  Lawrence  and  Peter 
Rapelye,  both  of  whom  were  patriots.  The  next  fall 
and  winter  that  part  of  Long  Island  City  at  Dutch  Kills, 
once  the  land  of  John  Bragaw,  later  William  Gosman’s, 
was  the  camping  place  of  Lord  Cornwallis’s  regiment, 
the  thirty-third,  who  are  known  to  have  occupied  huts 
on  Bragaw’s  domain.  “There  is  an  order,”  wrote 
Riker,  “ dated  December  20th  1780,  demanding  John 
Bragaw  and  five  of  his  neighbors  to  cart  the  provisions 
of  said  regiment  till  further  orders.  Very  likely,  too, 
they  were  the  grenadiers  called  ‘Macaronies,’  for  their 
neatness,  who,  according  to  Mr.  Onderdonk,  lay  at  the 
Kills.  They  are  represented  as  large,  noble-looking  fel- 
lows; one  of  their  captains,  Hildebrand  Oakes,  was  bil- 
leted in  Mr.  Bragaw’s  family,  a portly,  handsome  man, 
who  after  the  war  returned  to  England  and  became  a 
distinguished  officer  in  the  British  service.  The  members 
of  this  regiment  were  destitute  of  the  usual  facings  upon 
their  coats,  of  which  they  had  been  deprived,  it  was  said, 
for  having  lost  their  colors  in  an  engagement.  Their  huts 
were  fifty  feet  long  and  of  a rectangular  form,  thus 

1 1 being  open  at  the  south  to  admit  the  sun’s  rays,  the 

roof  thatched  and  the  three  sides  sodded  up  to  the  eaves 
to  keep  off  the  northwest  wind.  The  inner  wall  was  of 
square  hewn  logs,  and  in  the  center  of  the  enclosure 
formed  by  the  huts  the  soldiers  were  wont  to  parade  and 
perform  military  evolutions.  Those  huts  were  also  oc- 
cupied for  a time  by  the  new  raised  corps,”  as  were 


THE  BRITISH  AT  ASTORIA— BUSINESS  BEGINNINGS. 


called  the  provincial  forces  mustered  by  order  of  Sir 
William  Howe,  “ to  suppress  the  unnatural  rebellion." 
During  the  spring  of  this  year  the  37th  regiment  of  grena- 
diers, under  Colonel  Sir  Eyre  Coote,  K.  B.,  was  en- 
camped at  Hell  Gate.  In  the  fall  of  1781  the  Royal 
Foresters,  under  Colonel  John  Connolly,  were  stationed 
near  Hell  Gate.  Lieutenant  Barry,  one  of  their  officers, 
died  of  fever  in  October  1781,  and  was  buried  with  the 
honors  of  war  at  Hallett’s  Cove.  The  Foresters  passed 
the  winter  there.  Also  during  this  fall  a part  of  the 
British  Legion  lay  at  Hell  Gate,  and  a division  of  the 
Queen’s  Rangers  went  into  winter  quarters  on  the  farm 
owned  by  George  Brinckerhoff  and  later  by  William  Bra- 
gaw. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  some  portions  of  the  present 
city  were  long  under  the  sway  of  the  British  forces,  and 
patriot  residents  participated  in  the  effects  of  the  general 
depredations  visited  by  the  soldiers  and  tories  on  per- 
sons of  their  way  of  thinking  throughout  Long  Island. 
That  the  constant  presence  of  the  enemy  was  oppressive 
may  well  be  imagined,  yet  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
many  leading  citizens  were  allied  to  or  at  least  favored 
the  British  cause,  and  that  opinion  was  much  divided  in 
those  days  upon  subjects  of  public  interest.  It  is  safe  to 
say  that  royalists  and  patriots  alike  gladly  hailed  peace 
after  the  long  period  of  war  through  which  all  had  un- 
happily passed,  and  the  absence  of  the  soldiery  was  re- 
garded as'a  cause  for  rejoicing.  One  point  in  the  present 
city  was  one  of  unusual  interest  in  those  days.  That 
was  the  tavern  of  Peter  Fitzsimmons,  in  widow  Betts’s 
house  at  Hallett’s  Cove,  a hostelry  much  resorted  to  by 
soldiers,  refugees  and  royalists. 

Early  Business  Enterprises. 

The  business  center  of  the  present  city  was  at  first  at 
Astoria,  or  Hallett’s  Cove,  as  that  locality  was  long  called. 
At  a quite  early  day  William  Hallett  established  a lime- 
yard  at  Hallett’s  Cove.  In  the  same  vicinity,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  ridge,  clay  was  dug  from  which  the 
Halletts  made  bricks  in  considerable  quantities. 

In  1753  Captain  Jacob  Blackwell  and  Joseph  Hallett 
put  up  a grist-mill  on  Sunswick  Creek,  Hallett’s  Cove, 
which  was  furnished  with  two  runs  of  stones  and  bolting 
appliances.  Whether  the  bolting  machinery  was  pro- 
pelled by  water  or  hand  power  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 
As  the  dam  necessarily  obstructed  the  passage  of  boats 
on  the  creek,  a canal,  the  course  of  which  was  traceable 
more  than  a century  later,  was  opened  some  distance 
above,  across  to  the  river,  with  a gate  at  either  end  for 
the  convenience  of  George  Van  Alst,  John  McDonough 
and  John  Greenoak,  who  found  it  necessary  frequently 
to  pass  by  boat.  In  1756  Captain  Blackwell  became 
sole  proprietor  of  this  mill,  and  some  years  later  he  sold 
it  to  Hendrick  Suydam,  who  operated  it  for  many  years 
after  the  Revolution. 

Among  the  many  refugees  who  came  to  the  section 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  was  one  Peter  Fitzsimmons, 
a merchant,  who  after  the  war  retired  to  St.  John,  New 
Brunswick.  In  the  spring  of  1782  he  opened  a tavern 


27  r 


at  the  house  of  the  widow  Betts,  on  the  Grant  Thorburn 
property  of  a later  day,  which  was  announced  in 
Rivington’s  Gazette.  He  informed  the  public  that  he 
also  had  the  ferry  on  the  opposite  side,  at  Horne’s  Hook, 
and  kept  “ horse-boats  and  small  boats  for  passengers. 
Ferriage  for  man  and  horse,  2s.;  horse  and  chaise,  4s.; 
cattle,  2s.;  passengers,  is.” 

Henry  F.  Blackwell  was  for  many  years  the  only  mer- 
chant in  the  village.  Later  the  business  which  he  es- 
tablished was  carried  on  by  Blackwell  and  Curtis.  The 
first  postmaster  in  the  village  was  Daniel  Andrews.  The 
present  manufacturing  interests  of  the  city  are  considered 
elsewhere. 

Former  enterprises  at  Astoria  not  now  in  existence 
were  Blackwell  & Co.’s  turpentine  manufactory,  Smith, 
Stratton  & Co.’s  varnish  factory,  John  Hunt  & Co.’s  hat 
factory  and  the  old  carpet  factory  which  was  long  well 
and  widely  known.  This  was  established  about  1840, 
perhaps  a little  earlier,  by  Richard  Clark,  who  occupied 
the  stone  building  now  a portion  of  the  works  of  the 
“ Hyde  Manufacturing  Company,”  and  some  wooden 
buildings.  Soon  afterward  the  business  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Higgins,  who  conducted  it  until  late  in  1851 
or  early  in  1852,  when  the  wooden  buildings  were  burned. 
John  McAloney,  who  had  been  superintendent  of  the 
works  for  Mr.  Higgins,  re-established  the  business  on  a 
small  scale  very  soon  afterward,  and  in  1853  built  the 
brick  building  yet  standing,  together  with  other  buildings 
and  improvements.  Arthur  Donnelly  was  his  partner 
until  the  spring  of  1854.  From  this  date  until  the  fall 
of  1857  Mr.  McAloney  carried  on  an  extensive  business 
alone;  but  he  became  embarrassed  financially  and  did 
only  a very  small  business  until  the  fall  of  1858,  when  he 
resumed  the  enterprise  on  an  extensive  scale,  and  con- 
tinued it  with  more  or  less  success  until  the  year  1873. 
This  establishment  was  for  years  a very  prominent  busi- 
ness interest. 

Professional  and  Well  Known  People. 

The  first  physician  at  Astoria  was  Dr.  Hersey  Baylies, 
who  died  there  after  a practice  of  thirty-five  years.  A 
homoeopathist  came  later,  who  in  time  inherited  some 
property  in  Canada  and  removed  thither.  Dr.  Connor,  a 
well  remembered  local  practitioner,  died  during  an  epi- 
demic of  ship  fever.  Dr.  Hutton,  who  also  died  in  Asto- 
ria, was  well  known  in  his  time.  Drs.  Trask  sen.  and  jr., 
Dr.  Baylies  jr.,  and  Drs.  Chamberlain,  Taylor  and  Baur 
are  the  later  and  present  physicians. 

Samuel  Stevens,  Mr.  Bartow,  Robert  Benner  and  A.  P. 
Ditmars  were  early  lawyers  in  Astoria.  The  present  res- 
ident members  of  the  legal  profession  are  Messrs.  Ship- 
man,  Larocque,  Benner  & Son,  F.  E.  Blackwell  & 
Brother,  Foster,  Conkling  and  Stearns. 

Mrs.  Mary  Cornell,  widow  of  Isaac  Cornell,  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Cheeseman,  the  second  sheriff  of  Queens 
county,  and  now  resides  in  Astoria.  Her  husband  served 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at  Fort  Greene. 
Mrs.  Cornell  is  the  recipient  of  a pension  on  account  of 
said  service. 


272 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Any  extended  reference  to  Astoria  would  be  incom- 
plete without  mention  of  Stephen  A.  Halsey,  who  did  so 
much  toward  the  improvement  of  the  village  that  by 
many  he  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  its  “father.”  He 
was  born  in  New  York  city,  in  1798.  In  1834,  having 
purchased  a house  in  Flushing,  he  took  up  his  residence 
there,  and  having  almost  daily  to  pass  Astoria  on  his 
way  to  and  from  the  city,  he  was  led  by  the  beauty  of  its 
situation  to  buy  land  and  remove  there,  which  he  did  in 
1835.  As  soon  as  he  was  located  he  devoted  himself 
vigorously  to  the  work  of  public  improvement.  He  built 
dwellings,  put  up  buildings  for  factories,  stores,  carpehter 
and  blacksmiths’  shops,  and  induced  the  mechanic,  the 
tradesman,  the  baker  and  the  butcher  to  occupy  them 
and  settle  in  the  place;  It  was  through  him  that  the  lo- 
cality was  called  Astoria,  in  honor  of  John  Jacob  Astor, 
he  proposing  to  Mr.  Astor  so  to  name  it  on  condition 
that  the  latter  would  make  a donation  to  a young  ladies’ 
seminary  then  in  course  of  erection  there,  which  Mr.  As- 
tor did.  Mr.  Halsey  was  prominent  in  the  movement 
which  led  to  the  incorporation  of  Astoria,  and  he  was 
elected  a trustee  of  the  village  for  many  consecutive 
years. 

In  the  building  of  most  of  the  churches  in  the  village, 
notably  those  of  the  Reformed  and  Presbyterian  denom- 
inations, Mr.  Halsey  was  liberal  and  helpful.  The  large 
stone  mansion  on  Fulton  street  near  the  ferry,  now  the 
residence  of  Judge  Monson,  was  built  by  Mr.  Halsey,  of 
stone  quarried  within  a few  yards  of  where  the  building 
stands,  and  was  finished  in  1840.  He  purchased  the 
ferry  to  86th  street,  New  York,  called  in  old  times  Horne’s 
Hook  ferry,  and  improved  it  for  the  better  accommoda- 
tion of  the  public.  The  numerous  trees  which  beautify 
that  portion  of  Long  Island  City  were  most  of  them 
planted  by  Mr.  Halsey  or  through  his  influence.  'He  was 
instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  bill  for  the 
public  school  of  Astoria  and  in  putting  it  in  operation. 
He  died  in  1875. 

An  early  physician  at  Hunter’s  Point  was  Dr.  L. 
Graves,  who  died  there  about  two  years  since.  Dr.  Z.  P. 
Dennler  came  at  a comparatively  early  date,  and  is  still 
living  there.  Dr.  Burnett  is  a prominent  resident  phy- 
sician. The  first  resident  practitioner  at  Dutch  Kills 
was  Dr.  Byer,  who  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  DeWitt  Hitch- 
cock some  three  years  ago. 

Early  attorneys  at  Hunter’s  Point  were  William  E. 
Pearse  and  D.  B.  Penfield.  Solomon  B.  Noble  came 
early  and  is  still  practicing  there.  Other  resident  lawyers 
are  Ralph  Burnett,  Lucian  N.  Manley,  A.  T.  Payne  and 
Isaac  Kugelman. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Late  Edwin  Mills. 

The  following,  called  “A  Little  Sketch  of  what  Astoria 
was  Twenty-five  Years  Ago,”  and  dated  October  1st  1866, 
was  found  among  the  papers  of  the  late  Edwin  Mills, 
long  prominently  identified  with  the  leading  local  inter- 
ests: 

“ Twenty-five  years  ago  to-day  I moved  to  Astoria,  and 
1 have  occupied  the  same  house  ever  since.  There  are 


now  but  six  families  living  in  the  same  houses  they  then 
occupied,  to  wit:  Henry  Smith,  Mrs.  R.  M.  Blackwell, 
Mrs.  Blossom  (then  Mrs.  H.  F.  Blackwell),  Miss  Bragaw 
(where  C.  W.  Strang  now  lives),  Miss  Davis,  in  Greenoak 
street,  and  Captain  Bounty. 

“ There  were  two  churches,  the  Episcopal,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Brown  rector,  and  the  Reformed  Dutch,  Rev.  A.  H. 
Bishop  pastor.  Both  pastors  long  since  died  and  both 
churches  have  been  cut  in  two  and  enlarged.  There 
were  two  hotels,  both  at  the  ferry.  Captain  How  kept 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Wilson;  Captain  Tinker 
the  stone  house  opposite.  Both  were  well  kept  for  those 
days,  and  did  a prosperous  business. 

“At  that  time  Eighty-sixth  street  and  Third  avenue 
were  in  splendid  traveling  condition;  the  teams  from 
Flushing  all  coming  this  way,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing 
to  see  ten  or  twenty  hay  and  market  wagons  waiting  for 
their  turn  to  cross  the  ferry.  It  was  customary  then  for 
many  of  the  best  citizens,  middle-aged  and  even  old  men 
(not  boys),  to  spend  a portion  of  almost  every  evening  at 
one  of  the  hotels,  play  a few  games  of  dominoes  and  take 
one  or  more  of  Captain  Tinker’s  celebrated  brandy 
punches  (not  half  a dozen  glasses  or  a pailful  of  lager  or 
ale,  as  is  the  custom  nowadays).-  They  went  home  and 
spent  the  balance  of  their  evening  with  their  families. 
These  were  all  respectable,  temperate  men.  On  Christmas 
and  New  Year’s  eves  they  invariably  had  a raffle  for  poul- 
try and  would  stay  a little  later  and  indulge  a little  more 
freely.  This  custom  would  probably  be  condemned  at  the 
present  day  as  setting  a bad  example  to  the  rising  gener- 
ation, but  it  had  this  good  effect — it  rendered  the  hotels 
more  respectable,  better  kept  and  more  quiet  and  orderly, 
and  kept  boys  from  frequenting  them;  in  fact  boys  at 
that  time  had  not  got  the  idea  that,  hotels,  strong  drink 
and  cigars  were  meant  expressly  for  them. 

“ I think  of  but  two  families  living  west  of  Perrott 
avenue.  There  were  living  in  that  part  of  the  village  at 
that  time  Dan  Tuttle  and  Sammie  Fagan.  Mr.  Halsey  was 
living  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Captain  Munson; 
Mr.  Bolles  was  living  with  him.  Mr.  Bishop  lived  in  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Tier;  a Mr.  Mount  in  Mr. 
Reboul’s  house.  There  were  no  other  houses  in  Perrott 
avenue.” 

Reminiscences  of  John  Bragaw. 

“ The  ‘ water-side,’  now  Ravenswood,  was  owned  by 
William  Payntar  2nd,  Joseph  Totten  and  Colonel  Gibbs. 
The  place  of  the  latter  was  known  as  the  Delafield  home- 
stead. The  owner  from  whom  it  received  this  name  was 
known  as  Lord  Delafield,  and,  as  the  stately  mansion, 
still  standing,  would  indicate,  the  farm  was  then  a lordly 
place. 

“ Dutch  Kills,  which  lay  on  both  sides  of  the  creek  of 
that  name,  was  as  choice  a spot  of  earth  as  any  one  need 
wish  for.  On  the  east  side  of  the  creek  the  farms  ex- 
tended from  its  bank  back  from  half  to  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  and  comprised  about  100  acres  each.  Commencing 
at  Newtown  Creek  on  the  south,  they  were  owned  suc- 
cessively by  Francis  Duryea,  whose  farm  is  now  included 


OLD  TIMES  IN  DUTCH  KILLS— ASTORIA  INCORPORATED. 


273 


in  Blissville,  Charles  Debevoise  and  John  Debevoise, 
until  the  De  Witt  or  Brinckerhoff  place  was  reached,  and 
beyond  that  were  the  farms  of  Abraham  Payntar  and 
Abram  Rapelyea.  All  of  these  places  are  now  held  by 
Messrs.  Thompson  and  Foster,  Union  College,  and  R. 
Lennox  Kennedy.  In  the  progress  of  city  improvements 
the  steam  plow  has  made  sad  havoc  with  these  farms, 
having  lowered  the  grade  of  portions  of  them  from  30 
to  40  feet.  Next  was  the  farm  of  William  Payntar  1st. 
North  of  that  was  the  Richard  Bragaw  place.  On  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  were  the  two  Van  Alst  places  and 
the  James  Lorremore,  the  Gardner  and  the  Jacob  Polhe- 
mus  farms. 

“ In  those  days  Dutch  Kills  was  an  Arcadia.  Each 
family  owned  and  cultivated  its  own  farm  and  each 
owned  from  two  to  four  slaves.  The  latter  were  practi- 
tically  members  of  the  family  to  which  they  were  attach- 
ed. They  were  reared  with  the  children  of  their  masters, 
and  in  sickness  or  health  had  a certain  home  and  plenty 
to  eat  and  wear;  were  well  taken  care  of  and  required 
to  do  only  a reasonable  amount  of  work.  The  negroes 
had  their  Sunday  preaching  by  their  own  preacher, 
gathering  regularly  for  service  in  large  numbers.  When 
a slave  was  dissatisfied  with  his  master  he  demanded  a 
‘pass’  for  a certain  number  of  days  to  look  for  a new 
place,  and  if  he  found  one  his  old  master  and  his  pros- 
pective one  settled  the  matter  between  them  and  the 
ownership  of  the  negro  changed.  When  the  emancipa- 
tion act  went  into  effect,  and  the  negroes  got  their  free- 
dom and  changed  their  homes  and  mode  of  living,  rum 
and  idleness  soon  nearly  extinguished  the  whole  local 
race  of  them. 

“The  farmers  were  very  independent  in  those  days. 
They  had  no  rent  or  interest  money  to  pay  and  taxes  were 
light,  averaging  from  10  to  20  cents  per  acre;  with  a fair 
degree  of  industry  they  were  enabled  to  fill  their  barns 
and  cellars  to  repletion.  The  old  Ryerson  mill  was  a 
great  convenience  to  them,  as  it  obviated  the  necessity 
of  carrying  their  grists  far.  There  was  a neighborhood 
school-house  a rod  square,  with  the  lot  around  it  three 
feet  larger  each  way,  the  school  in  my  day  scarcely 
numbering  at  any  time  as  many  as  fifty  scholars.  The 
teacher  was  paid  $200  per  annum  and  boarded  around. 
The  people  were  compelled  to  go  to  Newtown  village  to 
church,  and  there  was  neither  a tavern  nor  a blacksmith 
shop  at  the  Kills.  I am  the  only  one  of  my  generation, 
out  of  all  the  native  born  inhabitants  of  the  3d  ward, 
living  in  the  ward  and  in  the  house  in  which  he  was  born, 
and  there  are  very  few  of  the  succeeding  generation 
similarly  circumstanced. 

“ The  communication  with  the  city  of  New  York  was 
by  means  of  row  boats  from  the  old  dock  near  the  old 
school-house,  and  in  the  season  this  was  quite  a mart  of 
commerce.  What  with  the  nightly  departure  of  the  mar- 
ket boats  for  the  old  fly  market,  and  the  arrival  of  the 
‘manned  boats’  laden  with  manure  for  the  farmers,  it  was 
really  a lively  place.  The  manure  was  mostly  street  dirt 
from  New  York,  and  for  wheat,  corn  and  grass  was  then 
considered  very  valuable.  One  other  way  to  the  city  was 


over  the  penny  bridge  to  Grand  street  ferry,  Williams- 
burgh,  about  four  miles.  The  river  was  crossed  in  horse 
boats.  I remember  a voyage  made  by  myself  as  captain 
and  a negro  boy  as  crew  and  all  hands,  to  the  site  of  the 
present  Bellevue  hospital  with  a boat  load  of  rye.  The 
place  was  then  called  ‘ Bridewell.’  There  was  a tread- 
mill there  for  grinding  grain  for  the  use  of  the  prison 
only.  That  was  before  the  city  bought  Blackwell’s  Isl- 
and. In  my  early  days  we  had  one  weekly  paper,  brought 
to  us  from  Brooklyn  by  a man  on  horseback. 

“Crime  was  a thing  hardly  known  in  this  community. 
The  whole  machinery  of  the  court  consisted  of  a con- 
stable, who  was  judge,  jury  and  executioner.  The  crim- 
inals were  chiefly  negroes  and  were  few  in  number. 
There  were  few  crimes  graver  than  chicken-stealing. 
Chickens  were  indispensable  in  darkey  jollifications. 
The  thieves  were  readily  detected  and  caught.  The  con- 
stable would  arrest  them,  tie  them  to  a tree  and  whip 
them  on  the  bare  back.  As  he  almost  invariably  pun- 
ished them  with  nothing  more  formidable  than  a twig, 
they  never  suffered  much,  except  the  disgrace  of  being 
known  as  chicken  thieves.  For  the  support  of  this  sim- 
ple judicial  system  the  town  was  taxed  at  the  rate  of 
about  $1  per  day,  a man’s  wages  during  harvest.  There 
was  no  appeal  from  the  decisions  of  the  court.” 

Astoria — Incorporation,  Boundaries  and  Of- 
ficers. 

The  following  is  a copy  of  a document  on  file  with  the 
records  of  the  late  village  of  Astoria  in  the  office  of  the 
mayor  of  Long  Island  City,  entitled  “An  act  to  incorpor- 
ate the  village  of  Astoria,  passed  April  12th  1839.” 

“The  people  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

“ Section  1.  The  village  hereby  incorporated  shall  be 
composed  of  all  that  part  of  the  town  of  Newtown  which 
lies  within  the  following  lines  and  bounds — to  wit:  Com' 
mencing  on  the  East  River  at  the  point  of  intersection 
between  the  farms  of  John  Lawrence  and  Charles  Rich- 
mond and  following  the  dividing  line  of  said  farms  to  the 
land  of  Stephen  Hallett,  deceased;  thence  following  the 
line  between  said  John  Lawrence’s  land  and  the  land  of 
said  Stephen  Hallett,  deceased,  to  the  land  owned  by 
Henry  F.  Blackwell  and  G.  C.  Furman;  thence  following 
the  line  dividing  last  mentioned  land  of  the  before  men- 
tioned John  Lawrence  to  the  land  of  one  Rapelye,  de- 
ceased; thence  along  the  division  line  of  the  last  men- 
tioned land  and  land  of  the  before  mentioned  Blackwell 
and  Furman,  to  the  land  of  Jeromus  J.  Rapelye;  thence 
along  the  line  dividing  land  of  the  said  Jeromus  J.  Rapelye 
and  land  of  the  before  mentioned  Rapelye,  deceased,  to 
the  land  of  James  McDonald;  thence  along  the  line  di- 
viding the  land  of  said  James  McDonald  and  land  of  the 
before  mentioned  Jeromus  J.  Rapelye,  to  the  Flushing 
avenue;  thence  crossing  the  Flushing  avenue  and  follow- 
ing the  line  dividing  land  of  said  James  McDonald  from 
land  of  Dr.  Baylies,  to  the  Newtown  avenue;  thence 
crossing  said  Newtown  avenue  and  following  the  south 
side  of  the  said  avenue  to  the  land  of  Abraham  Polhe- 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


274 


mus;  thence  following  the  line  dividing  said  Polhemus’s 
land  from  land  of  the  before  named  James  McDonald,  to 
the  land  now  or  late  of  Lewis  Hartman  and  others; 
thence  along  the  line  dividing  the  land  of  said  Hartman 
and  others  and  the  land  of  said  James  McDonald,  to  land 
of  Samuel  Stevens;  thence  along  the  line  dividing  land 
of  said  Samuel  Stevens  from  the  land  of  said  James  Mc- 
Donald and  the  farm  of  Samis,  to  land  of  William  R. 
Prince;  thence  following  the  line  that  divides  the  land  of 
said  William  R.  Prince  from  the  farm  of  said  Abel  Samis, 
to  the  ridge  road;  thence  crossing  the  ridge  road  to  the 
land  of  Richard  Clark  and  following  the  line  dividing 
the  said  Richard  Clark’s  land  from  the  farm  of  the  be- 
fore mentioned  Abel  Samis,  to  the  land  of  William  R. 
Prince,  known  as  ‘the  McDonough  farm;’  thence  follow- 
ing the  line  dividing  said  McDonough  farm  from  the 
land  of  said  Richard  Clark  and  of  H.  L.  Penfield,  to 
other  lands  of  said  Richard  Clark;  thence  along  last 
mentioned  line  to  the  land  of  Jacob  Polhemus;  thence 
along  the  line  dividing  land  of  said  Jacob  Polhemus  from 
land  of  before  mentioned  Richard  Clark,  to  Sunswick 
Creek;  thence  following  the  middle  of  the  channel  of 
said  creek  to  Hallett’s  Cove  or  Bay;  and  thence  follow- 
ing the  line  of  the  cove  and  East  River  at  low  water 
mark  to  land  of  John  Lawrence  at  the  place  of  begin- 
ning— shall  hereafter  continue  to  be  known  and  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  the  ‘Village  of  Astoria,’  and  the 
freeholders  and  inhabitants  residing  in  said  village  are 
constituted  a body  corporate  by  name  of  the  trustees  of 
the  village  of  Astoria. 

“ Section  2. — The  corporation  hereby  created  shall  pos- 
sess all  the  powers  and  privileges  and  be  subject  to  all 
the  restrictions  and  limitations  which  are  granted 
to  or  imposed  upon  the  trustees  of  the  village  of 
Angelica  by  the  act  incorporating  that  village,  May  2nd 

1835-” 

The  first  charter  election  for  the  village  of  Astoria  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Franklin  Shaw,  June  nth 
1839,  from  5 to  6 o’clock  p.  m.  The  following  officers 
were  elected:  Homer  Whittemore,  Robert  M.  Blackwell, 
William  H.  Bolles,  Alfred  R.  Mount  and  Stephen  A.  Hal- 
sey, trustees;  Henry  F.  Blackwell,  Hersey  Baylies  and 
John  B.  Reboul,  assessors;  William  T.  Payntar,  treasurer; 
William  T.  Payntar,  clerk;  James  O.  Jackson,  collector 
and  constable. 

After  the  counting  of  the  ballots  the  board  of  trustees 
organized  in  the  same  room  in  which  the  election  had 
been  held.  Homer  Whittemore  was  chosen  president. 
Trustees  have  served  as  follows:  Homer  Whittemore, 
1839,  1840,  1843-48;  Joseph  M.  Mcjinsey,  1841;  Ste- 
phen A.  Halsey,  1839,  1842,  1863;  Nathaniel  Felbey, 
1849,  1850;  Josiah  M.  Whitney,  1851,  1856,  1857,  1869; 
W.  J.  Townsend,  1852  ; Henry  Baylies,  1853  ; C.  R. 
Trafford,  1854,  1855,  1864;  John  R.  Morris,  1858; 
John  McAloney,  1859,  i860  ; A.  Gallatin  Stevens, 
1861  ; Gabriel  Mace,  1862  ; Charles  W.  Strang,  1865  ; 
R.  M.  C.  Graham,  1866-68;  W.  R.  Taylor,  1870  and 
until  Astoria  lost  its  corporate  identity  in  Long  Island 
City. 


The  Improvement  of  Hell  Gate. 

Hell  Gate  is  the  name  given  to  the  narrow  ship  chan- 
nel between  Long  Island  and  Ward’s  Island  which  con- 
nects Long  Island  Sound,  by  means  of  the  East  River, 
with  New  York  Bay.  It  is  of  sufficient  depth  to  permit 
the  passage  of  the  largest  vessels  at  either  tide  were  it 
not  for  numerous  reefs  and  sunken  rocks  and  the  swift 
changing  eddies  of  the  tide  among  them.  Owing  to 
these  obstructions  Hell  Gate  was  impassable  for  large 
ships  and  very  dangerous  for  smaller  craft.  It  was  the 
scene  of  many  wrecks  and  of  great  destruction  of  life 
and  property.  It  will  be  remembered  that  it  was  on 
Pot  Rock  (which  is  now  being  mined,  preliminary  to  its 
destruction)  that  the  English  ship  “Hussar”  was  wrecked, 
as  related  on  page  270.  The  removal  of  these  destructive 
obstacles  to  navigation  was  an  urgent  necessity,  not  only  to 
open  a shorter  and  safe  commercial  highway  to  the  east, 
but  also  to  facilitate  the  defense  of  New  York  city  in 
case  of  war  and  blockade.  The  United  States  govern- 
ment and  the  merchants  of  New  York  city  had  turned 
their  attention  to  this  object  long  before  any  effective 
means  of  removing  submarine  obstructions  was  known. 
In  1848  Lieutenants  Commanding  Charles  H.  Davis  and 
David  Porter  of  the  navy  made  a careful  survey  of  Hell 
Gate,  and  pointed  out  the  Gridiron  as  the  most  danger- 
ous reef  and  the  Pot  and  Frying-Pan  Rocks,  Way’s  Reef 
and  the  Bread-and-Cheese  Reef,  by  Blackwell’s  Island, 
as  also  very  dangerous.  They  recommended  that  the 
first  three  named  be  destroyed  by  blasting.  Lieutenant 
Davis  further  advised  that  the  middle  of  the  channel 
also  be  cleaned  out  by  blasting,  but  Lieutenant  Porter 
questioned  the  feasibility  of  this  operation.  He  pro- 
posed the  destruction  of  part  of  Hallett’s  Point  Reef. 
He  also  advised  that  the  large  reefs  should  be  faced  with 
walls  or  piers,  conforming  to  the  outline  of  the  rocks  and 
provided  with  spring  fenders  that  would  turn  vessels 
striking  against  them  into  the  channel.  No  effective 
method  of  submarine  blasting  was  then  known,  and 
these  officers  suggested  no  new  devices  for  carrying  out 
the  provisions  of  their  report. 

The  first  effort  at  opening  the  channel  was  made  in 
1851,  when  about  $14,000  was  contributed  by  the  citizens 
of  New  York  and  expended  in  surface-blasting  different 
rocks  in  Hell  Gate.  M.  Maillefert,  the  inventor  of  the 
method,  superintended  the  work.  His  plan  consisted 
simply  in  exploding  charges  of  powder  on  the  surface  of 
the  rocks  by  means  of  the  electric  current.  At  first  this 
method  was  successful,  but  after  the  rough  projections  of 
rock  were  removed  and  a smoother  surface  reached  it 
was  very  difficult  to  go  deeper.  Although  M.  Maillefert 
accomplished  a valuable  work  his  method  proved  wholly 
insufficient  to  remove  any  considerable  portion  of  the 
obstructions.  In  the  following  year  Congress  was  in- 
duced to  appropriate  $20,000  to  carry  on  the  work.  Of 
this  sum  $18,000  was  consumed  in  lowering  Pot  Rock 
two  feet.  In  1856  the  advisory  council  to  the  “commis- 
sion relative  to  the  encroachments  and  preservation  of 
New  York  Harbor”  in  their  report  upon  the  improve- 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  HELL  GATE. 


275 


ment  of  Hell  Gate  recommended  that  Pot  Rock,  the 
Frying-Pan,  Way’s  Reef,  part  of  Hallett’s  Point  Reef  and 
numerous  small  rocks  near  shore  be  removed  by  drilling, 
instead  of  by  the  Maillefert  process,  and  that  sea  walls 
be  erected,  similar  to  those  proposed  by  Lieutenant 
Davis.  No  improvements  were  undertaken,  however, 
for  several  years.  In  1866  Brevet  Major-General  New- 
ton of  the  United  States  Engineers  was  commissioned  to 
examine  Hell  Gate.  He  made  a survey  and  reported  to 
Congress  the  following  year.  In  1868  Congress  made 
the  first  appropriation  ($85,000)  for  carrying  out  General 
Newton’s  plans  for  the  work.  The  contract  for  the  re- 
moval of  Pot  and  Frying-Pan  Rocks  was  awarded  to 
Sidney  F.  Shelbourne.  He  worked  unsuccessfully  upon 
these  rocks  with  a machine  driven  at  first  by  water  power 
and  afterward  by  steam.  It  was  finally  destroyed  by  a 
collision.  The  Maillefert  contract  expired  with  the  year 
1869.  After  Way’s  Reef  had  been  lowered  to  the  depth 
of  17^  feet  and  Sheldrake  to  18  4-5  feet,  General  New- 
ton assumed  control  of  the  work.  In  May  1871  a scow 
drilling-machine  was  put  in  operation,  after  long  and 
careful  experiments  to  determine  the  proper  weight  of 
drills  and  size  of  points,  and  also  upon  the  explosive 
power  of  nitro  glycerine.  The  Frying-Pan  was  leveled 
in  July  1872.  August  5th  work  was  commenced  upon 
Pot  Rock.  Forty  holes  were  blasted.  During  the  work 
sixteen  collisions  occurred  here,  and  two  of  the  vessels 
were  sunk.  Work  was  then  suspended  until  stricter 
regulations  should  be  enforced  upon  pilots.  Way’s  Reef 
was  removed  to  the  depth  of  26  feet  below  mean  low 
tide  during  1874. 

Hallett’s  Point  Reef  was  a particularly  dangerous  ob- 
struction in  the  east  channel,  as  it  did  not  leave  sufficient 
seaway  for  vessels  floating  down  with  the  ebb  and  steer- 
ing clear  of  Flood  Rock.  It  also  created  dangerous 
eddies  at  either  tide.  The  reef  was  of  semi-circular 
form,  720  feet  across  and  extending  300  feet  into  the 
channel.  Since  surface  blasting  had  proved  of  so  little 
avail  it  was  determined  to  sink  a shaft  down  into  the 
rock  and  cut  diverging  lateral  tunnels  that  should  pene- 
trate the  rock  in  all  directions,  something  like  the  work- 
ings in  a coal  mine.  The  walls  of  the  tunnels  were  then 
to  be  charged  with  explosives,  these  to  be  connected  with 
an  electric  battery,  the  water  admitted,  and  the  charges 
fired. 

On  the  8th  day  of  July  1869  was  commenced  the  con- 
struction of  a coffer  dam,  which  was  of  irregular  pentag- 
onal form,  reaching  out  95  feet  on  the  rock  with  a breadth 
of  145  feet  at  the  shore.  A shaft  95  by  105  feet  was  sunk 
33  feet  below  mean  low  water.  Ten  tunnels  were  then 
driven  into  the  rock  and  connected  by  cross-cut  gal- 
leries at  regular  intervals.  These  tunnels  extended  from 
51  to  126  feet  before  any  of  the  transverse  sections  were 
made.  They  radiated  from  a center,  and  the  galleries 
formed  concentric  lines  around  the  shaft.  As  the  dis- 
tance between  the  tunnels  increased  additional  branch 
tunnels  were  excavated,  until  the  whole  number  was  35. 
There  were  10  galleries,  whose  mean  distance  apart  was 
25  feet.  The  area  covered  by  the  tunnels  and  shaft  was 


2^s  acres.  The  number  of  piers  left  standing  was  172. 
The  total  length  of  tunnel  was  4,857  feet,  and  of  gal- 
leries 2,568  feet,  making  7,425  feet  in  all.  The  inclina- 
tion of  the  tunnels  was  raised  so  as  to  leave  an  average 
thickness  of  10  feet  between  the  mine  and  the  water 
above.  Constant  pumping  was  necessary  to  keep  the 
tunnels  free  from  water.  Great  care  had  to  be  exercised 
not  to  leave  too  thin  a roof  and  not  to  break  through  the 
roof  by  too  heavy  explosions.  The  variable  inclination 
and  foliation  of  the  rock — a hard  hornblende  gneiss, 
with  intersecting  quartz  veins — greatly  enhanced  the  dif- 
ficulties of  the  work.  Of  the  total  expense  blasting  rep- 
resented 46  per  cent.,  and  the  removal  of  the  rock  to  the 
shaft  17  per  cent.;  47,461  cubic  yards  of  rock  were  exca- 
vated and  carried  away  through  the  shaft.  When  the 
works  were  ready  for  the  explosion  which  was  to  destroy 
the  remaining  shell  of  the  reef  the  pillars  and  roof  were 
charged  with  thousands  of  small  deposits  of  explosives, 
which  were  connected  with  an  electric  wire,  except  a 
certain  number  which  were  to  be  exploded  by  the  con- 
cussion. In  the  later  part  of  the  work  the  engineers  in 
charge  were  John  Newton,  lieutenant-colonel  of  en- 
gineers, brevet  major-general;  James  Mercur,  captain  of 
engineers;  Joseph  H.  Millard,  first  lieutenant  of  en- 
gineers; Julius  H.  Striedinger,  civil  engineer,  assistant; 
Bernard  F.  Boyle,  mining  engineer,  overseer;  James 
Quigley  and  Robert  S.  Burnett,  assistants. 

The  whole  quantity  of  explosive  material  employed  in 
the  final  blast  was  52,206^  pounds,  consisting  of  dyna- 
mite, rend-rock  and  vulcan  powder,  and  was  contained 
in  13,596  cartridges,  each  about  3 inches  in  diameter 
and  from  9 to  18  inches  in  length.  There  were  4,462 
separate  blasts  and  4,427  charged  holes  in  the  rock. 
These  holes  were  of  the  average  depth  of  9 feet,  and 
were  made  from  6 to  ro  feet  apart.  The  blasts  were 
connected  by  100,000  feet  of  wire  and  with  the  batteries 
by  120,000  feet  of  leading  wire. 

On  the  day  before  the  blast  the  water  was  let  into  the 
tunnels  by  means  of  a syphon  over  the  side  of  the  dam. 
All  precautions  were  taken  to  insure  the  success  of  the 
explosion.  A bomb-proof  was  erected  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  batteries,  24  in  number,  and  the  wires  were 
conducted  over  a plate  in  the  bomb-proof  in  order  to 
effect  the  simultaneous  ignition  of  all  the  charges.  Wires 
were  laid  to  the  shore,  where  the  key  for  completing  the 
circuit  was  located.  The  plate  before  mentioned  was 
suspended  over  the  cups  of  a battery  containing  mer- 
cury, and  when  the  projections  on  the  under  surface  of 
the  plate  dropped  into  the  cups  the  electricity  would  be 
generated  to  explode  the  mine.  This  suspended  plate 
was  dropped  by  a current  from  the  shore.  After  all  the 
preparations  had  been  completed  with  great  care  the 
24th  day  of  September  1876  at  high  tide  was  selected  as 
the  time  for  firing  the  charges.  The  day  being  Sunday, 
and  the  event  having  been  announced  in  all  the  news- 
papers, an  enormous  crowd — probably  greater  than  has 
witnessed  any  other  spectacle  in  this  region — gathered 
at  all  the  favorable  points  of  observation  in  New  York 
city  and  on  the  neighboring  islands,  while  speculators 


276 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


reaped  a harvest  by  providing  seats  on  boats,  which  lay 
as  near  the  mine  as  was  deemed  safe.  Signal  guns  fired 
according  to  a published  plan  warned  the  spectators 
when  to  expect  the  explosion.  A few  minutes  before  3 in 
the  afternoon  the  little  daughter  of  General  Newton,  at  her 
father’s  direction,  pressed  the  key  of  the  battery,  and  in 
less  than  two  seconds  a tremor  of  the  ground  was  felt,  a 
sound,  sharp  though  not  loud,  was  heard,  and  great  col- 
umns of  water  were  thrown  up  50  feet  or  more  over  the 
area  of  the  excavation,  together  with  fragments  of  rock 
and  a dense  black  cloud  of  smoke  and  mist  and  the 
gases  formed  by  the  explosion.  A chorus  from  the 
whistles  of  the  steamboats  hailed  the  crowning  act  in  the 
great  enterprise,  and  many  of  the  small  boats  hastened 
to  be  first  at  the  spot  where  the  dreaded  reef  had 
been.  The  vibration  of  the  earth-  was  slight,  as 
predicted  by  General  Newton,  yet  was  felt  in  New 
York.  The  immediate  result  was  more  satisfactory 
than  had  been  anticipated.  The  rock  was  broken 
up  into  finer  portions  than  was  expected,  which  rendered 
its  removal  comparatively  easy.  Submarine  dredges  were 
soon  put  in  operation  and  the  higher  portions  dragged 
down  into  deeper  water.  In  this  work  the  remainder  of 
the  appropriation  which  had  been  made  by  Congress  was 
expended. 

The  next  great  obstruction  to  be  removed  was  Flood 
Rock.  It  lies  due  north  from  Hallett’s  Point,  almost 
directly  in  mid  channel,  1,200  to  1,500  feet  from  the 
shore,  and  has  an  area  of  about  8 acres.  Of  this  only 
250  square  feet  showed  above  high  water  mark.  The 
same  general  plan  of  operations  was  adopted  here  that 
had  been  so  successful  at  Hallett’s  Point.  Around  the 
highest  point  of  the  rock  a sea  wall  was  built,  and  the 
enclosed  area  was  filled  with  broken  stone  to  afford  space 
for  erecting  the  necessary  buildings.  This  artificial 
island  is  about  7 feet  above  high  water,  and  in  its  center 
is  the  main  shaft,  which  has  been  sunk  to  the  depth  of 
67  feet.  There  is  also  a second  shaft,  40  feet  deep,  open- 
ing into  the  same  heading  as  the  main  shaft.  This  is 
used  for  machinery  and  tubes  of  the  compressed  air 
which  drives  the  drills,  while  the  excavated  rock  is  re- 
moved through  the  larger  shaft.  The  work  is  under  the 
care  of  Major-General  Newton,  and  Captain  James  Mer- 
cur  has  the  immediate  supervision.  About  two-thirds  of 
the  way  down  the  main  shaft  the  first  series  of  headings 
is  passed — four  black  mouthed  openings  diverging  at 
right  angles.  At  the  bottom  of  the  shaft  headings  also 
diverge  in  four  directions  directly  beneath  the  others. 
This  double  system  of  headings  is  employed  in  order  to 
gain  a sufficient  depth  after  the  explosion  without  the 
labor  and  expense  of  dredging  to  remove  broken  rock, 
as  was  necessary  at  Hallett’s  Point.  These  headings  in 
both  tiers  branch  at  right  angles  every  twenty  feet  or 
thereabouts. 

The  main  headings  now  are  some  20  in  number  and 
run  from  north  to  south.  They  are  1,200  feet  long,  from 
7 to  10  feet  high  and  about  the  same  in  width.  The  n 
cross  headings  vary  from  100  to  400  feet  in  length. 
These  headings  are  about  20  feet  apart  each  way,  so  that 


the  whole  rock  is  honeycombed  with  tunnels.  In  exca- 
vating eight  drills  are  employed,  which  are  run  by  the 
power  of  compressed  air.  In  blasting,  holes  are  drilled 
in  the  rock  horizontally  from  20  to  30  inches  apart,  and 
cartridges  of  dynamite  weighing  from  half  a pound  to 
two  pounds  are  inserted.  The  broken  rock  when  exca- 
vated is  raised  through  the  main  shaft,  and  is  dumped 
into  the  deep  water  at  the  south  end  of  the  reef.  Some- 
times in  blasting  a seam  in  the  rock  is  reached  through 
which  the  water  runs  in.  In  such  cases  the  seam  has  to 
be  carefully  worked  around  and  avoided.  The  progress 
of  the  work  is  necessarily  slow,  owing  to  its  difficulty  and 
the  character  of  the  rock,  which  is  very  hard.  During 
the  year  1880  the  amount  of  work  done  was  greater  than 
in  any  previous  year;  43,000  blasts  were  made  and  24,000 
cubic  yards  of  rock  removed.  In  1881  7,312  feet  of 
headings  were  driven  and  18,080  cubic  yards  of  rock 
taken  out.  At  this  rate  it  was  expected  that  the  excava- 
tions would  be  finished  about  the  close  of  1882,  and  that 
one  year  will  be  consumed  in  inserting  explosives  in  the 
roof  and  sides  of  the  mine,  so  that  the  final  explosion 
will  not  occur  before  1884,  or  possibly  late  in  the  year 
1883. 

The  total  area  of  the  rock  to  be  penetrated  by  tunnels 
is  eight  acres,  or  a space  three  times  larger  than  Hallett’s 
Point  Reef.  The  amount  expended  upon  the  work  in 

1879  was  $140,000.  The  Congressional  appropriation  in 

1880  for  the  improvement  of  the  East  River  was  $200,- 
000,  and  about  the  same  in  1881;  $350,000  had  been  ex- 
pended on  the  work  prior  to  September  1878.  The 
estimated  cost  of  the  whole  work  is  two  millions  of 
dollars.  An  appropriation  of  $50,000  was  secured  in  the 
spring  of  1882,  when  the  tunneling,  which  had  been 
progressing  at  the  rate  of  some  six  hundred  feet  monthly, 
was  about  being  suspended  for  lack  of  funds.  This 
amount  enabled  the  engineers  to  continue  the  work  until 
the  larger  appropriation  made  by  the  river  and  harbor 
bill  of  that  year  became  available. 

The  reef  at  Hallett’s  Point  has  been  freed  from  broken 
rock  to  a depth  of  26  feet  at  mean  low  water.  Since  its 
removal  the  number  of  vessels  passing  through  Hell  Gate 
has  more  than  doubled.  It  is  hoped  that  when  Flood 
Rock  is  removed  the  ocean  steamers  will  take  the  East 
River  route,  at  a saving  of  40  miles  in  distance.  The 
steam  drilling  scow  has  been  kept  steadily  at  work  upon 
the  smaller  rocks,  and  has  removed  Diamond  Reef  and 
Heel-tap  Rocks.  . The  two  remaining,  Pot  Rock  and  the 
Frying  Pan,  will  shortly  be  destroyed.  When  all  the 
work  is  completed  there  will  be  a ship  channel  from  1,200 
to  1,500  yards  in  width,  navigable  for  ocean  vessels  of 
the  largest  class.  Work  has  also  been  commenced  in  the 
removal  of  a large  shoal  near  Brooklyn  wharves,  esti- 
mated to  contain  570,000  cubic  yards,  on  which  the  depth 
of  minimum  low  water  was  9 feet.  With  these  improve- 
ments carried  into  effect  the  waterway  of  New  York 
city  on  the  east  will  approach  the  excellence  of  the  Hud- 
son on  the  west. 

The  latest  project  for  the  improvement  of  the  naviga- 
tion of  Hell  Gate  is  the  establishment  of  an  electric  light. 


REASONS  OF  INCORPORATING  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


277 


In  April  1882  a committee  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives favorably  reported  a bill  appropriating 
twenty  thousand  dollars  to  this  object. 

While  some  are  sanguine  enough  to  expect  that  the 
improvements  above  described  will  divert  the  tide  of 
transatlantic  commerce  from  the  Sandy  Hook  to  the 
Hell  Gate  channel,  it  would  hardly  be  safe  to  predict 
such  a result  with  confidence.  The  Hell  Gate  course 
must  remain  comparatively  narrow  and  tortuous,  and 
traffic  is  notoriously  difficult  to  divert  from  established 
routes.  Only  by  slow  degrees  will  commerce  betake 
itself  to  the  new  channel;  but  the  existing  coastwise 
trade  will  be  sufficiently  benefited  by  the  improvements 
to  abundantly  pay  the  cost  of  those  improvements, 
great  as  it  will  have  been,  while  they  assume  prospective 
importance  also  in  view  of  the  possible  development  of  a 
great  commercial  center  on  the  Harlem  River  as  the 
result  of  the  projected  deepening  and  widening  of  the 
channel  of  that  river.  On  the  Harlem  also  immediate 
connection  is  made  with  the  railroad  systems  east  of  the 
Hudson  River. 

The  Incorporation  of  Long  Island  City. 

The  westerly  portion  of  the  township  of  Newtown, 
extending  from  the  limits  of  Brooklyn  on  the  south  to 
Long  Island  Sound  on  the  north,  separated  from  New 
York  only  by  the  East  River,  could  not  fail  to  become 
a place  of  considerable  importance  in  point  of  popula- 
tion and  the  increased  value  of  its  property.  The  ex- 
traordinary growth  and  importance  of  the  two  great 
cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn  have  within  the  last 
quarter  of  a century  given  such  an  impetus  to  property 
within  twenty  miles  of  New  York  as  was  never  before 
witnessed  around  any  cities  of  the  world.  This  ex- 
traordinary development  could  not  fail  to  reach  that 
portion  of  the  town  of  Newtown  which  is  now  called 
Long  Island  City.  The  terminus  of  the  Long  Island 
Railroad  having  been  located  at  Hunter’s  Point,  the 
ferries  having  been  established  for  nearly  all  important 
points  in  New  York,  Calvary  Cemetery  having  been 
selected  as  the  burial  place  of  the  Catholics  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  numerous  and  wealthy  corporations 
and  individuals  having  established  manufactories  on  a 
most  extensive  scale  along  the  banks  of  Newtown  Creek 
and  on  the  easterly  shore  of  the  East  River,  all  con- 
spired to  increase  the  population  and  the  value  of 
property  in  this  vicinity. 

Already  there  existed  the  two  important  villages  of 
Astoria  and  Ravenswood,  and  the  surrounding  districts, 
though  occupied  as  farm  lands,  had  a large  population. 
In  addition  to  these  there  soon  sprang  up  the  villages  of 
Hunter’s  Point,  Dutch  Kills,  Laurel  Hill  and  Blissville; 
so  that  in  1869  there  was  a population  of  15,000  inhab- 
itants living  between  the  old  Bowery  Bay  road  and  the 
East  River.  As  the  population  steadily  increased  and 
houses  were  erected  on  the  farm  lands  without  the  lay- 
ing out  of  streets,  sewers,  or  water-mains,  the  roads  soon 
became  impassable;  and,  the  town  government  being  un- 
able to  supply  the  much  needed  improvements  for  want 


of  legislative  authority,  the  people  suffered,  and  many  of 
them  petitioned  the  Legislature  for  relief.  For  many 
years  the  town  had  been  heavily  taxed  for  improve- 
ments which  were  forced  upon  the  people  through  the 
influence  of  officials  and  politicians  who,  it  is  said,  were 
sometimes  unscrupulous  in  their  charges,  and  in  audit- 
ing their  accounts.  The  expenses  arising  therefrom, 
together  with  the  war  debt,  created  grave  cause  of  com- 
plaint by  the  people.  The  residents  of  that  portion  of 
the  town  now  called  Long  Island  City  felt  this  oppres- 
sion all  the  more  because,  as  they  alleged,  their  portion 
of  the  town  had  been  for  many  years  unfairly  assessed. 
Those  who  paid  most  of  the  taxes  complained  of  the 
manner  in  which  elections  were  held  and  improvements 
made,  and  of  the  general  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  town.  Fifteen  years  previous  to  the  in- 
corporation of  Long  Island  City  a number  of  liquor 
dealers  of  the  town  of  Newtown  formed  a combination 
to  resist  through  the  courts  the  enforcement  of  the 
liquor  law  of  the  State.  They  finally  succeeded.  They 
continued  their  organization,  but  changed  its  object  to 
politics,  and  were  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  the 
“ Newtown  Ring.”  It  became  powerful  and  therefore 
successful;  it  controlled  the  elections,  and  it  was  stated 
that  the  votes  polled  were  seldom  counted,  that  the  lead- 
ers of  the  ring  declared  those  persons  elected  whose 
election  they  considered  most  advantageous  to  them- 
selves or  their  party.  A criminal  having  influence  with 
the  members  of  this  ring  would  rarely  be  arrested  for 
minor  offenses,  and  if  arrested  his  conviction  was  almost 
impossible.  Exorbitant  fees  were  charged  and  audited 
by  officials  for  imaginary  services.  The  district  was  the 
prey  of  thieves  and  the  worst  elements  of  the  neighbor- 
ing cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  the  number 
of  town  constables  was  entirely  inadequate  to  the  wants 
of  the  district.  Among  all  these  the  greatest  want  felt 
was  a sufficient  supply  of  good  water.  For  many  years 
during  the  summer  months  the  people  were  obliged  to 
go  over  into  Brooklyn  for  water  to  cook  their  meals. 
The  water  obtained  through  many  of  the  pumps  in 
Hunter’s  Point  was  evidently  but  the  drainage  of  marsh 
lands.  In  the  summer  of  1874  there  were  207  cases  of 
typho-malarial  fever  traced  by  physicians  to  one  pump 
in  Seventh  street  near  Central  avenue.  During  seasons 
of  drought  there  was  but  one  pump  in  Third  street  to 
supply  the  wants  of  nearly  4,000  people,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  from  50  to  100  persons  might  be  seen  awaiting 
their  turn  for  water  from  this  pump,  and  it  was  generally 
from  two  to  three  o’clock  in  the  morning  before  all  had 
obtained  it. 

The  citizens  had  frequently  drafted  charters  and  ap- 
plied to  the  Legislature  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  local 
legislation  to  remedy  these  difficulties,  but  without  avail. 
In  the  spring  of  1870  they  made  another  attempt.  The 
charter  for  the  incorporation  of  Long  Island  City  was 
introduced  in  the  Assembly  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  April 
1st  1870,  but  like  similar  ones  it  made  but  little  pro- 
gress. 

A meeting  of  the  citizens  of  all  political  parties  was 


278 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


held  in  Foster’s  Hall  to  consider  the  question  of  incor- 
poration and  the  passage  of  the  charter.  The  hall  was 
densely  crowded.  At  this  meeting  a committee  was 
appointed  to  wait  on  Father  Crimmin,  pastor  of  St. 
Mary’s  church,  and  request  him  to  address  the  meet- 
ing in  relation  to  the  incorporation  of  the  district  and 
the  passage  of  the  act.  Father  Crimmin  consented  and 
went  to  the  meeting.  He  spoke  at  length  on  the  neces- 
sity and  the  advantages  of  the  incorporation  of  the  dis- 
trict. His  views  were  indorsed  by  all  present,  and  after 
he  had  withdrawn  resolutions  were  adopted  in  favor  of 
the  passage  of  the  bill  and  requesting  Father  Crimmin  to 
go  to  Albany  and  to  take  in  charge  the  advocacy  of  the 
act.  Means  were  contributed  to  defray  the  necessary 
expenses  and  the  engrossing  of  the  bill.  A petition  was 
secured  and  signed  by  about  2,700  residents  and  free- 
holders. Father  Crimmin  went  to  Albany.  He  encoun- 
tered grave  opposition  at  every  step,  but  succeeded  in 
passing  the  bill  through  the  Assembly  and  the  Senate. 
It  was  strongly  opposed  before  the  governor.  A day  was 
fixed  for  the  hearing  of  both  sides.  Those  opposed  were 
present  with  a delegation  and  a remonstrance  signed  by 
72  landed  proprietors,  and  their  case  was  argued  before 
the  governor  by  able  counsel.  Father  Crimmin  in  reply 
presented  the  signatures  of  2,700  freeholders,  and  had  as 
a delegation  present  the  gentleman  who  secured  the 
names  to  the  petition  and  who  were  ready  to  testify  to 
the  genuineness  of  the  signatures.  The  argument  in 
favor  of  the  charter  was  made  by  ex-Governor  Lowe,  of 
Maryland.  The  result  was  that  the  bill  was  signed  May 
6th  1870  by  Governor  Hoffman.  Although  some  advan- 
tages were  gained  by  the  passage  of  this  charter  its 
provisions  were  entirely  inadequate,  and  the  appropria- 
tions allowed  were  entirely  insufficient  for  the  thorough 
organization  of  a municipal  government  and  the  main- 
tenance of  the  public  schools.  Abram  D.  Ditmars,  of 
Astoria,  first  mayor  of  Long  Island  City,  and  many  other 
leading  citizens  desired  that  sufficient  appropriations 
should  be  obtained  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools 
and  the  maintenance  of  a police  force,  and  also  that  the 
powers  conferred  by  the  charter  should  be  such  as  to 
enable  the  city  to  take  measures  for  the  introduction  of 
a sufficient  supply  of  good  water,  and  to  make  a survey 
of  the  whole  city.  Accordingly  about  the  beginning 
of  1871  the  mayor  appointed  a committee  of  seventeen 
charged  with  the  duty  of  drafting  a revised  charter, 
which  should  secure  more  fully  the  advantages  of  local 
self-government  and  the  much  needed  improvements. 
The  bill  was  completed,  and  was  introduced  in  the 
Senate  by  Senator  Frost  during  the  session  of  1871, 
and  became  a law  April  13th  that  year.  This  law,  with 
some  modifications  which  have  since  been  made,  con- 
stitutes the  charter  of  Long  Island  City  at  the  present 
time. 

The  development  of  Long  Island  City  was  but  a part 
of  a great  plan  which  Father  Crimmin  had  conceived 
not  only  for  that  locality  but  for  the  whole  of  Long 
Island,  and  to  which  he  had  intended  to  devote  the  ener- 
gies of  his  whole  life.  In  an  interview  which  our  histo- 


rian had  with  the  reverend  gentleman  in  relation  to  Long 
Island  he  stated  that  his  plan  was,  after  the  improvement 
of  Long  Island  City,  to  endeavor  to  have  the  law  taxing 
bonds  and  mortgages  repealed,  if  not  for  the  whole  State 
at  least  for  Long  Island  City  (for,  he  said,  millions  of  dol- 
lars had  left  the  State  of  New  York  and  sought  invest- 
ment in  the  State  of  New  Jersey  because  of  this  tax);  to 
urge  the  construction  of  the  iron  bridge  across  the  East 
River  at  Blackwell’s  Island,  and  by  means  of  railroads 
over  this  bridge  to  connect  every  city  and  hamlet  on  Long 
Island  directly  with  the  great  west,  and  thus  to  give  it 
every  advantage  held  by  the  remainder  of  the  State;  to 
open  Newtown  Creek  to  Flushing  Avenue  and  Dutch 
Kills  Creek  and  Sunswick  Creek  to  the  upland;  and  to 
run  a railroad  from  Blackwell’s  Island  bridge  to  the  head 
of  Newtown  Creek,  thence  to  a grand  central  depot  in 
the  center  of  Brooklyn,  connecting  by  freight  trains  with 
Gowanus  Bay,  Erie  Basin,  and  other  important  and  ac- 
cessible water  fronts.  Since  the  construction  of  the 
elevated  roads  in  the  city  of  New  York  he  sees  an  ad- 
vantage in  connecting  these  elevated  railroads  with  the 
tracks  over  the  Blackwell’s  Island  bridge,  and  thence  to 
the  various  watering  places  on  the  shores  of  Long  Island. 

City  and  Ward  Boundaries. 

The  boundary  line  of  Long  Island  City,  “beginning 
at  a point  formed  by  the  intersection  of  the  easterly 
boundary  line  of  the  city  and  county  of  New  York  with 
the  center  line  of  Newtown  Creek,”  runs  “ thence  easterly 
along  the  center  line  of  said  Newtown  Creek  to  the  west- 
erly side  of  the  Penny  Bridge  (so-called);  thence  north- 
erly along  the  westerly  side  of  the  Bushwick  and  New- 
town turnpike  to  the  road  on  the  southerly  side  of  Cal- 
vary Cemetery,  known  as  the  road  to  Dutch  Kills;  thence 
along  the  center  of  said  last  named  road  to  the  southerly 
and  westerly  side  of  Calvary  Cemetery  as  far  as  the 
boundaries  of  said  cemetery  extend;  thence  northerly 
along  the  said  cemetery  to  the  center  of  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Green  Point  along  the  northerly  side  of  said  ceme- 
tery; thence  easterly  along  said  last  mentioned  road  to 
the  intersection  of  the  same  with  the  road  leading  from 
Calvary  Cemetery  to  Astoria;  thence  northerly  and  north- 
easterly along  the  center  of  said  road,  Dutch  Kills  road, 
Woodside  avenue,  Bowery  Bay  road,  to  the  easterly 
boundary  line  of  land  formerly  of  Isaac  Rapelye,  on  the 
northerly  side  of  said  Bowery  Bay  road;  thence  along  the 
line  of  said  Rapelye  land  to  the  Bowery  Bay;  thence 
along  Bowery  Bay  and  the  sound  to  the  northerly  bound- 
ary line  of  the  town  of  Newtown;  thence  northwesterly 
and  southwesterly  along  said  boundary  line  to  the  east- 
erly boundary  line  of  the  city  and  county  of  New  York; 
thence  southwesterly  along  said  last  mentioned  boundary 
line  to  the  place  of  beginning.” 

The  new  city  was  divided  into  five  wards,  described  as 
follows: 

First  Ward  (Hunter’s  Point) — “All  that  portion  of 
the  city  lying  between  the  center  of  Newtown  Creek  on 
the  south,  the  westerly  boundary  line  of  Long  Island  City 
on  the  west,  the  center  of  Nott  avenue  and  Boundary 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


279 


street  on  the  north  and  the  center  of  Dutch  Kills  Creek 
on  the  east.” 

Second  Ward  (Blissville). — “ Beginning  at  the  junction 
of  Newtown  and  Dutch  Kills  Creek,  running  thence 
easterly  along  the  center  of  said  Dutch  Kills  Creek  to 
Boundary  street;  thence  along  the  center  of  Boundary 
street  to  Jackson  avenue;  thence  easterly  along  the  cen- 
ter of  said  Jackson  avenue  to  the  easterly  line  of  Long 
Island  City;  thence  southerly  along  said  boundary  line 
to  the  southerly  boundary  line  of  said  city  and  at  the 
center  of  Newtown  Creek;  thence  westerly  along  the 
southerly  boundary  line  of  said  city  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning.” 

Third  Ward  (Ravenswood). — “Beginning  at  a point 
on  the  westerly  boundary  of  Long  Island  City,  at  its 
intersection  with  the  center  line  of  Nott  avenue  when 
extended  on  its  present  course  to  the  said  westerly 
boundary  line  of  Long  Island  City;  running  thence 
northerly  along  said  boundary  line  to  its  intersection 
with  the  center  line  of  Sunswick  Creek;  running  thence 
easterly  and  southerly  along  the  center  of  said  creek  to 
the  center  of  Pearce  avenue;  thence  easterly  along  the 
center  of  said  Pearce  avenue  to  the  center  of  First  ave- 
nue; thence  southerly  along  the  center  of  said  First 
avenue  to  the  center  of  Webster  avenue;  thence  easterly 
along  the  center  of  Webster  avenue  to  the  center  of 
Jackson  avenue;  thence  southwesterly  along  the  center 
of  Jackson  avenue  and  Nott  avenue  to  the  point  or  place 
of  beginning.” 

Fourth  Ward  (Astoria). — “Beginning  at  a point  in  the 
westerly  boundary  line  of  Long  Island  City,  at  its  inter- 
section with  the  center  line  of  Sunswick  Creek,  running 
thence  northerly  along  said  westerly  boundary  line  to 
its  intersection  with  the  center  line  of  Franklin  street, 
when  extended  on  its  present  course  to  the  said  westerly 
boundary  line;  thence  easterly  along  the  center  of 
Franklin  street  to  the  intersection  of  Flushing  avenue; 
thence  easterly  along  the  center  of  said  Flushing  avenue 
to  the  easterly  boundary  line  of  said  city  at  the  center 
line  of  the  Bowery  Bay  road;  thence  southerly  along  the 
said  easterly  boundary  line  to  the  center  of  Jackson 
avenue;  thence  southwesterly  along  the  center  of  said 
Jackson  avenue  to  the  center  of  Webster  avenue;  thence 
westerly  along  said  Webster  avenue  to  the  center  of' 
First  avenue;  thence  northerly  along  the  center  of  First 
avenue  to  the  center  of  Pearce  avenue  ; thence 
westerly  along  the  center  of  Pearce  avenue  to  the 
center  of  said  Sunswick  Creek;  thence  northerly  and 
westerly  along  the  center  of  said  creek  to  the  point  of 
beginning.” 

Fifth  Ward  (Bowery  Bay). — “All  that  portion  of  the 
the  city  lying  between  the  northerly  boundary  line  of 
Long  Island  City  on  the  north,  the  easterly  boundary 
line  of  said  city  on  the  east,  the  westerly  boundary  line 
of  the  same  on  the  west,  and  the  Fourth  ward  on  the 
south,  together  with  all  the  islands  opposite  thereto  and 
comprehended  in  the  town  of  N,ewtown.” 

The  islands  belonging  to  Long  Island  City  are  known 
as  North  Brother,  South  Brother  and  Berrien’s. 


The  City  Government. 

The  first  charter  election  of  Long  Island  City  was 
held  July  5th  1870.  Abram  D.  Ditmars  was  elected 
mayor.  The  following  named  persons  were  elected  al- 
dermen from  their  respective  wards:  First  ward,  Henry 
Rudolph,  Patrick  Lonergan;  Second  ward,  Francis 
McNena,  William  E.  Bragaw;  Third  ward,  George  H. 
Hunter,  George  H.  Williams;  Fourth  ward,  James  R. 
Bennett,  John  Weigand;  Fifth  ward,  Edward  H.  Harts- 
horne,  William  Carlin. 

The  board  of  aldermen  organized  July  r 8th  1870. 
Mayor  Ditmars  was  chosen  president  and  Egbert  Con- 
with  clerk.  Robert  T.  Wild  was  appointed  superinten- 
dent of  streets,  with  James  Dennen  as  deputy;'  Anthony 
S.  Woods,  city  marshal;  J.  L.  Francen,  sealer  of  weights 
and  measures;  Thomas  Dewey  and  John  Fautry,  police 
constables. 

There  were  at  first  the  departments  of  “ finance,” 
“law,”  “ public  works,”  “police  and  health,”  “ educa- 
tion,” “ fire,”  “ water  ” and  “assessment.”  The  “fire” 
and  “ water”  departments  have  since  been  consolidated, 
reducing  the  number  from  eight  to  seven.  The  city 
officials  in  1881  were  as  follows:  Mayor,  Henry  S.  De 
Bevoise;  corporation  counsel,  J.  Ralph  Burnett;  com- 
missioner of  public  works,  Russell  Wright;  treasurer, 
John  R.  Morris;  deputy  treasurer,  William  H.  Morris; 
city  clerk,  Alexander  Moran;  deputy  city  clerk, 
Henry  Van  Alst;  sanitary  inspector,  Dr.  R.  W. 
Taylor;  register  of  records  and  assistant  sanitary 
inspector,  Conrad  Deistel;  captain  of  police,  Anthony  S. 
Woods.  The  board  of  police  and  health  is  organized  as 
follows  : Richard  Armstrong  (president),  Charles 

McNamara,  Andrew  Murray;  the  board  of  water  and 
fire  commissioners:  Henry  S.  De  Bevoise  (president), 
Russell  Wright,  S.  J.  Kavanagh,  Charles  W.  Hallett,  F. 
H.  Wolcott;  the  board  of  assessors:  George  H.  Paynter 
(president),  Charles  B.  Lathrop,  James  Gallagher;  the 
board  of  education:  Sylvester  Gray  (president),  John 
Metz,  James  McBride,  Henry  C.  Johnson,  Henry  P. 
Titus. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  charter  there  were  at  first 
two  aldermen  elected  from  each  ward.  Under  an  amend- 
ment passed  during  the  legislative  session  of  1871-72 
three  from  each  ward  were  elected  until  the  passage  of 
an  act  in  1879  reduced  the  number  to  one  from  each 
ward  and  two  at  large,  the  total  since  then  being  only 
seven.  The  aldermen  in  1881  were:  Patrick  Lonergan, 
first  ward;  S.  J.  Kavanagh,  second  ward;  Michael  Don- 
nelly, third  ward;  John  L.  Morris,  fourth  ward;  Nicho- 
las Nehrbauer,  fifth  ward.  Aldermen-at-large:  First 
district  (first,  second  and  third  wards),  Henry  Rudolph; 
second  district  (fourth  and  fifth  wards),  August  Rassiga. 
S.  J.  Kavanagh  was  president  of  the  board. 

Abram  D.  Ditmars  was  the  first  mayor  of  Long  Island 
City.  He  was  elected  July  5th  1870.  In  April  1873 
Henry  S.  De  Bevoise  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  Mr. 
Ditmars  was  again  elected  in  April  1876,  but  soon  re- 
signed. John  Quinn  became  acting  mayor  and  served 


280 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


until  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent  of  the 
office. 

HENRY  S.  DE  BEVOISE. 

Hon.  Henry  S.  De  Bevoise,  whose  portrait  is  shown 
in  the  steel  engraving  on  the  opposite  page,  and  whose 
early  ancestry  is  more  fully  given  in  the  De  Bevoise 
family  history  on  pages  317  and  318  of  this  work,  is  bet- 
ter known  as  Mayor  De  Bevoise  of  Long  Island  City. 
He  was  born  February  14th  1841,  at  the  old  home- 
stead of  his  father,  Andrew,  in  Long  Island  City.  In 
this  old  place  several  generations  of  this  illustrious 
family  first  saw  the  light,  and  for  over  160  years  the  old 
roof  has  been  their  shelter.  Many  are  the  memories  that 
cluster  around  this  spot,  and  if  we  could  interview  the 
stately  old  trees  as  well  as  the  mayor’s  young  friends  we 
might  learn  more  of  the  generations  that  form  the  line 
of  his  descent  from  the  original  Carel  De  Beauvois,  who 
settled  in  Brooklyn  in  1659;  f°r  these  venerable  old  lo- 
custs were  here  in  a very  early  day.  Under  their  branches 
the  Hessians  were  camped  in  1778,  and  one  of  them  was 
used  as  a gibbet  to  hang  the  beeves  which  were  killed  for 
the  use  of  the  soldiers.  The  largest  is  literally  filled  with 
bullets  and  bullet  holes  which  have  been  left  by  the 
knives  of  curiosity  seekers. 

On  this  farm  the  early  days  of  young  De  Bevoise  were' 
spent,  and  in  the  common  school  of  thirty  years  ago  the 
foundation  of  his  education  was  laid.  So  rapid  are  the 
mutations  which  time  works  that,  although  that  is  but  a 
third  of  a century  ago,  there  are  scarcely  any  left  of  those 
who  were  boys  when  Harry,  as  they  used  to  call  him,  was 
a schoolboy.  At  the  age  of  14  he  was  placed  in  an  acad- 
emy in  New  York,  and  from  this  time  he  made  rapid 
progress.  When  he  was  barely  21  he  graduated  with 
honors  at  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  LL.  B. 

In  the  interim  he  had  also  completed  a law  clerkship 
in  the  office  of  the  late  Judge  Ambrose  L.  Pinney,  and 
after  taking  his  degree  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as  at- 
torney and  counsellor  at  law. 

By  business  of  a different  character  his  attention  was 
about  this  time  diverted  from  the  profession.  He  and 
his  relatives  were  owners  of  a large  tract  of  real  estate 
which  is  now  included  in  Long  Island  City.  These  lands 
were  purchased  by  New  York  capitalists,  and  Mr.  De  Be- 
voise was  selected  by  them  as  the  proper  person  to  rep- 
resent their  interests  in  improving  and  developing  the 
property.  The  duties  connected  with  this  important 
and  ever  increasing  trust  are  still  properly  discharged 
by  him. 

Mr.  De  Bevoise  came  into  politics  as  a Democrat,  in 
1871,  being  then  appointed  city  clerk,  and  in  the  mayor- 
alty contest  of  the  following  year  he  was  called  to  the 
head  of  the  city  government.  Serving  three  years,  he  was 
defeatedin  1875;  but  hiscompetitor  resigned  in  tbefollow- 
ing  year  and  Mr.  De  Bevoise  was  elected  to  the  vacancy. 
Again  in  1878  he  was  elected  mayor,  and  in  1880,  the 
tenure  of  the  office  having  been  changed,  he  was  elected 
for  the  term  on  which  he  is  now  serving. 


It  is  useless  here  to  elaborate  upon  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  the  best  people  of  his  city,  for  by 
repeatedly  calling  him  to  administer  the  greatest  trust 
within  their  gift  they  have  already  made  their  approval 
of  his  course  and  their  confidence  in  his  ability  and  in- 
tegrity a matter  of  record. 

The  First  Ward  and  other  Improvements. 

At  the  incorporation  of  Long  Island  City  that  portion 
which  is  now  known  as  the  first  ward  had  a large  and 
enterprising  population,  which  was  rapidly  increasing. 
There  were  no  grades  established  by  law,  and  buildings 
were  erected  according  to  what  was  supposed  might  be 
the  future  grades  of  the  streets.  There  being  no  sewers 
there  were  but  few  cellars  in  the  district  which  were  not 
frequently  flooded,  either  from  surface  drainage  or  from 
the  action  of  the  tide;  and  in  many  cases  cellars  were 
never  without  stagnant  water.  As  a consequence  the 
inhabitants  suffered  greatly  from  malarial,  pulmonary,, 
and  rheumatic  diseases,  and  notwithstanding  that  many 
had  suffered  and  expended  a great  deal,  and  had  lost 
many  of  their  relatives  from  these  causes,  still  the  people 
bore  these  hardships,  and  suffered  these  privations  ap- 
parently with  resignation,  and  made  no  sufficient  effort 
to  remedy  these  evils. 

Early  in  1870  Father  Crimmin  matured  plans  for  the 
improvement  of  a district  formed  of  portions  of  the  first, 
second  and  third  wards  of  the  city,  which  should  benefit 
the  largest  area  of  upland  and  include  the  smallest 
amount  of  land  subject  to  tidal  overflow,  and  at  the  same 
time  secure  the  drainage  of  those  portions  of  marsh  land 
having  no  sufficient  outlets.  The  boundaries  of  the  con- 
templated district  were  Harris  avenue,  Purves  street,  the 
Long  Island  Railroad  and  the  East  River.  This  plan 
would  have  continued  the  streets  and  avenues  to  the 
third  ward,  made  travel  and  improvements  uninterrupted 
between  two  large  districts  of  upland,  and  would  render 
available  sufficient  territory  for  building  purposes  to  ac- 
commodate twenty  thousand  inhabitants.  He  proposed 
to  raise  the  grade  so  that  an  efficient  system  of  sewer- 
age might  be  had,  and  to  afford  well  drained  cellars  to 
all  the  houses  in  the  district.  So  great  was  the  magnitude 
of  this  work,  from  the  number  of  buildings  to  be  raised, 
the  cost  of  sewers,  the  transportation  of  dirt  to  fill  the 
streets  and  avenues,  paving,  curbing,  guttering,  flagging, 
etc.,  that  he  did  not  venture  to  speak  of  the  matter  pub- 
licly, and  for  four  years  his  plans  remained  unknown  ex- 
cept to  himself  and  one  other  person. 

In  1871  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  creating 
a commission  commonly  called  the  “survey  commis- 
sion,” to  provide  for  the  laying  out  of  streets,  avenues, 
roads  and  parks  in  Long  Island  City.  To  the  passage 
of  this  act  and  its  subsequent  amendments  Father  Crim- 
min gave  a strong  support,  feeling  that  they  were  so 
many  steps  toward  the  public  improvements  he  desired. 
When  this  commission  was  about  to  fix  the  grades,  the 
system  of  sewerage  and  of  surface  drainage,  he  revealed 
for  the  first  time  his  plans.  He  consulted  a number  of 
civil  engineers,  principal  among  whom  was  Peter  G.  Van 


IMPROVEMENTS— CITY  WATER  SUPPLY. 


28  3 


Alst,  as  to  the  advisability  and  the  probable  cost  of  the 
project.  He  next  consulted  with  the  larger  landed  pro- 
prietors as  to  the  advantages  of  such  an  improvement  to 
the  property  in  the  district,  and  all  agreed  that  it  would 
not  only  be  advisable  but  necessary  and  greatly  advan- 
tageous to  the  property  in  the  district.  There  remained 
but  to  consult  the  smaller  property  holders.  This  could 
not  be  done  without  drafting  a document  expressing  the 
plan  of  improvement  in  detail,  and  the  holding  of  a pub- 
lic meeting  at  which  it  should  be  publicly  read  and  ex- 
plained and  a vote  taken  upon  its  adoption.  Accord- 
ingly a bill  entitled  “ An  x\ct  to  Provide  for  Improve- 
ments in  and  adjoining  the  First  Ward  of  Long  Island 
City  ” was  prepared.  The  boundaries  of  the  proposed 
district  were  altered:  they  include  less  upland  and  a 
much  larger  area  of  land  subject  to  tidal  overflow.  Time 
has  demonstrated  the  propriety  of  the  change.  A real 
estate  call  was  issued  requesting  all  the  property  owners 
of  the  district  to  assemble  at  Rosner’s  Hall  for  the  pur- 
pose of  considering  the  provisions  of  the  proposed  im- 
provement act.  The  hall  was  densely  crowded,  there 
being  nearly  five  hundred  persons  present.  The  meet- 
ing having  been  called  to  order,  William  Bridge,  who 
was  elected  secretary  of  the  meeting  read  the  document. 
On  motion  it  was  then  unanimously  resolved  that  Father 
Crimmin  should  address  the  meeting  in  relation  to  the 
provisions  of  the  bill.  He  discussed  the  bill,  section  by 
section,  in  a discourse  which  lasted  two  hours  and  twen- 
ty minutes,  after  which  the  question  was  on  the  adop- 
tion of  the  proposed  bill.  A vote  was  taken  and  it  was 
unanimously  adopted. 

The  document  was  forwarded  to  Albany,  was  intro- 
duced in  the  Assembly  by  Hon.  James  M.  Oakley  on 
the  23d  of  March  1874,  and  soon  became  a law.  The 
commissioners  under  the  improvement  act  were  Peter  G. 
Van  Alst,  Henry  S.  Anable,  Robert  M.  C.  Graham,  Wil- 
liam Bridge  and  James  Dennen. 

Contracts  were  entered  into  at  exceedingly  low  prices 
for  the  performance  of  the  various  works  specified  in  the 
act,  and  were  carried  on  with  the  greatest  satisfaction 
and  dispatch,  until  what  was  once  a sunken  and  forbid- 
ding locality  was  raised  to  a healthy,  handsome  and 
flourishing  town,  with  its  streets  and  avenues  neatly  paved 
with  Belgian  block,  with  a perfect  system  of  sewerage, 
and  an  excellent  supply  of  good  spring  water — advan- 
tages which  in  a few  years  greatly  increased  its  popula- 
tion and  doubled  the  value  of  property. 

Other  portions  of  the  city,  notably  Steinways,  have 
been  improved  by  commissions  duly  appointed  and  em- 
powered. A portion  of  the  city  was  appointed  under  the 
management  of  the  Fulton  and  Main  street  commission. 
The  work  of  none  of  the  other  commissions  has  been  as 
important  as  that  of  the  first  ward  commission,  though  that 
of  some  of  them  has  been  rewarded  with  flattering  results. 

The  City  Water  Supply. 

The  most  important  improvement  which  followed  the 
passage  of  the  revised  charter  was  the  introduction  of 
water.  Henry  S.  De  Bevoise  succeeded  Abram  Ditmars 


as  mayor  of  Long  Island  City.  He  lost  no  time  in  urg- 
ing upon  the  newly  appointed  water  board  the  introduc- 
tion of  a sufficient  supply  of  water  for  those  portions  of 
the  city  which  could  not  otherwise  secure  it.  The  Holly 
system  of  water-works  was  adopted,  and  a contract  en- 
tered into  by  the  water  board  for  the  necessary  machin- 
ery. A well  was  sunk  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  about  forty 
feet  in  depth  below  high  water  mark,  where  a large  sup- 
ply of  excellent  water  was  found.  In  addition  to  this 
four-inch  pipes  were  driven  thirty-four  feet  into  the  sand 
below  the  bottom  of  the  well.  These  pipes  became  so 
many  flowing  wells  and  added  greatly  to  the  supply  from 
veins  of  water  far  below  those  that  flowed  into  the  well. 
Thus  it  was  that  the  supply  of  water  was  at  once  freed 
from  all  surface  draining  and  vegetable  matter,  which 
could  not  be  secured  by  any  other  system. 

A large  quantity  of  iron  pipe  was  purchased  for  water 
mains  and  laid  throughout  the  districts  intended  to  be 
supplied.  The  machinery  was  delivered  and  an  engine- 
house  was  erected  near  the  well. 

During  all  these  preparations  the  water  board  and 
those  who  had  favored  the  Holly  system  encountered 
great  opposition  from  the  people,  not  only  from  those 
who  could  not  be  expected  to  understand  the  nature  of 
the  system,  but  also  from  many  of  the  most  intelligent 
and  influential  men  in  the  city.  The  system  was  almost 
universally  condemned,  the  capacity  of  the  well  was  en- 
tirely underrated,  and  it  was  often  asserted  that  the  sup- 
ply would  not  be  sufficient  for  a few  families.  The  qual- 
ity of  the  water  was  condemned,  and  it  was  generally  be- 
lieved that  the  machinery  would  never  be  seen  in  opera- 
tion. Those  who  were  willing  to  admit  the  efficiency  of 
the  Holly  system  under  other  circumstances,  believed  that 
in  this  case,  it  was  not  worth  while  to  go  to  the  expense 
of  making  water  connections  with  the  mains,  as  the  well 
would  be  pumped  dry  in  a few  hours. 

The  machinery,  however,  was  soon  placed  in  position, 
the  pumps  connected  with  the  water  in  the  well  began  to 
draw  upon  its  supplies,  and  it  was  demonstrated  that  the 
well  yielded  over  one  million  gallons  per  day.  This 
quantity  soon  increased  to  1,200,000  per  day.  The  water, 
having  been  analysed  by  eminent  chemists,  proved  to  be 
the  best  and  coldest  water  introduced  by  mains  into  any 
of  the  cities  of  the  United  States.  It  is  now  admitted 
by  all  that  the  system  has  proved  a marvelous  success. 

The  water  board  of  Long  Island  City,  having  but 
limited  means,  could  not  enter  upon  a plan  of  water- 
works sufficiently  extensive  to  meet  the  future  wants  of  a 
arge  and  populous  city.  With  the  greatest  care  they 
husbanded  their  means  and  gave  to  the  people  the  best 
possible  results  from  the  funds  placed  at  their  disposal. 

In  order  that  an  extra  supply  of  water  might  be  at 
hand  in  case  of  fires  a series  of  4-inch  pipes  were  driven 
to  a depth  of  fifty  feet  in  the  sand  along  the  base  of  the 
hill  near  the  edge  of  tide-water.  These  were  connected 
above  by  a horizontal  pipe  leading  to  the  engine  house, 
to  which  in  case  of  emergency  the  pumps  might  be  at- 
tached, and  thus  a greatly  increased  supply  of  water 
might  be  secured. 


32 


284 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  Fire  Department. 

A volunteer  village  fire  department  was  established  in 
Astoria,  probably  as  long  ago  as  1850,  and  at  a later  date 
a similar  one  was  organized  at  Hunter’s  Point.  The  fire 
department  of  Long  Island  City  was  organized  May  5th 
1871,  and  such  apparatus  as  was  at  that  time  owned  by 
these  two  old  departments  became  a part  of  the  property 
of  the  new  city  department. 

The  board  of  fire  commissioners  in  1871  was  composed 
of  William  Mulligan  (president),  James  Laws  and  James 
Stephenson.  The  first  chief  engineer  of  the  city  fire  de- 
partment was  John  M.  Snyder.  His  successors  have 
been  Daniel  K.  Lester,  George  Casey  and  James  Comisky, 
the  present  incumbent.  The  fire  department  is  now  un- 
der the.  management  of  the  following  commissioners: 
Henry  S.  De  Bevoise,  mayor;  Stephen  J.  Kavanagh, 
president  of  the  board  of  aldermen;  William  McBride, 
Charles  W.  Hallett  and  Russell  Wright,  commissioners  of 
public  works. 

The  department  has  four  hand  engines,  three  hook  and 
ladder  trucks  and  seven  hose  carriages.  The  hose  com- 
panies are  seven  in  number  and  are  known  as  “ Mohawk, 
No.  r,”  “Empire,  No.  2,”  “Rambler,  No.  3,”  “Hope, 
No.  4,”  “Jackson,  No.  5,’’  “Union,  No.  6”  and  “Stein- 
way, No.  7.”  There  are  four  engine  companies,  “Jack- 
son,  No.  1,”  “ Protection,  No.  2,”  “ Franklin,  No.  3 ” and 
“ Hunter,  No.  4.”  The  three  hook  and  ladder  compa- 
nies are  called  respectively,  “ Active,  No.  1,”  “ Live  Oak, 
No.  2 ’’  and  “Friendship,  No.  3.” 

Educational  History. 

Previous  to  1721  those  families  living  at  Dutch  Kills, 
at  Hallett’s  Cove  and  at  other  points  now  within  the 
limits  of  Long  Island  City,  depended  for  school  privi- 
leges on  Newtown  village,  which  had  occasionally  had 
teachers  temporarily  and  where  the  first  regular  school 
was  established  in  1720.  On  account  of  the  distance 
these  schools  had  been  to  the  sections  mentioned  practi- 
cally valueless.  Feeling  the  deprivation  to  which  their 
children  were  subject,  several  leading  citizens  formed 
the  design  of  starting  another  school,  at  Middletown; 
and,  associating  for  that  purpose,  they  built  a school- 
house  upon  a piece  of  ground  appropriated  by  Joseph 
Hallett.  May  20th  1721  this  gentleman  executed  a deed, 
admitting  Samuel  Hallett,  Samuel  Moore,  Joseph  Moore, 
Thomas  Skillman  and  Isaac  Bragaw  as  joint  owners  with 
himself  of  the  premises,  which  he  thus  described: 

“Thirty  foot  long  and  twenty  foot  broad,  in  my  lot 
lying  next  to  George  Brinckerhoff’s  woodland,  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  a school-house,  now  erected  and  stand- 
ing thereon  by  the  roadside  from  Hallett’s  Cove  to  New- 
town; to  be  equally  enjoyed  by  them  and  their  heirs  sev- 
erally, and  me  and  my  heirs,  forever,  having,  all  and  every 
of  us,  our  heirs  and  every  one  of  them,  the  same  equal 
share,  right  and  title  to  the  above  said  land  and  school- 
house,  and  full  power  and  authority  to  send  what  num- 
ber of  children  we  think  fit.” 

“This  was  looked  upon,”  says  Riker,  “as  a hazardous 


undertaking,  and  one  which  none  for  many  years  were 
found  ready  to  incur  the  expense  of  imitating.  Indeed, 
the  advantages  of  education  and  intelligence  were  as  yet 
too  little  understood  to  be  valued  except  so  far  as  they 
seemed  to  bear  on  the  promotion  of  business  and  the 
acquisition  of  wealth.”  This  house,  having  been  sold, 
perhaps  about  1845,  formed  the  kitchen  to  the  dwelling 
occupied  a few  years  later  by  the  widow  Tilton. 

An  incident  connected  with  the  old  school-house  which 
occurred  about  seventy  years  ago  is  thus  given  by  Riker: 
“This  was  the  discovery  by  one  of  the  school  boys  of  a 
bag  of  gold  to  the  value  of  $840,  which  had  belonged  to 
one  John  Kearns,  who  had  taught  school  here  during  the 
Revolution.  The  money  was  taken  possession  of  by  the 
teacher,  whose  name  was  Neal;  but  the  neighbors,  hear- 
ing of  it,  collected,  and  took  him  before  William  Lever- 
ich,  Esq.,  by  whose  order  the  money  was  forced  from 
him.  Owing,  however,  to  some  irregularity  in  the  pro- 
ceeding, Neal  prosecuted  the  several  persons  engaged  in 
searching  him,  including  the  justice,  and  recovered  dam- 
ages for  assault  and  battery;  while  N.  Moore,  as 
administrator  for  Kearns,  sued  and  obtained  the 
money.” 

In  1 734  several  individuals  living  in  Hell  Gate  Neck 
combined  and  erected  “a  small  house  for  a school  to  be 
kept  in  for  the  education  of  their  children,”  on  the  river 
road,  rear  Berrian’s  Point,  where  John  Lawrence  had 
presented  “ one  square  rod  of  land  ” as  a site  for  the 
building  and  which,  February  24th  1735,  he  deeded  to 
his  associates,  Joseph  Moore,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Corne- 
lius Berrian,  William  Leverich  and  Hendrick  Wiltsee. 
A school-house  stood  on  the  ground  for  a hundred  years 
or  more,  and  at  last  lost  its  identity  by  occupancy  as  a 
dwelling. 

AN  ENGLISH  AND  CLASSICAL  SCHOOL. 

An  English  and  classical  school  was  established  at 
Hallett’s  Cove,  under  the  patronage  of  the  leading  inhab- 
itants, but  at  precisely  what  date  cannot  now  be  known. 
The  following  announcement  of  the  teachers  appeared 
in  the  New  York  Mercury  of  April  26th  1762.  How 
many  years  thereafter  the  institution  was  in  existence  is 
very  uncertain: 

“ To  the  Public. — T/iis  is  to  give  notice  to  all  whom  it 
may  concern,  That  William  Rudge,  late  of  the  city  of 
Gloucester,  in  Old  England,  still  continues  his  school  at 
Hallett’s  Cove,  where  he  teaches  Writing  in  the  different 
hands,  Arithmetic  in  its  different  branches,  the  Italian 
method  of  Book-keeping  by  way  of  Double-entry,  Latin 
and  Greek.  Those  who  choose  to  favor  him  may  depend 
upon  having  proper  care  taken  of  their  children,  and 
he  returns  thanks  to  those  who  have  already  obliged  him. 
The  school  is  healthy  and  pleasantly  situated  and  at  a 
very  convenient  distance  from  New  York,  from  where 
there  is  an  opportunity  of  sending  letters  and  parcels, 
and  of  having  remittances  almost  every  day,  by  the  peri- 
augers.  Letters  will  be  duly  answered  directed  to  the 
said  William  Rudge,  at  Hallett’s  Cove. 

“We,  who  have  subscribed  our  names,  being  willing  to 
continue  the  school-master,  as  we  have  hitherto  found 
him  a man  of  close  application,  sobriety  and  capable  of 
his  office,  are  ready  to  take  in  boarders  at  ^18  per  an- 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS--BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 


285 


num:  Jacob  Blackwell,  Jacob  Hallett  jr.,  Thomas  Hal- 
lett,  Jacob  Hallett,  Jacob  Rapelye,  John  Greenoak,  Sam- 
uel Hallett  jr.,  William  Hallett,  Richard  Hallett,  Rich- 
ard Berrian,  Richard  Penfold,  William  Hallett,  John 
McDonough.” 

How  long  this  educational  enterprise  was  in  existence 
cannot  now  be  ascertained.  It  is  stated  that  from  time, 
in  later  years,  other  private  schools  of  more  or  less  in- 
fluence were  established  at  Astoria.  No  particulars  con- 
cerning them  can  be  obtained  and  it  is  probable  they 
were  in  character  and  scope  much  like  the  schools  in 
vogue  in  villages  throughout  the  country  contemporane- 
ously with  them.  Through  the  influence  of  Stephen  A. 
Halsey  and  other  prominent  citizens  good  schools  were 
established  at  Astoria  and  at  Hunter’s  Point  and  in 
other  portions  of  the  city  as  now  bounded,  which  were 
largely  attended  and  did  their  part  in  paving  the  way  for 
the  present  splendid  public  school  system  of  Long  Island 
City. 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

At  the  time  of  its  incorporation  the  city  contained 
three  public  schools,  known  as  numbers  3,  4 and  11  of 
the  schools  of  Newtown.  From  such  records  as  have 
been  preserved  it  is  found  that  No.  3 was  established  as 
a free  school  in  1850,  by  an  act  of  legislature  passed 
March  16th  of  that  year.  The  site  consisting  of  eight 
lots  of  land,  was  given  to  John  B.  Reboul  and  others  con- 
stituting the  board  of  education,  by  Stephen  A.  Halsey, 
of  Astoria,  and  the  school  thereon  established  has 
proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful  educational  in- 
stitutions on  Long  Island.  The  first  board  of  education 
was  exceedingly  fortunate  in  its  appointment  of  Benja- 
min Mason  to  the  principalship  of  the  school,  and  under 
his  efficient  management  of  more  than  twelve  years  there 
graduated  many  who  speak  with  just  pride  of  their  con- 
nection with  this  school  during  the  time  it  was  under 
his  charge.  His  successors  as  principals  have  been  Mes- 
srs. Ketcham,  George  A.  Everitt,  A.  W.  Melville,  E.  A. 
Lewis,  C.  F.  Carroll,  N.  H.  Dumond,  Rev.  Mr.  Rodman 
and  C.  W.  Gould. 

From  its  organization  school  No.  4 does  not  seem  to 
have  taken  a very  prominent  rank  among  the  schools  of 
Newtown,  though  it  has  not  failed  to  supply  a long  felt 
want  to  a very  large  class  of  children  in  the  district 
known  to-day  as  Dutch  Kills  and  Blissville. 

No.  11,  the  school  in  the  Hunter’s  Point  district,  was 
established  as  a free  school  March  2nd  1861.  It  was 
about  this  time  that  Hunter’s  Point  began  to  assume  con- 
siderable importance  as  a manufacturing  and  business 
center,  and  its  consequent  increasing  population  furnished 
the  necessity  for  a school.  In  April  of  that  year  Union 
College,  through  its  agent,  H.  S.  Anable,  leased  for  a term 
of  five  years  a brick  building  on  Sixth  street,  to  be  used 
for  school  purposes.  The  first  board  of  school  trustees 
of  this  district  organized  March  22nd  by  the  election  of 
Freeman  Hiscox  as  president.  Isaac  Sterns  was  at  once 
chosen  teacher  of  the  newly  established  school.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  board  April  25th  following  Mr.  Sterns  was 
allowed  an  assistant,  and  Miss  Mary  B.  Walker  was 


elected  to  that  position  at  an  annual  salary  of  $50.  This 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  an  extravagant  expenditure 
of  public  money  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  rental 
of  the  building  in  which  the  school  was  held  was  $1,200 
a year. 

The  revised  charter  of  1871  provided  for  a board  of 
education  for  Long  Island  City,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
mayor.  Under  the  provision  of  this  act  the  board  as 
originally  appointed  consisted  of  George  Petry,  Safferin 
D.  Allen,  Willy  Wallach,  John  Fahnestock  and  Lewis  J. 
White.  The  board  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr. 
Fahnestock  as  president,  and  at  an  early  subsequent 
meeting  Alanson  Palmer  was  elected  superintendent. 
Without  any  unnecessary  delay  the  efforts  of  the  depart- 
ment were  directed  to  devising  a complete,  systematic 
and  graded  course  of  study,  which  should  include  all  the 
English  branches  usually  taught  in  grammar  schools. 
With  but  slight  modifications  this  course  has  served  ad- 
mirably to  the  present. 

As  early  as  1873  it  became  the  duty  of  the  board  to 
increase  the  school  facilities  by  opening  a new  school  in 
the  third  ward,  or  Ravenswood  district  of  the  city.  In 
October  a suitable  building  was  leased  and  in  December 
the  school  was  put  in  operation.  The  attendance  at  once 
arose  to  above  300  and  it  has  been  maintained  at  about 
that  figure  since.  In  1877  three  additional  schools  were 
established,  two  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  fifth  ward 
and  one  in  Blissville.  The  upper  fifth  ward  or  Steinway 
school  grew  out  of  an  urgent  necessity  for  the  establish- 
ment of  educational  opportunities  to  the  rapidly  increas- 
ing population  of  the  Steinway  settlement.  It  was  due 
largely  to  the  generous  aid  of  William  Steinway  that  the 
district  was  enabled  to  construct  and  furnish  one  of  the 
finest  school  buildings  on  the  island,  with  seating  accom- 
modations for  about  500  pupils  in  well-ventilated  and 
lighted  rooms.  The  lower  fifth  ward  or  fifth  ward  pri- 
mary school  serves  principally  as  a relief  to  old  No.  3 or 
the  Astoria  school.  The  Blissville  school,  besides  reliev- 
ing the  overcrowded  condition  of  old  No.  4,  supplies  a 
demand  which  existed  for  more  convenient  and  accessible 
local  educational  facilities. 

All  of  the  efforts  of  the  board  of  education  are  at  pres- 
ent directed  to  the  maintenance  and  improvement  of  the 
seven  schools  above  referred  to,  and  though  it  has  not 
always  been  able  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the 
educational  department,  it  has  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  these  efforts  have  generally  been  seconded  and 
always  appreciated  by  the  public  at  large.  The  fact  that 
during  the  last  ten  years  the  increase  in  the  daily  aver- 
age attendance  has  been  more  than  100  per  cent,  greater 
than  the  increase  in  the  population  of  the  city  attests  the 
care  and  efficiency  with  which  the  schools  have  been 
managed  and  the  interest  and  confidence  with  which  they 
are  regarded  by  the  public. 

The  following  persons  have  been  officially  connected 
with  the  board  of  education  since  its  organization  in 
1871:  First  ward — George  Petry,  Thomas  McMahon, 
Sylvester  Gray;  second  ward — Safferin  D.  Allen,  An- 
thony Pirz,  Anthony  Goldner,  David  Bartley,  Patrick 


286 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY 


McKeon,  John  Metz;  third  ward — Willy  Wallach,  Den- 
nis J.  Holland,  Daniel  Donnelly,  Benjamin  P.  Thomp- 
son, Daniel  O’Callaghan,  Michael  McBride;  fourth 
ward — John  Fahnestock,  Henry  C.  Johnson,  Josiah  M. 
Whitney;  fifth  ward — Lewis  J.  White,  Joseph  Larocque, 
Henry  C.  Titus.  The  following  named  commissioners 
have  served  as  president  of  the  board:  George  Petry, 
Sylvester  Gray,  John  Fahnestock,  Henry  C.  Johnson, 
Josiah  M.  Whitney,  Henry  P.  Titus.  Alanson  Palmer 
was  secretary  of  the  board  in  1871-74  and  1875-81,  Ed- 
ward F.  Magee,  1874  and  1875. 

Besides  the  principals  named  in  our  mention  of  No.  3, 
or  the  Astoria  school,  the  following  persons  have  served 
since  1871,  or  are  serving  in  such  capacity  in  the  other 
schools  of  the  city  at  the  present  time  (1881):  First  ward 
— W.  H.  Sieberg,  Erastus  Crosby;  second  ward — E.  A. 
Barnes,  William  Silliman,  P.  R.  McCarthy;  third  ward — 
Edward  F.  McGee,  P.  R.  McCarthy,  Miss  L.  A.  Salter; 
fifth  ward  primary  school — Rebecca  A.  Stafford;  Stein- 
way school — Miss  Georgie  Swezey. 

The  Bible  War. 

The  educational  history  of  Long  Island  City  would 
scarcely  be  complete  without  mention  of  a local  dissen- 
sion known  as  “the  Bible  war.”  Early  in  1871  the 
mayor  appointed  a committee  of  seventeen  to  revise  the 
charter  of  Long  Island  City  and  to  draft  a school  law. 
To  Rev.  John  Crimmin  was  assigned  the  duty  of  drafting 
the  powers  and  duties  of  the  common  council  and  the 
school  law  which  now  form  portions  of  the  revised 
charter. 

The  original  draft  of  the  school  law,  read  by  Father 
Crimmin  before  the  committee  of  seventeen,  contained  a 
paragraph  excluding  all  religious  exercises,  such  as  the 
reading  of  the  Bible,  the  singing  of  hymns  and  the  reci- 
tation of  prayers,  from  the  public  schools.  While  the 
document  was  in  general  highly  commended,  this  partic- 
ular paragraph  caused  no  small  amount  of  discussion; 
and  as  on  all  religious  questions  all  parties  are  tenacious 
of  their  belief,  so  also  in  this  case  did  they  hold  firmly  to 
their  various  opinions.  After  a full  discussion  of  the 
matter  in  public  the  question  of  the  adoption  of  the  par- 
agraph was  brought  to  a vote,  and  the  paragraph  was 
adopted  by  a majority  of  the  committee.  Two  Catholics 
only  voted  in  favor  of  its  adoption,  viz.,  Father  Crimmin 
and  Anthony  Pirz.  The  paragraph  was  afterward  stricken 
out  by  a member  of  the  senate.  Father  Crimmin  of- 
fered no  opposition  to  the  passage  of  the  bill  so  long  as 
nothing  was  inserted  to  authorize  religious  exercises  in 
the  public  schools.  The  bill  having  become  a law,  the 
board  of  education  appointed  under  its  provisions  in  1871 
was  composed  of  three  Protestant  and  two  Catholic  gen- 
tlemen, who  unanimously  adopted  by-laws  enforcing  the 
usual  religious  exercises  of  the  public  schools.  This 
course  naturally  aroused  Catholics  to  opposition.  They 
felt  greatly  aggrieved.  Father  Crimmin  counselled  the 
parents  to  observe  moderation  but  to  hold  firmly  to  their 
rights,  to  keep  entirely  within  the  law,  and,  under  any 
provocation,  not  to  violate  the  peace.  He  first  advised 


that  the  Catholic  children  should  not  enter  the  school 
until  the  religious  exercises  were  over.  Some  of  the 
children  were  expelled,  and  others  threatened  with  expul- 
sion for  non-attendance.  He  then  advised  the  parents 
to  send  their  children  to  school  at  9 o’clock;  that  under 
the  direction  of  their  parents  they  could  legally  object  to 
the  religious  exercises,  and  if  the  children  were  expelled 
he  would  appeal  the  case  to  the  State  superintendent  of 
public  instruction.  Many  of  the  Catholic  children  in  the 
first  ward  and  some  in  the  second  ward  schools  objected  to 
the  religious  exercises  and  were  expelled.  Three  large 
boys,  John  Dennen,  James  Clark  and  John  Colton,  too 
big  to  be  ejected,  were  placed  under  arrest  because  they 
resisted  the  principal  in  his  efforts  to  eject  a pupil,  Miss 
Katie  Dennen,  who  had  objected  to  the  religious  exer- 
cises. The  boys  were  subsequently  discharged. 

Although  Father  .Crimmin  had  determined  to  appeal, 
he  did  not  desire  to  do  so  until  all  hopes  of  convincing 
the  board  of  education  of  the  illegality  and  injustice  of 
their  course  had  failed.  The  board,  however,  decided  as 
a compromise  to  omit  the  singing  of  hymns  and  the  re- 
citation of  prayers  and  to  read  only  the  Ten  Command- 
ments and  the  Lord’s  Prayer.  . Father  Crimmin  would 
not  accept  this  compromise,  because,  as  he  stated,  Cath- 
olics could  not  take  part  in  a non-Catholic  religious  ex- 
ercise or  willingly  be  present  at  it.  An  informal  offer 
was  made  to  substitute  the  Catholic  version  of  the  Scrip- 
tures for  the  Protestant  version  in  the  schools.  Father 
Crimmin  objected,  saying  that  the  school  board  could 
not  legally  enjoin  the  reading  of  either,  and  that  he  would 
never  consent  to  inflict  a grievance  upon  his  neighbor  of 
which  he  himself  had  complained.  In  these  views  he 
was  sustained  not  only  by  Catholics  but  by  many  Protes- 
tants. The  board  of  education,  feeling  that  they  had 
made  all  the  concessions  consistent  with  their  rights  in 
the  matter,  ordered  the  principal  of  the  first  ward  school 
to  insist  on  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  to  expel 
those  children  who  objected  or  refused  to  attend  during 
the  reading. 

On  one  occasion  some  of  the  members  of  the  board  of 
education,  the  city  superintendent  and  a number  of 
prominent  citizens  attended  the  religious  exercises  in  one 
of  the  classes  in  the  first  ward  school.  The  exercises 
opened  with  the  reading  of  a portion  of  the  Scriptures 
by  the  principal.  Two  of  the  Catholic  children  of  the 
class  objected.  A consultation. was  held  among  the  of- 
ficials and  the  citizens  present  on  the  course  to  be  pur- 
sued. It  was  resolved  that  all  the  children  present  op- 
posed to  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  should  be  ex- 
pelled. This  information  was  conveyed  to  the  children 
and  all  opposed  to  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  were 
ordered  to  stand  up,  whereupon  42  of  the  45  children  in 
the  class — some  of  them  Protestants — arose  and  were  ex- 
pelled. The  feeling  was  intense.  Public  meetings  were 
called  and  resolutions  adopted  censuring  the  action  of 
the  board  of  education.  The  board  of  school  trustees 
of  the  first  ward  passed  resolutions  giving  the  free  use  of 
the  school  building  to  all  denominations  desiring  to  give 
religious  instruction  to  their  children,  before  and  after 


RELIGIOUS  EXERCISES  IN  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS— JOURNALISM. 


287 


school  hours,  in  order  to  settle  the  difficulty  amicably. 
The  board  of  education  opposed  this  plan  and  persisted 
in  the  course  they  had  adopted. 

Before  appealing  to  the  State  superintendent  Father 
Crimmin  drafted  the  following  memorial,  which  was 
signed  by  a large  number  of  citizens  and  presented  to 
the  board  of  education  as  a last  resort: 

Long  Island  City,  Dec.  29th,  1871. 
To  the  Honorable  Board  of  Education  of  Long  Island 

City: 

Gentlemen, — 

We  the  undersigned  residents  and  citizens  of  this  city 
respectfully  petition  your  honorable  body  for  the  repeal 
of  that  portion  of  section  18,  article  12  of  the  by-laws 
of  the  board  of  education  which  reads  as  follows:  “The 
daily  opening  exercises  shall  consist  of  the  reading  of  a 
portion  of  the  Holy  Scripture  without  note  or  comment;” 
and  we  further  petition  your  honorable  body  that  no  re- 
ligious instructions,  prayer,  hymns,  or  other  religious  ex- 
ercises be  permitted  in  the  public  schools  during  school 
hours,  for  the  following  reasons: 

First — Because  we,  as  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
cannot  join  in  religious  exercises  with  non-Catholics, 
even  when  the  exercise  is  the  same  in  substance  and  in 
form. 

Second — Because  the  religious  exercises  hitherto  held 
in  the  public  schools,  and  the  religious  instruction  given 
therein  have  been  and  are  still  condemned  by  our  highest" 
ecclesiastical  authority  as  corrupt,  false  and  heretical. 
We  are  forbidden  to  read,  or  to  attend  the  religious  in- 
structions and  the  prayers  which  our  children  are  obliged 
to  attend  in  the  public  schools. 

Third — Because,  as  freemen,  we  have  the  natural  and 
inalienable  right  to  hold  to  this  belief,  and  to  live  accord- 
ing to  its  teachings. 

Fourth — Because  as  rational  and  responsible  beings  we 
have  a natural  and  inalienable  right  to  dictate  to  our  own 
children,  during  their  minority,  what  shall  and  what  shall 
not  be  their  religious  convictions;  how  and  why  and  what 
they  shall  believe  and  practice  in  religion;  and  we  hold 
that  no  human  power  or  authority,  whether  it  be  ecclesi- 
astical or  civil,  can  justly  claim  this  right,  or  justly  exer- 
cise this  power,  except  with  our  consent. 

Fifth — Because  we,  as  citizens  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  have  a constitutional  right  to  hold,  to  enjoy,  and 
to  practice  this  religious  belief;  and  we  hold  that,  under 
the  constitution  of  this  State,  we  cannot  be  legally  de- 
prived of  any  right  or  privilege  secured  to  any  citizen  of 
this  State  on  account  of  religious  convictions,  or  the  ex- 
ercise or  enjoyment  thereof. 

Sixth — Because  we,  as  residents  of  Long  Island  City, 
have  a legal  right,  according  to  section  24,  title  9 of  our 
city  charter,  to  send  our  children  to  the  public  schools 
of  this  city,  and  the  only  conditions  required  by  law  in 
order  to  entitle  children  to  the  benefits  of  our  public 
schools  are:  first,  that  they  shall  be  residents  of  this 
city;  secondly,  that  they  shall  be  of  the  ages  between 
four  and  twenty-one  years.  Their  attendance  to  religious 
instructions,  exercises,  or  practices  is  not  imposed  as  a 
legal  condition  to  entitle  them  to  the  benefits  of  such 
public  instruction;  and  if  it  were  it  would  be  unconsti- 
tutional and  therefore  not  binding. 

Seventh — Because  we,  as  taxpayers,  believe  that  the 
employment  and  payment  of  officers  and  teachers  by  the 
civil  authorities,  for  the  dissemination  and  maintenance  of 
Protestant  religious  instruction,  exercises  and  practices, 
in  our  public  schools  during  school  hours,  and  the  forc- 
ing of  attendance  on  the  part  of  the  children  to  religious 
instructions  which  teach  mysteries  that  require  an  act  of 
supernatural  faith  to  believe  them,  which  are  beyond  the 


reach  or  demonstration  of  human  reason,  and  which  are 
given  as  holy  and  sacred,  as  the  teachings  of  a divine  au- 
thority, without  any  proof  or  evidence  to  the  child  or  to 
the  parent  of  the  child  of  these  mysteries,  or  that  such 
instructions  or  exercises  are  holy  or  divine  or  by  divine 
authority;  in  a word,  that  they  must  be  accepted  with- 
out note  or  comment,  is  an  assumption  and  an  outrage 
on  the  part  of  civil  authorities  against  the  rights  of  con- 
science, and  against  the  organic  law  of  this  State.  It  is 
giving  the  school  boards  a right  and  a power  greater 
than  has  been  given  by  the  State  to  its  government  in  its 
organic  laws,  by  and  through  which  alone  the  school 
boards  can  have  an  existence.  It  perverts  public  insti- 
tutions to  private  ends.  It  prostitutes  the  public  funds 
to  the  interests  of  a particular  class.  It  institutes  anar- 
chy in  the  State,  foments  disunion,  discord  and  bitter 
prejudice  in  the  minds  of  fellow  citizens,  and  brings 
odium  and  disgrace  upon  the  whole  system  of  public  in- 
struction. 

We,  therefore,  pray  your  honorable  body  to  take 
prompt  and  decisive  action  in  the  matter  which  we  lay 
before  you,  to  the  end  that  we  and  our  children  may  no 
longer  suffer  from  a public  insult  and  injustice,  which  we 
have  borne  patiently  for  many  years,  to  the  end  that  our 
children  may  as  speedily  as  possible  enter  our  public 
schools  and  participate  in  all  their  exercises  without  pro- 
test, and  to  the  end  that  not  only  our  children,  but  the 
children  of  every  class  and  denomination  of  our  fellow 
citizens  may  profit  by  the  maternal  generosity,  solicitude 
and  justice  of  this  State,  without  suffering  insult  or  in- 
justice on  account  of  their  race,  their  color,  or  their 
creed.” 

This  petition  having  been  denied  by  the  board  of  edu- 
cation, Father  Crimmin  drafted  the  appeal  to  the  State 
superintendent  in  the  names  of  some  of  the  parents 
whose  children  had  been  expelled.  Nearly  forty  affida- 
vits were  taken  and  put  in  evidence.  A copy  of  the  ap- 
peal was  served  on  the  board  of  education,  who  put  in 
an  answer.  The  case  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  appel- 
lants by  the  memorable  decision  of  Hon.  Abram  B.  Wea- 
ver, then  State  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  by 
which  the  reading  of  the  Bible  and  other  religious  exer- 
cises were  forbidden  in  the  public  schools  of  Long  Island 
City  during  school  hours. 

This  ended  a long  and  exciting  controversy.  Although 
the  decision  was  the  cause  of  deep  chagrin  to  manv  at  the 
time,  it  was  soon  felt  as  a source  of  great  satisfaction  and 
harmony  for  all.  In  justice  it  must  be  stated  that  all  de- 
nominations bore  with  each  other  charitably  and  patient- 
ly until  the  decision  was  obtained,  and  nowhere  in  the 
State  are  all  denominations  more  harmoniously  united  on 
the  support  and  government  of  their  public  schools  than 
in  Long  Island  City. 

Journalism. 

The  first  journalistic  venture  within  the  limits  of  Long 
Island  City  was  the  Astoria  Gazette,  started  in  1853  by 
William  S.  Harrison,  and  continued  about  eighteen 
months.  Mrs.  Ritchie  began  the  publication  of  the 
Astoria  Herald  in  1864.  It  was  a short-lived  concern. 

October  20th  1865  the  first  number  of  the  Star  ap- 
peared on  Central  (now  Vernon)  avenue,  Hunter’s  Point. 
At  that  time  Hunter’s  Point  had  assumed  considerable 
business  importance,  and  was  rapidly  growing.  The 


’88 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


place  had  an  air  of  thrift  and  promise  that  led  the  pub- 
lisher, Thomas  H.  Todd,  to  hope  that  an  excellent  field 
for  journalism  was  opening  there.  The  Star  from  the 
outset  slowly  but  steadily  grew,  and  at  the  time  of  the  in- 
corporation of  Long  Island  City  it  was  numbered  among 
the  best  managed  and  most  successful  newspapers  on  the 
island.  So  remarkable  and  satisfactory  had  been  the 
growth  of  the  Weekly  Star  that  in  the  spring  of  1876  the 
publisher  was  induced  to  establish  the  Long  Island  City 
Daily  Star,  which  has  from  that  time  been  regularly  is- 
sued, and  is  now  classed  among  the  most  valued  and 
solid  enterprises  of  the  city.  Like  all  other  ventures  in 
daily  journalism  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence  were 
trying  in  the  extreme,  entailing  heavy  expense  and  in- 
cessant labor,  but  persistent  effort  finally  carried  the 
day  and  its  projector  at  the  close  of  the  fourth  year 
was  rewarded  by  seeing  his  scheme  upon  a paying 
basis. 

To-day  the  Daily  and  Weekly  Star  has  one  of  the  best 
appointed  offices  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York. 
It  occupies  two  extensive  floors  in  the  building  at  71 
Borden  avenue,  with  steam  presses,  and  every  necessary 
appliance  for  the  prompt  and  thorough  transaction  of  a 
printing  and  publishing  business. 

THE  LONG  ISLAND  COURIER. 

The  Courier  was  first  organized  June  10th  1875,  as 
the  organ  of  the  democracy  in  Long  Island  City 
and  Queens  county.  Unfortunately  the  democracy 
in  Long  Island  City  were  divided  into  two  factions, 
one  opposed  to  the  Administration  and  the-  other 
identified  with  it.  The  Courier  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  Administration,  and  despite  the  reverses  of  the 
political  whirligig  it  has  always  been  recognized  as  the 
fittest  advocate  of  the  democracy  throughout  the  county. 
Since  its  organization  it  has  been  the  official  paper  of 
Long  Island  City,  and  for  three  years  of  its  existence  it 
has  been  recognized  as  the  official  paper  of  the  county, 
despite  the  fact  that  there  are  fifteen  Democratic  news- 
papers in  the  county.  Two  years  ago  the  ownership  of 
the  paper  was  merged  into  the  Courier  Publishing  Com- 
pany, and  has  continued  as  such  ever  since.  Its  business 
prospects  are  most  flattering  and  it  commends  itself  to 
the  community. 

The  Review,  a daily  paper,  was  published  by  H.  \V. 
Love  from  1872  to  1875.  In  1874  J.  R.  Botts  published 
the  Long  Island  City  News,  a paper  which  did  not  long 
exist.  The  Long  Island  City  Press  was  issued  in  1875  or 
1876  by  J.  J.  Rice,  and  its  publication  was  continued 
about  three  years.  In  1876  B.  G.  Davis  began  the  pub- 
lication of  a small  paper  which  had  an  existence  of  only 
a few  months. 

The  Long  Island  Beobachter,  Charles  Keruitz  editor 
and  proprietor,  was  established  at  Astoria  in  1876,  and  is 
printed  entirely  in  German. 

The  Astoria  Chronicle  was  issued  in  1880  and  published 
a few  months  by  Johnson  & Nichols.  It  was  non-parti- 
san at  the  outset,  but  during  the  ensuing  campaign  be- 
came strongly  Democratic. 


Florists  and  Seedsmen. 

The  first  florist  and  seedsman  in  Long  Island  City  was 
Grant  Thorburn,  who  was  in  the  business  many  years  at 
Astoria.  It  is  probable  that  the  next  was  W.  C.  Wilson, 
on  Flushing  avenue,  who  is  yet  extensively  engaged  in 
the  business.  Gabriel  Marc,  now  at  Woodside,  was  for- 
merly in  this  business  on  Grand  street,  making  the  culti- 
vation of  roses  a specialty.  Adjoining  the  gardens  of 
Mr.  Wilson  are  those  of  Mr.  Leach.  Mr.  Witham  is  lo- 
cated in  the  Ravenswood  portion  of  the  city.  Those 
mentioned  have  been  the  principal  florists  and  seedsmen 
of  the  past  and  present,  though  at  various  times  several 
persons,  mostly  Germans,  have  engaged  in  the  business 
in  different  parts  of  the  city. 

The  Long  Island  City  Savings  Bank. 

This,  which  is  the  first  and  only  monetary  institution 
in  Long  Island  City,  was  incorporated  in  the  early  part 
of  1876.  It  was  organized  April  18th  1876  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  Sylvester  Gray,  president;  John  Apple- 
ton,  first  vice-president;  H.  S.  Anable,  second  vice-pres- 
ident; J.  Harvey  Smedley,  secretary.  The  trustees  were 
Sylvester  Gray,  William  Krumbeck,  John  Bodine,  Jona- 
than Peck,  James  Corwith,  Hugh  M.  Thomas,  William  H. 
Bowron,  Francis  Pidgeon,  H.  S.  Anable,  William  Bridge, 
Henry  R.  White,  J.  A.  Smith,  Alfred  L.  New,  Lewis 
Graves,  Richard  Bragaw,  John  Horan,  John  Appleton, 
George  Petry,  Charles  H.  Rogers,  John  B.  Woodruff, 
Isaac  Van  Riper,  J.  Harvey  Smedley,  John  Claven  and 
William  T.  Wardwell.  The  bank  was  organized  by  the 
leading  capitalists  and  business  men  of  Long  Island  City 
with  a view  to  retaining  for  home  investment  the  large 
amount  of  capital  which  had  formerly  been  deposited  in 
various  New  York  banks.  Most  of  the  deposits  are  loan- 
ed out  to  parties  in  Long  Island  City  and  do  their  part 
in  aiding  the  advancement  of  the*  place.  The  officers 
elected  at  the  date  of  organization  have  served  continu- 
ously to  the  present  time.  There  have,  however,  been 
some  changes  in  the  board  of  trustees.  The  present 
members  are  as  follows:  Sylvester  Gray,  John  Appleton, 
H.  S.  Anable,  J.  Andrew  Smith,  James  Corwith,  Isaac 
Van  Riper,  Lewis  Graves,  John  Claven,  John  Horan, 
William  Bridge,  J.  Harvey  Smedley,  Charles  H.  Rogers, 
George  Petry,  Henry  R.  White,  John  B.  Woodruff,  Alfred 
L.  New,  H.  M.  Thomas,  Francis  Pidgeon,  D.  F.  Atkins, 
Francis  McGee,  D.  S.  Jones,  C.  J.  Dillon  and  John 
Green.  The  bank  is  located  at  the  corner  of  Jackson 
avenue  and  Third  street. 

•Lodges. 

Astoria  Lodge,  No.  155,  7.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  at 
the  rooms  of  William  Green,  in  Astoria,  October  10th 
1850,  with  the  following  first  officers  and  charter  mem 
bers:  John  L.  Boyd,  N.  G.;  Nathaniel  Tilbey,  V.  G.; 
William  P.  Bowden,  secretary;  James  Campbell,  treas- 
urer; John  Brackley,  William  Williamson  and  H.  Curth- 
berson.  • 

The  successive  noble  grands  prior  to  1863  were:  John 


LODGES  IN  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


289 


Brackley,  William  P.  Bowden,  James  Crosley,  William 
Crouthers,  Charles  Diestel,  Thomas  Duncan,  Nathaniel 
Tilbey,  William  H.  Green,  Theodore  Hollenberg,  Joseph 
E.  Hollingsworth,  John  Korfman,  C.  R.  Morris,  John  R. 
Moons,  Charles  Risdale,  William  Williamson,  John  J. 
Whitehead,  James  M.  Whitcomb  and  M.  Willis.  George 
Maskull  and  Julius  J.  Umshlag  served  in  1863;  John  H. 
Comfort  and  John  Mackie  in  1864;  James  A.  Matlack 
and  William  Underdown  in  1865;  John  L.  Morris  and 
E.  A.  Cadwell  in  1866;  John  M.  Snyder  and  John  Simp- 
son in  1867;  James  Campbell  and  D.  M.  Munger  in  1868; 
James  Smith  and  John  Peterson  in  1869;  James  O’Rourke 
and  Chris.  Maskull  in  1870;  Daniel  Patten  and  James 
Hempstead  in  1871;  Thomas  Gillespie  and  Thomas 
Snediker  in  1872;  Emanuel  Pascal  and  James  Campbell 
in  1873;  Chris.  Carr  and  Charles  W.  Hallett  in  1874; 
John  A.  Mittz  and  John  H.  Phillips  in  1875 ; James  Camp- 
bell and  Frank  A.  Rutsler  in  1877;  Theodore  Drake  and 
James  Henderson  in  1878;  Ed.  E.  Schurrer  and  George 
Vanderhoff  in  1879;  Henry  T.  Banks  and  Clark  E. 
E.  Smith  in  1880. 

The  present  officers  (July  1881)  are:  Hugh  A.  Smyth, 
N.  G. ; Charles  R.  Suckings,  V.  G. ; Clark  E.  Smith,  R.  S.; 
John  Korfman,  treasurer;  John  L.  Morris,  permanent 
secretary;  Charles  W.  Hallett,  James  Campbell  and 
Clark  E.  Smith,  trustees. 

Anchor  Lodge , No.  324,  /.  O.  O.  F.  was  instituted  June 
nth  1872,  and  chartered  August  22nd  following.  The 
officers  in  1881  were  as  follows:  Charles  D.  Crawley,  N. 
G.;  Martin  Blessenger,  V.  G.,  Frank  Shinkle,  secretary; 
John  B.  Patterson,  permanent  secretary;  John  T.  Brown, 
treasurer. 

Long  Lsland  City  Lodge , No.  395,  /.  O.  O.  F. — This 
lodge  was  instituted  June  nth  1874.  It  works  in  the 
German  language  and  assembles  every  Tuesday  evening 
at  Odd  Fellows’  Hall,  Long  Island  City.  The  charter 
members  were:  Charles  F.  Weitzel,  John  Koch,  John 
Kron,  Wilhelm  Waugenstein,  Herrmann  Wuesthoff,  Frede- 
rick Gemp,  John  Theobald,  Charles  Reichert,  Jacob 
Kirchner,  Frederick  Gubler,  Frederick  Breling,  Heinrich 
Smith,  Louis  Joneck,  Ernst  Heinsohn,  Ernst  Gochring, 
Justus  Wolf,  Henry  Hilbers,  Ferdinand  Reichert,  Thomas 
Hornung  and  Adolph  Kuhn. 

The  first  officers  were.:  Charles  F.  Weitzel,  N.  G.;  John 
Koch,  V.  G. ; John  Kron,  recording  secretary;  Herr- 
mann Wuesthoff,  permanent  secretary;  Wilhelm  Waugen- 
stein, treasurer. 

The  successive  noble  grands  have  been  as  follows: 
Charles  F.  Weitzel,  John  Koch,  John  Kron,  Herrmann 
Wuesthoff,  John  Theobald,  Henry  Hilbers,  Charles 
Reichert,  Henry  Rudolph,  Oscar  Ohning,  Henry 
Schmidt,  Christian  Craemer,  Robert  Wolf  and  Charles 
Lueth. 

The  officers  in  July  1881  were:  John  Conrad,  N.  G.; 
Ernst  Mertin,  V.  G.;  George  Foche,  recording  secretary; 
Robert  Wolf,  permanent  secretary;  Charles  Frangott 
Springer,  treasurer. 


Lsland  City  Lodge , No.  586,  F.  and  A.  M.  (Hunter’s 
Point). — Island  City  Lodge  was  organized  under  dispen- 
sation August  22nd  1865,  and  instituted  June  1 8 th  i866> 
with  the  following  named  charter  members:  James  Cor- 
with,  Jacob  Rockwell,  Henry  Rudolph,  John  P.  Gilbert, 
Willet  Ryder,  Benjamin  C.  Lockwood,  William  Hindley, 
John  Gregory,  William  Hirst,  Henry  R.  Williams,  William 
Ogbourne,  Jess  Jackson,  John  Soltan,  Neil  Nelson,  Ad- 
drew  P.  Sander,  Thomas  Fry,  Charles  W.  Lawrence,  John 
R.  De  Witt. 

The  first  officers  were:  James  Corwith,  Master;  Jacob 
Rockwell,  S.  W. ; Henry  Rudolph,  J.  W. ; John  P.  Gil- 
bert, treasurer;  Willet  Ryder,  secretary;  Benjamin  G. 
Lockwood,  Sr.  D.;  William  Hindley,  Jr.  D.;  John  Soltan 
and  William  Ogbourne,  M.  C.;  John  Gregory,  tiler;  John 
Gregory  and  William  Hindley,  trustees. 

James  Corwith,  Jacob  Rockwell,  James  N.  Bartlett, 
Sylvester  Gray,  Alfred  L.  New,  Henry  D.  Newcomb, 
John  Rockwell,  William  Dickson  and  William  W.  Mei- 
ners  have  been  the  successive  masters. 

The  officers  in  July  1881  were:  William  W.  Meiners, 
Master;  John  J.  Turner,  Sr.  W.;  Charles  E.  Stockford, 
Jr.  W.;  Sylvester  Gray,  treasurer;  J.  Robert  Laws,  sec- 
retary; A.  H.  Kemble,  Sr.  D.;  George  W.  Pierce,  Jr.  D.; 
John  T.  Brown  and  Charles  R.  Stevenson,  M.  of  C. ; 
Theodore  Hildebrand  and  D.  S.  Jones,  stewards;  Rich- 
ard Armstrong,  marshal ; Rev.  William  A.  Granger,  chap- 
lain; F.  B.  Barrett,  organist;  William  Hirst,  tiler. 

Island  City  Lodge  meets  Monday  evenings  at  Smith- 
sonian Hall,  at  the  corner  of  Vernon  avenue  and  Third 
street. 

Advance  Lodge , No.  635,  F.  and  A.  M.  (Astoria). — 
Advance  Lodge  was  organized  February  22nd  1867,  with 
the  following  charter  members:  John  R.  Clark,  John  E. 
Oloff,  Edwin  A.  Cadwell,  James  E.  Torrey,  Caleb  J. 
Frances,  Charles  Cranfield,  James  M.  Whitcomb,  Wil- 
liam M.  Berger,  Charles  Risdale,  Edward  C.  Graham, 
Cornelius  R.  Morris,  Robert  T.  Wild,  Charles  C.  Howell, 
E.  T.  Jenkins,  Martin  Willis,  William  B.  Wilson,  John  L. 

Morris, Umshlag,  Benjamin  Malliefert,  Charles  L. 

Mann  and  Joseph  Curtis. 

The  successive  masters  of  the  lodge  have  been  John 
R.  Clark,  John  E.  Oloff,  John  Fahnestock,  Edwin  A. 
Cadwell,  R.  M.  C.  Graham,  F.  Rutsler,  W.  M.  Berger,  C. 
Cranfield  and  C.  W.  Hallett. 

The  officers  in  July  1881  were:  C.  W.  Hallett,  Master; 
W.  K.  Moore,  senior  warden;  John  E.  Oloff,  junior 
warden;  George  W.  Clark,  secretary. 

Meetings  are  held  in  the  hall  of  the  lodge  on  Fulton 
street,  Astoria,  every  Tuesday  evening. 

Division  No.  2 of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  was 
organized  early  in  1873,  with  five  charter  members.  The 
membership  is  now  large. 

The  officers  of  the  division  in  July  1881  were  as  fol- 
lows: Andrew  McGarry,  president;  Thomas  Scully,  vice- 
president;  Andrew  Gaffney,  recording  secretary;  Charles 
Cameron,  treasurer. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


CHURCHES  OF  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 

St.  George’s  Episcopal,  Astoria. 

Riker  states  in  his  “ Annals-  of  Newtown  ” that  “an 
Episcopal  church  was  erected  at  Hallett’s  Cove  in  1828, 
and  incorporated  a few  years  later  ” as  St.  George’s 
Church.  From  another  very  reliable  source  we  learn 
that  the  house  of  worship  of  this  church  was  built  in 
1832.  However  this  rnay  be,  the  church  is  an  old  one 
and  has  long  been  prominently  known. 

The  first  to  preach  in  the  building  is  said  to  have  been 
Rev.  George  A.  Shelton.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Seabury,  who  did  not  long  remain  and  was,  a good 
many  years  later,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Annuncia- 
tion, New  York.  The  church  being  too  poor  to  sustain 
a rector  at  that  time,  Riker  is  our  authority  for  the  state- 
ment that  Mr.  Shelton,  of  Newtown,  consented  in  1832  to 
devote  to  it  a portion  of  his  labors,  and  officiated  for  be- 
tween four  and  five  years;  when,  the  membership  having 
increased,  the  church  was  enabled  to  call  Rev.  John- 
Walker  Brown,  of  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  a graduate 
of  Union  College,  who  was  probably  the  first  regular  rec- 
tor of  the  parish.  A man  of  high  intellectual  attain- 
ments, he  was  greatly  beloved  by  his  congregation  for 
his  fervent  and  unobtrusive  piety.  His  health  failed  and, 
in  the  hope  of  recovering  it  by  a change  of  climate,  he 
left  home  in  November  1848  on  a voyage  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean. At  Malta  his  illness  increased,  and  he  died 
April  9th  1849.  In  his  memory  a tablet  bearing  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  was  placed  in  the  church:  “This  tab- 
let is  erected  as  an  affectionate  tribute  to  the  memory  of 
Rev.  John  Walker  Brown,  who  for  many  years,  re- 
plenished with  the  truth  of  God’s  doctrine  and  adorned 
with  innocency  of  life,  both  by  word  and  good  example, 
faithfully  served  his  Master  as  rector  of  this  parish.  He 
was  born  August  23d  1814,  and  died  in  the  island  of 
Malta  on  the  9th  of  April  1849,  in  the  35th  year  of  his 
age.  He  sleeps  in  Jesus.” 

Mr.  Brown  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  T.  Reeves  Chip- 
man,  of  LeRoy,  N.  Y.,  who  died  at  White  Plains, 
N.  Y.,  January  1st  1865,  in  his  54th  year,  after  he  had 
resigned  the  rectorship  of  the  parish.  Rev.  Robert  Wil- 
liam Harris,  D.  D.,  was  his  successor  and  is  the  present 
rector. 

The  above  sketch  embraces  all  of  the  data  concerning 
the  history  of  this  church  which  the  writer  has  been  able 
to  obtain  from  various  sources  after  diligent  inquiry.  If 
the  sketch  is  not  as  complete  as  may  to  some  appear  de- 
sirable it  is  only  because  he  failed  to  secure  the  aid  of 
certain  persons  whose  co  operation  would  have  been  in- 
valuable in  such  an  undertaking. 

Protestant  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  Astoria. 

This  church  was  organized  July  nth  1839,  by  a com- 
mittee of  the  classis  of  Long  Island,  consisting  of  Revs. 
Strong,  Campbell  and  Garretson.  The  original  members 
were  Abraham  Polhemus  and  wife,  Mrs.  Sylvanus  Mor- 
ris, John  S.  Bussing  and  wife,  Grant  Thorburn  and  wife, 
and  William  Shaw. 


Rev.  G.  J.  Garretson,  pastor  of  the  churches  of  New- 
town and  Jamaica,  preached  on  the  occasion  of  the  or- 
ganization, at  which  time  Abraham  Polhemus  was  elected 
elder  and  John  S.  Bussing  deacon. 

The  church  edifice  was  originally  built  by  persons  be- 
longing to  the  Reformed  and  Presbyterian  churches.  Pre- 
vious to  July  1839  an  occasional  service  was  held  in  it, 
conducted  by  the  pastors  of  the  Reformed  and  Presbyter- 
ian churches  of  Newtown.  In  the  summer  of  1839  meas- 
ures were  taken  to  secure  regular  worship  in  the  village 
for  such  as  were  not  attached  to  the  Episcopal  church. 
It  was  therefore  proposed  that  the  edifice  should  become 
the  property  of  the  Presbyterians  or  of  the  Reformed 
church.  The  proposition  was  made  to  the  Presbyterians 
in  the  village  and  neighborhood  that  they  should  take 
the  building  and  organize  the  church — paying  the  debt 
of  $3,000  which  had  been  incurred  in  the  erection  of  the 
building.  The  proposition  was  declined.  Persons  in 
connection  with  the  Reformed  church  then  took  the 
building,  with  the  full  consent  of  all  who  were  in  con- 
nection with  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  paid  its  debt. 
Half  of  the  amount  was  paid  by  a gift  of  $1,500  from  the 
Collegiate  Reformed  church  of  New  York. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Bishop  commenced  preaching  as  a stated 
supply  to  the  new  organization  October  20th  1839.  The 
church  was  regularly  received  under  the  care  of  the 
classis  of  Long  Island  January  7th  1840.  November  nth 
1840  Rev.  A.  H.  Bishop  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
church  and  he  officiated  as  such  until  April  20th  1853, when 
the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  owing  to  Mr.  Bishop’s 
ill  health.  July  17th  1853,  Rev.  William  H.  Ten  Eyck 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  E.  S.  Porter,  of 
Williamsburgh,  preaching  on  that  occasion.  Mr.  Ten 
Eyck  remained  until  1874.  May  27th,  that  year,  Rev. 
M.  L.  Haines  was  installed  as  pastor  by  the  north  classis 
of  Long  Island  and  he  has  continued  to  fill  that  office  to 
the  present  time  (1881). 

The  church  has  100  families  connected  with  it 
and  220  members.  The  Sunday-school  has  had  as  sup- 
erintendents Messrs.  Robert  Benner,  Frederick  Whitte- 
more  and  T.  A.  Lancashire.  It  has  more  than  300  schol- 
ars and  a library  of  300  volumes. 

A new  Sunday-school  building  containing  infant  class 
room  and  church  parlors  was  built  in  the  summer  of 
1880,  and  dedicated  November  28th  1880. 

Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel,  Astoria. 

The  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel  was  or- 
ganized August  20th  1840,  by  Rev.  Michael  Curran.  At 
that  time  he  resided  in  Harlem  and  attended  semi-month- 
ly the  missions  at  Astoria,  Flushing,  Jamaica  and  Rocka- 
way. 

Two  lots  of  ground  were  originally  donated  to  the 
parish  for  church  purposes,  one  by  James  O’Shea,  of  New 
York,  and  one  by  Mr.  Anderson,  a prominent  Episco- 
palian, also  of  New  York.  Another  lot  was  subsequent- 
ly procured  for  burial  purposes  and  it  is  yet  in  use. 

At  the  formation  of  the  parish  118  persons,  of  whom 
sixteen  were  not  Catholics,  contributed  $819.25  toward 


CHURCHES— PRESBYTERIAN,  ASTORIA— ST.  THOMAS’S,  RAVENSWOOD. 


291 


the  erection  of  a church.  The  building  then  erected 
was  a frame  structure,  to  which  an  addition  was  subse- 
quently built  by  Father  Phelan,  doubling  its  size.  It  is 
now  used  as  a Sunday-school  room  and  has  a capacity 
for  accommodating  500  children.  It  stands  on  the 
corner  of  Van  Alst  and  Trowbridge  streets.  The  first 
secretary  of  the  church  was  James  O’Donnell,  who  after 
a short  time  was  succeeded  by  Michael  Tuomey,  who  is 
still  living  in  Astoria.  He  states  that  the  first  collection 
amounted  to  $2.31;  the  second,  owing  to  the  severity  of 
the  weather,  to  sixty-nine  cents.  At  that  time  the  sys- 
tem of  pew  rents  had  not  been  introduced  and  the 
pastor’s  salary  came  from  what  was  termed  “quarter 
dues.”  Michael  Tuomey  was  succeded  in  the  secretary- 
ship by  Owen  Deane,  who  was  succeeded  in  May  1849 
by  Hugh  Shiels,  now  living  on  Flushing  avenue.  Ex- 
alderman John  Mitchell  was  afterward  secretary,  and 
upon  his  resignation  was  followed  by  John  Arnold. 

Among  the  records  of  the  church  appear  the  names  of 
Rev.  Messrs.  Wheeler,  McGovern,  Conlin  and  McClery 
as  having  adninistered  the  sacraments  of  baptism  and 
matrimony  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Michael  Curran, 
who  died  in  October  1856.  Rev.  John  Brady  was  the 
next  pastor.  He  remained  in  Astoria  until  some  time 
in  1858,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Greenpoint.  Rev. 
James  Phelan  then  assumed  the  duties  of  the  pastorate. 

During  Mr.  Phelan’s  pastorate  the  present  church 
edifice  was  built.  It  is  of  brick  and  is  located  at  the 
corner  of  Newtown  and  Crescent  avenues.  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  September  9th  1871  and  the  church  was 
dedicated  August  7th  1873.  Its  total  cost  was  about 
$30,000.  The  organ  which  it  contains  was  manufactured 
to  order  and  is  worth  about  $3,000. 

Early  in  March  1880,  after  a pastorate  of  twenty-three 
years.  Rev.  Mr.  Phelan  died  of  pneumonia.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  P.  F.  Sheridan,  who  was  appointed  to  the 
pastorate  April  25th  1880,  and  who  died  in  July  1881.  His 
successor,  the  present  pastor,  is  Rev.  William  McGinniss. 

May  1st  1881  an  acre  of  land  adjoining  the  church 
property,  on  which  was  a dwelling,  was  purchased  for  a 
parochial  residence.  The  church  property  now  com 
prises  two  acres  of  land  extending  from  Newtown  avenue 
to  Flushing  avenue.  The  total  value  of  these  lots  with 
the  old  church,  the  new  church,  the  parsonage  and  other 
improvements  is  not  far  from  $50,000,  upon  which  is  a 
mortgage  of  $10,000. 

The  congregation  numbers  about  1,200,  and  has  a 
Vincent  de  Paul  Society  to  look  after  the  poor,  and  a 
Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  for  young  ladies,  of  whom 
fifty  are  members. 

Presbyterian,  Astoria. 

The  Presbyterian  church,  Astoria,  is  finely  located,  be- 
ing built  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  Franklin  street,  fac- 
ing the  west.  The  church  was  organized  May  nth  1846 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  with  the  following  named 
members,  17  in  number:  Bayard  and  Mariette  Boyd, 
Andrew  and  Julia  Maria  Comstock,  Albert  S.  and  Eliza 
Clement  Cone,  Thomas  B.  and  Almira  Miner,  Henry  S. 


and  Sarah  C.  Mulligan,  James  S.  and  Ann  Eliza  Polhemus, 
Henry  and  Sarah  Smith,  John  H.  and  Sarah  A.  Smith 
and  Sally  Smith. 

The  congregation  first  met  for  worship  in  the  old  dis- 
trict school  house  that  stood  on  the  hill  on  Main  street 
east  of  St.  George’s  Episcopal  church.  The  corner-stone 
of  the  first  church  edifice,  which  is  still  standing,  was 
laid  November  30th  1846,  and  the  building  was  dedicated 
June  1 1 th  1848. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Frederick  G.  Clark, 
chosen  in  August  1846,  who  entered  upon  his  labors  on 
the  third  Sunday  of  October  1846,  and  was  installed 
May  28th  1847.  He  remained  as  pastor  five  years, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  a call  from  New  York  city. 

The  second  pastor,  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Stead,  was  called 
in  1852  and  installed  July  4th  of  that  year,  Rev.  J.  Gold- 
smith, D.  D.,  of  Newtown,  and  Rev.  J.  C.  Lowrie,  of  New 
York,  taking  part  in  the  services.  His  first  sermon  in 
this  church  was  from  the  text  “ Behold  I stand  at  the 
door  and  knock,”  etc.  He  continued  his  pastorate  till 
his  death,  February  15th  1879,  just  one  week  before  his 
sixty-fourth  birthday. 

The  third  and  present  pastor,  Rev.  W.  A.  Barr,  was 
installed  June  19th  1879. 

The  church  and  lecture  room  were  enlarged  during  the 
year  1857.  There  is  a fine  Meneely  bell  in  the  tower 
weighing  927  pounds.  The  organ  is  a very  sweet-toned 
instrument,  built  by  Beach.  The  cost  of  the  original 
church  building  was  $10,000.  In  two  and  a half  years 
from  the  time  of  organization  the  number  of  members 
had  grown  from  17  to  87. 

The  Sabbath-school  has  ever  been  prosperous.  At 
one  time  there  were  two  Sabbath-schools  connected  with 
the  church,  numbering  in  the  aggregate  some  300 
scholars. 

St.  Thomas’s  (Episcopal)  Church,  Ravenswood, 

was  organized  October  29th  1849,  being  set  off  by  con- 
sent from  the  parish  of  St.  George’s,  Astoria.  The  war- 
dens were  William  Nelson  and  Samuel  J.  Beebe,  and  the 
vestrymen  John  H.  Williams,  George  Brooks,  Charles  H. 
Seymour,  Warren  Kimball,  Henry  J.  Brooks,  Samuel 
Brown,  Horatio  Nelson  and  Edward  H.  Jacot. 

In  1850  Rev.  E.  R.  T.  Cook  was  called  as  rector.  He 
resigned  in  the  following  November  and  Rev.  J.  M. 
Waite  was  called  as  rector  in  February  1851. 

In  May  1853  the  church  edifice  was  enlarged. 

Mr.  Waite  resigned  the  rectorship  in  June  1856  and 
in  October  following  Rev.  S.  W.  Sayres  was  called.  He 
resigned  in  June  1864,  and  Rev.  John  Cornell  was  rector 
from  August  1864  to  April  1867. 

In  December  1867  the  church  building  and  all  its  con- 
tents were  destroyed  by  fire.  In  July  1868  the  corner 
stone  of  a new  church  was  laid  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Morgan. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Batteshall  was  rector  from  September 
1867  to  December  1868;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Vandyne  from 
March  1869  to  June  1870;  Rev.  S.  B.  Newby  from  No- 
vember 1870  to  January  1873;  Dr.  Osgood  was  tempor- 
arily in  charge  of  the  parish  in  1873.  Rev.  William  S. 


33 


292 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Adamson  was  rector  from  August  1874  to  September 
1879,  and  Rev.  J.  O.  Drurnm  from  November  1879  to 
July  1880.  In  April  1881  Bishop  Horatio  Southgate  as- 
sumed temporary  charge. 

At  present  (January  1882),  St.  Thomas’s  church  is 
without  a rector,  services  being  conducted  by  temporary 
supply. 

The  present  vestry  consists  of  wardens — Alfred 
Nelson  and  Andrew  Findlay.  Vestrymen — John  G.  Free- 
man, Orison  B.  Smith,  Edwin  Aspinall,  Solomon  B. 
Noble,  D.  S.  Jones,  A.  C.  Frey,  Horace  Barnes,  Jay  L. 
Smith. 

The  number  of  communicants  is  about  25.  In  the 
Sunday-school  there  are  50  children  and  10  teachers. 

German  Second  Reformed  Protestant,  Astoria. 

The  attention  of  the  north  classis  of  Long  Island  was 
called  to  the  wants  of  the  German  population  residing  in 
the  town  of  Newtown  at  an  extra  meeting  of  the  classis, 
held  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
of  Williamsburgh,  January  19th  1854.  The  classis  ap- 
pointed Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  C.  Strong  and  William  H. 
Ten  Eyck  a committee  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  Ger- 
man population  in  the  town  of  Newtown,  and  authorized 
them  to  present  this  field  to  the  board  of  domestic  mis- 
sions as  fully  recommended  by  the  classis  as  a most  im- 
portant opening  calling  for  immediate  action.  This  the 
committee  did  and  a commission  was  made  out  for  Mr. 
John  Boehrer  to  labor  as  a missionary  in  this  field  for  six 
months.  He  very  soon  entered  upon  his  work. 

At  a stated  session  of  the  classis  held  September  20th 
1854  an  application  was  received  from  24  German  resi- 
dents at  Astoria  praying  for  the  organization  of  a church. 
Rev.  Messrs.  W.  H.  Ten  Eyck,  John  W.  Ward  and  Giles 
H.  Mandeville  were  appointed  a committee  to  effect  the 
organization,  which  they  did  October  8th  1854,  under 
the  title  of  the  German  Second  Reformed  Protestant 
Church  of  Astoria,  L.  I.  They  examined  and  received 
the  following  persons:  Philip  Becker,  Andrew  Riehl, 
Conrad  Schenck,  John  Jost  Moenberger,  Peter  Green, 
Michael  Claus,  Conrad  Webb,  Henry  Krai,  Maria  Lau- 
tenschlager.  JohnBruder  and  his  wife,  Helene  Rott, 
were  also  received  by  certificate  from  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  of  Houston  street,  New  York.  Conrad 
Schenck  and  Conrad  Webb  were  chosen  elders,  and  An- 
drew Riehl  deacon. 

Mr.  Boehrer  continued  to  labor  as  a lay  missionary, 
both  in  Newtown  and  Astoria,  until  December  5th  1855, 
when  he  was  licensed  to  preach.  His  labors  as  a licenti- 
ate missionary  continued  until  April  1856.  From  the 
fall  of  1856  until  the  summer  of  1861  Rev.  Conrad  Dick- 
haut  statedly  supplied  the  German  church  at  Newtown, 
rendering  occasional  services  at  Astoria.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded September  29th  1861  as  a stated  supply  by  the 
Rev.  John  Wenisch,  who,  November  4th  186  r,  was  re- 
ceived as  a member  of  classis  by  certificate  from  the 
south  classis  of  New  York.  Mr.  Wenisch  was  installed 
pastor  for  Newtown  and  Astoria  June  21st  1863.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Boehrer’s  time  Sabbath  services  had  been  held 


in  the  village  court-house.  When  Mr.  Wenisch  began 
his  labors  at  Astoria  the  consistory  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  church  gave  him  the  privilege  of  holding  service 
statedly  on  Sabbath  afternoons  in  their  lecture  room.. 
The  Second  church  continued  to  occupy  it  in  this  way 
until  the  erection  and  dedication  of  its  own  house  of 
worship. 

The  need  of  better  accommodations  had  long  been 
felt,  and  on  the  5th  of  December  1865  a meeting  of  the 
consistory  was  held  at  the  house  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Ten  Eyck 
to  consider  the  subject.  Steps  were  taken  and  resolu- 
tions adopted  to  secure  funds  for  the  purchase  of  lots 
and  the  erection  of  a church  building.  John  J.  Bruder 
and  Henry  Mencken  were  appointed  a committee  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  was  requested  to  help  them  raise 
money.  Four  lots  on  Second  avenue  were  bought,  and 
an  edifice  was  built,  which  was  dedicated  June  23d  1867. 
On  the  following  Sunday  C.  D.  F.  Steinfuhrer,  a candi- 
date for  the  ministry,  who  had  just  finished  his  studies  at 
New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  this  church,  Rev.  J.  Wenisch  having  resigned 
and  gone  to  West  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  the  latter  part  of 
December  1866.  Mr.  Steinfuhrer  is  still  pastor  of  this 
his  first  choice. 

November  1st  1868  a parochial  school,  in  which  both 
English  and  German  are  taught,  was  established.  This 
school  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  pastor  and  the 
consistory  of  the  church.  It  has  achieved  good  results 
and  continues  to  exercise  a healthy  influence. 

The  parsonage,  next  to  the  church  edifice,  was  built  in 
1871.  In  1873  the  connection  existing  between  this 
church  and  the  German  Second  Reformed  Church  of 
of  Newtown  was  by  mutual  request  dissolved.  Since 
1874  this  church  has  been  numbered  among  the  self-sus- 
taining churches  of  the  north  classis  of  Long  Island. 
The  membership  at  present  (188 1)  is  about  200.  An 
equal  number  of  scholars  attend  in  the  Sunday-school. 
The  average  attendance  of  the  parochial  school  is  from 
50  to  60.  The  pastor  is  president  of  the  Sunday-school 
and  the  principal  of  the  parochial  school,  assisted  in  both 
by  able  teachers. 

The  “ Frauenverein,”  a society  of  ladies  and  an  aux- 
iliary of  the  church,  has  existed  for  about  10  years  and 
is  doing  a noble  work  in  the  interest  of  the  congregation. 
The  members  meet  semi-monthly  at  their  different  homes 
and  spend  together  sociably  a few  hours  in  the  afternoon 
sewing,  reading,  etc.  The  proceeds  of  their  work  are 
contributed  either  to  the  maintenance  of  the  church  or 
to  the  relief  of  the  poor  among  them.  The  presidents  of 
this  society  have  been  Mrs.  D.  Roeder,  Mrs.  Anna 
Mencken  and  Mrs.  Louise  Steinfuhrer. 

The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $10,000. 
The  condition  of  the  church  is  prosperous  and  prom- 
ising. 

m 

St.  John’s  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  Hun- 
ter’s Point. 

This  church  was  established  about  the  year  1867.  It 
was  practically  an  offshoot  of  St.  Thomas’s  church,  Rav- 


CHURCHES— EPISCOPAL,  METHODIST,  CATHOLIC. 


29  3 


enswood,  and  was  due  in  great  measure  to  the  gifts  and 
efforts  of  the  late  William  Nelson.  In  Hunter’s  Point 
Mr.  Nelson  was  the  owner  of  considerable  property,  and 
foreseeing  the  growth  of  population  in  the  neighborhood 
he  resolved  to  provide  for  its  religious  and  educational 
wants  according  to  the  tenets  and  usages  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  church.  He  therefore  gave  an  eligible 
plot  of  land  in  what  is  known  as  Seventh  street  for  the 
erection  of  a church,  and  with  this  a large  contribution 
in  money  toward  the  building  of  the  same.  Through  the 
instrumentality  of  Mr.  Nelson  and  his  family  a number 
of  other  subscriptions  were  obtained,  and  ultimately  the 
present  church  was  erected,  at  a cost  of  about  $15,000. 

The  church  is  a frame  building,  designed  in  the  gothic 
style,  and  is  very  harmonious  and  complete  in  all  its  pro- 
portions. At  present  it  is  without  a proper  chancel,  but 
a chancel  arch  was  originally  built,  and  at  a compara- 
tively small  cost  the  church  might  be  completed  by  the 
addition  of  a chancel,  with  an  organ  chamber  on  one 
side  and  a vestry  on  the  other.  There  is  accommoda- 
tion for  about  350  persons.  All  the  seats  are  free,  and  the 
church  is  supported  by  the  offertory  and  by  voluntary 
contributions.  The  basement  of  the  church  is  fitted  up 
for  a Sunday-school,  with  a room  for  an  infant  class,  and 
another  for  a ‘library,  etc.  In  the  church  there  is  an  or- 
gan, and  another  in  the  school;  and  both  church  and 
school  are  well  supplied  with  the  necessary  books  and 
utensils  for  worship  and  instruction.  The  property  is 
deeded  forever  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the 
Long  Island  diocese.  It  has  been  consecrated  accord- 
ing to  the  usages  of  the  church,  and  is  entirely  free  from 
debt.  During  his  lifetime  Mr.  Nelson  was  a generous 
supporter  of  the  church,  and  the  removal  of  his  family, 
after  his  death,  inflicted  upon  it  a heavy  loss. 

There  have  been  several  rectors  in  charge  of  this 
church  and  parish  during  its  existence  of  fifteen  years. 
The  first  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Neilson,  and  then  in  succes- 
sion came  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Appleton,  Stadermeyer,  Mul- 
holland,  Turner  and  Cartwright.  The  latter  clergyman' 
had  charge  of  the  parish  for  about  five  years,  during 
which  time  he  made  great  efforts  to  improve  the  church 
property  and  extend  the  interest  of  the  parish.  His  la- 
bors were  attended  with  much  success,  and  his  retire- 
ment from  the  parish  has  been  felt  as  a heavy  loss.  Mr. 
Cartwright  is  a journalist  of  considerable  experience  and 
power  ; and  the  large  demands  made  upon  him  in  his 
editorial  capacity  have  prevented  him  from  devoting  his 
full  time  to  his  parochial  work.  In  retiring  from  the  par- 
ish Mr.  Cartwright  received  a complimentary  address 
signed  by  the  wardens  and  vestry  of  the  parish,  acknow- 
ledging in  graceful  terms  the  able  and  devoted  services 
he  had  rendered  to  the  parish  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  school, 
in  the  visitation  of  the  people,  in  the  payment  of  church 
debts,  and  the  improvements  of  church  property,  and  ex- 
pressing deep  regret  that  he  had  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to 
sever  his  connection  with  the  parish. 

The  present  vestry  of  the  parish  consists  of  J.  J.  Tur- 
ner and  D.  Fitzpatrick,  wardens;  C.  Crawley,  treasurer; 
W.  Marshal],  clerk;  and  R.  Armstrong,  D.  Hitchcock,  J. 


Mcllroy,  J.  H.  Livingston,  A.  T.  Payne  and  F.  Hall, 
vestrymen.  According  to  the  last  report  presented  to 
the  diocesan  convention  there  were  in  the  parish  87  fam- 
ilies, comprising  220  individuals,  while  the  contributions 
of  the  parish  for  church  purposes  during  the  year 
amounted  to  $1,676.50,  There  has  been  a large  and 
flourishing  Sunday-school  in  connection  with  the  parish, 
consisting  of  about  150  scholars  and  15  teachers,  with  a 
library  of  more  than  200  volumes.  In  addition  to  the 
services  and  school  in  St.  John’s  church,  the  late  rector, 
the  Rev.  T.  S.  Cartwright,  opened  a mission  school  and 
service  at  Dutch  Kills,  which  under  his  able  superin- 
tendence attained  much  vigor,  and  promised  very  satis- 
factory results.  By  some  of  the  members  of  the  parish 
it  has  been  suggested  that  the  church  should  be  removed 
from  its  present  location  to  a more  eligible  site  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  court-house,  at  the  junction  of 
Eleventh  street  and  Jackson  avenue.  This  would  un- 
doubtedly be  a more  central  position,  and  the  suggestion 
of  a removal,  if  not  made,  was  warmly  supported  by  the 
late  rector.  But  his  retirement  from  the  parish  will  in- 
terfere with  the  realization  of  that  project. 

Methodist  Episcopal,  Hunter’s  Point. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Hunter’s  Point 
was  organized  in  March  i860,  by  a few  members  who  had 
been  previously  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Greenpoint  and  whose  names  the  writer  has 
been  unable  to  learn.  The  place  of  meeting  was  in  the 
public  school  building. 

The  house  of  worship  of  this  church  was  dedicated  in 
1864,  Rev.  John  F.  Booth,  then  of  Greenpoint,  officiat- 
ing. It  is  a frame  building  on  Sixth  street.  In  1877  it 
was  placed  on  a higher  foundation,  on  account  of  an  ele- 
vation of  the  grade  of  the  city,  and  a Sunday-school, 
lecture  and  class  room  was  finished  in  the  basement. 
The  value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $7,500.  The 
total  indebtedness  of  the  church  at  this  time  (1881)  is 
about  $1,800. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  was 
Thomas  L.  Butler.  The  number  of  scholars  present  at 
the  first  session  was  about  5.  The  present  membership 
is  about  160.  The  number  of  volumes  in  the  library  is 
i5°- 

The  following  named  pastors  have  successively  served 
the  church:  Revs.  B.  F.  Downing,  1862,  1863;  Benja- 
min Wilson,  1864;  Joseph  Henson,  1865,  1866;  Samuel 
W.  King,  1867-69;  Alexander  Graham,  1870-72;  Nathan 
Hubbell,  1873;  Henry  C.  Glover,  1874-76;  Alexander 
Graham,  1877-79;  Edward  FI.  Dutcher,  1880;  William 
W.  Gillies,  the  present  incumbent. 

St.  Mary’s,  Hunter’s  Point. 

The  Catholic  population  living  in  the  westerly  portion 
of  the  township  of  Newtown,  extending  from  the  limits 
of  Brooklyn  on  the  south  to  Long  Island  Sound  on  the 
north,  until  1868,  belonged  to  the  parish  of  St.  Anthony, 
Brooklyn,  and  to  the  parish  of  Our  Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel, 
Astoria.  The  growing  importance  of  the  locality  be- 


94 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


tween  Webster  avenue  and  Brooklyn,  on  account  of  the 
great  advantages  offered  by  railroads,  ferries  and  manu- 
factories located  there,  induced  many  families  of  moder- 
ate means  to  leave  the  city  of  New  York,  to  purchase 
lots,  and  to  settle  at  Hunter’s  Point,  Dutch  Kills  and 
Ravenswood.  The  majority  of  these  later  settlers  were 
Roman  Catholics. 

In  1865  a plot  of  ground  100  by  150  feet,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Central  avenue  and  Fifth  street,  was  purchased  by 
Rev.  John  Brady,  pastor  of  St.  Anthony’s  church,  Brook- 
lyn, for  church  purposes.  December  24th  1868  Rev. 
John  Crimmin,  then  assistant  priest  at  the  church  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul,  Brooklyn,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
new  congregation  and  parish  of  St.  Mary’s,  Long  Island 
City.  The  district  set  apart  for  the  new  parish  comprised 
that  portion  of  the  town  of  Newton  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Webster  avenue,  on  the  east  by  Dutch  Kills 
Creek,  on  the  south  by  Newtown  Creek,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  East  River. 

The  trustees  of  St.  Mary’s  church  at  this  time  were 
Rt.  Rev.  John  Loughlin,  Rev.  John  F.  Turner,  vicar-gen- 
eral, Rev.  John  Crimmin,  pastor,  Edward  Brown  and 
Matthew  Smith.  The  school  trustees  kindly  gave  the 
use  of  the  public  school-house  to  the  Catholic  people  as 
a place  of  worship  until  services  could  be  held  in  the 
proposed  new  church.  An  effort  was  made  to  purchase 
a site  for  a church  at  or  near  the  center  of  the  above 
described  district,  but  the  property  was  not  then  graded 
and  could  not  be  secured.  It  was  therefore  concluded 
to  buy  four  additional  lots  adjoining  the  property  on 
Fifth  street,  and  to  build  a frame  structure  which  should 
serve  as  a temporary  church  untill  a more  suitable  loca- 
tion could  be  secured,  and  afterward  to  transform  the 
temporary  church  into  a parochial  school-house.  Ac- 
cordingly four  additional  lots  were  bought  by  Rev.  John 
Crimmin  as  the  site  for  the  temporary  church.  There 
were  then  ten  full  lots,  25  by  100  feet,  at  the  corner  of  Cen- 
tral avenue  and  Fifth  street,  the  original  cost  of  which  was 
$8,000.  A brick  house  on  the  southeast  corner  of  East 
avenue  and  East  Third  street  was  bought  by  Father 
Crimmin  as  a residence,  for  the  sum  of  $3,800.  The 
plans  and  specifications  for  the  erection  of  the  new 
church  wrere  prepared  by  P.  C.  Keely,  architect,  Brook- 
lyn. James  Dennen,  of  Long  Island  City, was  awarded  the 
contract  for  building  the  edifice.  The  church  is  a frame 
building,  60  feet  wide  within  the  buttresses  by  100  feet 
in  depth,  with  clere  story.  It  has  a tower  and  steeple 
115  feet  in  height,  surmounted  by  a gilt  cross.  The  ceil- 
ing in  the  nave  is  57  feet  high.  Services  were  first  held 
in  the  unfinished  edifice  Sunday  April  nth  1869,  and  the 
church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin  on  the  Feast 
of  the  Assumption,  Sunday  August  15th  of  the  same 
year.  The  building  cost  about  $24,000,  and  was  at  the 
time  the  largest  edifice  in  Queen’s  county. 

To  meet  the  expense  of  so  great  undertakings  with 
only  comparatively  a small  and  poor  congregation  re- 
quired great  efforts  and  sacrifices  on  the  part  of  both 
pastor  and  people.  Many  of  the  congregation  neglected 
their  own  business  in  order  to  devote  their  time  to  the 


raising  of  funds  to  defray  the  expenses.  Large  sums  of 
money  were  collected  from  outside  sources,  and  although 
the  adult  Catholics  of  the  district  numbered  only  about 
600,  they  raised  $23,000  within  one  year. 

In  the  spring  of  1873  Father  Crimmin,  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  board  of  church  trustees,  bought  from  the 
trustees  of  Union  College  ten  lots  of  ground  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Jackson  avenue  and  Twelfth  street — the  location 
which  was  sought  in  1869.  He  afterward  succeeded  in 
securing  seventeen  adjoining  lots,  to  be  held  and  used 
for  church  purposes,  the  cost  of  which  was  about 
$43,000,  most  of  which  was  secured  by  bond 
and  mortgage.  On  this  property  Father  Crimmin 
built  a new  brick  pastoral  residence  26  by  50  feet  and 
three  stories  high,  with  basement  and  attic.  The  grounds 
were  enclosed  and  ornamented  with  shade  trees.  He 
also  erected  three  frame  houses  on  Jackson  avenue,  with 
stores,  the  revenue  of  which  was  to  aid  in  paying  the  in- 
terest on  the  property.  It  was  the  intention  to  build  on 
this  property  a larger  and  more  substantial  church  than 
the  one  erected  on  Fifth  street. 

During  Father  Crimmin's  residence  in  Long  Island 
City  he  suffered  from  frequent  attacks  of  typho-malarial 
fever  and  congestive  chills,  which  brought  on  asthma 
and  weakness  of  the  eyes.  His  constitution  had  been 
greatly  impaired  by  these  attacks,  and,  although  he  had 
labored  hard  and  employed  all  his  influence  to  secure 
those  improvements  which  would  remedy  the  causes  of 
disease  in  the  district,  still  he  succeeded  in  obtaining 
those  improvements  only  when  his  system  was  so  shat- 
tered that  a change  to  a more  healthy  climate  became 
necessary  in  order  to  regain  the  health  which  he  had  lost. 
In  1878  he  was  prostrated  by  simultaneous  attacks  of 
typho-malarial  fever,  pneumonia  and  congestive  chills 
which  caused  paralysis  of  the  limbs  and  increased  the 
weakness  of  the  eyes.  His  physicians  advised  him  to 
reside  in  Colorado  until  his  health  should  be  restored, 
but  owing  to  the  long  continuance  of  the  paralysis  of  the 
limbs  and  the  approaching  winter  it  was  decided  to  post- 
pone his  journey  until  spring.  Meanwhile,  on  the  1st  of 
January  1879,  after  a residence  of  ten  years  in  Long  Is- 
land Cfty,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  church  of  St. 
Mary  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  Brooklyn,  and 
Rev.  John  Maguire  was  sent  to  St.  Mary’s,  Long  Island 
City. 

Rev.  John  Crimmin  was  born  in  the  County  of  Cork, 
Ireland.  When  he  was  about  five  years  of  age  his  par- 
ents emigrated  to  America  and  settled  near  Poughkeep- 
sie, N.  Y.  They  were  farmers  and  Father  Crimmin  re- 
ceived all  his  early  education  in  the  country  district 
schools  of  that  vicinity,  until  he  entered  the  old  and  fa- 
mous institution  of  learning,  Mt.  St.  Mary’s  College,  Em- 
mittsburgh,  Maryland.  Here  he  remained  five  years  and 
received  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and  Master  of  Arts. 
In  1863  he  went  to  France  and  entered  the  theological 
seminary  of  St.  Sulpice,  Paris.  Here  he  spent  four  years, 
and  having  completed  his  theological  course  he  was  or- 
dained priest  at  Meaux  on  the  29th  of  June  1867.  On 
the  24th  of  December  1868  he  was  sent  to  build  the 


CHURCH  OF  THE  REDEEMER,  ASTORIA. 


295 


church  and  take  charge  of  the  congregation  known  as 
St.  Mary’s,  Long  Island  City.  In  his  teaching  Father 
Crimmin  strictly  adheres  to  the  principles  and  the  prac- 
tices of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  He  regards  the 
negligence  of  parents  in  the  religious  instruction  of  their 
children  and  the  formation  of  their  consciences  as  the 
greatest  of  our  present  social  evils.  As  a citizen  he  has 
been  from  his  boyhood  an  abolitionist  and  a firm  sup- 
porter of  republican  principles,  and  especially  the  equal- 
ity of  all  men  before  the  law. 

Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Astoria. 

The  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Astoria,  is  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Temple  street  and  the  Crescent,  occupying 
a frontage  of  two  hundred  feet  on  each  street.  It  is  a 
beautiful  building,  of  early  English  gothic,  built  of  dark 
granite,  one  hundred  and  six  feet  long,  with  recessed 
chancel,  organ  chamber  and  tower. 

The  first  meeting,  called  to  take  the  preliminary  steps 
for  the  formatian  of  the  parish,  was  held  August  19th 
1866,  Rev.  A.  T.  Twing,  D.  D.,  officiating  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  the  Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall  in  the  evening. 
At  a meeting  held  the  27th  of  the  same  month  the  par- 
ish was  regularly  incorporated  as  the  rector,  church 
wardens  and  vestrymen,  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer, 
Astoria.  The  following  persons  were  duly  chosen  ward- 
ens and  vestrymen:  Wardens,  James  Welling  and  Wil- 
liam Mulligan;  vestrymen,  Edward  W.  Hewitt,  James  W. 
Carrington,  George  B.  Sargent,  James  M.  Carrington, 
Edward  M.  Hartshorne,  Theodore  W.  Hewitt,  Edwin  A. 
Montell  and  George  Miller.  The  Holy  Communion  was 
administered  for  the  first  time  in  this  parish,  to  17  per- 
sons, September  2nd,  by.  Rev.  William  D.  Walker,  of  Cal- 
vary Chapel,  New  York.  September  27th  the  parish  was 
admitted  into  union  with  the  convention  of  the  diocese 
of  New  York. 

October  30th  the  vestry  tendered  a unanimous  call  to 
the  rectorship  the  Rev.  Edmund  D.  Cooper,  and  De- 
cember 2nd  1866  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  rector  of 
the  parish. 

At  this  time  he  found  the  seventeen  communicants, 
with  a few  other  devoted  friends,  worshipping  in  a room 
since  known  as  the  drug  store  of  Mr.  Lange.  Six  months 
having  expired,  so  earnest,  zealous  and  prayerful  was  the 
spirit  manifest  among  the  members,  and  so  steady  and 
sure  was  the  growth  of  the  congregation,  that  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  hall  was  rendered  necessary. 

In  the  meantime  land  had  been  purchased  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  the  erection  ot  a church  building,  the 
corner  stone  of  which  was  laid  by  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan,  rec- 
tor of  St.  Thomas’s  church,  New  York,  in  the  unavoid- 
able absence  of  the  bishop.  The  church  was  built  by 
Messrs.  Hollingsworth  & Meserole,  Mr.  Hallett,  of  New 
York,  being  the  architect. 

On  Sexagesima  Sunday  1868  the  first  service  was  held 
in  the  church,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev  Dr. 
Haight,  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  Rev.  Dr.  Morgan 
preaching  in  the  evening. 

So  great  an  undertaking  by  a congregation  so  small 


and  feeble  was  not  completed  without  great  exertion, 
toilsome  solicitations,  and  severe  discouragements,  and 
even  then  was  left  heavily  burdened  with  debt,  the  in- 
debtedness being  not  less  than  $24,000,  and  the  church 
was  without  organ  chamber,  large  organ,  Sunday-school 
building,  tower  or  chimes. 

The  years  1872  and  1873  witnessed  the  erection  of  the 
organ  chamber,  the  completion  of  the  tower,  and  the 
placing  therein  of  a chime  of  bells,  through  the  liberality 
of  the  late  Mr.  Trafford.  The  year  1874  saw  the  com- 
pletion of  the  organ  chamber  and  the  introduction  of  a 
grand  organ  from  the  house  of  the  Messrs.  Odell,  of 
New  York. 

The  Sunday-school,  under  the  management  of  the  only 
two  superintendents  from  its  first  organization' (William 
Mulligan  and  John  B.  Moore)  had  by  this  time  outgrown 
its  accommodations,  and  an  effort  was  made,  though  at- 
tended with  great  difficulty  and  depression  (caused  by 
the  death  of  R.  S.  Fanning,  its  ardent  supporter),  to  erect 
a suitable  building  of  stone.  The  effort  was  crowned 
with  success,  and  the  building  now  stands  as  a memorial 
to  that  departed  friend. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  rector’s  13th  an- 
nual sermon,  preached  on  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent 
1879,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  freeing  of  the  church 
from  debt: 

“ There  have  been  more  special  providences  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  parish,  than  in  that  of  any  other  that  1 have  ever 
known.  During  the  first  twelve  years,  in  addition  to  the 
value  added  to  the  church  property,  to  which  allusion 
has  been  made,  through  the  liberality  of  the  bondhold- 
ers, the  Ladies’  Church  Aid  Society,  special  contribu- 
tions, the  regular  quarterly  collections,  the  mite  chests, 
and  one  bequest,  the  $24,000  indebtedness  of  1868  was 
in  1878  (just  ten  years)  reduced  to  $8,000.  This  indebt- 
edness (although  greatly  diminished)  was  a burden,  an 
incumbrance  and  a stumbling  block  in  the  way  of  many 
good  works  which  might  otherwise  have  been  done,  and 
positively  prevented  our  offering  of  this  church  to  God 
as  a free  will  offering.  In  expressing  these  feelings  to  a 
warm  friend  (and  member  of  the  church)  he  promptly  of- 
fered all  his  bonds  (the  bonds  issued  were  of  $100  each) 
if  so  desirable  an  object  could  be  attained.  His  example 
was  followed  by  another,  and  another,  and  another,  until  I 
was  enabled  to  say  to  the  vestry  that  five  gentlemen, 
aided  by  the  Ladies’  Church  Aid  Society,  the  Sunday- 
school  and  the  Grain  (a  society  of  young  ladies)  would 
guarantee  $4,000  or  one-half  of  the  entire  debt,  provided 
the  remaining  $4,000  could  be  raised. 

A committee  was  appointed  and  * * * it  only  re- 

mains for  me  to  tell  you  that  they  have  accomplished 
more  than  they  set  out  to  do.  There  is  not  to-day  upon 
this  parish  one  dollar,  or  one  penny’s  indebtedness. 

The  church  is  still  prosperous  and  free  from  debt. 
The  work  of  the  church  during  the  fifteen  years  of  exist- 
ence may  thus  be  briefly  summed  up:  Nearly  400  per- 
sons baptized,  nearly  300  confirmed,  50  marriages  and 
160  burials,  and  the  number  of  communicants  increased 
from  17  t.o  over  300.  The  rector  still  stands  in  his 
place,  and  the  church  has  a Sunday-school  numbering 
nearly  300  scholars  and  25  officers  and  teachers,  with  a 
property  which  has  cost  over  $50,000,  as  will  be  seen  by 
the  following  statement:  cost  of  church  edifice  and 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


:q6 


ground,  $32,500;  cost  of  organ  chamber  and  organ, 
$5,177;  cost  of  tower  and  bells,  $10,020;  cost  of  Sunday- 
school  building,  $7,056;  total  cost,  $54,753;  amount  paid 
for  support  of  parish,  $69,406;  total  amount  expended, 
$124,159.  Of  this  amount  the  Ladies’ Church  Aid  Society 
have  raised  $18,185. 

The  church  was  consecrated  December  4th  1879.  The 
congregation  being  standing,  the  senior  warden,  William 
Mulligan,  presented  to  the  bishop  the  instrument  of  do- 
nation, when  the  concluding  act  of  consecration  took 
place,  the  prayers  being  said  by  the  bishop,  and  the  sen- 
tence of  consecration  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Drowne. 
The  communion  service  following  was  read  by  Dr. 
Scarborough,  bishop  of  New  Jersey,  the  gospel  being 
read  by  Bishop  Southgate.  Rev.  George  F.  Sey- 
mour, D.D.,  LL.  D.,  bishop  of  Springfield,  111.,  was  the 
preacher. 

St.  Raphael’s,  Blissville. 

The  ground  on  which  this  church  stands  was  bought 
in  1867  and  the  church  was  built  thereon  in  1867  and 
1868.  The  building,  so  far  as  completed,  cost,  including 
the  steeple,  about  $40,000.  It  was  built  under  the  man- 
agement of  Father  Theodore  Goetz,  the  first  pastor,  who 
organized  the  church  in  1867. 

The  building  was  found  to  be  unsuitable  for  the  con- 
gregation and  had  to  be  taken  down.  A new  edifice  is 
being  built  at  this  time  (September  1881)  by  Father  Mat- 
thias Farrelly,  the  present  pastor.  This  structure  is  60 
by  138  feet  in  size.  The  membership  of  St.  Raphael’s  is 
about  2,000. 

East  Avenue  Baptist,  Hunter’s  Point. 

This  church  is  on  East  avenue  at  the  corner  of  Eighth 
street.  The  first  meeting  of  persons  interested  in  the 
Baptist  cause  in  this  neighborhood  was  held  in  Smithson- 
ian Hall,  January  27th  1869.  The  church  was  organ- 
ized April  10th  of  the  same  year. 

The  nine  original  members  were:  Rev.  J.  S.  Ladd  and 
wife,  Saxton  Mount  and  wife,  C.  E.  Comstock,  Phebe 
Ann  Tewksbury,  Abbie  Lash,  Mary  Ann  Combes  and 
Horace  Waters.  They  worshipped  in  Smithsonian  Hall 
until  the  present  church  edifice  was  built.  Rev.  Way- 
land  Hoyt,  D.  D.,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  new 
place. 

The  church  was  organized  under  the  leadership  of  Rev. 
J.  S.  Ladd,  then  serving  as  missionary  of  the  Long  Island 
Association.  The  first  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  W.  B. 
Smith,  who  served  the  church  three  years.  The  second 
was  Rev.  William  F.  Benedict,  who  remained  two  years. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  A.  Granger,  who  was 
called  in  September  1874  and  is  now  (1881)  completing 
the  seventh  year  of  his  ministry. 

The  church  edifice  is  a frame  structure  with  brick 
basement  and  slate  roof,  gabled.  Its  value  is  $25,000. 
It  was  dedicated  March  8th  1871  by  Dr.  Fulton,  of  Bos- 
ton, and  Dr.  Evarts,  of  Chicago.  Its  seating  capacity  is 
about  800. 

One  of  the  finest  baptisteries  in  the  land  is  in  this 


church.  It  is  of  the  finest  polished  marble,  and  was  the 
gift  of  Mrs.  Horace  Waters,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  first  session  of  the  Sunday-school  was  held  Janu- 
ary 27th  1869.  The  first  superintendent  was  Horace 
Waters.  The  number  of  scholars  was  about  30.  The 
last  report  of  the  school,  February  5th  1881  shows  a 
membership  of  1 70,  arranged  in  20  classes.  The  present 
superintendent  is  A.  L.  New;  the  assistant  superinten- 
dent is  the  pastor,  W.  A.  Granger. 

The  prospects  of  both  church  and  school  are  promis- 
ing. The  members  are  thoroughly  united,  earnest  and 
active.  The  church  is  entirely  free  from  debt. 

The  First  German  Baptist  church,  at  Dutch  Kills,  was 
the  outgrowth  of  a Sunday-school  which  was  organized 
in  the  garret  of  a house  near  the  present  house  of  wor- 
ship, with  Herman  Lekamp  as  superintendent,  in  1870. 
The  church  was  built  about  1876,  by  William  Diehl.  At 
first  this  organization  was  a mission  of  the  First  German 
Baptist  church,  of  New  York.  Rev.  II.  Schaffer  was 
pastor.  The  name  of  the  body  has  been  changed  and  it 
is  called  Grace  Mission  of  the  East  Avenue  Baptis't 
Church. 

St.  Patrick’s  Roman  Catholic,  Dutch  Kills. 

In  1870  a meeting  of  the  Roman  Catholic  residents  of 
Dutch  Kills  was  held  to  take  preliminary  steps  toward 
the  erection  of  a church  in  the  neighborhood.  Thomas 
Doyle  was  elected  chairman,  Daniel  O’Callaghan  secre- 
tary, and  Thomas  Dobbins  treasurer. 

A few  hundred  dollars  were  raised;  four  lots  of  ground 
on  the  corner  of  William  and  Henry  streets  were  pur- 
chased and  a small  edifice  was  erected  thereon. 

Rev.  Father  Goetz  acted  as  temporary  pastor,  upon 
whose  application  Bishop  Loughlin  appointed  Rev.  Fa- 
ther M.  M.  Marco  permanently.  The  Very  Rev.  Father 
Turner,  V.  G.,  in  the  absence  of  Bishop  Loughlin,  offici- 
ated at  the  dedication. 

It  was  during  Father  Marco’s  term  that  the  present 
pastoral  residence  was  erected.  In  1874  Father  Marco 
was  removed  and  his  place  was  filled  by  Rev.  John  M. 
Kiely,  now  pastor  of  the  Transfiguration  church,  Brook- 
lyn. Rev.  Ignatius  O’Brien  succeeded  Father  Kiely 
as  pastor  in  September  of  the  same  year,  and  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  23d 
1878. 

The  church  has  been  removed  to  a site  on  Crescent 
street,  between  Wilbur  and  Paynter  avenues,  adjoining 
the  pastoral  residence.  It  has  been  greatly  improved 
and  enlarged,  having  a seating  capacity  of  775.  There 
are  several  religious  confraternities  attached  to  the 
church. 

November  23d  1878  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  L.  F.  To- 
ner, became  Father  O’Brien’s  successor. 

Third  Methodist  Episcopal,  Dutch  Kills. 

The  Third  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Long  Is- 
land City  had  its  inception  in  a Sunday-school,  which 
was  opened  in  a room  on  Jackson  avenue  November  19th 
1871,  by  T.  L.  Stewart,  assisted  by  his  daughter  and 


CHURCHES— REFORMED,  CATHOLIC,  METHODIST— N.  Y.  & L.  I.  BRIDGE  CO. 


E.  Wooley.  A preaching  service  was  soon  after  institut- 
ed and  continued  with  considerable  regularity. 

The  first  preacher  was  Rev.  R.  H.  Lomas.  He  was 
succeeded  in  May  1872  by  Rev.  B.  Simon,  who  served 
the  church  until  March  1878.  Rev.  A.  Nixon  then 
served  one  year.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  R.  H. 
Lomas,  who  returned  to  the  pastorate  and  remained  two 
years.  In  the  spring  of  18S1  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Kirk. 

The  trench  for  the  foundation  of  the  present  building 
was  dug  June  26th  1875,  and  the  church  was  dedicated 
March  19th  1876,  by  the  late  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes.  It  is 
a frame  building  on  a stone  foundation  and  is  surrounded 
by  a neat  picket  fence.  About  the  close  of  the  year 
1879  two  class  rooms  were  added  to  the  building.  The 
value  of  the  church  property  is  about  $2,500. 

The  Sunday-school  numbers  about  90  scholars  and  has 
over  300  volumes  in  its  library.  T.  L.  Stewart  was  the 
the  first  superintendent. 

• Reformed,  Dutch  Kills. 

Many  of  the  early  residents  at  Dutch  Kills  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Newtown,  but  as  the 
population  increased  the  want  of  some  local  organization 
and  place  of  worship  was  felt.  A Sunday-school  was 
formed  at  a comparatively  early  date  and  met  in  the 
school-house  east  of  the  creek,  near  Skillman  avenue> 
Benjamin  Thompson  of  Ravenswood  aGting  as  instruc- 
tor. As  soon  as  the  school  trustees  elected  under  the 
city  charter  assumed  the  duties  of  their  office,  the  priv- 
ilege granted  many  years  ago  of  holding  Sunday-school 
and  religious  meetings  in  school-houses  was  revoked,  and 
subsequent  sessions  as  well  as  services  for  worship  were 
held  in  the  barn  of  John  W.  Payntar. 

For  several  summers  prior  to  the  erection  of  the  pres- 
ent church  edifice  the  board  of  domestic  missions  of  the 
Reformed  church  sent  students  from  the  theological 
seminary  at  New  Brunswick  to  preach  to  the  people  dur- 
ing their  vacations  and  to  perform  all  manner  of  mission- 
ary labor  among  them.  These  missionaries  were  Rev. 
Messrs.  Hart,  Garretson,  Pebender  and  John  Van  Neste. 
It  was  owing  to  the  labors  of  the  latter  and  the  generos- 
ity of  Mr.  Payntar  that  the  present  church  was  built. 
The  • former  took  upon  himself  the  trouble  of  rais- 
ing funds  by  subscription,  and  the  latter  donated  a 
lot  with  a frontage  of  75  feet  on  Academy  street.  The 
building  which  cost  a little  more  than  $4,000,  was  com- 
pleted in  the  spring  of  1875.  The  pulpit,  organ  and 
pews  were  donated  by  John  I.  De  Bevoise,  another  gen- 
erous friend  of  the  cause. 

A regular  church  organization  was  effected  April  12th 
1875,  when  the  edifice  was  dedicated.  John  W.  Payntar 
and  Jabez  Harris  were  chosen  elders  and  Thomas  Payn- 
tar deacon.  The  first  pastor,  Rev.  William  Perry,  was 
installed  the  same  day.  He  resigned  September  1st  fol- 
lowing, and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  R.  Garretson,  who 
was  installed  December  1st  and  resigned  April  1st  1877. 
October  17th  following  the  present  pastor,  Rev.  E.  Gut- 
weiler,  was  installed.  The  members  of  the  church  at  the 


time  of  its  organization  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  W. 
Payntar,  Mrs.  E.  Van  Alst,  Anna  Van  Alst,  Thomas 
Paynter,  Georgiana  Paynter,  Mary  E.  Payntar  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jabez  Harris. 

The  first  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  was 
Thomas  Paynter.  Its  present  membership  (1881)  is  115. 
Its  library  contains  300  volumes.  The  sessions  are  held 
in  the  basement  of  the  church,  which  has  been  fitted  up 
for  that  purpose  within  the  past  year. 

St.  Joseph’s  German  Catholic,  Astoria. 

St.  Joseph’s  German  Roman  Catholic  church  is  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  H.  Pauletige.  The  house  of 
worship  is  a frame  structure  in  which  services  were  first 
held  in  July  1880.  It  will  seat  about  200  persons. 

Methodist  Episcopal,  Astoria. 

At  Astoria  is  a flourishing  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
which  is  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  J.  Howard 
Hand.  The  writer  has  used  his  utmost  endeavors  to  ob- 
tain an  authentic  history  of  this  society  but  has  failed  to 
secure  the  co-operation  of  those  whose  aid  was  indispens- 
able to  him  in  this  design. 


The  New  York  and  Long  Island  Bridge  Company 

was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  New  York  on  the 
1 6th  of  April  1867,  with  thirty-five  corporators,  among 
whom  were  the  enginter,  Isaac  D.  Coleman,  its  principal 
promoter,  and  Hon.  Archibald  M.  Bliss,  afterward  its 
first  secretary. 

The  political  combinations  by  which  the  charter  was 
secured  were  made,  it  is  said,  by  Harry  Genet,  as  the 
complement  of  the  similar  enterprise,  the  Brooklyn 
bridge,  which  had  just  then  been  authorized.  It  was, 
moreover,  the  opinion  of  many  engineers  and  far-seeing 
men  of  business,  that  the  location  of  the  Brooklyn  bridge 
did  not  serve  the  purposes  of  so  great  and  expensive  a 
work,  they  reasoning  that,  as  it  could  not  take  railway 
trains  because  of  its  necessarily  high  grades,  and  that 
even  if  the  grades  could  be  overcome,  no  paying  road 
could  be  built,  over  or  under  ground,  through  twelve 
miles  of  New  York  and  five  miles  of  Brooklyn  streets 
for  other  than  the  merely  local  rapid  transit,  which  alone 
that  bridge  would  serve.  It  could  thus  not  be  made  the 
part  of  any  system  of  through  transport  between  Long 
Island,  or  even  Brooklyn  and  the  rest  of  the  United 
States;  but  would  be  occupied,  to  the  utmost  of  its  ca- 
pacity, by  the  local  passenger  traffic  of  western  Brooklyn 
and  southern  New  York  city. 

However  speculative  may  have  been  the  purposes  of 
some  among  the  prime  movers  in  the  enterprise,  there 
was  a conviction  among  thinking  men  that  Long  Island 
should  be  suitably  connected  with  the  mainland,  for 
every  class  of  transportation;  and  that  the  bridge  for 
this  purpose  should  be  so  located  from  the  center  of 
New  York  city  to  the  western  center  of  the  Island,  as  to 
give  the  shortest  railway  route  into  Long  Island  ar.d 


2q8 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


into  Brooklyn,  through  the  less,  encumbered  business 
streets  of  New  York  and  the  open  lands  of  Long  Island, 
and  cross  the  East  River  at  its  narrowest  point,  where 
foundations  for  its  piers  could  be  located  on  rock  in 
place  at  or  near  the  surface  of  the  water. 

To  secure  the  shortest  and  most  direct  route  and  in- 
sure the  shortest  spans  possible  it  was  necessary  to 
cross  Blackwell’s  Island,  and  after  an  exhaustive  exami- 
nation Mr.  Coleman  selected  the  site  south  of  Seventy- 
seventh  street,  New  York,  and  running  parallel  with  it 
and  nearly  at  right  angles  with  the  river  to  Ravenswood. 
The  selection  of  the  locality  was  most  creditable  to  Mr. 
Coleman’s  judgment  and  engineering  ability,  as  it  se- 
cured the  shortest  possible  line  to  Long  Island  and 
Brooklyn,  utilized  Blackwell’s  Island,  with  its  two  nar- 
row channels,  for  two  of  its  four  main  pillars;  reduced 
the  spans  to  the  minimum  in  length,  consequently  in 
cheapness;  found  rock  at  the  surface  of  the  water  for  all 
of  the  piers,  and  at  once  insured  a bridge  of  great  strength 
and  rare  cheapness,  factors  of  so  great  value  in  such  an 
undertaking  and  so  little  understood,  except  by  engineers. 

Most  of  the  time  between  1867  and  1871  was  occupied 
by  Mr.  Coleman  and  the  officers  of  the  company  in  sur- 
veying many  different  routes  for  the  bridge  and  in  finally 
adopting  the  present  one,  and  surveying  the  lands  and 
lots  to  be  taken  and  giving  the  necessary  legal  notices. 
A few  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  in  small  sums 
and  appropriated,  and  Mr.  Coleman  expended  a still  lar- 
ger sum  from  his  private  means. 

The  enterprise  was  evidently  languishing  because  it 
was  said  “to  be  in  the  hands  of  the  politicians.”  They 
had,  no  doubt,  intended  to  bond  the  counties  of  New 
York  and  Queens,  and  perhaps  Suffolk;  and  the  people, 
considering  it  a public  interest,  neglected  or  discouraged 
private  subscription  to  the  stock. 

About  this  time,  1871,  the  Legislature  granted  another 
charter,  for  similar  purposes,  to  the  “ New  York  and 
Queens  County  Bridge  Company,”  among  whose  corpor- 
ators was  Colonel  R.  M.  C.  Graham,  since  then,  and  still 
secretary  of  the  New  York  and  Long  Island  Bridge  Com- 
pany. The  new  company  held  one  or  two  meetings  and 
elected  officers,  but  in  the  same  year  virtually  disbanded, 
holding  no  further  meetings,  performing  none  of  the  acts 
required  by  its  enacting  law,  and  thus  lapsing  by  limita- 
tion. 

During  this  time  Mr.  Graham  obtained  from  Mr. 
Genet  and  his  friends  all  of  their  right  and  title  to  the 
New  York  and  Long  Island  Bridge  Company’s  charter; 
and  Mr.  Coleman  having  died,  sought  new  parties,  and 
reorganized  the  company  on  a purely  commercial  basis. 
Among  these  gentlemen  were  Messrs.  William  Steinway, 
John  T.  Conover,  Archibald  M.  Bliss,  R.  M.  C.  Graham, 
H.  C.  Poppenheusen,  O.  Zollikoffer,  Pliny  Freeman,  Os- 
wald Ottendorfer,  Ed.  J.  Woolsey,  Gotlob  Gunther, 
Charles  A.  Trowbridge,  Hermann  Funcke,  Edward  Ein- 
stein, Abraham  D.  Ditmars,  Willy  Wallach,  C.  Godfrey 
Gunther,  Charles  F.  Tretbar,  Charles  H.  Rogers,  John 
C.  Jackson  and  Henry  G.  Schmidt.  Later,  in  1876, 
Thomas  Rainey  became  a stockholder  and  was  elected  to 


the  direction.  The  board  elected  consisted  of  the  twenty- 
one  of  these  gentlemen  who  obtained  an  amendment 
to  the  charter  conferring  additional  powers  for  obtaining 
right  of  way  and  extending  the  time  for  the  commence- 
ment of  work  from  April  1 6th  1871  to  June  1st  1879. 
William  Steinway  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the 
company  and  a general  plan  of  action  was  adopted;  but 
little  actual  progress  was  made  up  to  1873,  when  the  great 
commercial  crisis  of  that  year  supervened,  prostrating 
nearly  every  such  enterprise  of  the  country,  and  creating 
the  universal  distrust  that  smothered  industry  up  to  1880. 

Notwithstanding  this  disheartening  depression  the  new 
company  made  a move,  toward  the  end  of  1874,  and  ap- 
pointed a commission  of  engineers,  consisting  of  Gen- 
eral J.  G.  Barnard,  General  Quincy  A.  Gilmore  and  Oli- 
ver Chanute,  empowered  to  formulate  the  necessary  en- 
gineering rules  and  data,  and  invite  plans  and  propos- 
als from  the  best  talent  of  the  country  among  engineers 
and  bridge  builders;  and  to  this  end  offer  three  prizes, 
for  the  best  plans,  of  $1,000,  $500,  and  $250. 

The  committee’s  circular  presented  an  excellent 
norma  of  engineering  for  a very  strong  and  first-class 
bridge  structure.  From  twelve  to  fifteen  designs  were 
presented  in  1875  and  1876;  some  of  unquestiona- 
ble merit,  and  others  less  meritorious  or  wholly  una- 
dapted to  the  situation.  The  committee  considered  these 
designs  during  1876  and  1877,  and  finally  in  1877  pre- 
sented their  report,  recommending  certain  features  of 
these  plans,  but  none  as  decidedly  superior  to  all  others. 
At  a special  session  of  the  board,  and  upon  the  pressing 
advocacy  of  Mr.  Chanute,  but  not  on  the  real  merits  in- 
volved, the  plan  of  Mr.  McDonald  (an  excellent  plan  for 
certain  localities)  was  adopted  for  the  first  prize;  that  of 
Captain  Eads  for  the  second  prize,  and  that  of  Mr.  Flaad 
for  the  third.  The  only  director  taking  actual  issue  was 
Dr.  Rainey,  who  maintained  that  any  suspension,  and  es- 
pecially the  trussed  cable  system  of  a London  engineer, 
presented  by  Mr.  Morris,  was  better  than  any  Canti- 
lever, or  other  bridge  cut  in  two  in  the  middle;  that  so 
long  and  high  a bridge  should  be  under  the  control  of  a 
cable  in  some  form;  and  that  this  ingeniously  designed 
but  ugly  Cantilever  was  the  most  untried  and  experimen- 
tal of  all  the  plans  presented. 

An  able  and  exhaustive  report  had  been  presented  to 
the  board  in  1875  by  Charles  Bender;  and  Mr.  Harding, 
besides  resurveying  the  whole  route  and  verifying  the 
work  of  Mr.  Coleman,  collated  a large  number  of  plans 
and  presented  them  in  elaborate  detail  to  the  company 
before  the  board  of  engineers  was  constituted. 

After  this  report  of  the  board  of  engineers  was  adopted 
the  company  paid  all  of  the  salaries  and  prizes;  and  find- 
ing no  one  disposed  to  embark  in  the  undertaking  made 
no  further  effort;  but  closed  its  office,  stored  its  records, 
and  awaited  the  opportunities  of  the  future. 

Mr.  Steinway,  having  lest  a brother,  being  disheartened 
at  the  indifference  of  those  in  interest,  and  compelled  to 
give  his  whole  attention  to  his  private  business,  proposed 
to  Dr.  Thomas  Rainey,  whose  tastes  and  attainments  led 
him  in  that  direction,  that  if  he  would  take  the  bridge  in- 


THE  BLACKWELL’S  ISLAND  BRIDGE. 


299 


terest  in  hand  he  would  give  him  his  entire  support — a 
promise  kept  to  the  letter.  With  similar  assurances  from 
other  members  of  the  board  he  was  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  board  in  November  1877,  again  in  1879,  and 
again  in  1880;  serving  three  years,  and  devoting  1879  and 
1880  entirely  to  the  interests  of  the  company.  During 
this  time  he  vainly  sought  to  interest  Mr.  Vanderbilt, 
Messrs.  Drexel,  Morgan  & Co.,  of  the  Long  Island  Rail- 
roads, and  the  various  parties  to  the  elevated  railroad 
system.  Mr.  Vanderbilt  thought  it  a good  enterprise, 
but  had  enough,  was  “run  to  death,”  and  wished  rather 
to  curtail  than  extend  his  business.  Messrs.  Drexel,  Mor- 
gan & Co.  also  thought  well  of  it  and  considered  it  in- 
dispensible  to  the  Long  Island  railroad  system — in 
fact  that  without  it  these  roads  would  never  properly  de- 
velop or  prosper;  but  said  they  were  not  railroad  men, 
and  wished  to  sell  and  realize  on  their  investment.  The 
elevated  railroad  men  said  that  they  had  enough  to  do  in 
New  York,  although  everybody  else  sees  that  the  splen- 
didly built  Second  avenue  line  is  a complete  failure  with- 
out this  bridge,  and  a singularly  good  investment  with  it. 

While  exhausting  one  by  one  these  sources  of  capital, 
Dr.  Rainey  pursued  a fixed  purpose  to  interest  with  him 
the  great  bridge  building  firm  of  Clarke,  Reeves  & Co., 
ot  Phoenixville,  Pa.;  and  at  the  same  time  make  careful 
estimates  by  the  engineers  of  this  house  of  several  of 
the  different  plans  proposed,  and  especially  of  that  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Morris,  and  the  plan  of  Mr.  b idler,  of 
London.  During  the  examination  a new  plan  was  sug- 
gested by  Messrs.  Clarke  & Bonzano,  at  the  suggestion, 
it  is  said,  of  Mr.  Shreve,  which  was  evidently  supe- 
rior to  all  others,  and  which  was  consequently  adopted. 
To  enable  Dr.  Rainey  to  enlist  the  hearty  co-operation  of 
-Clarke,  Reeves  & Co.  he  proposed  to  the  board  his  resig- 
nation from  the  presidency,  and  a contract  with  the  com- 
pany for  furnishing  right  of  way  and  building  a first-class 
double  track  railway,  carriage  and  walkway  iron  bridge, 
and  receiving  payment  for  the  same  in  the  total  securi- 
ties of  the  company.  This  contract  was  realized  on  the 
3d  of  December  1880,  Charles  A.  Trowbridge  having 
been  elected  to  the  presidency;  and  the  detailed  contract 
contemplated,  with  Clarke,  Reeves  &:  Co.,  was  made  on 
the  25th  of  March  1881.  Dr.  Rainey  commenced  work 
on  the  following  day,  on  the  Ravenswood  pier,  and  he 
has  now  completed  a large  and  expensive  coffer-dam  in 
the  East  River,  within  which  he  is  building  the  first  pier; 
a work  of  great  difficulty  in  view  of  the  very  rapid  cur- 
rents, and  the  near  passage  of  many  large  steamers. 

The  charter  of  the  company  would  have  expired  on 
the  20th  of  June  1879;  but  owing  to  Dr.  Rainey’s  assid- 
uous efforts  it  was  amended  by  the  Legislature  in  1879 
and  the  time  extended  to  the  1st  day  of  Tune  1885.  Dr. 
Rainey  improved  the  occasion  of  this  amendment  to 
have  section  10  repealed,  which  gave  to  Queens  and  New 
York  counties  the  right  to  purchase  the  bridge  when 
completed;  and  the  section  so  amended  that  the  height 
of  the  bridge,  at  the  middle  of  each  channel  of  the  East 
River,  should  be  at  least  150  feet  above  average  mean 
tide — a change  necessary  to  shipping  and  which  neutral- 


ized the  opposition  of  those  who  had  so  long  and  bitterly 
antagonized  the  Brooklyn  bridge.  This  amendment 
further  required  that  work  should  be  commenced  on  or 
before  the  1st  day  of  June  1881.  An  attempt  was  made 
in  the  spring  of  1880  to  abridge  this  time  for  commenc- 
ing, but  the  spirit  of  fairness  and  good  sense  in  the  Leg- 
islature discountenanced  the  move  against  a body  of  men 
who  had  spent  their  own  money  only,  and  labored  sedu- 
lously, not  to  speculate  and  sell  their  charter,  but  to  un- 
selfishly enlist  capital  in  the  undertaking.  So  far  is  this 
true  that  none  of  the  corporators  receive  any  pecuniary 
benefit  whatsoever  from  the  transfer  of  their  property, 
except  such  as  accrues  from  the  stock  and  bonds  which 
they  have  purchased;  discharging  thus  a high  public 
trust  in  an  honorable  and  praiseworthy  manner. 

Dr.  Rainey  has  secured  the  co-operation  of  first-class 
citizens,  and  has  pledges  of  $1, 600, 000  of  his  stock.  He 
is  unwilling,  however,  as  the  responsible  financial  head  of 
the  enterprise,  to  prosecute  work  on  a large  scale,  or  em- 
ploy this  amount  of  the  money  of  his  friends,  until  an- 
other million  dollars  is  secured,  which,  with  his  bonds, 
will  enable  him  to  realize  the  work  without  risking  the 
million  and  a half  named;  a precaution  to  which  no  rea- 
sonable person  can  object. 

He  estimates  that  the  revenue  from  this  bridge,  with 
the  lowest  and  most  encouraging  tolls,  will  be,  above  all 
expenses,  more  than  $2,000  per  day,  which  will  pay  six 
per  cent,  each  on  $6,000,000  of  stocks  and  $6,000,000  of 
bonds.  The  St.  Louis  bridge,  with  several  competitors 
along  the  Mississippi,  with  a city  much  smaller  than 
Brooklyn  at  one  end  and  nothing  at  the  other,  with  a very 
short  and  rich  ferry  in  active  opposition,  takes  in  con- 
siderably more  than  $2,000  per  day*;  so  that  if  the  Ravens- 
wood bridge  can  be  actually  built  for  $6,000,000,  of 
which  there  is  not  room  for  a doubt,  even  at  only  $2,000 
per  day  receipts  it  becomes  an  excellent  and  safe  invest- 
ment, and  as  such  eminently  merits  the  special  attention 
of  Queens  county,  of  which  it  is  by  far  the  greatest  and 
most  vital  public  interest. 

Of  course  it  strikes  the  unprofessional  thinker  as 
strange  that  this  bridge  should  cost  only  six  millions 
while  the  Brooklyn  bridge,  only  three-fifths  as  long,  will 
cost  probably  fifteen  or  sixteen  millions,  and  the  St. 
Louis  bridge  cost  nearly  fifteen  millions.  In  explanation 
Dr.  Rainey  says:  “Our  four  piers  are  placed  on  rock  at  or 
near  the  surface  of  the  water.  Were  it  necessary  to  sink 
our  foundations  by  caisson  as  deeply  as  those  of  the 
Brooklyn  and  St.  Louis  bridges,  they  would  cost  us  at 
least  $6,000,000  more.  Then  our  two  spans  (of  734  feet 
and  618  feet,  aggregating  only  1,352  feet)  leave  the  total 
spans  just  244  feet  shorter  than  that  of  the  Brooklyn 
bridge.  Now,  the  division  of  these  1,352  feet  into  the  two 
short  spans  makes  the  proportionate  cost  per  foot  much 
smaller  than  if  they  were  longer,  according  to  a well- 
known  law,  that  if  short  spans  are  doubled  in  length  their 
cost  will  increase  not  as  the  double,  but  more  nearly  as 

* Since  the  above  was  written,  Mr.  Gould,  who  has  purchased  the  St. 
Louis  bridge,  has  informed  Dr.  Rainey  that  the  receipts  arc  about 
$3,000  daily. 


300 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY.  - 


the  squares  of  the  length;  at  the  same  time  that  when  long 
spans  are  doubled,  as  our  two  into  nearly  the  one  at 
Brooklyn,  the  cost  increases  at  a much  higher  ratio, 
somewhere  between  the  squares  and  the  cubes.  We  thus 
save  in  our  two  short  spans  at  least  $3,000,000  over  the 
cost  of  the  Brooklyn  bridge.  Again,  our  land  will  cost 
$1,000,000  less,  making  the  total  $10,000,000  less  than  the 
Brooklyn  or  the  St.  Louis  bridge;  each  of  which  is  only 
three-fifths  as  long  as  ours.  Thus  favored  by  nature  we 
can  accomplish  with  six  what  cost  each  of  them  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars;  a fact  that  shows  the  superior  pay- 
ing capacity  of  our  enterprise  as  compared  with  other 
bridges  of  similar  magnitude  and  importance.” 

In  this  connection  we  may  appropriately  introduce  a 
biographical  sketch  of  the  gentleman  who  is  conducting 
this  great  enterprise.. 

THOMAS  RAINEY. 

Thomas  Rainey,  of  Ravenswood,  was  born  December 
9th  1824,  at  Yanceyville,  Caswell  county,  North  Caro- 
lina; his  ancestral  families  being  Rennie,  Hunter,  Mur- 
ray and  Hendrick,  Mrs.  Hendrick,  who  was  Ruth 
Murray,  having  lived  to  the  age  of  10^/2.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Classical  Academy  of  that  place,  up  to  1842, 
when  he  went  to  the  vvestern  part  of  Missouri.  He  taught 
for  two  years,  pursuing  scientific  studies  and  medicine. 
He  abandoned  medicine,  without  graduating,  in  1845-6, 
and  commenced  lecturing  on  mathematics,  a favorite  pur- 
suit, which  he  continued  for  five  years. 

In  1849  he  published  at  Cincinnati  a large  work  on 
Arithmetic  by  Cancellation , Geometry , etc.,  with  a large 
amount  of  engineering  data,  which  was  stereotyped  and 
sold  very  largely  in  the  west.  He  then  became  interested 
in  popular  education,  and  edited  and  published  the 
Western  Review  for  two  years. 

In  1850  he  was  elected  secretary  of  “The  American 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,”  at  New 
Haven,  Professor  Agassiz  being  then  elected  its  presi- 
dent. „ 

In  1851  the  national  Whig  committee  got  him  to  es- 
tablish a campaign  organ  for  the  State  of  Ohio,  the  Daily 
Republican,  which  closed  with  the  Scott  campaign. 

He  came  to  New  York  in  1852,  and  in  1853  the  con- 
sulate of  Bolivia  was  established  for  him.  at  the  request 
of  Bache,  Maury  and  others,  for  purposes  of  scientific 
inquiry  in  that  country,  and  he  was  appointed  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate;  but  the  clamor  of  the  party  or- 
gans caused  him  to  resign  in  1854,  when  he  went  to  the 
Amazon  and  remained  one  and  a half  years.  He  made 
several  trips  to  and  from  Brazil  in  1874,  1875  and  1876 
and  endeavored  to  establish  steam  communication  with 
Brazil,  which  he  abandoned  only  after  the  crisis  of  1857, 
although  he  had  a unanimously  favorable  joint  Senate  and 
House  report  on  the  1st  of  March  1857  for  $240,000  an- 
nually for  ten  years. 

In  1857  he  went  to  Europe  in  quest  of  material  for 
his  work  Ocean  Steam  Navigation  and  the  Ocean  Post 
(Appletons,  New  York,  and  Trtibner,  London;  see  Alli- 
bone’s  Dictionary  of  Authors);  and  while  awaiting  the 


renaissance  of  industry  went  in  1858  on  the  frigate  “Ni- 
agara” to  Liberia  as  special  diplomatic  agent  of  the 
United  States,  and  among  other  things  urged  on  our 
government  placing  steam  cruisers  on  the  coast  in  place 
of  the  useless  sailing  vessels,  and  a vigorous  suppression 
of  the  slave  trade. 

While  in  Europe  in  1857  he  was  nominated  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate  secretary  of  legation  to  Brazil. 
Declining  this  he  was  renominated  in  the  same  year;  de- 
clined again,  and  was  offered  the  mission  to  Portugal  by 
Mr.  Buchanan,  which  he  also  declined. 

In  1859  Dr.  Rainey  went  again  to  Brazil,  and  estab- 
lished the  great  American  ferry  running  from  Rio  de 
Janiero  to  Nictherohy,  Sao  Domingos,  Santa  Anna  and 
Paqueta;  building  twelve  steamers  and  large  permanent 
works  in  the  Open  Bay.  He  did  all  of  his  own  engineer- 
ing, both  hydraulic  and  marine,  for  which  his  previous 
con  amore  studies  had  well  fitted  him. 

He  returned  to  this  country  in  1874,  still  retaining  his 
interests  in  Brazil,  and  in  1875  married  Miss  Grace  Pris- 
cilla Ogden,  daughter  of  the  elder  Samuel  Governeur 
Ogden,  so  well  known  to  old  New  Yorkers. 

Dr.  Rainey,  or  Mr.  Rainey,  as  he  prefers  being  called, 
became  a member  of  the  board  of  the  New  York  and 
Long  Island  Bridge  Company  in  1876;  was  elected 
president  in  November  1877,  again  in  1878  and  again  in 
1879.  During  the  latter  year  he  became  very  active  in 
its  affairs;  and,  devoting  his  whole  time  to  the  enterprise, 
has  attained  the  results  noticed  in  the  preceding  article. 
He  is  a persuasive  and  effective  public  speaker,  a strong 
and  earnest  writer,  and  a man  of  generous  impulses  and 
ceaseless  energy. 

MANUFACTURING. 

Long  Island  City  is  the  center  of  large  manufacturing 
industries;  and  with  its  almost  unequaled  advantages 
for  the  promotion  of  trade  it  has  a certain  prospect  of 
rapid  development  and  increasing  prosperity.  The  city 
covers  an  extensive  area  and  presents  some  of  the  most 
eligible  building  sites  to  be  found  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  With  the  East  River  flowing  by  its  side  and  sev- 
eral ferry  boats  regularly  crossing,  it  is  accessible  to  every 
part  of  New  York,  while  the  street  cars  as  readily  con- 
nect it  with  Brooklyn;  and  by  several  lines  of  railway  it 
has  direct  and  speedy  communication  with  all  parts  of 
Long  Island. 

The  Great  Oil  Enterprises. 

The  present  business  activity  of  the  city  is  due  in  a 
large  measure  to  the  presence  and  operations  in  its  midst 
of  the  Empire  and  Standard  oil  works,  which  there  carry 
on,  on  a gigantic  scale,  all  of  the  various  processes  of  re- 
finement of  petroleum.  These  works  have  been  in  ope- 
ration about  ten  years,  during  which  time  the  proprietors 
have  been  gradually  improving  their  premises  and  ex- 
tending their  accommodations. 

An  idea  of  the  extent  and  importance  of  these  works 
may  be  gained  from  the  following  ,condensed_extracts 


THE  HUNTER’S  ’POINT  OIL  WORKS— STEINWAY  PIANO  FACTORY. 


from  an  article  published  in  The  Bulletin  (a  New  York 
trade  journal)  in  November  1880: 

Both  the  Standard  and  the  Empire  oil  works  are  situ- 
ated on  the  East  River,  in  close  proximity  to  New  York, 
and  with  every  convenience  for  loading  and  unloading 
ships. 

The  Empire  works  are  bounded  by  Nott  and  Vernon 
avenues  and  West  and  Division  streets.  An  area  of 
twelve  acres  is  covered  by  these  works,  which  have  a clear 
water  frontage  of  over  a quarter  of  a mile.  In  these 
works  are  as  many  as  fifty  tanks,  with  a capacity  of  at 
least  10,000,000  gallons;  while  the  capacity  for  turning 
out  crude  oil  amounts  to  the  enormous  average  of  16,000 
barrels  per  week.  From  400  to  500  hands  are  employed 
in  the  different  departments,  and  so  thoroughly  is  the 
business  systematized  and  arranged  that  all  the  separate 
interests  are  kept  distinct,  and  yet  perfectly  united.  The 
pay-roll  of  the  works  amounts  to  the  handsome  sum  of 
$200,000  per  year;  and  as  an  illustration  of  the  vast  ex- 
pense incurred  in  carrying  on  such  an  extensive  indus- 
try it  is  almost  enough  to  say  that  in  the  item  of  coal 
alone  as  much  as  200  tons  are  consumed  weekly.  The 
crude  petroleum  which  is  used  in  these  works  is  conveyed 
from  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania  in  tank  cars  to  the 
city  of  New  York.  It  is  then  pumped  by  means  of  large 
force  pumps  through  pipes,  which  are  sunk  under  the 
East  River,  directly  into  a number  of  large  tanks  at  the 
works.  These  pipes  commence  at  the  oil  terminus 
station  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  at  Sixty-fifth 
street,  run  through  Sixty-fifth  street  to  Eighth  avenue, 
thence  through  the  sunken  road  through  Central  Park 
to  Fifth  avenue  and  Sixty-fifth  street,  thence  across  the 
city  to  the  East  River  at  Sixty-third  street,  thence  across 
the  west  branch  of  the  East  River,  thence  through  the 
grounds  of  Blackwell’s  Island  about  one  mile,  thence 
across  the  east  branch  of  the  East  River,  thence  across 
the  canal  between  the  Empire  and  Standard  works, 
thence  through  the  streets  of  Hunter’s  Point  and  across 
Newtown  Creek,  an'd  thence  through  Newtown,  connect- 
ing with  several  other  refineries.  These  pipes  have 
been  in  constant  use  for  several  years. 

The  capacity  of  some  of  the  tanks  is  not  less  than 
1,500,000  gallons.  From  them  the  oil  is  pumped  into 
stills,  where  it  is  evaporated  and  manufactured  into  all 
the  different  grades  of  petroleum.  These  vary  from  the 
regular  no  degrees  burning  test  oil,  which  is  manufac- 
tured expressly  for  export,  up  to  the  first  quality  of  il- 
luminating oils.  The  process  of  distillation  and  refine- 
ment is  one  of  peculiar  delicacy,  requiring  the  minutest 
care  and  a perfect  chemical  or  scientific  knowledge  and 
arrangement. 

In  the  Standard  works  there  are  in  like  manner  all  the 
various  processes  carried  on  which  are  necessary,  from  the 
first  reception  of  the  crude  petroleum  in  the  pipes  laid 
under  the  East  River  to  its  final  exportation  to  distant 
lands.  More  than  400  hands  are  employed  in  the  works, 
and  an  average  of  $200,000  is  paid  away  in  wages  every 
year.  This  vast  sum  is  exclusive  of  the  other  large  ex- 
penses in  coal,  wood,  machinery,  etc.,  all  of  which  show 


what  an  enormous  capital  is  required,  and  of  what  essen- 
tial advantage  such  works  may  be  to  the  city  in  which 
they  are  located.  The  authorities  of  the  Standard,  like 
those  of  the  Empire  works,  are  anxious  that  nothing 
should  be  left  undone  that  might  contribute  to  the  suc- 
cess of  their  enterprise,  to  the  comfort  of  their  employes 
and  to  the  local  interests  of  the  city;  hence  their  yard, 
their  buildings,  their  offices,  their  tanks,  etc.,  are  all  de- 
signed and  constructed  with  a view  to  commodiousness, 
safety  and  durability;  and  thus  they  entitle  themselves  to 
public  confidence  and  respect. 

The  proprietors  of  these  great  works  are  fastidiously 
anxious  that  nothing  that  may  be  detrimental  to  health 
and  comfort  should  be  carried  on  there.  They  have  fre- 
quently tried  new  experiments;  they  have  adopted  new 
designs;  they  have  employed  new  agents;  they  have  ex- 
pended large  sums  of  money;  amd  if  scientific  skill  or 
practical  knowledge  or  even  supercilious  criticism  can 
suggest  any  expedient  that  may  prove  more  practical  and 
efficacious  they  would  not  hesitate  to  try  it,  regardless  of 
expense  and  labor. 

The  Stein  way  Enterprises. 

In  1870  and  1871  Steinway  & Sons  bought  several  ad- 
joining plots  of  ground  at  Astoria,  comprising  about  400 
acres,  over  a mile  long,  and  having  a water  frontage  on 
the  East  River  of  more  than  half  a mile,  opposite  One 
Hundredth  street  to  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  street, 
New  York  city.  The  property  is  but  four  miles  from 
their  New  York  manufactory  (which  occupies  a whole 
block  on  Fourth  and  Lexington  avenue,  Fifty-second 
to  Fifty-third  street),  six  miles  from  the  City  Hall,  New 
York,  and  but  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  Central 
Park,  New  York. 

In  1872  improvements  were  begun  by  the  erection  of  a 
steam  saw-mill,  iron  and  brass  foundries,  boiler  and  en- 
gine houses,  and  a large  building  for  the  drilling,  finish- 
ing and  japanning  of  the  full  iron  frames  and  other 
metal  portions  used  in  the  construction  of  the  Steinway 
pianofortes,  which  are  manufactured  under  the  sole  and 
special  supervision  of  the  firm,  instead  of  being  bought, 
ready  made,  of  outside  parties,  as  by  other  piano  makers. 
Each  of  these  new  buildings  is  three  stories  high,  and  all 
are  constructed  in  the  most  permanent  and  substantial 
manner,  of  brick  and  stone.  They  are  located  between 
the  canal  and  the  west  side  of  Blackwell  street,  forming 
a hollow  square,  with  a frontage  of  312  feet  and  a depth 
of  200  feet. 

The  water  front,  on  the  canal,  is  occupied  by  a sub- 
stantially constructed  dock  and  bulkhead,  384  feet  in 
length;  also  inclosing  a basin,  100  feet  wide  by  300  feet 
in  length,  which  is  constantly  stocked  with  millions  of 
feet  of  logs,  designed  for  sawing  into  required  thick- 
nesses for  manufacturing  purposes.  At  the  saw-mill  all 
the  lumber,  rosewood  and  various  other  kinds  of  wood 
used  in  the  construction  of  a Steinway  piano,  is  sawed 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  a member  of  the  firm, 
and  every  faulty  portion  immediately  cast  aside. 

The  iron  foundry  is  specially  built  for  the  casting  of 


3°4 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


full  metal  frames  for  pianofortes.  Only  the  choicest 
brands  of  metal  and  coal  are  used,  and  after  lengthy  and 
costly  experiments  Steinway  & Sons  have  succeeded  in 
producing  metal  closely  resembling  cast-steel,  of  fully 
double  the  strength  of  ordinary  cast-iron,  and  yet  of 
comparative  lightness.  These  qualities  produce  in  the 
Steinway  piano  an  increase  of  vibratory  power,  and  the 
advantage  of  remaining  longer,  better  and  more  firmly  in 
tune  than  any  other  instrument  produced. 

In  1873  Steinway  avenue  (a  thoroughfare  running  par- 
allel with  the  East  River,  through  the  center  of  the 
Steinway  property,  upward  of  6,000  feet,  and  through 
Long  Island  City  for  over  four  miles),  and  several  other 
streets  were  improved,  graded  and  macadamized,  side- 
walks were  laid,  and  beautiful  shade  trees  were  set  out 
by  Messrs.  Steinway  & Sons;  the  avenue  is  undergoing 
completion  throughout  Long  Island  City,  simultaneously 
with  the  erection  of  factory  buildings  and  the  grading 
and  sewering  of  the  streets.  Buildings,  mostly  of  brick, 
were  erected  by  Messrs.  Steimvay  and  others,  all  neat 
and  substantial  dwellings  and  stores,  each  house  being 
supplied  with  pure  water  from  the  Long  Island  City 
water  works;  and  in  addition  to  this  great  convenience, 
the  Messrs.  Steinway  have  completed  a most  perfect  sew- 
erage, according  to  the  admirable  plan  of  Long  Island 
City.  There  are  now  (1881)  130  dwelling  houses,  with  a 
population  of  over  1,200  at  Steinway;  the  population  is 
rapidly  increasing,  and  buildings  are  being  erected  con- 
stantly in  various  parts  of  the  village,  including  a number 
of  pretty  and  substantial  villas,  located  on  the  high 
ground  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  village,  and  affording 
a fine  view  of  the  East  River.  The  post-office  depart- 
ment at  Washington  has  just  established  a post-office  in 
the  village,  under  the  name  of  “ Steinway,”  Queens 
county,  N.  Y.,  which  is  located  on  Steinway  avenue, 
corner  of  Bowery  Bay  road. 

In  1877  the  key-board  making  and  wood-carving 
branches  of  their  piano  manufacture  were  removed  from 
Steinways’  New  York  factory  and  located  at  their  As- 
toria factories.  During  the  same  year  the  Steinway  or 
the  fifth  ward  public  school-house  was  erected  and 
opened  to  the  public.  It  is  a substantial  brick  building, 
occupying  four  lots  on  Steinway  avenue,  and  having 
ample  accommodations  for  500  pupils.  Messrs.  Steinway 
pay  the  salary  of  a first-class  teacher  of  the  German  lan- 
guage, and  also  give  all  in  attendance  an  extra  advantage 
in  musical  culture,  and  they  have  left  nothing  undone  to 
make  this  a model  school  in  every  respect. 

The  large  piano-case  factory  was  erected  in  1879.  The 
building  is  four  stories  high,  248  feet  long  by  60  feet 
deep,  with  an  adjoining  engine  and  boiler-house.  In 
this  building  the  cases  for  all  the  Steinway  square,  up- 
right and  grand  pianos  are  constructed,  and  they  are 
sent  completed  to  the  New  York  factory  to  receive  the 
sounding-board,  the  necessary  exterior  varnish  and  polish 
and  their  interior  construction,  when  they  are  ready  to 
be  sent  for  sale  to  the  warerooms  at  Steinway  Hall,  on 
Fourteenth  street,  New  York.  In  addition  to  the  case- 
making factory  are  the  drying  rooms,  a four-story  brick 


building,  40  by  100  feet,  containing  the  drying-kilns  be- 
low and  drying-rooms  above.  These  buildings  are  lo- 
cated parallel  to  and  150  feet  distant  from  the  metal 
works.  In  the  yard  are  stacked  5,000,000  feet  of  lumber 
for  open  air  drying. 

Besides  all  the  labor-saving  machinery,  which  has  the 
working  capacity  of  at  least  400  men,  and  the  lack  of 
which  formerly  endangered  the  life  and  health  of  the 
employes,  one  of  the  most  interesting  sights  at  Steinways’ 
is  the  process  of  grand  piano-case  manufacture.  These 
cases  are  made  from  specially  selected  logs  from  18  to  23 
feet  long,  sawed  into  veneers  one-eighth  of  an  inch  thick, 
which  after  a thorough  course  of  open  air  and  kiln  drying 
are  glued  together  and  bent  into  the  proper  form  of  parlor 
and  concert  grand  piano-cases,  by  means  of  immense 
iron  presses,  heated  to  the  necessary  degree  by  steam. 

The  entire  Astoria  establishments  of  Steinway  & Sens 
employ  about  400  workmen,  and  these  works  are  con- 
nected by  telegraph  and  telephone  with  the  Steinway 
factory  on  Fourth  avenue,  between  Fifty-second  and 
Fifty-third  streets,  and  their  warerooms  and  principal 
office  at  Steinway  Hall,  on  Fourteenth  street,  New  York, 
through  a cable  in  the  East  River.  In  their  New  York  fac- 
tory Messrs.  Steinway  & Sons  employ  over  600  workmen. 

In  1879  a Protestant  union  church  was  built,  accom- 
modating over  500  persons,  which  is  well  attended  by 
the  people  of  that  vicinity;  and  in  addition  to  the  public 
school  and  many  other  enterprises  established  and  main- 
tained by  Messrs.  Steinway  &:  Sons,  they  have  recently 
(1881)  erected  a public  bath,  100  feet  long  by  50  feet 
wide,  with  50  dressing  rooms,  on  their  property  extend- 
ing along  the  shore  of  the  East  River.  All  employes 
and  their  families  have  the  privilege  of  bathing  free  of 
charge,  and  in  connection  with  this  a fine  park,  250  by 
200  feet,  has  also  been  allotted  to  their  use. 

Messrs.  Steinway  & Sons  are  the  only  piano  manufac- 
turers in  the  world  who  have  their  own  saw-mills  and 
metal  foundries.  Especially  through  owning  and  con- 
trolling the  latter  they  have  secured  full  metal  piano- 
frames  of  double  and  treble  resisting  power.  At  the  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition  in  Philadelphia,  1876,  Messrs.  Stein- 
way & Sons  received  the  highest  award,  being  two 
medals  of  honor  and  two  diplomas  of  merit,  which  were 
incontestably  the  highest  honors  bestowed  upon  any 
piano  exhibit  at  the  International  Exhibition,  no  other 
piano  exhibitor  having  received  a similar  extraordinary 
recognition  by  the  jury;  and  only  to  the  Steinway  piano 
has  been  accorded  “ the  highest  degree  of  excellence  in 
all  their  styles.”  Steinway  & Sons’ exhibit  in  Machinery 
Hall — samples  of  metal  parts  and  hardware,  and  full  metal 
frames  of  grand,  square  and  upright  pianos,  and  samples 
of  their  patent  metallic  tubular  frame  actions,  all  produced 
at  their  foundry  and  metal  works  at  Astoria — was  hon- 
ored with  an  additional  medal  and  diploma  of  merit  for 
its  surpassing  excellence. 

Steinway  & Sons  are  largely  exporting  their  pianos  to 
Europe,  having  completely  turned  the  tide,  the  importa- 
tion of  pianos  to  the  United  States  having  entirely 
ceased. 


CASE  MAKING  BUILDING  AND  DRYING  KILNS 


iim 


‘•t®98£R  YAi 


mm 


.-■■■  : 


STEINWAY  & SONS  PIANOFORTE  FACTORY,  FOUNDR 


WAY  & 


FOUNDRY,  METAL  WORKS  A HD  SAW  MILL 


STEINWAY 


drying:  kills' 


is-tlg 


>»«.>••*  »W^Vv;t 


COAL 

DOCK. 


METAL  WORKS  AND  LUMBER  YARDS,  ASTORIA,  N,  Y. 


ASTORIA  VENEER-MILLS  AND  VARNISH  WORKS. 


The  Williams  Veneer-Mills. 

The  village  of  Astoria  is,  like  scores  of  others,  a clump 
of  vigorous  shoots  from  the  underlying  business  roots  of 
the  great  city,  that  permeate  the  surrounding  country  in 
every  direction.  Among  its  most  enterprising  business 
men  is  William  H.  Williams,  a cut  of  whose  extensive 
veneer-mills  is  herewith  presented.  The  proprietor 
learned  the  details  of  this  branch  of  manufacturing, 
through  all  the  various  gradations,  in  New  York,  where 
he  became  superintendent  of  one  of  the  largest  works  of 
the  kind  in  the  city.  In  the  spring  of  1875  he  came  to 
Astoria  and  put  up  a building  40  feet  square,  which  was 
in  running  order  by  the  1st  of  June.  During  the  year  it 
was  enlarged  to  meet  the  demands  that  its  work  imme- 
diately created.  About  four  years  ago  other  additions 
were  built  on,  till  now  its  size  is  75  by  100  feet,  one 
portion  being  three  stories  high. 

The  engine,  which  is  already  taxed  to  its  utmost  ca- 
pacity, and  must  soon  be  replaced  by  a larger  one,  is  of 
35  horse  power.  The  machines  which  it  drives  are  as 
follows:  Three  veneer  cutters,  viz.  rotary,  half  round 
and  flat;  a band  saw,  two  circular  saws  and  a drag  saw; 
one  Daniels  planer,  one  circular  planer,  two  shears  for 
cutting  up  veneer,  and  a machine  thirty-four  feet  long  for 
grinding  the  long  knives  that  slice  up  a log  as  easily  as  a 
carving  knife  runs  through  a loaf  of  bread.  These 
veneer  machines  were  built  for  and  under  the  special 
oversight  of  Mr.  Williams,  and  each  one  has  special  fea- 
tures of  his  own  invention,  that  are  covered  by  patents. 
H is  long  flat  cutting  machine  is  a marvel  of  execution, 
and  probably  has  not  an  equal  anywhere.  Every  kind 
of  domestic  and  foreign  wood  in  use  by  manufacturers 
is  cut  at  this  mill  in  large  quantities.  Black  walnut,  oak, 
ash,  whitewood,  basswood,  maple,  mahogany,  cherry, 
rosewood,  red  and  Spanish  cedar,  butternut  and  tulip  are 
among  the  most  prominent  varieties.  Of  rosewood  alone 
he  has  $15,000  worth  on  hand  at  the  present  time,  and 
walnut  of  the  same  value.  Some  varieties  of  French 
burr  walnut  cost  thirty-five  cents  per  pound,  and  rose- 
wood costs  from  five  to  ten  cents  in  the  rough,  of  which 
from  twenty  to  forty  per  cent,  is  wasted  in  cutting. 


3°9 

During  the  past  year  9,000,000  feet  of  veneer  have 
been  sawed  and  cut,  employing  about  twenty-five  men. 
The  water  needed  for  engine  and  steaming  purposes  is 
supplied  from  the  Long  Island  City  water  works.  All 
the  cut  veneers  used  in  Steinway’s  gigantic  piano  works 
are  supplied  from  this  mill.  Mr.  Williams  has  a wharf  of 
his  own  just  back  of  his  works,  on  Bowery  Bay,  where 
boats  load  and  unload,  thus  being  in  direct  water 
communication  with  the  various  railroads,  that  bring  logs 
from  every  part  of  the  country.  Taken  in  the  aggregate, 
his  veneer-mills  are  the  most  extensive  in  the  State.  In 
the  not  far  distant  future  the  legitimate  growth  of  Brook- 
lyn (now,  but  New  York  then)  will  fill  all  the  open  spaces 
between  Long  Island  City  and  Astoria  with  brick  build- 
ings and  stone  pavements.  Enterprising  men  like  Mr. 
Steinway  and  Mr.  Williams  are  the  creators  of  villages 
and  cities. 

Varnish  and  Paint  Manufactories. 

The  firm  of  Edward  Smith  & Co.  is  claimed  to  be  the 
oldest  and  certainly  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  favor- 
ably known  concerns  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
varnish  in  the  United  States.  The  original  firm,  from 
which  the  present  one  descended  in  a direct  line,  was  es- 
tablished in  1827,  the  title  then  being  P.  B.  Smith  & Co.; 
the  office  and  salesroom  was  at  202  Bowery,  New  York, 
and  the  manufactory  in  the  open  air  beneath  the  apple 
trees  that  grew  in  the  famous  “ old  orchard  ” at  what  is 
now  the  corner  of  First  avenue  and  Sixth  street.  In 
1844  P.  B.  Smith  retired  and  the  firm  name  was  changed 
to  Smith,  Stratton  & Co.,  under  which  title  the  business 
was  continued  until  1851,  and  at  the  death  of  Nathan 
Smith  the  firm  became  Smith  & Stratton.  In  1859  Mr. 
Stratton  died  and  Edward  Smith,  the  senior  partner  of 
the  original  firm,  conducted  the  business,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  John  A.  Elmendorf,  who  has  acted  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  general  manager  of  the  business  since  1853. 
Again  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Smith  & Elmen- 
dorf. We  find  no  record  of  any  individual  or  firm  hav- 
ing been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  varnish  in  this 
country  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the  firm  of  P.  B. 
Smith  & Co.  in  1827;  although  some  coach  painters  had 
made  experimental  lots  of  a gallon  or  so  for  their 
own  use,  and  some  of  their  earliest  production  may  have 
been  sold  to  other  parties.  Mr.  Smith’s  early  experi- 
ments were  the  first  to  achieve  such  success  as  to  war- 
rant the  investment  of  capital  and  the  establishment  of 
the  varnish  manufacture  as  a business.  The  inflamma- 
ble and  com'bustible  qualities  of  the  materials  used  in 
those  days,  and  the  crude  and  imperfect  appliances  for 
manufacture — entirely  devoid  of  all  the  modern  safe- 
guards against  explosion  and  fire — rendered  the  manu- 
facture of  varnish  in  a building  so  unsafe  that  it  saw 
deemed  best  not  to  atttempt  it  under  cover;  conse- 
quently the  first  varnishes  were  all  made  in  the  open  air 
and  at  the  risk  of  life  and  limb.  Within  a few  years 
the  “ old  orchard  ” began  to  be  improved.  Streets  and 
avenues  were  soon  laid  out  and  buildings  of  various 
kinds  erected  and  occupied,  but  the  tenants  were  greatly 


310 


HISTORY  Of  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


alarmed  at  their  constant  danger  from  fire  and  explosion; 
and  soon  complaints  were  made  to  the  city  authorities, 
and  the  firm  was  compelled  to  move  its  works  to  an- 
other locality. 

The  first  varnish  factory  ever  built  in  America  was 
then  erected  by  the  firm  at  Astoria,  but  they  were  not 
permitted  to  remain  there  long;  for  as  New  York  grew 
in  population  so  did  Astoria,  and  the  inhabitants  began 
to  make  complaints  of  the  dangerous  establishment.  In 
1856  the  firm  bought  lots  and  built  the  first  factory  build- 
ing on  Hunter’s  Point,  and  there  the  factories  of  the  firm 
still  remain.  Other  manufactories  pursuing  equally  dan- 
gerous occupations,  or  such  as  are  generally  deemed  to 
be  such,  followed  their  lead  in  this  great  enterprise,  and 
since  the  Smith  varnish  works  were  built  millions  of  dol- 
lars have  been  expended  in  building  on  the  Point.  It  is 
probable  that  to-day  as  many  hazardous  manufactories 
are  centered  there  as  at  any  other  place  in  this  country. 
The  hazard  of  the  business  (though  it  made  several 
changes  in  location  of  its  works  necessary)  and  the  high 
wages  demanded  by  the  men  employed  have  greatly  in- 
creased the  cost  of  the  production  of  varnish;  but  this  was 
not  the  only  difficulty  the  firm  had  to  encounter.  These 
fathers  of  varnish  manufacture  in  the  United  States  not 
only  had  the  old  famous  brands  of  England  and  France 
to  compete  with,  but  they  met  with  a stronger  foe  in  the 
distrust  with  which  their  products  were  received.  Grad- 
ually, however,  their  business  increased,  and  in  a short 
time  the  consumers  pronounced  Smith’s  varnishes  to  be 
equal  to  imported  varnishes  of  like  grades.  From  a 
small  foundation  an  immense  business  has  been  built  up, 
involving  the  investment  of  large  capital  and  giving  em- 
ployment to  hundreds  of  men.  The  firm  has  never  been 
content  to  rest  upon  past  success;  it  has  always  been  and 
is  now  full  of  life.  The  business  is  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  Elmendorf,  who  is  continually  striving  for 
better  results  than  have  been  attained  heretofore.  To 
the  practical  skill  gained  in  many  years’  experience  as 
manufacturers  the  makers  have  added  whatever  knowl- 
edge they  could  gain  from  outside  scientific  researches. 
Much  time  and  capital  have  been  expended- by  the  firm  in 
expensive  experiments  relating  to  combinations  of  mate- 
rials and  different  processes  of  manufacture,  and  every 
improvement  has  been  made  in  mechanical  appliances 
that  would  in  any  way  conduce  to  a reduction  of  the  cost 
of  its  productions.  Since  the  death  of  Edward  Smith, 
which  occurred  in  1878,  Professors  C.  Huntington  and 
Alexander  Maitland  have  become  members  of  the  firm, 
which  is  now  composed  of  Chester  Huntington,  John  A. 
Elmendorf  and  Alexander  Maitland.  The  works  have 
lately  been  renovated  and  supplied  with  a new  engine  of 
more  power,  which  enables  the  firm  to  manufacture  the 
finest  quality  of  coach  color  as  well  as  varnish.  The 
office  and  salesroom  of  this  firm  is  at  158  William  street, 
New  York. 

James  McGuiness,  varnish  manufacturer  on  West  ave- 
nue between  Fourth  and  Fifth  streets,  had  previously  been 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  varnish  at  Gowanus,  Kings 
county,  and  in  1859  came  to  Hunter’s  Point,  where  he 


erected  his  factory  in  1859  and  i860.  He  has  done  a 
somewhat  extensive  business,  manufacturing  for  firms 
supplying  the  trade  with  varnishes  under  their  own  trade- 
marks. 

Meyer,  Lowenstein  & Co ..  atui  E.  Caiman  & Co.  are 
also  extensive  manufacturers  of  varnishes  at  Hunter’s 
Point.  The  New  York  office  of  the  first-mentioned  firm 
is  at  80  Beekman  street,  and  that  of  the  latter  at  299 
Pearl  street. 

Pratt  6°  Lambert,  manufacturers  of  coach,  car  and 
house  varnishes,  baking  Japans  and  Pratt’s  liquid  dryers, 
are  among  the  most  prominent  manufacturers  of  Long 
Island  City,  and  their  goods  command  an  extensive 
sale,  and  are  so  widely  and  so  favorably  known  as  to  re- 
quire no  commendation  in  this  connection.  They  man- 
ufacture a number  of  specialties,  among  which  are  Pratt’s 
patent  liquid  dryer  for  drying  paints  and  oils,  and  also 
a marine  paint  for  the  bottoms  of  ships.  The  quality  of 
this  paint  is  such  that  nothing  belonging  to  the  vegetable 
or  animal  kingdom  can  adhere  ’to  it.  These  gentlemen 
are  successors  to  the  old  firm  of  A.  W.  Pratt  and  A.  W. 
Pratt  & Co.  The  house  now  consists  of  A.  W.  Pratt, 
H.  S.  Lambert  and  Charles  Pratt,  the  latter  a special 
partner.  A.W.  Pratt  has  manufactured  varnish  since  1853. 
The  rapid  growth  of  the  enterprise  has  necessitated  the 
enlargement  of  the  works  three  times,  and  the  firm  deter- 
mined on  doubling  their  capacity  during  the  summer  of 
1881. 

The  large  trade  and  the  eminence  this  firm  have  gained 
are  due  to  two  things,  viz.  the  equality  of  their  goods, 
and  personal  attention  to  their  business.  They  employ 
the  most  skilled  workmen  and  best  materials.  The  busi- 
ness office  of  the  firm  is  at  no  John  street,  New  York 
city. 

In  1881  George  Hopper  established  the  Long  Island 
Paint  and  Color  Works,  which  are  located  on  the  corner 
of  Tenth  street  and  West  avenue,  Astoria.  Eight  men 
are  daily  employed  in  these  works  and  are  able  to  turn 
out  500  tons  of  paint  per  day.  Different  grades  of 
paint  are  manufactured.  Oil  refined  paint  is  a specialty. 

Foundries  and  Machine  Shops. 

The  Long  Lsland  Lron  Works  are  the  outgrowth  of  an 
enterprise  established  about  sixteen  years  ago  by  Robert 
O’Hara  at  the  foot  of  Seventh  street,  and  conducted  on 
a small  scale  some  eleven  years  in  a shop  25  by  50  feet, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire.  A new  shop  of  the  same 
size  was  immediately  erected  on  the  old  site.  About  a 
year  later  an  addition  25  by  50  feet  was  made  to  the  shop 
and  the  hand-power  tools  were  replaced  by  machinery 
driven  by  steam.  About  1878  the  business  facilities  were 
doubled  by  the  erection  of  another  shop  building,  50  by 
100  feet,  in  which  was  put  more  new  machinery.  John 
W.  Rowland,  who  had  for  some  years  been  Mr.  O’Hara’s 
business  manager,  and  to  whose  tact  the  growth  of  the 
enterprise  was  in  no  small  degree  due,  became  a partner 
in  the  concern  in  February  1880,  the  firm  being  known 
as  O’Hara  & Rowland  till  the  following  October,  when 
Mr.  Rowland,  by  the  purchase  of  Mr.  O’Hara’s  interest, 


LONG  ISLAND  CITY  MANUFACTORIES. 


became  sole  proprietor,  Mr.  O’Hara  retiring  from  busi- 
ness. In  November  1880  ground  was  purchased  at  the 
foot  of  Sixth  street,  where  the  buildings  occupied  by  the 
Long  Island  Iron  Works  were  erected.  After  the  busi- 
ness had  been  removed  from  the  old  shops  they  were 
almost  entirely  torn  down.  Under  the  ownership  and 
management  of  Mr.  Rowland  the  business  is  signally 
prosperous.  Land  and  marine  steam  boilers  of  every 
description  are  manufactured,  also  tanks,  stills,  pans, 
vats,  filters,  gasometers,  retorts,  sugar  pans,  hop-jacks, 
single  and  double  bottom  iron  mash  tubs,  iron  surface 
coolers,  steep  tanks  for  malt  houses,  iron  beer  kettles, 
acid  blowers,  vapor  pipes,  varnish  and  tar  kettles,  con- 
densers, settling  pans,  smoke  pipes,  agitators,  lard  kettles, 
mixers,  vacuum,  upright  and  horizontal  oil  and  tar  stills, 
and  all  other  iron  works  for  fertilizers,  saleratus  and  var- 
nish factories,  chemical  works,  gas  houses,  oil  and  sugar 
refiners,  brewers,  maltsters  and  every  manufacturing  busi- 
ness. Patterns,  castings  and  fittings  of  all  kinds  are 
made  and  repairs  of  all  kinds  are  promptly  attended  to. 
Mr.  Rowland  is  a practical  engineer  and  machinist.  The 
New  York  office  of  the  Long  Island  Iron  Works  is  loca- 
ted at  150  Nassau  street;  the  works  at  the  foot  of  Sixth 
street,  Long  Island  City. 

The  Lons  Island  City  Foundry  is  on  Sixth  street  and 
West  avenue;  Joseph  McGee  is  proprietor.  Heavy  and 
light  castings  of  every  description  are  manufactured,  and 
machine  and  pattern  work  is  done.  The  business  was  es- 
tablished in  1863,  by  George  Kniffen,  who  was  succeeded 
by  Thomas  Cassidy  about  seven  years  later.  In  1874 
Mr.  McGee  bought  the  foundry,  and  he  has  since  owned 
it,  and  conducted  the  enterprise  with  such  success  that 
an  annual  business  averaging  about  $75,000  is  done,  giv- 
ing employment  to  about  thirty  men. 

Edward  W.  Howell,  machinist  and  engineer  and  man- 
ufacturer of  marine,  stationary  and  hoisting  engines,  and 
mill  and  mining  machinery,  on  Sixth  street,  between 
Vernon  and  West  avenues,  came  to  Long  Island  City 
from  Nova  Scotia  in  the  fall  of  1879.  In  February  1880 
he  established  his  present  business,  which  has  gradually 
increased  until  it  ranks  among  the  foremost  of  similar  en- 
terprises in  the  city,  giving  employment  to  from  six  to 
twelve  hands  at  various  seasons. 

Among  enterprises  similar  to  the  above  may  be  men- 
tioned the  shops  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  Company, 
and  some  smaller  establishments  doing  a limited  busi- 
ness in  various  parts  of  the  city. 

The  Preston  Fertilizer  Company. 

The  principal  office  of  the  Preston  Fertilizer  Company 
is  at  Greenpoint.  The  officers  of  the  company  are:  Ed- 
ward Preston,  president;  Henry  Preston,  superintendent 
of  the  factory  at  Point  Comfort,  N.  J.;  Edward  Preston, 
superintendent  of  transportation;  Alfred  I.  Preston,  su- 
perintendent of  the  factory  at  Blissville.  The  business 
to  which  the  proprietors  of  this  house  are  the  successors 
was  founded  by  Henry  Preston  in  1843,  he  being  chief 
among  the  pioneers  who  established  the  industry  in  the 
United  States.  The  factory  he  started,  with  a monthly 


3 1 1 


product  of  ten  tons,  has  had  its  yield  gradually  increased 
to  r,ooo  and  more.  Ripe  in  years,  Henry  Preston  died 
in  1878.  His  eldest  sons,  Thomas  J.  and  Henry  Preston 
j r. , were  his  surviving  partners  in  the  late  well  known  firm 
of  H.  Preston  & Sons.  The  three  other  sons,  Alfred  I., 
Edward  and  Charles  W.  Preston,  were  made  executors  of 
their  father's  will  and  legatees  of  his  half  in  the  business. 
The  five  sons  subsequently  associated  themselves  with 
their  father’s  old  friend  Charles  Harriman,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  a corporation  under  the  general  manufacturing 
laws  of  New  York,  the  six  being  the  only  stock- 
holders, the  capital  being  ample,  all  paid  up  in 
cash,  with  abundant  resources  at  command  to  extend  the 
manufacturing  facilities  indefinitely.  The  firm  manu- 
factures ammoniated  bone  super-phosphate,  ground  bone 
or  bone  dust,  bone-sawings  or  sawdust,  acid-phosphate 
or  super-phosphate  (not  ammoniated),  dissolved  bone, 
dried  fish  guano,  coarse,  fine  and  pulverized  bone  black, 
calcined  bone  and  bone  knife-handles.  The  principal 
factory  is  at  Blissville.  Here  bone-boiling,  bone-sawing 
for  knife-handles  which  are  furnished  to  cutlery  estab- 
lishments, calcining  bones  and  manufacturing  bone- 
black,  and  the  grinding,  mixing  and  chemical  processes 
are  carried  on  in  extensive  buildings,  affording  employ- 
ment to  a large  force  of  men.  Here  the  company  has 
abundant  docking  facilities,  and  employs  its  own  pro- 
pellers. The  bone-black  made  here  is  extensively  em- 
ployed in  sugar  refining  and  the  manufacture  of  blacking 
and  for  various  chemical  purposes.  The  Blissville  fac- 
tory was  established  by  George  Moller.  It  passed  into 
the  hands  of  H.  Preston  & Sons  in  1861.  The  works 
have  since  been  enlarged.  At  Point  Comfort,  on  the 
New  Jersey  shore,  the  company  has  recently  built  another 
extensive  factory,  also  a long  dock,  and  there  also  is  the 
company’s  fish  factory. 

Elegant  Cabinet  Work. 

Gust.  Autenreith,  manufacturer  of  plain  and  fancy 
cabinets,  cases  and  general  woodwork,  Vernon  avenue 
and  First  street,  has  been  for  thirty  years  in  business  as 
a manufacturer,  removing  from  New  York  to  Hunter’s 
Point  in  May  1867,  when  he  purchased  his  shop,  locally 
known  as  the  “glass-house,”  tore  down  a portion  of  it 
and  erected  substantial  shops  contiguous  to  it.  He  early 
was  extensively  engaged  in  manufacturing  sewing  ma- 
chine cases,  making  the  first  ones  used  by  the  Singer 
company  and  continuing  to  manufacture  for  that  well- 
known  firm  until  its  business  was  removed  to  the  west. 
Mr.  Autenreith  is  now  making  cases  for  silks,  threads, 
needles,  clocks  and  regulators,  and  other  varieties  of 
light  and  fine  cabinet  work.  The  manufacture  of  refriger- 
ators was  for  years  a leading  department  of  his  general 
business.  He  has  never  had  partners  in  his  business  in 
the  usual  sense  of  the  word,  but  from  time  to  time  has 
had  others  associated  with  him  in  the  manufacture  of 
certain  specialties.  The  property  of  Mr.  Autenreith  oc- 
cupies over  two  acres  of  ground  and  has  a water  front  of 
1,265  feet,  now  all  occupied,  a portion  by  Robertson’s 
saw-mill,  built  in  1880,  the  rest  by  the  New  York  Cedar 


312 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Ware  Company.  The  dock  on  which  these  enterprises 
are  located  was  built  about  two  years  ago,  at  which  time 
Mr.  Autenreith  graded  up  the  low  ground  between  his 
factory  and  the  river,  and  generally  improved  the  local- 
ity for  manufacturing  uses. 

C.  B.  French , successor  to  C.  H.  Lambkin  & Com- 
pany, manufacturer  of  telephone  cabinet  work,  pen, 
pencil,  needle  and  medicine  cases  and  all  kinds  of  cabi- 
net work,  at  46  and  48  West  avenue,  began  business 
March  1st  1879  at  the  corner  of  First  street  and  Vernon 
avenue,  as  a member  of  the  firm  above  mentioned.  Mr. 
Lambkin  withdrew  from  the  enterprise  January  1st  1881, 
and  Mr.  French,  who  had  all  along  been  the  active  and 
practical  manager,  became  sole  proprietor.  The  business 
was  established  on  a small  scale,  but  grew  slowly  until 
January  1881.  Since  that  date,  under  Mr.  French’s  sole 
management,  its  growth  has  been  very  rapid.  The 
business  during  1881  averaged  $10,000  per  month  or 
more.  About  thirty-five  men  were  employed.  A specialty 
is  made  of  wood  mountings  for  telephones.  Large 
numbers  of  cases  for  Clark’s  O.  N.  T.  Thread  Company 
and  for  Milward’s  needles  are  manufactured;  also  cases 
for  Brown’s  soaps. 

Canners  of  Fruit  and  Vegetables. 

John  Romain  began  the  business  of  canning  fruit  and 
vegetables  at  Hunter’s  Point  about  eighteen  years  ago. 
He  removed  to  his  present  location  at  Dutch  Kills  about 
twelve  years  ago.  The  establishment  is  one  of  the  most 
complete  of  its  kind  and  is  supplied  with  the  best  ma- 
chinery and  appliances.  Mr.  Romain  puts  up  about 
1,000,000  cans  of  fruit  annually  and  employs  some  85 
hands.  The  factory  is  under  the  supervision  of  Edward 
King,  who  has  had  an  experience  of  about  twenty-two 
years  in  the  business.  It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Romain 
leads  all  other  manufacturers  in  the  amount  of  tomatoes 
and  asparagus  which  he  places  on  the  market. 

Pryer  Brothers. — In  1869  W.  H.  Pryer  began  the  man- 
ufacture of  pickles,  vinegar  and  catsup  at  Bowery  Bay, 
and  he  did  a small  business  until  1873,  when  he  removed 
to  Astoria.  At  this  time  the  firm  of  Pryer  Brothers  was 
formed,  M.  Pryer  purchasing  an  interest  in  the  business. 
Ground  was  leased  on  Mills  street,  south  of  the  Ninety- 
second  street  ferry,  and  a factory  built  thereon.  In  the 
summer  of  1880  the  firm  removed  their  business  to  a 
building  they  had  erected  on  land  which  they  had  pur- 
chased, lying  on  the  same  street,  north  of  the  ferry.  An 
idea  of  the  extent  to  which  the  manufacturing  facilities 
of  this  firm  have  been  increased  may  be  gained  from  the 
fact  that  at  the  beginning  only  two  bushels  of  pickles 
could  be  made  at  a time,  while  the  present  capacity  of 
the  factory  is  twenty-five  barrels.  The  business  has  all 
along  been  very  prosperous  and  is  now  being  largely  in- 
creased. 

The  Erie  Preseriing  Company  was  incorporated  and 
organized  in  1873,  with  a capital  of  $25,000,  which  was 
increased  to  $50,000  in  1876  and  at  a later  date  to  $100,- 
000.  The  company  has  large  packing  houses  at  Ravens- 
wood  and  at  Buffalo,  Brandt  and  Farnam,  Erie  county, 


that  at  Ravenswood  being  very  large.  At  each  of  the 
four  central  depots  a can-manufacturing  department  is 
maintained,  employing  from  75  to  80  hands.  In  preserv- 
ing apples  the  company  claims  to  have  distinguished  it- 
self more  than  any  other  similar  concern.  All  the  large 
fruits  are  preserved  at  these  various  establishments,  such 
as  peaches,  pears,  quinces  and  pineapples,  and  also  cher- 
ries, all  kinds  of  berries,  pumpkins,  squashes,  etc.  Jams, 
jellies,  preserves,  marmalades  and  fruit  butters  are  manu- 
factured, of  assorted  varieties  and  flavors  and  put  up  in 
attractive  packages.  The  officers  of  the  company  are: 
Benjamin  Fenton,  president;  W.  W.  Hammond,  vice- 
president;  James  Fenton,  secretary  and  manager  of  the 
Buffalo  house;  S.  Fenton  jr.,  assistant  treasurer,  New 
York. 

Hudson  & Co.,  packers  of  canned  goods,  factor- 
ies at  the  corner  of  West  avenue  and  Third  street, 
Long  Island  City,  and  at  Locust  Valley,  Long  Island, 
are  prominent  manufacturers.  The  members  of  the  firm 
are  W.  H.  Hudson,  William  Bridge  and  John  Gregory. 
They  began  operations  in  the  spring  of  1878.  The 
enterprise  is  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Mr.  Hud- 
son, who  has  had  twenty-five  years  experience  in  the 
canning  business.  All  kinds  of  fruit  and  vegetables  in 
their  seasons  are  packed;  also  meats  and  poultry  during 
the  winter  season,  for  the  European  markets.  Among 
the  well  known  vegetable  specialties  of  this  firm,  popular 
with  the  trade,  are  their  “ Oyster  Bay  Asparagus,”  “ Long 
Island  Tomatoes,”  and  “ Locust  Valley  Sweet  Corn.” 
The  establishment  is  supplied  with  the  best  machinery, 
and  in  one  department  the  numerous  cans  used  are  man- 
ufactured. From  fifty  to  seventy-five  hands  are  em- 
ployed during  the  packing  season.  The  products  of  the 
factory  are  sold  principally  to  wholesale  dealers  in  New 
York,  Boston  and  Philadelphia  and  find  a ready  sale. 
The  business  has  grown  with  great  rapidity.  In  1880  it 
amounted  to  $75,000  or  $80,000  and  promised  to  be  much 
larger  in  1881. 

Oil-Cloths — Dyeing. 

The  Hyde  Manufacturing  Company  began  business  in 
East  Newark,  N.  J„  as  manufacturers  of  oil-cloth 
in  1876.  Their  factory  was  burned  in  1878  and  they 
removed  their  business  to  Astoria,  occupying  the  shops 
vacated  by  John  McAloney  as  a carpet  factory.  A large 
and  constantly  increasing  business  has  been  done  here. 
It  now  (1881)  aggregates  about  $100,000  annually.  It  is 
expected  that  it  will  be  largely  increased,  if  not  doubled, 
during  the  coming  year.  The  establishment  is  under  the 
supervision  of  Louis  Frey,  superintendent,  who  has  had 
an  experience  of  thirty  years  in  the  manufacture  of  oil- 
cloth. Three  thousand  yards  a day  can  be  turned  out. 
The  varieties  include  those  known  to  the  trade  as 
“table,”  “enameled,”  and  “ star  ” oil-cloth.  Five  good- 
sized  buildings,  besides  several  small  ones,  are  occupied, 
and  about  17,000  square  feet  of  flooring  are  brought 
into  requisition.  In  the  spring  of  1881  the  Hyde  Manu- 
facturing Company  was  succeeded  by  E.  P.  Tappey,  who 
had  been  the  junior  partner  in  the  concern. 


MANUFACTURES  IN  LONG  ISLAND  CITY. 


3i3 


Messrs.  King  & Ingram,  dyers  and  dealers  in  cotton 
yarn  for  the  trade,  began  business  in  1872,  at  the  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Van  Alst  avenue,  making  extensive 
additions  to  the  old  factory  buildings,  which  had  fallen 
into  their  hands.  The  establishment  is  fitted  up  with 
the  best  and  most  modern  appliances  for  carrying  on  the 
business,  and  twelve  men  are  employed.  The  aggre- 
gate of  the  business  of  this  firm  in  1880  was  $60,000. 

Various  Chemical  Manufactories. 

E.  W.  Abendroth,  whose  factory  is  at  Blissville,  is  one 
of  the  three  manufacturers  of  tartaric  acid  in  the  United 
States.  The  raw  material  for  this  staple  drug  is  known  as 
“ argols,”  and  is  imported  from  France.  The  other  fac- 
tories are  in  Philadelphia  and  Brooklyn  respectively. 
That  of  Mr.  Abendroth  is  the  newest  and  most  com- 
pletely fitted  up  of  the  three.  Much  of  the  machinery  in 
it  was  imported  from  Germany,  where  tartaric  acid  is 
manufactured  in  considerable  quantities.  Mr.  Abendroth 
has  an  office  at  28  Cliff  street,  New  York. 

The  Standard  Chemical  Company,  manufacturing  chem- 
ists, is  chartered  under  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  was  or- 
ganized in  1876  or  thereabout.  The  factory  is  in  Long 
Island  City;  the  general  office  at  114  Pearl  street,  New 
York. 

There  have  been  and  still  are  other  establishments  in 
the  city  where  chemicals  of  different  kinds  are  manufac- 
tured. Some  of  them  are  small  and  have  been  in  opera- 
tion only  a limited  time.  More  definite  information  con- 
cerning them  could  not  be  obtained. 

Pottery  and  Drain  Pipe. 

The  Long  Island  City  Pottery  is  at  the  foot  of  Sixth 
street.  Drain,  sewer  and  water  pipes  and  chimney  tops 
are  manufactured.  The  business  was  established  in  April 
1865,  by  John  Smith,  who  was  the  sole  proprietor  and 
manager  until  his  death,  June  25th  1878.  The  business 
then  passed  into  the  management  of  John  Smith  jr.,  who 
died  November  30th  1880.  It  has  since  been  carried  on 
by  his  widow,  under  the  personal  management  of  E.  S. 
Kelly,  who  has  been  employed  about  the  establishment 
for  the  past  seven  years.  Quite  an  extensive  business  is 
done,  the  pipe  from  this  pottery  being  sold  through- 
out the  State  of  New  York.  Twelve  hands  are  em- 
ployed. 

The  Hunter's  Point  Pottery  was  established  by  Joseph 
Newbrand,  the  present  proprietor,  in  1874.  Enameled, 
earthen  and  stone  ware,  fancy  flower  pots  for  gardens 
and  apparatus  for  chemical  purposes  were  formerly  man- 
ufactured. Since  January  1880  chemical  apparatus  has 
been  made  exclusively.  Three  hands  are  employ- 
ed. The  factory  is  located  at  the  foot  of  West  Sixth 
street. 

The  pottery  business  of  F.  Ibert  was  established  on 
West  Sixth  street,  in  April  1880.  In  July  following  it 
was  removed  to  near  Central  avenue  and  Eighth  street. 
He  makes  white-lined  pipkins  for  the  trade.  This  bus- 
iness, like  others  of  a similar  character  in  Long  Island 
City,  is  small. 


Marine  Railways. 

The  Marine  Railway  of  Long  Island  City  was  built 
in  1855,  by  the  Marine  Railway  Company  of  Planter's 
Point,  of  which  William  Tyson  was  president.  At  the 
incorporation  of  Long  Island  City  the  name  of  the  com- 
pany was  changed  to  the  Marine  Railway  Company  of 
Long  Island  City.  In  1867  Mr.  Tyson  bought  the  entire 
business,  of  which  in  1870  Henry  L.  Tyson  became  the 
active  manager.  William  Tyson  died  May  22nd  1880, 
since  which  time  Henry  L.  Tyson  has  continued  to  con- 
duct the  business  as  the  representative  of  the  estate  of 
the  deceased  proprietor.  An  important  business  has 
been  done  in  docking  ships  for  repairs,  repainting  and 
general  renovation. 

The  Van  Winkle  Marine  Railway  at  Astoria  is  also  well 
known.  Ship-building  has  been  carried  on  there  more  or 
less  extensively.  The  favorable  location  of  Long  Island 
City  for  such  work  enables  many  carpenters  who  would 
not  otherwise  be  constantly  employed  to  engage  with 
profit  in  boat  and  ship  building  and  repairing. 

Gray’s  Refrigerators. 

A very  prominent  business  and  manufacturing  enter- 
prise in  Long  Island  City  is  the  “ Eureka  ” refrigerator 
manufactory  of  Sylvester  Gray,  on  East  Fourth  street. 
The  “ Eureka  ” refrigerator  has  a galvanized  wrought- 
iron  bottom  and  is  unquestionably  the  best  made  for  all 
practical  purposes.  Mr.  Gray,  with  many  years’  experi- 
ence in  the  manufacture  of  refrigerators,  gained  in  the 
employ  of  H.  L.  Mace  & Company,  of  New  York,  began 
business  for  himself  in  1862,  successfully  putting  in 
operation  some  original  plans  and  applying  some  original 
ideas  and  devices  to  the  construction  of  refrigerators. 
That  they  were  as  practical  as  original  is  attested  by  the 
popularity  of  the  “ Eureka.”  Mr.  Gray  is  strictly  in  the 
wholesale  line,  manufacturing  for  the  Lade,  and  is  doing 
a large  and  rapidly  growing  business,  the  demand  for  his 
refrigerators  increasing  year  by  year. 

Van  Iderstine’s  Works — Miscellaneous. 

P.  Van  Iderstine,  Tenderer  of  tallow  and  dealer  in 
hides,  began  business  in  1855.  The  factory  is  supplied 
with  seven  kettles,  with  a capacity  of  from  6,000  to  9,000 
pounds  each,  and  six  presses  that  will  hold  3,200  pounds 
of  fat  each.  With  these  facilities  30,000  pounds  of  fat 
can  be  melted  daily.  The  process  employed  by  Mr.  Van 
Iderstine  is  the  most  approved  one  in  use,  condensing  all 
steam  through  a jet  from  the  kettles.  Eighteen  men  are 
employed,  and  the  establishment  is  under  the  manage- 
ment of  J.  M.  Thompson,  who  has  been  in  the  business 
as  long  as  any  man  in  the  Union  now  actively  engaged 
in  it.  The  tallow  is  sold  to  the  trade,  and  for  the  past 
ten  years  the  scraps  from  the  establishment  have  been 
shipped  to  London. 

The  distillery  of  Gaff,  Fleischman  & Co.  was  es- 
tablished in  1858,  by  other  parties.  In  1866  Gaff, 
Fleischman  & Co.  purchased  it  and  they  have  since 
owned  it. 


35 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  shirt  and  clothing  manufactory  of  John  Apple- 
ton  at  Dutch  Kills  is  an  important  and  prominent  enter- 
prise, in  which  considerable  capital  is  invested,  and 
which  gives  employment  to  quite  a number  of  persons. 

We  have  now  written  more  or  less  at  length  of 
every  important  or  representative  industrial  enterprise 
in  Long  Island  City  of  which  we  were  able  to  procure 
reliable  data  from  any  source.  It  has  not  been  deemed 
expedient  to  cumber  our  pages  with  accounts  of 
insignificant  manufacturing  enterprises  such  as  are  to 
be  found  in  larger  or  smaller  numbers  everywhere. 

Advantages  and  Prospects. 

Long  Island  City  occupies  a water  frontage  of  about 
ten  miles — four  miles  on  the  East  River  immediately  op- 
posite the  upper  and  growing  part  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  three  miles  on  Newtown  Creek  and  three  miles  on 
the  sound.  As  a point  for  manufactures  and  commerce 
no  location  could  be  more  appropriate.  It  is  surrounded 
by  navigable  water  on  three  sides  of  the  parallelogram 
which  it  forms,  and  is  penetrated  by  creeks  which 
afford  access  by  canals  and  basins  into  the  interior. 

The  improvements  made  and  being  made  at  Hell 
Gate  by  the  federal  government,  coupled  with  the  open- 
ing of  the  Harlem  River  for  navigation  directly  from  the 
Hudson  at  Spuyten  Duyvel  Creek,  will  give  to  Long 
Island  City  peculiar  prominence.  Outgoing  and  incom- 
ing commerce  through  Long  Island  Sound  will  find 
there  a convenient  depot  where  the  grain  can  readily  be 
transhipped  which  will  pass  down  the  North  River  from 
the  canals  and  directly  through  the  Harlem  River  with- 
out the  long  circuit  around  the  Battery. 

Its  municipal  affairs  are  in  a very  favorable  condition. 
Its  entire  city  debt  amounts  to  only  about  $1,000,000, 
being  an  average  of  less  than  $50  for  each  inhabitant,  or 
less  than  half  the  proportion  of  New  York,  Brooklyn, 
Poughkeepsie  and  other  cities  of  the  State.  This  debt 
of  $1,000,000  includes  the  war  debt,  and  the  total  ex- 
pense of  water  works  furnishing  an  ample  supply  of  pure 
water  derived  from  wells  in  the  heart  of  the  city  and  dis- 
tributed through  over  thirty  miles  of  pipe. 

Like  all  other  great  cities  Long  Island  City  has  its 
“ West  End.”  The  beautiful  village  of  Astoria  included 
within  its  limits,  filled  with  elegant  dwelling  houses  and 
villas,  is  the  place  of  residence  of  large  numbers  of  New 
York’s  most  prominent  business  and  professional  men 
and  retired  capitalists. 

The  southerly  portion  of  the  city,  or  that  included  in 
the  first  and  second  wards,  is  well  calculated  for  business 
and  manufacturing  purposes.  It  adjoins  Brooklyn  and 
is  directly  opposite  Thirty-fourth  street,  New  York;  it  is 
the  converging  point  of  the  network  of  railways  extend- 
ing over  all  Long  Island,  and  also  of  all  the  horse  car 
lines  of  Long  Island  City. 

Manufacturing  facilities,  building  lots  and  water  front 
in  this  section  are  daily  becoming  more  and  more  in  de- 
mand. This  part  of  the  city  is  composed  mainly  of  two 
large  estates — that  of  the  trustees  of  Union  College  and 
the  estate  of  James  Thomson,  which  are  being  graded 


and  tastefully  laid  out.  From  their  proximity  to  New 
York  and  Brooklyn  and  the  moderate  prices  of  building 
lots,  large  numbers  of  thrifty  people  have  flocked  thither 
from  the  overcrowded  cities  to  secure  or  to  build  more 
retired  and  comfortable  homes  for  their  families.  Be- 
tween these  two  estates,  at  the  junction  of  the  first,  sec- 
ond and  third  wards,  and  on  the  line  of  Jackson  avenue, 
is  located  the  new  Queens  county  court-house,  which 
was  built  at  a cost  of  $300,000  in  1874. 

The  population  of  Long  Island  City  is  about  20,000; 
from  its  location  and  facilities,  it  is  readily  apparent  that 
in  the  early  future  it  must  rank  with  the  large  cities  of 
the  United  States. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

John  C.  Jackson. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  one  of  the  most  respected 
and  widely  known  citizens  of  Queens  county,  was  born  at 
the  Staffordshire  potteries,  England,  April  7th  1809,  and 
sailed  from  Liverpool  for  New  York  January  rst  1830. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  New  York  Mr.  Jackson  embarked 
in  business  as  an  importer  of  china  and  earthenware,  and 
he  continued  in  the  same  trade  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business  in  1869.  November  1 8th  1834  he  married 
Martha  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Captain  Andrew  Riker. 
In  February  1839  he  removed  with  his  family  to  his  pres- 
ent residence,  Oak  Hill,  now  in  Long  Island  City,  the 
birthplace  of  Mrs.  Jackson,  the  house  having  been  built 
by  her  father,  Captain  Riker.  Mr.  Jackson  has  one 
daughter,  the  wife  of  John  L.  Riker. 

In  1850  Mr.  Jackson  interested  himself  in  the  breed- 
ing of  fine  cattle.  He  made  his  first  exhibit  for  prizes 
in  1852,  at  the  Queens  county  fair,  at  Flushing,  and  ob- 
tained a prize  for  every  separate  entry.  Becoming  ex- 
tensively interested  in  stock  breeding  and  agricultural 
affairs  generally,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society  in  1863,  1864,  1865,  1874 
and  1875.  Deeply  concerned  in  the  advancement  of 
agricultural  and  kindred  interests,  Mr.  Jackson  was  a 
liberal  supporter  of  the  society  of  which  he  was  so  long 
the  recognized  head.  At  the  annual  meeting  held  at 
Mineola  in  the  fall  of  1864,  on  motion  of  ex-Governor 
John  A.  King,  the  following  resolution  was  passed: 
“ Resolved , That  the  thanks  of  the  society  are  hereby 
tendered  to  John  C.  Jackson,  Esq.,  for  the  able,  liberal 
and  impartial  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the 
duties  of  president  for  the  past  two  years.”  On  his  re- 
tirement from  the  presidency  of  the  society  the  last  time, 
in  1875,  this  resolution  was  passed:  “ Resolved , That  the 
thanks  of  the  society  are  hereby  tendered  to  John  C. 
Jackson,  our  retiring  president,  for  the  able  and  efficient 
manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  his  duties,  and  for 
the  generous  and  noble  spirit  of  liberality  that  has 
marked  his  course  during  the  period  of  his  official  terms; 
and  that  he  retires  with  our  best  wishes  for  his  future 
health  and  happiness.”  In  1854  and  again  in  1855  was 


THE  DE  BEVOISE  FAMILY 


3i7 


Mr.  Jackson  chosen  to  the  position  of  vice-president  of 
the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society. 

In  1859  a charter  was  obtained  for  a turnpike  road 
from  Hunter’s  Point  to  Flushing,  a distance  of  six  miles, 
once  known  as  Jackson  avenue.  The  Hunter’s  Point, 
Newtown  and  Flushing  Turnpike  Company  was  formed, 
and  Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  president  and  had  general 
supervision  of  the  construction  of  the  turnpike,  which 
when  completed  was  pronounced  the  best  road  on  Long 
Island.  As  a mark  of  the  appreciation  in  which  the 
stockholders  held  the  efficient  services  of  Mr.  Jackson, 
they  tendered  him  a handsome  dinner  service  of  silver 
plate.  He  continued  president  of  the  company  until 
the  road  was  disposed  of  to  the  town  of  Newtown  and 
became  a free  road.  The  best  interests  of  Long  Island 
City  have  been  advanced  by  Mr.  Jackson  in  an  able 
manner,  and  all  progressive  movements  find  in  him  a 
ready  supporter. 

The  De  Bevoise  Family. 

The  subjoined  account  of  the  family  of  De  Bevoise  is 
extracted  from  “Riker’s  Annals  of  Newtown.”  It  will 
be  noticed  that  in  the  following  article  the  name  is 
spelled  Debevoise  except  in  the  instance  of  Carel,  who 
spelled  it  de  Beauvois.  The  change  in  orthography  from 
de  Beauvois  to  Debevoise  has  been  followed  by  other 
changes  in  dividing  and  capitalizing  the  latter  word,  so 
that  now  different  branches  of  the  family  write  it  vari- 
ously de  Bevoise,  Debevoise,  De  Bevoise  and  De  Be  Voise, 
and  attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  in  sketches  of 
several  of  the  family  of  the  present  generation  and  that 
only  just  passed  away  the  writer  has  adopted  the  orthog- 
raphy in  use  by  each  of  the  branches  thus  represented, 
and  in  the  title  of  this  article  that  which  seems  to  be  the 
most  common. 

“ Carel  de  Beauvois  * * * was  a highly  respecta- 

ble and  well  educated  French  Protestant,  who  came  from 
Leyden,  in  Holland.  He  was  of  a family  whose  name 
and  origin  were  probably  derived  from  the  ancient  city 
of  Beauvais,  on  the  river  Therin,  to  the  northwest  of 
Paris;  but  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that  he  himself  was 
a native  of  Leyden.  He  arrived  at  New  Amsterdam  in 
the  ship ‘Otter,’  February  17th  1659,  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  Sophia  Van  Lodensteyn,  and  three  children 
born  to  them  in  Leyden  and  now  aged  eight,  six  and 
three  years  respectively.  His  literary  merits  and  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Dutch  language  soon  acquired  for 
him  the  situation  of  a teacher, and  in  1661  he  became  ‘chor- 
ister, reader  and  schoolmaster’  for  the  people  of  Brook- 
lyn, at  a salary  of  twenty-five  guilders  and  free  house 
rent.  He  afterwards  served  as  public  secretary  or  town 
clerk,  which  office  he  held  till  1669.  His  children  were 
Jacobus  first;  Gertrude,  who  married  Jacob  W.  Van 
Boerum;  Catharine,  who  married  Jacob  Hendrickse 
Haste;  and  Cornelia,  who  married  Gerrit  G.  Dorland. 

“I.  Jacobus  Debevoise,  only  son  of  Carel,  was  born 
at  Leyden.  In  early  manhood  he  embraced  religion  and 
joined  the  church  at  Brooklyn  of  which  he  was  after- 
ward a deacon.  He  married,  June  12th  1678,  Maria) 


daughter  of  Joost  Carelsz,  and  died  in  the  early  part  of 
the  next  century,  his  widow  surviving  him.  They  had 
sons  Carel  second,  born  1680;  Joost,  born  1683;  Jaco- 
bus, born  1686;  and  Johannes,  born  1689.  Jacobus 
married,  in  1715,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joris  Remsen,  and 
died  on  his  farm  at  Bedford,  aged  about  four  score.  His 
children  were  Jacobus  (who  died  in  1751,  and  whose 
only  daughter,  Engeltie,  married  Isaac  Degraw  of  Brook- 
lyn) and  George,  who  was  born  in  1720,  married  Sarah 
Betts  October  18th  1746,  and  inherited  all  his  father’s 
estate  at  Bedford.  Joost  married,  in  1707,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Joris  Remsen;  remained  a farmer  in  Brooklyn, 
and  died  a few  years  before  the  Revolution,  in  advanced 
age.  He  had  issue:  Jacobus;  Phebe,  who  married  John 
Johnson;  Mary,  who  also  married;  Anna,  who  married 
Johannes  W.  Wyckoff  ; Elizabeth,  who  married  Peter 
Cowenhoven,  and  Sophia,  who  married  Albert  Nostrand. 
Jacobus  inherited  his  father’s  farm  at  the  Wallabout; 
married  in  1736  Maria  Garretson,  and  died  prior  to  the 
American  war.  His  children  were:  George;  Samuel,  who 
died  without  issue;  Ida,  who  married  Ferdinand  Suy- 
dam;  and  Mary,  who  married  Garret  Van  Duyn.  George 
last  named  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Van- 
derbilt, and  died  at  the  Wallabout  in  or  prior  to  1784. 
Issue:  Maria,  who  married  Captain  Jackson;  Catharine, 
who  married  John  Van  Alst;  Phebe,  who  married  Jacob 
Ryerson;  Sarah,  who  married  Jeromus  Ryerson  and 
John  Cozine;  and  Ida,  who  married  in  succession  two 
persons  of  the  same  name,  Francis  Titus. 

“ II.  Carel  Debevoise,  son  of  Jacobus  1st,  married  Mar- 
garet Meserole,  and  became  a notary  public  in  Brooklyn, 
fully  sustaining  the  prominence  in  civil  and  church  rela- 
tions which  the  family  enjoyed  for  a long  period  in  the 
above  town.  From  1752  to  1761  he  was  county  judge. 
He  lived  on  the  premises  [later]  of  his  great-granddaugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Prince.  His  sons  were  Jan  4th,  Jacobus, 
Carel  3d  and  Johannes.  Jacobus  was  born  in  1709,  and 
resided  at  Gowanus,  where  he  died  in  1766.  His  first 
wife  was  Maria  Van  Housen,  whom  he  married  in  1736; 
his  second  was  Mary  Stillwell,  who  survived  him.  He 
had  issue:  Charles;  Richard;  Margaret,  who  married 
Charles  Doughty  of  Brooklyn,  afterward  member  of  As- 
sembly; Ida,  who  married  John  Godfrey  Muller  of  New 
York;  Adriana  and  Mary.  Of  these  Charles  remained 
at  Gowanus  and  had  issue  James,  Wynant,  and  others. 
Johannes  was  town  clerk  of  Brooklyn,  and  a somewhat 
important  citizen.  He  married,  June  15th  1749,  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Thomas  Betts  of  Flatbush,  and  died 
November  19th  1792,  having  had  issue  Thomas,  Charles, 
Margaret  and  Hannah,  all  of  whom  died  single  but  Mar- 
garet, who  married  Dr.  John  Duffield,  a surgeon  in  the 
American  Revolutionary  army.  They  were  the  parents 
of  Susan  Duffield,  who  married  Captain  Charles  K.  Law- 
rence; Anna,  who  married  Captain  Christopher  Prince; 
and  Margaret,  who  married  first  Captain  Archibald 
Thompson  and  secondly  Samuel  A.  Willoughby,  Esq.,  of 
Brooklyn. 

“III.  Carel  Debevoise,  son  of  Carel  2nd,  married, 
October  9th  1736,  Eve,  daughter  of  Coert  Van  Voor- 


3i8 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


hees,  of  Gravesend,  and  became  a farmer  in  Bushwick  on 
the  property  now  of  Charles  I.  Debevoise,  Esq.  He  died 
in  1757,  and  his  widow  in  1793,  aged  74.  His  children 
were:  Margaret,  born  May  9th  1 738,  who  married  Peter 
Colyer;  Nelly,  born  March  16th  1740,  married  Carel  De- 
bevoise; Carel,  born  February  5th  1742;  Maria,  born 
March  21st  1744,  married  John  Devoe;  Anna,  born  June 
26th  1746,  married  Dr.  Andrew  Van  Allen  and  Joris 
Debevoise;  Coert,  born  October  28th  1748;  John,  born 
April  14th  1751;  Catharine,  born  March  22nd  1753,  mar- 
ried John  Buskirk;  Jacobus,  born  January  31st  1755; 
and  Isaac,  born  July  10th  1757.  Carel  married  Maria  Van 
Houten  and  had  sons  who  [for  many  years  have  been] 
deceased.  Coert  married  Elizabeth  Sloat.  Jacobus 
married  Aletta,  daughter  of  John.  Rapelje,  and  was  the 
father  of  John  and  Charles  Debevoise,  living  [1852]  at 
the  English  Kills.  Isaac  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Joris 
Debevoise,  and  Magdalena,  daughter  of  Tunis  Schenck, 
and  was  father  of  George,  of  the  English  Kills  [1852], 
and  Charles  I.  Debevoise  aforesaid,  [at  one  time]  super- 
visor of  Bushwick,  the  latter  by  the  second  marriage. 
John  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Moses  Beegel  by  his  in- 
termarriage with  Jane,  daughter  of  Frederick  Van  Nanda, 
and  located  at  Fresh  Ponds,  in  Newtown,  where  he  died 
March  15th  1829,  and  his  widow  August  20th  1847,  aged 
90.  They  had  issue:  Jane,  born  November  8th  1776, 
who  married  James  Titus  and  Daniel  Lake;  Eve,  born 
October  7th  1770,  died  unmarried;  Sarah,  born  June  4th 
1781,  now  [1852]  the  widow  of  Charles  G.  Debevoise; 
Moses,  born  July  2nd  1783,  married  Maria,  daughter  of 
Peter  Duryea,  and  died  December  12th  1831  (leaving 
children:  Peter,  John,  Sarah  Ann  and  Charles);  Charles 
I.,  born  February  21st  1785,  married  Maria,  daughter  of 
Johannes  Covert,  and  died  August  26th  1831  (having  is- 
sue: John,  Rebecca  Ann,  Covert  and  Cornelius);  Ann, 
born  April  26th  1793,  married  Charles  Debevoise,  Crip- 
plebush;  and  John,  born  March  3d  1798,  who  married 
Cornelia  M.,  daughter  of  Cornelius  Van  Cott,  and  re- 
sided [1852]  at  Fresh  Ponds,  having  served  the  town  as 
supervisor. 

“IV.  Jan  Debevoise,  son  of  Carel  2nd,  was  born  in 
1704,  at  Brooklyn,  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Lieu- 
tenant Joris  Rapalje,  of  Newtown,  in  which  town  Mr. 
Debevoise  located,  being1  the  first  of  his  family  who  came 
to  this  township  and  the  ancestor  of  most  of  the  name 
since  resident  there.  His  farm  was  that  lately  [1852] 
occupied  by  George  Pine.  Having  been  esteemed  as  a 
good  man  and  useful  as  an  elder  in  the  Dutch  church, 
he  died  April  26th  1777,  aged  73.  His  widow  died  Au- 
gust 25th  1781,  aged  74.  Their  children  were  Carel, 
Joris  5th,  Jacobus,  Daniel,  Johannes  6th,  and  Cornelius. 
Daniel  died  unmarried  in  his  82nd  year,  February  14th 
1819.  Cornelus  died  unmarried  October  8th  t 7 73,  aged 
27.  Carel  married  his  cousin  Nelly,  daughter  of  Carel 
Debevoise;  was  a worthy  deacon  of  the  Dutch  church, and 
died  June  9th  1792,  aged  64.  His  widow  died  March 
23d  1806,  aged  66.  They  had  issue:  Jane,  who  married 
Isaac  Rapelye;  Eve,  who  married  Francis  Duryea;  and 
Agnes,  who  married  Folkert  Rapelye.  Jacobus  married 
Maria,  daughter  of  Abraham  Cook,  and  settled  at  Cripple- 
bush.  He  died  October  5th  1813  in  his  80th  year,  having 
had  issue:  John,  born  March  10th  1759,  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Charles  Titus  (and  was  the  father  of 


Charles  Debevoise,  now  living  at  Cripplebush,  and  his 
brothers,  James,  Francis  and  John);  Abraham,  born  Sep- 
tember 3d  1763,  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Garret  Kou- 
wenhoven,  and  had  sons  Garret  and  James;  Charles, 
born  October  14th  1765,  who  married  Leah,  daughter  of 
John  Titus;  Gabriel,  born  January  19th  1775,  married 
Mary,  only  child  of  Coert  Debevoise  and  lives  [1852]  in 
Bushwick;  and  Jane,  born  March  16th  1777,  who  mar- 
ried Hermanus  Stockholm. 

“V.  Joris  Debevoise,  son  of  Jan  4th,  served  prior  to 
the  Revolution  as  a deacon  in  the  Newtown  Dutch 
church.  He  died  in  his  72nd  year,  July  9th  1802,  hav- 
ing been  thrice  married — first  to  Ann,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham Rapelje,  who  died  childless;  secondly  to  Nelly 
Schenck,  of  Cow  Neck,  and  thirdly  to  Anna,  daughter  of 
Carel  Debevoise  and  widow  of  Dr.  Van  Allen.  By  the 
last  he  had  issue  Charles  G.  and  by  the  second  John, 
Susannah,  who  married  Abraham  Duryea,  and  Jane,  who 
married  Isaac  Debevoise  of  Bushwick.  John  married 
Eve,  daughter  of  Andrew  Van  Allen,  and  died,  in  his 
56th  year,  November  25th  1822,  having  had  issue: 
George,  living  [1852]  in  Flushing  township;  Andrew  and 
John,  who  [1852]  occupied  portions  of  the  paternal 
farm  at  Dutch  Kills;  Ann,  who  married  John  Oakley;  and 
Ellen,  wife  of  John  I.  Van  Alst.  Charles  G.  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Debevoise,  and  died  in  his  52nd 
year,  March  22nd  1836,  his  sons  John  and  George  pos- 
sessing [1852]  his  farm  at  Dutch  Kills. 

“VI.  Johannes  Debevoise,  son  of  Jan  4th,  was  born 
February  28th  1742,  and  lived  at  Fresh  Ponds.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Abraham  Rapelje,  who  dying 
November  3d  1766  he  married,  secondly,  Adrianna, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Remsen.  She  died  on  February  19th 
and  he  on  February  20th  1812,  and  both  were  interred 
together.  His  children  were:  John,  born  June  13th  1766, 
who  married,  but  died  without  issue  April  2nd  1818; 
Jacob,  born  August  nth  1771,  died  February  15th  1786; 
Sarah,  born  February  4th  1773,  died  August  8th  1775; 
Jane,  born  August  26th  1 776,  married  Theodorus  Kolyer; 
Charles  and  Catherine,  twins,  born  March  22nd  1778,  the 
former  died  single  May  9th  1819,  the  latter  married  Wil- 
liam Morrell;  Sarah,  born  August  16th  1780  [married 
and  survived]  John  Burroughs;  Isacc,  born  January  14th 
1 7 83'  [liycd  at  Fresh  Ponds  in  1852];  Adriana,  born 
July  27th  1785,  married  Cornelius  M.  Ditmas;  Nelly, 
born  October  15th  1787,  died  unmarried;  Anna,  born 
November  2nd  1789,  who  was  the  first  wife  of  C.  N.  Dit- 
mas; and  Jacob,  born  September  26th  1792,  who  married 
Catalina,  daughter  of  John  Ditmars,  and  resided  [1852]  at 
Newtown.’’ 

The  foregoing  is  the  complete  genealogy  of  the  De 
Bevoise  family  as  published  in  1852  by  Riker,  and  referred 
to  as  correct  by  the  present  De  Bevoises  of  Queens 
county.  Biographical  sketches  of  a number-of  the  name 
are  presented  on  other  pages,  and  the  above  is  to  a great 
degree  prefatory  to  and  explanatory  of  each  of  them. 
It  is  probable  that  there  is  not  a more  numerous  family 
on  Long  Island,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  without  an  ex- 
ception the  De  Bevoises  have  been  and  are  men  of  worth, 
highly  esteemed  by  their  fellow  citizens,  and  that  for 
generations  the  name  has  been  prominent  in  the  civil 
and  political  history  of  Queens  county. 


319 


The  name  of  Van  Pelt  was  conferred,  with  a title,  on 
the  progenitor  of  all  the  Van  Pelts  of  America.  At  an 
early  period  in  the  Dutch  settlement  of  America  the 
Van  Pelts  located  on  Staten  Island  and  intermarried  with 
the  family  of  Vanderbilt,  another  old  family  of  that  island. 

Peter  Van  Pelt  sen.  was  born  on  Staten  Island,  May 
30th  1797.  At  the  age  of  28  he  married  Maria  Char- 
lotte Payntar,  daughter  of  William  Payntar.  The  next 
year  he  removed  to  Newtown  and  located  on  the  farm 
where  his  widow  and  son  and  other  members  of  his  fam- 
ily now  live,  and  where  he  died  March  17th  1869.  He 
was  a master  carpenter  and  boat-builder  and  constructed 
the  second  winding  staircase  ever  put  in  a house  in  New 
York. 


Peter  Van  Pelt  was  born  March  4th  1842,  on  the  old 
homestead,  now  in  Long  Island  City.  He  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  after 
which  he,  in  connection  with  his  brother  William,  con- 
ducted the  farm  until  about  three  years  ago,  when  Wil- 
liam removed  to  Rockland  county,  leaving  Peter  in  sole 
charge  of  the  home  interests.  In  1881  Mr.  Van  Pelt 
engaged  in  the  milk  trade,  in  which  he  has  continued 
successfully. 

January  3d  1877  Peter  Van  Pelt  married  Cornelia  H 
Payntar,  his  cousin  and  a daughter  of  John  Payntar, 
well  known  in  the  neighborhood.  She  died  April  28th 
1878,  leaving  one  child,  a daughter,  named  in  her  honor 
Cornelia,  who  is  still  living. 


320 


32  1 


From  Photograph  by  Bogardus 


John  I.  De  Bevoise. 

John  I.  De  Bevoise  was  born  at  Dutch  Kills,  August 
20th  1 8 r 3,  and  is  a son  of  John  G.  and  Eve  De  Bevoise. 
In  his  boyhood  he  attended  the  district  school  near 
home  and  assisted  on  the  farm.  Becoming  a farmer  he 
lived  on  the  family  homestead  until  November  1877, 
when  he  removed  to  his  present  residence  in  the  western 
portion  of  Dutch  Kills. 

December  24th  1840  Mr.  De  Bevoise  married  Jane, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catalina  (Ditmars)  De  Bevoise, 


the  last  of  whom  is  mentioned  on  page  318.  By 
her  he  has  had  three  children — Jacob,  born  April  21st 
1842,  who  married  Mary  E.  Payntar  ; Evanetta,  born 
September  22nd  1845,  who  married  John  B.  C.  Kolyer- 
and  John  Van  Alst,  born  September  14th  1848,  who  died 
October  13th  1850. 

Jacob  De  Bevoise  died  July  6th  1864;  his  wife  January 
6th  1867.  Their  children  were:  Johannes,  born  October 
4th  1815;  Jane  (Mrs.  John  I.  De  Bevoise),  born  June 
6th  1817,  and  Adriana,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  biogra- 
phy of  her  husband,  Cornelius  S.  De  Bevoise,  deceased. 


322 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Charles  H.  Rogers. 


Charles  H.  Rogers  was  born  at  Bridgehampton,  N.  Y., 
November  12th  1806,  and  died  at  his  residence  in  Ra- 
venswood,  N.  Y.,  September  20th  1880. 

In  his  early  life  he  received  a good  education.  The 
family  in  time  removed  from  Bridgehampton  to  New 
York,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade  as  a master 
stonemason.  At  an  early  age  Charles  adopted  the  trade 
of  his  father,  at  which  he  continued  to  work  for  a num- 
ber of  years.  Longing  for  a broader  field  of  action  he 
finally  abandoned  his  trade  and,  after  some  experience  as 
a clerk  in  a mercantile  house,  started  for  the  west.  He 
visited  a number  of  cities  and  towns,  but,  being  particu- 
larly pleased  with  Galena,  111.,  located  there  and  soon  be- 
came established  as  a merchant.  Afterward  he  became 
interested  in  the  lead  mines  at  Galena,  and  also  in  a 
banking  house  there. 

In  the  course  of  a few  years,  having  been  singularly 
successful  in  all  his  business  ventures,  he  returned  to 
New  York,  where  he  established  himself  and  continued 
in  business  until  he  finally  retired,  having  realized  a 
handsome  fortune. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  married  October  27th  1836,  to  Mary 
Post  of  Suffolk  county,  N.  Y.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Century  Club,  Union  League  Club  and  Historical  and 
Geographical  Societies,  and  interested  in  everything  re- 
lating to  literature  and  art. 

He  was  in  every  sense  a self-made  man,  and  the  suc- 
cess he  achieved  was  due  to  himself  alone.  He  had  the 
most  perfect  confidence  in  himself.  What  other  men 
had  done  he  felt  that  he  too  could  do.  Once  satisfied 
that  a project  was  feasible,  and  worthy  of  his  attention, 
he  devoted  himself  to  its  accomplishment  with  a faith 
which  knew  no  doubting.  If  he  met  with  difficulties 


they  only  served  to  increase  his  efforts,  and  he  rested  not 
until  he  had  secured  the  victory. 

Possessed  of  a singularly  well  balanced  mind,  he  was 
amiable,  kind  and  gentle,  and  yet,  withal,  preserved  a 
quiet  dignity  which  never  failed  to  command  respect. 
His  knowledge  of  human  nature  was  remarkable,  and  he 
knew  men  intuitively,  seldom  proving  mistaken  in  his 
estimate  of  character.  His  perceptive  faculties  were  re- 
markable. No  matter  how  difficult  or  comprehensive  a 
business  problem  might  be  he  seemed  able,  almost  at 
once,  to  detect  its  strong  and  weak  points  and  arrive  at  a 
correct  solution. 

He  took  the  deepest  interest  in  the  development  of 
the  material  resources  of  the  country,  and  was  especially 
interested  in  the  advancement  of  American  commerce; 
and  any  project  looking  to  the  accomplishment  of  this 
end  might  safely  count  upon  the  assistance  of  his  money 
and  influence.  Among  the  many  projects  which  he  thus 
aided  might  be  mentioned  that  of  deepening  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississippi  River  by  the  jetty  system.  He  was 
greatly  interested  in  this  work  and  from  the  beginning 
never  doubted  its  ultimate  success. 

Although  possessed  of  great  force  of  character,  and 
being  in  every  sense  a positive  man,  he  was  very  retiring 
and  unobtrusive  in  his  manner.  He  greatly  disliked 
ostentation  and  show.  As  he  journeyed  along  life’s 
highway  he  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a helping  hand  to  a 
brother  in  distress,  but  his  deeds  of  love  and  mercy  were 
always  hidden  from  the  public  eye.  In  youth,  in  man- 
hood, and  in  age  he  was  recognized  as  the  soul  of  honor, 
and  the  blessings  of  his  fellow  men  followed  him  to  the 
grave.  His  memory  will  ever  be  dear  to  the  hearts  of 
the  many  who  knew  and  loved  him. 


William  H.  Schwalenberg. 

Charles  Schwalenberg  was  a German  by  birth,  and 
for  a number  of  years  was  a grocer  in  New  York,  first  in 
Elm  street  and  afterward  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and 
Jackson  streets.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Hunter’s  Point, 
where  in  1859  he  had  built  the  Hunter’s  Point  Hotel, 
which  he  kept  until  his  death,  December  3d  1876,  and 
which  has  since  been  under  the  management  of  his  son, 
William  H.  Schwalenberg. 

He  was  prominent  in  social,  business  and  political 
circles,  and  was  one  of  the  most  widely  known  and  re- 
spected men  in  the  place.  He  left  a widow,  two  sons 
and  a daughter,  all  of  whom  are  living.  At  the  time  of 
Mr.  Schwalenberg’s  removal  to  Hunter’s  Point  that 
locality  was  coming  into  notice  as  the  terminus  of  the 
Long  Island  Railroad.  The  Thirty-fourth  street  ferry 
was  established  about  that  time,  and  Mr.  Schwalenberg 
foresaw,  to  a considerable  degree,  the  future  growth  and 
importance  of  Hunter’s  Point,  which  he  later  saw 
realized. 

William  H.  Schwalenberg  was  born  February  24th 
1852,  at  the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Jackson  streets,  New 
York,  and  accompanied  his  father’s  family  in  its  removal 
to  Hunter’s  Point.  While  still  a resident  of  New  York 
he  attended  a school  in  Madison  street,  and  after  his  re- 
moval to  Hunter’s  Point  attended  school  in  the  old  stone 
school-house  there.  Later  he  attended  a school  at 
Greenpoint  and  the  Thirty-seventh  street  school  in  New 


York,  of  which  William  H.  Wood,  since  superintendent 
of  the  public  schools  of  New  York,  was  then  the  princi- 
pal. Subsequently  he  graduated  from  Bryant,  Stratton 
& Clark’s  business  college  in  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Schwalenberg  immediately  afterward  began  his 
business  career  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Kings  County 
Savings  Bank,  in  Brooklyn.  September  1st  1869  he  re- 
turned to  Hunter’s  Point  and  became  an  assistant  in  his 
father’s  growing  hotel  business,  with  which  he  has  ever 
since  been  identified,  becoming  a partner  in  1873,  when 
his  father  visited  Europe,  and  sole  proprietor  at  his 
father’s  death. 

Following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  politically,  Mr. 
Schwalenberg  has  been  a lifelong  Democrat,  ever  active 
in  the  advocacy  of  the  principles  and  the  advancement 
of  the  measures  of  that  party.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Long  Island  City  for  a term  of  two 
years,  and  he  is  a prominent  member  of  the  Queens 
county  board  of  supervisors. 

November  12th  1879  Mr.  Schwalenberg  married 
Carrie  J.  Steffens,  of  New  York,  daughter  of  August 
Steffens,  formerly  a grocer  and  an  old  friend  of  his 
father;  now  a liquor  dealer  at  the  corner  of  Tenth  ave- 
nue and  Forty-sixth  street.  They  have  one  child,  an 
infant,  named  William  H.  Schwalenberg  jr.  Mr.  Schwa- 
lenberg is  prominent  in  business  and  public  affairs  and 
is  closely  identified  with  the  leading  local  interests. 
Added  to  his  other  duties  is  that  of  director  of  the  Long 
Island  City  Shore  Railroad. 


36 


326 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Peter  G.  Van  Alst. 


On  another  page  is  given  a sketch  of  the  history  of  the 
Van  Alsts  of  Dutch  Kills. 

Isaac  Van  Alst,  son  of  John  Van  Alst,  married  Ida  Sut- 
phin.  Their  children  were  John  I.,  whose  biography 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  Elizabeth,  born 
June  26th  1808.  For  his  second  wife  Isaac  Van 
Alst  married  Helen  Gorsline,  who  was  born  April 
3d  1730  and  died  in  July  1856.  His  children  by  this 
marriage  were  seven  in  number,  the  first  born  having 
been  Helen, born  February  12th  1817,  who  died  October 
14th  1878.  Joseph  was  born  November  14th  1820,  and 
died  February  23d  1823.  Isaac  was  born  March  18th 
1823,  and  died  November  6th  1824.  Isaac  J.  was  born 
November  5th  1825,  and,  July  4th  1850,  married  Mrs. 
Eliza  Johnson,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Isaac  H., 
born  in  May  1851,  and  Anne,  who  was  born  in  Septem- 
ber 1852.  Peter  G.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
May  28th  1828.  Andrew  G.  was  born  December  13th 
1830,  and  married  Catharine  Hoffman.  His  children 
are  Andrew,  and  Edgar  and  Edwin,  twins,  born  in  1867. 

Born  on  the'old  family  homestead  at  Dutch  Kills, 
Peter  G.  Van  Alst  received  his  preliminary  education  at 
the  district  school  there,  and  later  was  a student  at  the 
Astoria  institute,  Rev.  Mr.  Whiting  instructor.  In  1845 
he  began  the  study  and  practice  of  city  surveying  with 
H.  F.  Betts,  then  village  surveyor  of  Williamsburg,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  near  the  time  of  the  latter’s 
death,  which  occurred  in  1853.  Soon  afterward  Mr. Van 
Alst  purchased  of  the  estate  of  Mr.  Betts  all  of  his  former 
instructor’s  books,  maps,  surveying  instruments  and 
other  articles  pertaining  to  city  surveying,  and  in  January 
1854  formed  a partnership  with  J.  V.  Meserole,  under 
the  title  of  Van  Alst  & Meserole,  as  city  surveyors  of 
Brooklyn.  This  partnership  was  dissolved  two  years 
later,  and  Mr.  Van  Alst  continued  in  business  on  his  own 
account  as  a city  surveyor,  residing  in  Williamsburg  until 
his  removal  to  Long  Island  City. 


Mr.  Van  Alst  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature  com- 
missioner, in  conjunction  with  H.  S.  Anable  and  Frost 
T.  Covert,  for  laying  out  and  building  a highway  (now 
called  Thompson  avenue)  100  feet  wide,  from  Jackson 
avenue.  Hunter’s  Point,  to  the  village  of  Newtown,  which 
highway  was  graded  and  macadamized  its  whole  length. 
The  plans  were  made  by  Mr.  Van  Alst,  and  the  work  was 
done  under  his  supervision.  May  25th  1872  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Legislature  commissioner,  in  conjunction 
with  R.  M.  C.  Graham  and  H.  S.  Anable,  for  the  laying 
out  of  streets,  roads,  avenues  and  parks  in  Long  Island 
City  (commonly  called  the  survey  commission),  and  was 
appointed  chairman  of  said  commission.  He  made  sur- 
veys and  maps,  which  show  the  street  lines,  grades,  sew- 
erage and  monumenting  of  the  city,  and  assessment  maps 
of  the  different  wards. 

Again  appointed  commissioner,  May  5th  1874,  by  the 
Legislature,  in  conjunction  with  R.  M.  C.  Graham,  H.  S. 
Anable,  William  Bridge  and  James  Dennen,  for  making 
improvements  in  and  adjoining  the  first  ward  of  Long 
Island  City  (commonly  called  the  “ improvement  com- 
mission ”),  Mr.  Van  Alst  was  appointed  chairman  of  said 
commission.  The  work  of  the  commission  is  now  pro- 
gressing, and  at  this  date  (September  1881)  is  nearly  fin- 
ished. The  commissioners  have  graded  over  ten  miles 
of  streets  and  avenues,  have  laid  sewers  in  nearly  all  of 
the  streets  of  the  first  ward,  have  paved,  curbed  and 
flagged  nearly  all  of  the  main  streets  and  avenues  in  the 
first  ward,  and  have  built  two  iron  bridges  across  Dutch 
Kills  Creek,  besides  several  railroad  crossings.  The 
whole  cost  of  this  work  will  be  in  round  figures  about 
$2,000,000. 

July  4th  1867  Mr.  Van  Alst  married  Miss  Eliza  John- 
son. His  children  have  been  Helen  G.,  born  April 
13th  1868;  Eliza  G.,  born  September  29th  1869,  died 
December  7th  1874,  and  Peter  G.,  born  March  13th 
1874. 


NEWTOWN. 


EWTOWN*,  or,  as  it  was  called  by  the  Indi- 
ans at  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  this  sec- 
tion of  country  by  Henry  Hudson  in  1609, 
“ Mespat,”  was  a part  of  the  New  Nether- 
lands, the  trade  from  which  was  exclusively 
granted  by  the  States-General  of  Holland  in 
1621  to  the  organization  known  as  the  West 
India  Company.  Valuable  cargoes  of  beaver  and  other 
skins  were  annually  shipped  from  here.  The  population 
up  to  1638  numbered  but  a few  individuals,  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  company;  but  in  that  year  the  monopoly  was 
abolished,  and  the  trade  with  the  New  Netherlands 
opened  to  all.  The  encouragement  thus  given  to  emi- 
gration was  further  extended  in  1640  by  the  grant  of  a 
new  charter,  providing  for  the  administration  of  civil 
government,  and  establishing  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
the  inhabitants  on  a footing  parallel  with  those  in  Hol- 
land. This  had  a benign  effect,  and  gave  an  impulse  to 
emigration,  not  from  Europe  only  but  from  New  Eng- 
land also,  many  of  whose  inhabitants,  fleeing  from  relig- 
ious persecution,  took  up  their  abode  here. 

Mespat  Patent. 


Among  those  who  had  for  “conscience  sake”  followed 
the  “ Mayflower  ” was  the  Rev.  Francis  Doughty,  who 
first  settled  at  what  is  now  Taunton,  Mass.  He  soon 
discovered  he  had  “ jumped  out  of  the  frying-pan  into 
the  fire.”  A “ controversie  ” arose,  and  Mr.  Doughty 
was  forced  to  go  away  from  Taunton  with  his  wife  and 
children.  Applying  to  the  authorities  of  New  Amster- 
dam for  a tract  of  land,  a patent  was  granted  to  him  for 
some  13,332  acres  at  “ Mespat.”  With  a few  additional 
acres,  this  tract  embraced  the  whole  of  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Newtown  and  Long  Island  City,  a total  area  of 
about  16,800  acres,  some  14,000  acres  being  arable.  Once 
the  greater  portion  of  this  tract  was  marshy  land,  re- 
garded as  unsusceptible  of  cultivation;  but  the  improved 


* In  1852  James  Hiker  jr.  published  a very  thorough  and  accurate  work 
entitled  "The  Aunalsof  Newtown.”  It  contained  the  history  of  this  town 
from  its  first  settlement,  together  with  many  interesting  facts  concern- 
ing the  adjacent  towns.  This  work  has  not  only  been  consulted,  but 
strictly  followed  as  authority  and  liberally  quoted.  Mr.  Hiker  in  the 
preparation  of  his  history  conferred  an  inestimable  blessing  upon  pos- 
terity, and  to  the  result  of  his  patient  researches  the  writer  wishes  in 
the  very  outset  to  acknowledge  himself  largely  indebted. 


construction  of  farming  implements  and  the  process  of 
subsoil  drainage  have  wrought  a surprising  change,  re- 
claiming and  making  the  wet  lands  highly  productive. 
The  swampy  portion  of  the  land  is  covered  with  peat, 
which  in  Revolutionary  days  made  the  Newtown  bogs  of 
some  importance,  as  it  was  then  extensively  used  for  fuel. 
The  proximity  of  New  York  city  has  always  acted  favor- 
ably for  the  prosperity  of  the  town,  and  a large  share  of 
the  attention  of  the  farmers  has  been  paid  to  the  raising 
of  vegetables  for  the  city  market.  Indeed,  the  import- 
ance of  this  town  to  the  great  metropolis  can  hardly  be 
overrated. 

The  fertility  of  the  Newtown  lands  early  attracted  the 
attention  of  colonists,  among  the  first  of  whom  was  Hans 
Hansen,  who  obtained  a plantation  of  some  400  acres  at 
the  head  of  Newtown  Creek.  Richard  Brutnell,  a native 
of  Bradford,  England,  was  at  the  entrance  of  the  creek, 
and  on  the  opposite  side  was  found  the  plantation  of  Ty- 
men  Jansen,  who  had  been  a ship  carpenter  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  West  India  Company.  These  were  the  only 
occupants  at  the  time  Mr.  Doughty  with  his  friends  came 
to  take  possession  of  his  grant.  He  made  preparations 
to  begin  a settlement,  and  in  less  than  a year  a number 
of  families  were  comfortably  settled  here.  Mr.  Doughty 
officiated  as  pastor,  and  affairs  were  tending  prosper- 
ously when  the  breaking  out  of  a war  with  the  Indians 
gave  a sudden  and  fatal  check  to  the  settlement.  This 
war  had  been  brought  about  upon  a frivolous  pretense  of 
injuries  received  from  the  natives,  resulting  in  a horrid 
butchery  of  some  sleeping  Indians.  Inflamed  to  the 
utmost,  they  with  fire-brand  and  scalping-knife  desolated 
the  country  around  New  Amsterdam,  devoting  property 
to  destruction  and  the  inhabitants  to  a cruel  death.  The 
savages  broke  in  upon  the  settlement  at  Mespat  and  some 
of  the  settlers  fell  victims  to  their  fury.  The  remainder 
sought  safety  in  flight,  while  the  flame  was  applied  to 
their  dwellings,  which  with  their  contents  were  reduced 
to  ashes.  At  length  a peace  was  concluded.  Thereupon 
some  of  the  settlers  returned  to  their  ruined  habitations. 
As  a better  day  seemed  dawning,  several  residents  with- 
out the  lines  of  the  Mespat  patent  took  occasion  to 
secure  government  title  for  their  lands.  July  3d  1643 
Burger  Joris,  Richard  Brutnell,  and  Tymen  Jansen  took 
out  their  “ ground  briefs  ” or  deeds. 


33o 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Mespat  slowly  arose  from  its  ashes.  Burger  Joris  had 
rented  his  farm,  but  resumed  it,  and  added  a neighbor- 
ing plantation,  which  had  been  granted  to  Jan  Jansen, 
from  Ditmarsen  in  Lower  Saxony,  from  whom  is  de- 
scended the  present  family  of  Ditmars.  Hendrick  Har- 
mensen  also  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  a bouwery  or 
farm.  He  died  in  a few  years,  and  his  widow  married 
in  1645  Jusriaen  Fradell,  a native  of  Moravia.  He  on 
September  5th  of  this  year  obtained  a deed  of  the  estate 
of  Harmensen.  It  is  described  as  “ a piece  of  land 
lying  on  Long  Island  east  of  Hellegat.  Also  to  this  be- 
longs a little  island,  lying  about  west  from  the  house.” 
This  received  the  name  of  the  Married  Island,  on  account 
of  the  manner  in  which  it  was  obtained  by  Fradell. 

Trouble  now  arose  between  Mr.  Doughty  and  other 
patentees,  he  regarding  himself  as  invested  by  the  Mes- 
pat patent  with  the  powers  and  privileges  of  a patroon. 
This  claim  was  resisted  by  the  others,  and  a suit  ensued, 
which  terminated  adversely  to  Mr.  Doughty.  He  re- 
garded this  as  highly  unjust,  and  appealed  from  the  sen- 
tence. This  offended  Director  General  Kieft,  who  had 
previously  cut  off  the  right  of  appeal  to  the  courts  of 
Holland.  Telling  the  clergyman  that  his  judgment  was 
final  and  absolute,  the  despotic  governor  fined  him  ten 
dollars,  and  locked  him  up  in  prison  for  twenty-four 
hours.  After  his  release  he  accepted  a call  from  the 
people  of  Flushing,  and  settled  there  at  a fixed  salary  of 
six  hundred  guilders.  His  bouwery  or  farm  on  Flushing 
Bay  he  conferred  on  his  daughter  Mary  at  her  marriage, 
in  1645,  to  that  distinguished  “doctor  of  both  laws” 
Adriaen  Van  der  Donck.  This  passed  through  many 
hands,  and  in  1737  was  bought  by  Abraham  Rapelye, 
ancestor  of  the  present  occupants. 

“ Middleburg.” 

Mespat,  which  had  given  such  promise  at  its  origin, 
never  recovered  from  the  shock  of  savage  warfare,  and 
the  no  less  fatal  blows  of  intestine  strife,  and  its  territory 
seemed  destined  to  remain  an  unbroken  wilderness,  the 
abode  of  wild  beasts.  But  in  1652  a goodly  company  of 
Englishmen  arrived  from  New  England.  They  selected  a 
locality  about  midway  between  the  kill  of  Mespat  and 
Vlissingen  (Flushing).  Some  of  the  new  comers  were 
from  Greenwich,  Stamford,  Fairfield  and  villages  along 
the  Connecticut  shore;  others  from  settlements  along 
Cape  Cod  and  Massachusetts  Bay.  Of  these  was  Lieu- 
tenant William  Palmer,  who  had  represented  Yarmouth 
in  the  general  court  in  1644.  Others  were  Henry  Feeke 
and  his  friend  Jonathan  Fish,  Edward  Jessup  from  Stam- 
ford, Thomas  Hazard  from  Boston,  John  Burroughs  from 
Salem,  and  Richard  Betts  from  Ipswich.  A scene  of  life 
and  activity  ensued,  and  a group  of  cottages  arose.  The 
hamlet  was  begun  upon  the  street  whereon  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  in  the  village  of  Newtown  now  stands,  on 
both  sides  of  which  lots  were  laid  out.  The  name  Mid- 
dleburg was  given  to  the  new  settlement,  after  the  capital 
of  the  province  of  Zealand,  remembered  with  gratitude 
as  the  asylum  of  many  of  the  English  Puritans.  The 
summer  of  1652  witnessed  the  ingathering  of  the  first 


harvest  of  Middleburg.  The  privileges  of  the  charter  of 
1640  were  extended  to  the  new  villagers.  Their  lands 
were  to  be  held  without  rent  or  tax  for  ten  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  they  would  be  required  to  pay  the 
tenth  part  of  the  produce.  They  were  to  enjoy  the  free  ex- 
ercise of  their  religion,  and  adjust  all  suits  arising  in  their 
district,  cases  of  appeal  to  the  chief  court  being  provided 
for.  The  appointment  of  such  town  officers  as  sheriff, 
and  clerk  to  collect  taxes,  remained  the  prerogative  of 
the  director  and  council.  Three  magistrates  were  ap- 
pointed yearly.  The  first  were  Robert  Coe,  Richard 
Gildersleeve  and  Thomas  Hazard.  The  colony  obtained 
the  name  of  the  English  Kills,  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
Dutch  settlement  called  the  Dutch  Kills. 

The  considerable  extent  of  territory  lying  between  the 
northeast  boundry  of  Middleburg  and  the  East  River 
comprised  a small  collection  of  farmers,  mostly  Dutch, 
who  had  taken  land  from  the  government  on  the  terms 
prescribed  by  the  charters  of  freedoms  and  exemptions, 
and  received  a deed  under  the  signature  of  the  director 
and  the  seal  of  New  Netherland.  The  residents  were 
not  a corporate  community,  but  continued  for  many 
years  to  be  dependent  for  civil  and  religious  advantages 
upon  Flushing  or  New  Amsterdam,  disputes  at  law  being 
usually  taken  to  the  last  named  place. 

Foes  of  the  Colony. 

Scarcely  were  the  people  of  Middleburg  seated  in  their 
new  homes  when  news  was  received  that  war  had  broken 
out  between  the  mother  countries  England  and  Holland. 
Director  Stuyvesant,  in  pursuance  of  instructions  from 
his  superiors,  agreed  with  the  adjacent  Indian  tribes  in 
case  of  trouble  with  his  neighbors  of  New  England. 
Jealousies  of  many  years  standing  existed  between  the 
English  colonies  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  and 
the  Dutch  of  New  Netherland.  Complaints  of  mutual 
aggression  had  passed  between  the  respective  govern- 
ments, and  each  regarded  the  other  with  feelings  far 
from  friendly.  It  soon  became  rumored  abroad  that  the 
Dutch  government  had  formed  a league  with  the  Indians 
for  the  destruction  of  all  the  English.  The  report  flew 
through  the  English  towns  on  Long  Island,  which,  though 
under  the  government  of  New  Netherland,  were  made  to 
believe  that  they  were  to  be  included  in  the  general 
slaughter.  Consternation  prevailed  at  Middleburg,  and 
means  were  at  once  devised  to  elude  the  impending  calam- 
ity. A removal  with  all  speed  was  determined  upon. 
April  29th  1653  the  terror-stricken  company  sailed  from 
the  Kills,  and  reached  Stamford  in  safety.  Shortly  after- 
ward news  arrived  of  a treaty  of  peace  between  England 
and  Holland. 

In  1655,  Director  Stuyvesant  being  absent  on  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  a horde  of 
armed  Indians  landed  at  New  Amsterdam,  and  began  to 
break  into  houses  for  plunder.  Driven  back  by  the  sol- 
diers and  armed  citizens,  they  fell  upon  the  unprotected 
Dutch  farmers  in  the  vicinity,  many  of  whom  were  slain 
and  others  taken  into  captivity.  The  troubles  experi- 
enced from  the  savages  were  now  so  alarming  as  to  re- 


EARLY  GOVERNMENT  OF  NEWTOWN. 


33* 


quire  the  residents  of  Mespat  Kills  to  concentrate  for 
mutual  safety.  They,  therefore,  formed  a village  on 
“Smith’s  Island,”  at  the  English  Kills.  The  Hon.  Ni- 
casius  De  Sille,  who  had  a patent  for  the  island,  had  the 
direction  o'f  the  new  settlement,  and  called  it  Aernhem, 
after  his  native  place. 

The  inhabitants  had  other  ills  to  contend  with  in  the 
wild  animals  that  infested  their  forests,  wolves  proving 
especially  annoying,  preying  upon  flocks  and  herds.  To 
check  this  evil  a bounty  was  offered  for  wolves  killed 
within  the  town.  The  Indians  proved  valuable  agents 
in  the  destruction  of  these  public  enemies. 

But  an  enemy  more  insidious  and  fatal  to  the  peace 
of  the  settlement  was  lurking  about.  Intemperance  ap- 
peared to  such  an  extent  that  restrictions  upon  the  sale 
of  liquor  were  required,  and  the  town  court  ordered  that 
no  inhabitant  of  the  place  should  sell  any  by  retail  with- 
out an  order  from  the  magistrates. 

Civil  Government  and  Relations. 

The  good  character  of  the  inhabitants  generally  is  seen 
in  the  care  which  they  took  to  preserve  good  morals  by 
excluding  from  their  society  such  persons  as  were  likely 
to  endanger  them.  No  individual  could  find  a residence 
among  them  until  admitted  by  popular  vote,  and  instan- 
ces occurred  where  persons  were  turned  out  of  the  town 
for  improper  conduct.  The  rigid  imposition  of  penalties 
against  violators  of  law  and  good  morals  had  a salutary 
effect.  The  punishments  inflicted  were  peculiar,  and 
though  mild  mnst  have  been  humbling  and  have  had  a 
strong  effect  in  restraining  others  inclined  to  similar 
practices.  In  1660  we  read  of  a person,  convicted  of  fel- 
oniously taking  corn  from  the  mill  of  Captain  Coe,  sen- 
tenced— besides  making  amends  to  the  captain — “to 
walk  from  Mr.  Doughty’s  house,  with  two  rods  under 
each  arm  and  the  drums  beating  before  him,  until  he 
comes  to  Mr.  Jessup’s  house,  and  then  he  is  to  have  his 
liberty,”  and  further,  “ to  refrain  walking  at  unseasonable 
hours,  because  it  gives  cause  of  suspicion.” 

In  accordance  with  the  terms  of  freedoms  and  exemp- 
tions established  in  1640,  the  founders  of  Middleburg 
had  hitherto  been  free  from  all  imposts  or  taxes  to  the 
general  government.  The  term  for  such  exemption  had 
now  expired,  and  the  inhabitants  met  in  July  1662  and 
appointed  a committee  of  three  to  wait  upon  the  director 
and  agree  with  him  “ for  the  tithes  for  the  present  year.” 

In  1662  intelligence  was  sent  to  Middleburg  and  the 
surrounding  English  villages  that  they  “ were  annexed  to 
the  other  side  of  the  sound.”  Connecticut  had  received 
a charter  from  Charles  II.  confirming  to  that  colony  the 
“ islands  adjacent,”  and  laid  claim  to  Long  Island  as  one 
of  the  island  referred  to.  The  English  towns  hailed  the 
event  as  an  opportunity  for  shaking  off  the  fetters  of 
Dutch  tyranny.  Middleburg  kept  up  a show  of  allegiance, 
and  sent  as  usual  two  commissioners  to  fix  upon  the  tithes 
for  the  current  year.  Among  those  who  advocated  an  alli- 
ance with  Connecticut  was  Captain  John  Coe,  who  ad- 
dressed a letter  on  the  project  to  the  general  court  at  Hart- 
ford, but  the  letter  did  not  reach  its  destination  until  two 


hours  after  the  court  had  broken  up.  At  the  next  meet- 
ing, in  the  following  October,  a petition,  with  others 
from  several  English  towns,  was  presented,  praying  for 
the  privileges  and  protection  of  Connecticut,  seeing  “ it 
hath  pleased  the  Highest  Majesty  to  move  the  heart  of 
the  King’s  Majesty  to  grant  unto  your  colony  such  en- 
largements as  we  are  informed  your  patent  affords.” 
Agreeable  to  this  request  the  court  declared  that,  “ as  the 
lines  of  their  patent  extended  to  the  adjoining  islands, 
they  accepted  those  towns  under  their  jurisdiction.” 

Middleburg  was  now  in  allegiance  to  King  Charles  II. 
In  the  ardor  of  their  loyalty  the  citizens  discarded  the 
former  name  of  the  settlement,  and  adopted  that  of 
Hastings,  after  a town  in  Sussex,  England.  The  people 
of  Hastings  were  filled  with  apprehension  on  account  of 
an  agreement  between  Stuyvesant  and  Connecticut,  by 
which  the  jurisdiction  of  both  provinces  over  the  Eng- 
lish on  the  west  end  of  Long  Island  was  suspended,  and 
these  towns  therefore  were  left  without  a head.  They 
thereupon  entered  into  a combination  to  manage  their 
own  affairs,  and  on  the  4th  of  February  1664  they  met 
for  the  transaction  of  business.  They  drew  up  and 
signed  a compact,  in  which  they  set  forth  the  grounds  of 
their  allegiance  to  England,  with  their  determination  to 
defend  to  any  extremity  the  interests  of  their  royal  mas- 
ter, King  Charles  II.  The  inhabitants,  with  few  excep- 
tions, signed  this  instrument,  and  proceeded  to  ballot  for 
a president  for  the  ensuing  year.  Captain  John  Scott 
received  their  unanimous  vote.  Town  officers  were 
elected,  consisting  of  a clerk,  constable,  and  five  towns- 
men. The  latter  were  John  Burroughs,  Ralph  Hunt, 
John  Ramsden,  Samuel  Toe  and  John  Layton.  Richard 
Betts  and  John  Coe  were  appointed  magistrates.  But 
Scott’s  authority  was  brief.  Connecticut,  jealous  of  his 
proceedings,  sent  a company  of  soldiers  to  arrest  him, 
and  he  was  thrown  into  jail  in  Hartford.  Scott’s  magis- 
trates were  deposed,  and  others  appointed. 

In  the  convention  held  in  February  1665  to  settle  the 
affairs  of  the  province,  which  adopted  “the  duke’s  laws,” 
Hastings  was  represented  by  Richard  Betts  and  john 
Coe,  and  was  attached  to  the  “west  riding”  of  York- 
shire, then  formed.  It  was  also  enlarged  by  the  addition 
of  out-plantations,  comprising  the  Poor  Bowery,  Hell 
Gate  Neck,  etc.  The  township  as  thus  constituted  re- 
ceived the  name  of  “ the  New  Towne.”  One  object  of 
the  convention  was  to  determine  the  limits  of  the  several 
towns.  Bushwick  felt  herself  aggrieved  at  Newtown  for 
her  attempt  to  occupy  the  meadows  at  English  Kills,  and 
the  upland  lying  south  of  them.  The  decision  was: 

“ The  meadow  ground  in  question  between  Bushwick 
and  New  Towne  shall  remain  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Bushwick,  as  properly  and  of  right  belonging  to 
them;  that  is  to  say,  the  meadow  lying  on  the  west  side 
of  the  most  ancient  Dutch  house,  situate  on  the  east  side 
of  the  head  of  Mespat  Kills;  and  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Towne  are  no  way  to  molest  the  said  town  of  Bushwick 
in  the  peaceable  enjoyment  thereof.  Touching  the  up- 
land, the  bounds  specified  in  the  Middleburg  deed  will 
sufficiently  regulate  the  same.”  Two  years  later  Bush- 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


332 


wick  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  Governor  Nicolls  a 
patent  embracing  both  the  meadows  and  the  uplands  in 
question. 

The  duke’s  laws,  by  which  the  province  was  now  to  be 
regulated,  enjoined  upon  each  town  or  parish  to  build  a 
church  sufficient  to  accommodate  two  hundred  persons, 
each  inhabitant  to  pay  his  portion  of  the  minister’s 
salary  agreed  upon.  For  the  orderly  management  of  all 
town  affairs  it  was  directed  that  eight  of  the  most  able 
men  of  each  town  or  parish  be  appointed  overseers, 
“whereof  four  shall  remain  in  their  office  two  years  suc- 
cessively, and  four  shall  be  changed  for  new  ones  every 
year.”  They  were  authorized,  together  with  the  con- 
stable, to  hold  town  courts  weekly  or  monthly,  as  was 
required.  They  were  to  report  twice  a year  to  the  ses- 
sion “ all  such  abominable  sinnes  ” as  came  to  their 
knowledge  and  had  not  been  punished,  including  profane 
swearing,  Sabbath  breaking  and  drunkenness.  They 
made  all  assessments  or  rates,  which  usually  consisted  of 
three — the  minister’s  rate,  the  town  rate  and  the  country 
rate,  the  latter  for  the  support  of  the  general  government. 
The  constable  was  chosen  in  April  of  each  year,  by  vote 
of  the  freeholders  in  each  town.  He  was  required  to  at- 
tend each  sitting  of  the  court  of  sessions;  he  was  to  whip 
or  otherwise  punish  a certain  class  of  offenders,  raise  the 
hue  and  cry  after  murderers,  thieves  and  burglars,  and 
also  apprehend  without  warrant  such  as  were  overtaken 
with  drink  or  swearing  or  Sabbath  breaking.  He  could 
command  the  assistance  of  any  other  person,  upon  a pen- 
alty for  their  refusal.  He,  with  the  concurrence  of  two 
overseers,  was  to  satisfy  every  person  for  the  killing  of 
wolves,  to  the  value  of  an  Indian  coat  for  each  wolf, 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  public  rate. 

At  their  meeting  March  15th  1665,  held  for  the  elec- 
tion of  town  officers,  the  people  of  Newtown  resolved  to 
provide  themselves  with  a “ law  book.”  This  code  in- 
stituted regulations  for  the  embodiment  and  discipline  of 
the  militia.  In  keeping  therewith  Governor  Nicolls  issued 
commissions  to  the  officers  of  Newtown,  constituting 
Thomas  Lawrence  captain,  Ralph  Hunt  lieutenant,  and 
Gershom  Moore  ensign. 

The  Title  Perfected. 

In  1666*  the  town  attempted  to  effect  a purchase  of 
the  Indian  reservation,  and  having  obtained  the  govern- 
or's license  for  this  purpose,  the  deed  was  executed  and 

*At  this  time  the  freeholders  of  the  town  were  as  follows: 

John  Albertus,  John  Allene,  Enim  Benham,  Richard  Betts,  Daniel 
Bloomfield,  William  Britten,  John  Burroughs,  Nicholas  Carter,  Thomas 
Case,  John  Cochran,  John  Coe,  John  Denman,  Aaron  Derieksen,  Fran- 
cis Doughty,  Hilbert  Elbertsen,  Richard  Fidoe,  John  Forly,  Abraham 
Frost,  John  Furman,  Josias  Furman,  Anthony  Gleam,  John  Hart, 
Jonathan  Hazard,  Ralph  Hunt,  Robert  Jackson,  John  Jacobsen,  John 
Jacobus,  Hendrie  Jansen,  Jiles  Jansen,  Nicholas  Jennings,  George  Jew- 
ell, Burger  Joost.  Christiaen  Laurenz,  James.Lauronson,  John  Lawron- 
son,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Caleb  Levcrieh,  Thomas  Martin,  Pieter  Corne- 
lisz  Luyster,  Gershom  Moore,  John  Moore,  Samuel  Moore,  Thomas 
Moore,’ Thomas  Morrell,  Richard  Owen,  John  Parcel!,  John  Pettit, 
Thomas  Pettit,  Joseph  Phillips,  Lowris  Pietersen,  John  Ramsden,  Wid- 
ow Reeder,  Thomas  Roberts,  Thomas  Robinson,  Abraham  Rycken, 

Henry  Sawtell,  John  Scudder,  Harek  Siboutsen, Simons,  Pieter 

Simonsen,  Richard  Smith,  John  Stevenson,  Thomas  Wan  dell,  Joris 
Stevens  Van  Alst,  James  Way,  Daniel  Whythead,  Lambert  Woodward. 


acknowledged  by  the  chiefs,  and  the  Indian  title  to  the 
territory  was  extinguished.  This  forms  an  interesting 
epoch  in  the  history  of  the  town.  The  country  began  to 
wear  signs  of  thrift  which  made  it  uncongenial  with  the 
savages’  ideas  of  life.  Probably  most  of  them  vacated 
the  town  at  once.  There  is  evidence  that  scattering 
ones  remained  for  a number  of  years  later,. some  of  whom 
had  their  wigwams  at  Mespat  Kills;  but  the  memory  of 
these  long  since  perished,  and  the  only  existing  memen- 
toes'of  the  red  men  are  the  collections  of  the  rude  im- 
plements which  they  used  in  the  pursuits  of  peace  and 
the  prosecution  of  war. 

Having  thus  extinguished  the  Indian  title  to  all  their 
lands  the  people  of  Newtown  proceeded  to  secure  the 
governor’s  letters  patent  for  the  township.  March  1st 
1667  several  trusty  citizens  were  named  as  patentees  in 
behalf  of  the  whole  town,  to  obtain  the  governor’s  signa- 
ture to  the  patent.  Governor  Nicolls,  on  the  6th  of 
March,  signed  the  deed  which  was  to  “ ratify,  confirm 
and  grant  unto  Captain  Richard  Betts,  Captain  Thomas 
Lawrence,  Captain  John  Coe,  John  Burroughs,  Ralph 
Hunt,  Daniel  Whitehead  and  Burger  Joost,  for  and  on 
behalf  of  themselves  and  their  associates  the  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  said  town,  all  that  tract  of  land 
bounded  east  by  Flushing  Creek,  north  by  the  sound, 
south  by  Jamaica  line,  which  runs  on  the  south  side  of 
the  hills,  and  west  by  Mespat  Creek  or  Kills,”  etc.  “ More- 
over I do  hereby  ratify,  confirm  and  grant  unto  the  said 
patentees  and  their  associates  all  the  privileges  of  a town 
in  this  government,  and  that  the  place  of  their  present 
habitation  shall  continue  and  retain  the  name  of  New 
Towne.” 

Arts  of  War  and  Peace. 

The  inhabitants  were  organized  into  a single  company, 
under  a captain,  a lieutenant  and  an  ensign,  elected  by  the 
company  and  commissioned  by  the  governor.  All  male 
persons  above  the  age  of  16,  excepting  certain  judicial 
and  professional  characters,  including  the  minister, 
schoolmaster  and  constable,  were  required  to  do  military 
duty  four  days  in  the  year  at  the  company  drill,  and  once 
at  the  general  training  of  the  riding.  At  their  trainings 
they  were  “instructed  in  the  comely  handling  and  ready  use 
of  their  weapons  in  all  postures  of  warre,  to  understand 
and  attend  all  words  of  command.”  Disorderly  conduct 
upon  parade  was  punishable  by  “stocks,  riding  wooden 
horses,  or  other  military  punishments,”  or  they  could 
turn  the  offender  over  to  the  civil  authorities. 

The  settlers  now  gave  increased  attention  to  the  culti- 
vation and  improvement  of  their  lands.  The  main 
articles  of  produce  at  this  period  where  wheat,  peas,  rye, 
corn  and  tobacco,  the  last  being  a staple  commodity. 
Attention  was  also  given  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit  trees, 
and  luxuriant  orchards  of  apples,  pears  and  peaches  be- 
gan to  repay  their  toil  and  to  yield  quite  as  abundantly 
as  the  orchards  of  Europe,  whence  these  productions 
had  been  imported  by  the  settlers.  The  far-famed 
Newtown  Pippin  was  first  cultivated  here.  The  frequent 
taking  up  of  land  rendered  it  necessary  to  appoint  per- 


EARLY  INDUSTRIES  IN  NEWTOWN. 


333 


manent  surveyors,  and  January  ist  1668  Ralph  Hunt, 
Daniel  Whitehead,  and  John  Burroughs  were  chosen  to 
this  office  and  their  fees  established  at  two  pence  an 
acre.  The  town  court  authorized  Richard  Owen  to  im- 
pound animals  that  should  be  found  in  the  common 
field,  and  to  receive  for  his  services  twelve  pence  each 
for  horses,  six  pence  a head  for  neat  cattle,  and  four 
pence  apiece  for  swine.  Although  agriculture  was  the 
leading  employment  of  the  inhabitants,  yet  due  en- 
couragement was  given  to  honest  craftsmen  to  settle 
among  them.  Such  were  gratuitously  supplied  with 
land  for  cultivation.  The  benefit  of  attracting  into  their 
society  skillful  mechanics  seems  to  have  been  duly  ap- 
preciated, and  such  persons  were  preferred  to  any  others. 

Except  that  John  Coe  owned  a flouring-mill  in  1657, 
no  mention  is  made  of  any  business  aside  from  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  the  year  1691,  when  measures  were 
taken  by  two  enterprising  citizens  of  the  town  to  build 
a fulling-mill.  The  town  favored  the  project  and  passed 
the  following:  “Voted  that  Thomas  Stevenson  and 
Edward  Stevenson  shall  have  the  brook  or  stream  that 
is  commonly  called  Lodowick  Brook,  as  their  own  right, 
to  have  and  to  hold  to  them  and  theirs  forever,  with 
what  convenience  of  land  can  be  spared  for  the  building 
of  a fulling-mill,  with  which  they  are  to  do  the  town’s 
work  first,  and  as  reasonable  as  other  workmen  do,  and 
to  keep  the  same  in  repair.”  This  was  one  of  the  first 
fulling-mills  in  the  province.  It  remained  in  operation 
many  years,  and  though  every  vestige  of  it  long  since 
disappeared  the  locality  still  retains  the  name  of  the 
Fulling-mill  Dam!  In  1721  William  Vallence  set  up  a 
bark-mill  and  tannery.  A starch  factory  was  also  in 
operation,  and  at  the  head  of  Flushing  Bay  Joris  Rapelje 
conducted  an  extensive  brewery.  In  1722  we  first  find 
mention  of  a merchant  in  Newtown,  Nathaniel  Hazard 
having  opened  a store;  but,  probably  for  want  of  en- 
couragement, he  soon  discontinued  it.  In  1753  Captain 
Jacob  Blackwell  and  Joseph  Hallett  put  up  a grist-mill 
on  the  creek  at  Hallett’s  Cove.  In  1756  Captain  Black- 
well  became  sole  proprietor,  and  some  years  later  sold 
it  to  Hendrick  Suydam,  who  conducted  it  till  many  years 
after  the  Revolution. 

The  inhabitants  were  so  entirely  given  to  agriculture, 
and  had  pursued  it  so  assiduously,  that  in  1723  all  the  land 
in  the  township  had  been  taken  up.  Wheat  was  the  favor- 
ite crop,  but  enough  rye,  barley,  corn,  hemp,  flax  and  to- 
bacco was  raised  for  home  consumption,  besides  a variety 
of  fruits  and  vegetables,  including  that  most  valuable  one 
the  potato,  with  which  the  first  settlers  were  wholly  un- 
acquainted. Much  land  was  left  for  grazing,  for  the 
farmers  also  raised  a considerable  number  of  horses, 
cattle  and  sheep,  from  breeds  originally  brought  from 
New  England  and  Holland.  Produce  brought  low  prices. 
In  January  1730  wheat  sold  in  this  town  for  3s.  3d.  per 
bushel,  barley  3s.,  flax  9d.  per  pound,  butter  is.  per  pound, 
and  wood  at  3s.  6d.  per  load.  Common  labor  was  worth 
about  3s.  a day.  Though  farming  prevailed  over  every 
other  occupation,  there  seems  to  have  been  no  lack  of 
mechanics.  In  1662  the  town  had  two  tailors,  a carpen- 


ter, a cooper,  a mason,  and  a blacksmith.  In  addition 
there  are  found  butchers,  wool  combers,  and  weavers, 
the  latter  the  most  numerous.  Most  families  made  coarse 
woolen  cloth  and  linen  for  their  own  wear,  which  was 
woven  by  the  itinerant  weavers,  who  came  to  their  houses 
for  that  purpose;  for  every  family  had  its  own  loom,  as 
well  as  its  spinning  wheel.  Trade  was  principally  by  way 
of  barter.  This  was  necessary,  as  money  was  scarce. 
At  an  early  day  there  was  absolutely  none,  and  nearly 
everything  was  paid  for  in  produce.  In  1661  a person 
gives  for  a house  “six  hundred  weight  of  tobacco,  a 
thousand  clapboards,  and-  half  a fat  of  strong  beer.”  The 
state  of  society  was  characterized  by  an  honest  plainness. 
The  furniture  was  such  as  necessity,  not  fancy,  suggested. 
Floor  carpets  were  a superfluity  almost  if  not  quite  un- 
known. The  table  was  set  with  pewter  platters  and 
plain  earthenware;  some  few  could  display  china,  and 
even  silver  plate,  but  they  were  rare.  The  simplicity  of 
manners  is  shown  in  that  very  few  families  used  table 
forks;  most  ate  with  their  fingers.  The  major  part  of 
the  inhabitants  were  singularly  plain  in  attire,  in  manners, 
and  in  speech. 

For  some  time  the  depredations  of  wolves  offered  a 
serious  impediment  to  the  rearing  of  sheep,  and,  though 
the  inhabitants  of  this  town  were  less  annoyed  than  their 
neighbors  of  the  adjoining  towns,  they  found  it  necessary 
in  1692  to  offer  20  shillings  a head  for  every  wolf  killed 
within  the  limits  of  the  town.  Their  destruction  became 
necessary  not  only  for  the  preservation  of  domestic  ani- 
mals, but  even  for  the  personal  safety  of  the  inhabitants, 
whom  they  would  sometimes  attack. 

The  introduction  of  slavery  in  this  town  was  coeval 
with  the  planting  of  the  town,  and  extended  not  only  to 
the  negro  but  to  the  free-born  Indian,  brought  hither 
from  the  south.  But,  while  they  were  bought  and  sold 
as  chattels,  their  lives  were  protected  by  law.  In  infancy 
they  were  baptized,  and  at  a suitable  age  were  allowed  to 
marry.  In  1755  the  town  contained  163  slaves  above  the 
age  of  fourteen  years. 

Little  to  interest  marked  the  years  which  immediately 
preceded  the  Revolution.  The  farmer,  living  in  ease 
and  plenty,  quietly  pursued  his  avocation;  his  sons,  if 
too  ambitious  and  enterprising  to  follow  the  plow,  went 
abroad  to  seek  a more  extensive  field  of  business.  Others 
aimed  at  usefulness  in  the  learned  professions.  Of  law- 
yers there  were  none  in  the  town,  and  their  services  were 
seldom  needed.  There  were  always  persons  competent 
to  transact  business  relating  to  the  transfer  of  lands. 
Peter  Berrien,  who  had  died  recently,  had  done  great 
service  in  this  respect,  for  which  he  was  peculiarly  fitted, 
being  a scholar,  a superior  penman,  a skillful  surveyor, 
and  equally  conversant  with  the  Dutch  and  English  lan- 
guages. Of  the  physicians  the  first  noticed  is  James 
Clark,  “surgeon”  at  Mespat  Kills  in  the  Dutch  adminis- 
tration. Between  that  time  and  the  close  of  the  century 
Newtown  had  in  succession  Dr.  Folcks,  Dr.  John  Green- 
field and  Dr.  Hazard.  After  1720^  Doctors  Evan  Jones, 
Berrien,  Hugh  Rogers,  Thomas  Sackett  and  Joseph 
Sackett  are  found  officiating  in  the  best  families.  Dr. 


334 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Jacob  Ogden,  of  Jamaica,  also  practiced  considerably  in 
this  town. 

In  1689,  when  the  inroads  of  the  French  on  the  north- 
ern frontier  were  creating  apprehension,  the  governor  in 
order  to  meet  the  danger  sought  to  strengthen  the  mili- 
tary force  of  the  province.  By  his  order  the  militia  of 
Newtown  were  divided  into  two  companies,  of  one  of 
which  the  officers  were  Captain  Content  Titus,  Lieuten- 
ant Jeremiah  Burroughs,  and  Ensign  Robert  Coe;  and  of 
the  other  Captain  Samuel  Moore,  Lieutenant  Joseph 
Sackett,  and  Ensign  Gershom  Moore.  This  year  an  esti- 
mate was  made  of  the  population  of  the  town,  which 
showed  that  it  contained  183  white  inhabitants  and  93 
negro  slaves.  In  1711  a census  of  the  town  was  taken, 
and  it  showed  the  population  to  be  1,003,  °f  whom  164 
were  negro  slaves. 

Governmental  Changes — Representation  Intro- 
duced. 

When  Captain  Anthony  Colve  was  appointed  governor, 
on  the  reoccupation  of  the  colony  by  the  Dutch,  and 
began  to  reinstate  the  Dutch  government,  he  issued  his 
proclamation  to  the  several  towns  to  come  and  make 
their  submission  to  the  States-General.  Newtown  pre- 
pared to  obey  the  order,  and  deputed  Lieutenant  John 
Ketcham  and  John  Burroughs,  who  presented  them- 
selves before  “ the  lords  commanders  and  the  noble 
military  council  ” in  the  fort  at  New  York,  and,  petition- 
ing for  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  their  privileges, 
were  notified  to  nominate  six  persons,  from  whom  the 
honorable  court  should  select  three  for  magistrates;  and 
also  to  appoint  two  deputies  to  unite  with  others  of 
“ Rustdorp,  Heemstede,  Vlissingen,  and  Oyster  Bay  ” in 
the  presentation  of  three  nominees  for  the  office  of 
sheriff,  and  three  for  that  of  secretory,  which  two  latter 
officers  were  to  have  authority  over  these  five  named 
towns,  now  to  be  united  in  one  jurisdiction.  Captain 
William  Kniftwas  dispatched  to  the  towns  and  villages 
to  administer  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  inhabitants. 
Newtown  at  this  time  numbered  ninety-nine  male  adults, 
but  only  twenty-three  could  be  found,  the  rest  being  ab- 
sent. Written  instructions  were  soon  received  from  the 
new  governor  for  the  guidance  of  the  magistrates  in  the 
government  of  the  town.  In  1674  a treaty  of  peace  was 
concluded  between  England  and  Holland,  .which  pro- 
vided that  this  province  should  be  restored  to  the  Eng- 
lish. The  duke’s  laws  were  then  revived,  with  such 
grants  and  privileges  as  had  previously  been  enjoyed 
under  his  Royal  Highness.  The  magistrates,  constables 
and  overseers  who  were  serving  when  the  Dutch  came 
into  power  were  reinstated. 

The  Duke  of  York  having  assented  to  the  convening 
of  a popular  legislative  assembly,  Newtown  appointed 
Captain  Richard  Betts,  Samuel  Moore,  Robert  Blackwell 
and  Jonathan  Hazard  to  go  to  Gravesend  and  unite  with 
committees  from  the  several  towns  of  the  riding  in  the 
choice  of  delegates  to  said  assembly.  Upon  the  over- 
throw of  King  James  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  showed 
how  deeply  they  were  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  independ- 


ence, rejoicing  heartily  at  the  news  of  the  revolution  in 
England  and  at  the  fall  of  James.  At  a meeting  held 
this  year  Captain  Richard  Betts  and  Lieutenant  Samuel 
Moore  were  delegated  to  a convention  to  be  held  in  New 
York,  with  instructions  “ to  act  as  they  should  see  cause 
for  the  good  and  benefit  of  the  country.”  The  towns- 
people resolved  to  provide  and  maintain  two  soldiers  to 
strengthen  the  garrison  at  New  York.  They  also  sent 
delegates  to  Jamaica  to  help  elect  two  persons  to  repre- 
sent the  county  in  a committee  of  safety,  which  it  was 
proposed  to  form  for  the  direction  of  public  affairs. 
One  of  the  members  of  said  committee  was  “loyal  Mr. 
Samuel  Jones,”  of  Newtown. 

The  Boundary  Dispute  Settled. 

The  year  1669  was  marked  by  a revival  of  the  dispute 
between  Newtown  and  Bushwick  respecting  the  meadows 
at  Mespat  Kills.  The  governor  ordered  both  to  present 
their  cause  for  trial  before  the  council  of  the  province  in 
June.  Captain  Betts,  Captain  Lawrence  and  John  Bur- 
roughs appeared  on  behalf  of  Newtown.  Bushwick 
founded  its  claim  on  the  order  of  Governor  Stuyvesant, 
and  on  the  decision  given  in  its  favor  at  Hempstead.  In 
defense,  Newtown  pleaded  its  Indian  purchase  and  its 
confirmation  by  Governor  Nicolls.  The  evidence  strongly 
favored  the  claim  of  Newtown,  but  the  council,  unable 
to  determine  the  question,  referred  it  to  the  court  of 
assize.  The  case  came  up  before  the  supreme  court  of 
the  colony  November  4th.  After  a full  hearing  the  case 
was  submitted  to  a jury  of  twelve,  who  gave  their  decis- 
ion in  favor  of  Bushwick,  and  the  court  confirmed  the 
verdict. 

At  this  period  the  bad  condition  and  the  limited  num- 
ber of  the  roads  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dutch  and  English 
Kills  were  causing  the  farmers  inconvenience.  In  pur- 
suance of  their  petition  the  town  court,  on  March  8th 
1670,  appointed  Mr.  Burger,  Mr.  Wandell,  John  Parcell 
and  Captain  Lawrence  to  superintend  the  laying  out  of 
convenient  highways.  The  decision  of  the  supreme 
court  in  regard  to  the  meadows  of  Mespat  being  unsatis- 
factory to  Newtown,  a request  was  made  to  the  governor 
and  council  to  appoint  some  indifferent  persons  to  view 
and  layout  the  bounds  between  them  and  their  neighbors 
of  Bushwick.  The  council  referred  the  case  to  the  court 
of  sessions,  which  appointed  Captain  James  Hubbard, 
Richard  Cornell,  Captain  Elbert,  Elbertsz  Stoothoff  and 
Captain  Jacques  Cortelyou  to  visit  and  review  the  lands 
in  dispute,  and  “ endeavor  a composure  betwixt  them.” 
It  was  now  hoped  that  parties  would  agree,  but  the 
summer  of  1672  found  them  still  at  variance,  and  several 
applications  were  again  laid  before  the  governor,  who 
issued  a commission  to  the  gentlemen  nominated  by  the 
court  of  sessions,  and  with  them  Thomas  Delavall  and 
Matthias  Nicoll,  to  take  a careful  observation  of  the 
premises  and  do  their  utmost  to  effect  a conciliation. 
Authorized  deputies  from  the  respective  towns  met  them 
on  the  premises,  and  at  length  an  agreement  was  effected 
which  the  governor  was  pleased  to  confirm.  Bushwick 
conceded  Smith’s  Island,  and  Newtown  yielded  the  large 


THE  BOUNDS  OF  NEWTOWN. 


335 


tract  of  upland  to  the  southward,  mentioned  in  Bush- 
wick  patent. 

In  1684  the  towns  of  Newtown,  Bushwick  and  Brook- 
lyn deputed  each  a committee  of  three  to  effect  an 
agreement  as  to  the  limits  and  bounds  of  these  towns. 
Another  committee  from  Newtown  was  chosen  to  wait 
upon  the  governor  and  confer  respecting  “the  confirma- 
tion of  our  patent  to  us  and  our  heirs  forever.”  The  in- 
terview of  the  three  committees  found  them  widely  at 
issue  on  the  subject  of  their  boundaries,  Newtown  urging 
its  right  to  all  the  land  covered  by  its  Indian  deed.  Dis- 
appointed with  the  issue  of  the  investigation,  Newtown 
dropped  the  subject  of  a new  charter  until  the  following 
year.  About  the  beginning  of  1686  a draft  of  the  pro- 
posed charter  was  received.  On  inspection  it  was  found 
to  require  amendment.  The  improved  draft,  being 
allowed  by  the  governor,  was  engrossed  on  parchment, 
sealed  with  the  provincial  seal,  and  signed  by  the 
governor.  But  the  people  of  Flatbush  claimed  some 
of  the  land  on  the  southern  border,  and  in  1685  ob- 
tained a patent  therefor  and  began  to  extend  their 
authority  over  it.  In  December  news  came  that  the 
farmers  there  had  met  with  serious  interruption.  Jona- 
than Hazard  and  Edward  Stevenson  were  forthwith  dis- 
patched to  Flatbush  to  demand  “ why  they  disturb  our 
inhabitants.”  Means  were  also  taken  to  secure  their 
borders,  and  to  this  end  Philip  Wells  was  engaged  to  run 
out  the  boundaries  of  the  township,  which  was  accom- 
plished in  the  spring  of  1687,  and  the  draft  deposited  in 
the  town  clerk’s  office.  They  next  proceeded  to  lay  out 
lots  along  the  whole  extent  of  their  south  bounds,  to 
be  given  to  every  freeholder  in  the  township  on  condi- 
tion that  they  should  not  sell  the  same  to  residents  of 
other  towns  and  that  the  lands  assigned  be  immediately 
occupied.  The  efforts  of  Newtown  to  occupy  all  these 
lands  fomented  discontent  in  the  adjoining  towns,  in 
which  Brooklyn,  Flatbush  and  Bushwick  participated. 
The  Newtown  people,  believing  that  a combination  of 
these  towns  was  being  formed  against  them,  raised 
twenty  pounds  for  the  defense  of  their  patent.  A petition 
was  presented  by  the  towns  of  Brooklyn,  Bushwick  and 
Flatbush  to  the  governor,  complaining  that  the  people  of 
Newtown  “build  houses  on  our  out-lands,”  and  praying 
his  excellency  in  council  “ to  examine  both  their  pre- 
tenses.” All  parties  appeared  before  the  governor,  and 
after  an  inspection  of  their  several  patents  and  papers 
his  excellency  was  of  opinion  “that  the  controversy  can- 
not be  better  decided  than  by  a survey  of  their  town- 
ships by  the  sworn  surveyor,  and  that  indifferent  persons 
of  note  and  integrity  be  present  at  the  surveying  of  them, 
and  that  the  several  surveys  be  brought  upon  one  plot  or 
draft  to  be  decided  and  determined  accordingly  by  the 
governor  and  council.”  This  proposal  being  acceded  to 
a warrant  was  issued  February  6th  1693  to  the  surveyor- 
general,  who  entered  upon  the  work,  in  the  execution  of 
which  two  years  elapsed.  When  the  survey  was  com- 
pleted the  council  was  informed  and  requested  that  a day 
might  be  appointed  for  the  appearance  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, in  order  to  hear  a decision  of  the  controversy. 


When  the  day  came  the  agents  of  Newtown  alone  ap- 
peared. At  the  second  appointment  deputies  from 
Brooklyn  presented  themselves,  but  the  other  towns  kept 
aloof,  having  evidently  changed  their  purpose  to  submit 
the  decision  to  the  council.  The  suit  was  finally  ad- 
journed without  coming  to  any  conclusion.  After  a 
month’s  delay  Newtown  besought  the  governor  for  a de- 
termination of  the  dispute. 

His  excellency  replied  that,  as  it  was  a matter  of  com- 
mon right,  cognizable  at  common  law,  and  which  there- 
fore could  not  be  decided  by  himself  without  the  concur- 
rence of  all  parties,  he  should  refer  them  to  the  common 
law.  But  as  some  of  the  towns  declined  to  resort  to  law, 
on  the  plea  of  expense,  the  dispute  remained  where  it 
was.  Nothing  transpired  touching  the  controversy  for 
about  ten  years.  Newtown  kept  the  field,  and  quietly 
tried  to  preoccupy  the  lands  in  dispute.  This  chafed  and 
inflamed  the  feeling  of  the  neighbors  so  that  in  the 
spring  of  1 706  a party  of  the  latter  proceeded  to  vent  their 
wrath  upon  the  dwellers  on  the  disputed  territory.  News 
of  the  disturbance  reached  the  ears  of  the  governor,  and 
he,  understanding  that  all  parties  were  willing  to  submit 
their  differences  to  the  council  for  decision,  directed 
that  they  be  summoned  to  appear.  But,  on  the  meeting 
of  the  parties,  counsel  for  Bushwick  stated  that  his 
clients  objected  to  a decision  of  the  question  by  that 
board.  The  governor  conceived  the  idea  that  there  was 
a tract  of  ungranted  land  lying  between  Bushwick  and 
Newtown.  By  his  order  Peter  Cortelyou  made  a survey 
of  the  disputed  lands,  and  found  some  twelve  hundred 
acres  of  land.  The  governor  determined  to  dispose  of 
this  as  a gift  to  certain  of  his  personal  friends.  Sep- 
tember 27th  1708  he  gave  a patent  for  this  tract  to  Mrs. 
Ann  Bridges,  widow  of  the  late  chief  justice  of  the 
province,  John  Bridges,  LL.  D.;  Robert  Milward,  at- 
torney at  law,  who  with  Dr.  Bridges  had  accompanied 
Lord  Cornbury  to  this  Country;  William  Huddleston, 
Adrian  Hoogland,  Peter  Praa,  Benjamin  Aske,  and  Wil- 
liam Anderson.  The  controversy  was  as  far  as  ever 
from  adjustment.  Newtown  exhibited  an  unflinching 
purpose  to  contest  the  governor’s  grant.  The  new 
patentees,  Ann  Bridges  and  company,  asserted  their 
rights;  entered  suits  against  such  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Newtown  as  were  settled  on  their  patent,  and  succeeded 
in  ousting  them.  The  town  undertook  their  defense, 
and  deputed  Judge  John  Coe  and  Richard  Alsop  to  ap- 
pear in  behalf  of  the  persons  ejected.  It  was  now  pro- 
posed to  obtain  the  passage  of  a law  for  the  settlement 
of  this  tedious  controversy.  But  this  bill  died  in  com- 
mittee, being  never  reported.  The  attempt  was  repeated 
in  1717.  A bill  was  introduced  entitled  “An  act  for  the 
better  ascertaining  the  division  line  between  Kings  and 
Queens  county,  on  the  island  of  Nassau.”  Remon- 
strances against  this  measure  poured  in  from  Flatbush, 
Brooklyn,  and  Bushwick,  but  the  objections  were  deemed 
insufficient  and  the  Assembly  passed  it.  Now  there  was 
a hope  of  settlement;  but  it  soon  vanished,  for  on 
the  presentation  of  the  bill  to  Governor  Hunter  he  re- 
fused to  saction  it.  The  limits  of  the  town  remained 


37 


336 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


controverted  and  unsettled  until  1764,  when  a bill  was 
introduced  authorizing  certain  gentlemen  named  therein 
to  agree  upon  and  run  out  the  division  line  of  Kings  and 
Queens  counties.  Objections  and  amendments  delayed 
its  passage  till  1768,  when  it  became  a law.  The  com- 
missioners specified  were  Hon.  John  Watts,  William 
Nicoll,  and  William  Nicoll  jr.  Their  report,  with  a sur- 
vey of  the  line,  is  still  on  file  in  the  secretary  of  state’s 
office.  Thus  ended  a dispute  which  had  continued  more 
than  a century. 

Education. 

The  period  between  1720  and  1755  was  one  of  much 
social  enterprise,  and  the  subject  of  education  gained 
some  attention.  By  education  must  be  understood  those 
few  and  simple  attainments  which  the  mass  of  the  peo- 
ple were  wont  to  regard  as  sufficient.  To  read,  write 
and  cast  up  plain  accounts  were  all  the  requirements 
deemed  necessary.  Previous  to  this  date  the  village  had 
occasionally  enjoyed  the  services  of  a schoolmaster. 
The  first  was  Richard  Mills,  who  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  February  1661.  In  1695  Ezekiel  Lewis,  subsequently 
a distinguished  lawyer  of  Boston,  was  engaged  for  a 
twelvemonth,  and  for  his  accommodation  the  town-house 
was  put  in  repair.  In  1720  George  Reynolds  appears 
to  have  occupied  the  town-house  for  the  same  purpose, 
but  families  in  the  distant  parts  of  the  town  found  the 
location  inconvenient.  Several  of  these  formed  the  de- 
sign of  starting  another  school,  at  what  has  since  borne 
the  name  of  Middletown.  Associating  together  they  built 
a school-house  upon  a piece  of  ground  appropriated 
for  the  purpose  by  Joseph  Hallett.  In  1734  several  in- 
dividuals living  in  Hell  Gate  Neck  combined  and  erected 
“a  small  house  for  a school  to  be  kept  in  for  the  educa- 
tion of  their  children.”  It  was  located  on  the  river  road, 
where  John  Lawrence  had  presented  as  a site  for  the 
building  “one  square  rod  of  land,”  for  which  he  gave  a 
deed  to  his  associates,  Joseph  Moore,  Thomas  Lawrence, 
Cornelius  Berrien,  William  Leverich  and  Hendrick  Wilt- 
see.  The  residents  south  of  Newtown  village  took  meas- 
ures in  1739  to  build  a school-house  on  a plot  of  ground 
“twenty  foot  square”  given  by  Jacobus  Springsteen, 
who  executed  a deed’ for  the  same  to  his  “loving  friends” 
Daniel  Stevenson,  Benjamin  Coe,  Gabriel  Furman, 
N.  Furman,  David  Springsteen,  Ezekiel  Furman,  Wil- 
liam Van  Duyn,  Jeromus  Remsen,  Jacob  Skillman, 
Rem.  Remsen,  Abraham  Morrell,  Joseph  Furman,  Ed- 
ward Titus  and  Dow  Suydam.  The  people  near  the 
English  Kills  were  not  behind  their  neighbors,  and  they 
built  a school-house  about  this  period.  Jacob  Reeder 
was  the  preceptor  here  for  a long  period;  a useful  man, 
and  town  clerk  for  above  thirty  years.  In  1740  a house 
was  erected  “near  the  bridge  at  Newtown,”  the  villagers 
being  assisted  by  contributions  from  liberal  persons  in 
other  parts  of  the  town.  At  this  date,  therefore,  five 
school-houses,  located  at  different  points,  testified  to  the 
desire  of  the  inhabitants  to  furnish  the  means  of  educa- 
tion for  their  offspring.  The  increased  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge seemed  to  demand  as  early  as  1762  a classical 


school,  for  such  was  established  in  that  year  at  Hallett’s 
Cove.  The  following  is  the  teacher’s  card: 

“To  the  Public. — This  is  to  give  notice  to  all  whom 
it  may  concern  that  William  Rudge,  late  of  the  city  of 
Gloucester,  in  Old  England,  still  continues  his  school  at 
Hallett’s  Cove,  where  he  teaches  writing  in  the  different 
hands,  arithmetic  in  its  different  branches,  the  Italian 
method  of  book-keeping  by  way  of  double  entry,  Latin, 
and  Greek.  Those  who  choose  to  favor  him  may  depend 
upon  having  proper  care  taken  of  their  children;  and  he 
returns  thanks  to  those  who  have  already  obliged  him. 
The  school  is  healthy  and  pleasantly  situated,  and  at  a 
very  convenient  distance  from  New  York.  Letters  will 
be  duly  answered  directed  to  the  said  William  Rudge,  at 
Hallett’s  Cove. 

“We  who  have  subscribed  our  names,  being  willing  to 
continue  the  schoolmaster,  as  we  have  hitherto  found 
him  a man  of  close  application,  sobriety,  and  capable  of 
his  office,  are  ready  to  take  in  boarders  at  ^18  per  an- 
num: Jacob  Blackwell,  Jacob  Hallett  jr.,  Thomas  Hal- 
lett, Jacob  Hallett,  Jacob  Rapelje,  John  Greenoak, 
Samuel  Hallett  jr.,  William  Hallett,  Richard  Hallett, 
Richard  Berrien,  Richard  Penfold,  William  Hallett,  John 
McDonnaugh.” 

Revolutionary  Record. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  period  the  in- 
habitants were  divided  into  two  parties.  It  is  difficult  to 
say  which  one  was  loudest  in  protestations  of  loyalty  to 
George  III.,  whom  all  acknowledged  as  their  rightful 
sovereign,  but  few  if  any  were  found  to  deny  the  exist- 
ence of  grave  grievance.  The  widest  difference  of  opin- 
ion prevailed,  however,  as  to  the  proper  means  of  obtain- 
ing redress.  The  weaker  party  urged  the  most  pacific 
measures,  and  condemned  the  formation  of  congresses 
and  committees.  But  a majority  scouted  such  modera- 
tion, and  no  sooner  had  the  resolutions  of  Congress 
been  received  at  Newtown  than  these  hastened,  at  the 
call  of  their  supervisor,  Jeromus  Remsen  jr.,  to  adopt 
their  recommendations.  A large  number  assembled  at 
the  town-house,  and  seventeen  persons  were  appointed 
to  act  as  a committee  of  correspondence,  and  to  see  that 
the  association  formed  by  Congress  be  strictly  adhered 
to  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  The  said  persons  were 
Philip  Edsall,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Daniel  Lawrence, 
Jacob  Blackwell,  Richard  Alsop,  Daniel  Rapelje,  Jona- 
than Lawrence,  Samuel  Moore,  William  Furman,  William 
Howard,  Jeromus  Remsen  jr.,  Samuel  Riker,  John  Al- 
burtis,  Abraham  Brinckerhoff,  James  Way,  Samuel  Mor- 
rell and  Jonathan  Coe.  Although  meeting  with  much 
opposition  the  friends  of  liberty  in  Newtown  responded 
to  a call  of  the  New  York  committee,  inviting  them  to 
send  a representative  to  a convention  to  be  held  in  that 
city  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  delegates  to  a second 
general  Congress.  The  loyalists  exerted  themselves  to 
defeat  the  election  of  deputies,  and  circulated  a paper 
entitled  the  Queens  County  Freeholder , which  “leveled  its 
whole  force  at  the  very  essence  of  a Continental  Con- 
gress.” In  order  to  counteract  the  pernicious  influence 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  NEWTOWN— TOWN  CLERKS. 


337 


of  this  publication,  and  incite  the  people  to  action,  the 
Whigs  issued,  on  the  day  of  election,  an  eloquent  appeal 
“to  the  freeholders  of  Newtown.”  It  is  a remarkable 
fact  that,  while  the  body  of  the  Newtown  people  were  in 
favor  of  deputies,  every  other  town  in  Queens  county 
gave  its  voice  against  deputies.  In  the  prosecution  of 
defensive  measures  the  convention  advised  the  immediate 
organization  of  the  militia.  Newtown  consisted  of  two 
beats,  the  north  and  the  south.  In  the  former  a company 
was  formed  under  Captain  Jonathan  Lawrence,  and  m 
the  latter  another  under  Captain  Abraham  Remsen,  the 
first  containing  107  and  the  other  86  men.  The  New- 
town troop  of  light  horse,  consisting  of  44  men,  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Richard  Lawrence,  and  afterward  by 
his  brother,  Captain  Daniel  Lawrence.  Samuel  Riker 
was  second  lieutenant,  Jonathan  Coe  cornet,  and  Peter 
Rapelje  quartermaster. 

The  excitement  which  at  this  -juncture  pervaded  all 
circles  was  heightened  by  the  news  that  the  general  Con- 
gress at  Philadelphia  had  dissolved  the  connection  of 
the  colonies  with  the  mother  country.  Copies  of  the 
declaration  were  received  at  Newtown  and  read  at  the 
head  of  each  company.  That  blood  must  soon  flow  was 
now  evident,  for  the  British  troops  had  made  a landing 
on  Staten  Island,  and  their  nearer  approach  was  ex- 
pected. The  convention  ordered  the  militia  of  Queens 
county,  with  the  troop  of  horse,  to  be  called  out,  and 
all  diligence  to  be  used  to  prevent  the  stock  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  General  Woodhull,  with 
some  Queens  county  militia,  hastened  to  forward  the 
execution  of  these  orders.  While  the  party  were  scour- 
ing Newtown  and  vicinity  for  cattle  the  British  troops 
cut  off  his  communications  with  the  camp,  and  he 
and  several  of  the  citizens  of  Newtown  were  taken  pris* 
oners,  Richard  Bragaw,  George  Brinkerhoff,  Abraham 
Divine  and  Ludlam  Haire  being  of  the  number.  New- 
town was  now  open  to  the  enemy,  and  many  of  the  Whig 
families,  alarmed  at  their  defenseless  condition,  fled  in 
the  utmost  confusion.  Early  the  next  morning  the 
British  light  dragoons  entered  the  town.  The  tories,  in 
the  excess  of  their  triumph,  informed  against  their  Whig 
neighbors.  The  leading  Whigs  were  imprisoned  or  sent 
into  exile,  and  their  property  was  seized  by  the  enemy. 
Under  these  circumstances  the  remainder  were  con- 
strained to  join  in  a petition  that  Queens  county  might 
be  restored  to  royal  favor,  which  met  with  a very  gra- 
cious reception.  Now  that  the  British  had  possession  it 
became  necessary  to  guard  against  the  incursions  of  the 
Americans.  In  Newtown  the  following  new  officers  were 
chosen  in  the  northern  beat:  George  Rapelye,  captain; 
Daniel  Rapelye,  lieutenant;  Jeromus  Rapelye,  ensign. 
The  south  beat  was  commanded  by  Gaptain  Dow  Van 
Duyn.  The  officers  of  the  light  horse  were:  Cornelius 
Rapelye,  captain;  Daniel  Rapelye,  lieutenant;  Daniel 
Lent,  cornet. 

Newtown  in  the  winter  of  1778  presented  an  unusually 
animated  appearance.  General  Washington  was  ex- 
pected to  make  an  attack  upon  New  York,  and  for  the 
better  preservation  and  safety  of  the  shipping  Sir  Henry 


Clinton  ordered  all  vessels  not  in  the  service  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  be  removed  to  Newtown  Creek.  A large 
number  of  British  troops  were  also  barracked  here. 
There  were  the  seventeenth  regiment  of  light  dragoons, 
the  Maryland  loyalists,  the  royal  Highlanders,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thomas  Sterling,  who 
had  seen  long  and  arduous  service  in  America  during  the 
French  and  Indian  war;  the  royal  artillery,  with  their 
cannon  and  horses;  and  the  thirty-third  regiment,  Lord 
Cornwallis.  During  this  period  the  farmers  were  subjected 
to  many  severe  burdens.  They  were  required  to'  furnish 
from  year  to  year,  for  the  use  of  the  army,  the  greater 
portion  of  their  hay,  straw,  rye,  corn,  oats  and  provis- 
ions, under  pain  of  being  imprisoned  and  having  their 
crops  confiscated.  The  commissary  weighed  or  meas- 
ured the  produce,  and  then  rendered  payment  according 
to  the  prices  fixed  by  the  king’s  commissioners.  If  the 
seller  demanded  more  it  was  at  the  risk  of  losing  the  whole. 
The  private  soldiers  were  billeted  in  the  houses  of  the 
Whig  families.  The  family  was  generally  allowed  one 
fireplace.  Robberies  were  frequent,  and  Newtown  be- 
came a prey  to  depredation,  alarm  and  cruelty.  The 
civil  courts  were  suspended,  and  martial  law  prevailed 
through  seven  long  years.  It  was  a happy  day  for  New- 
town when  news  arrived  that  Great  Britain  had  virtually 
acknowledged  our  independence,  and  when  her  patriotic 
sons  were  permitted  to  return  from  a tedious  exile. 

The  Civil  List. 

On  the  22nd  of  December  1783  the  first  town  officers 
were  chosen  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  Samuel  Riker  was  elected  supervisor,  John 
Morrell  and  Joseph  Gosline  trustees,  William  Howard, 
John  Gosline,  William  Lawrence  and  Richard  Bragaw 
assessors,  John  Gosline  constable  and  collector,  and 
Philip  Edsall  town  clerk. 

The  following  lists  show  the  succession  of  town  officers 
since  1683.  The  dates  following  the  name  are  the  years 
in  which  the  person  was  elected,  and  comparison  of 
dates  will  give  the  length  of  each  officer’s  service. 

Toil'll  Clerks — William  Wood,  1656;  Thomas  Law- 
rence, 1659;  John  Burroughs,  1662,  1665;  James  Bra- 
dish,  1663;  John  Ketcham,  1675;  Theophilus  Phillips, 
1677;  Daniel  Phillips,  1689;  Jeremiah  Burroughs,  1690, 
1695;  PIdward  Stevenson,  1691;  William  Glean,  1698; 
Peter  Berrien,  1704;  John  Stevenson  1706;  Jonathan 
Fish,  1708;  Jacob  Reeder,  1723;  William  Van  Wyck, 
1756;  Samuel  Moore,  1759;  Samuel  Moore  3d,  1768; 
Philip  Edsall,  1783;  Cornelius  Luyster,  17S9;  William 
Howard,  1807,  1821;  Thomas  H.  Betts,  1810;  John  R. 
Ludlow,  1825;  Schenck  Way,  1826;  Benjamin  Howard, 
1828;  James  H.  Kolyer,  1832,  1839;  William  Howard, 
1836;  Andrew  Lawrence,  1843;  William  Payntar,  April 
1st  1845;  William  M.  Payntar,  April  12th,  1845;  William 
E.  Furman,  1847;  John  I.  Burroughs,  1858;  Edward  L. 
Van  Wickle,  1859;  Nicholas  Van  Antwerp,  1861,  1867; 
Edward  C.  Wright,  1865;  Aaron  F.  Howard,  1866;  Wil- 
liam H.  Gordon,  1872;  James  H.  Smith,  1876;  William 
O’Gorman,  1881. 

The  town  clerk’s  office  is  in  Newtown  village,  where  a 
separate  building  has  been  erected  for  the  safe  keeping 
of  the  town  records. 


33^ 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Assessors — Content  Titus,  1686,  1693;  Jeremiah  Bur- 
roughs, 1686,  1694;  Thomas  Pettit,  1687,  1691,  1693; 
Joseph  Sackett,  1687,  1691;  John  Lawrence,  1690;  Rob- 
ert Coe,  1690,  1697;  Samuel  Hallet,  1692;  John  Way, 
1692;  Daniel  Bloomfield,  1694;  Richard  Betts  jr.,  1693; 
William  Glean,  1695,  1699;  Jonathan  Hazard,  1696; 
Gershom  Moore,  1696,  1704;  Joseph  Burroughs,  1697; 
Peter  Berrien,  1699;  Philip  Ketcham,  1700;  Wil- 
liam Hallett  jr.,  1700;  John  Berrian,  1703;  El- 
nathan  Field,  1703,  1712,  1723,  1724,  1748: 

Joseph  Sackett  jr.,  1704;  John  Coe,  1704;  Jon- 
athan Fish,  1704,  1709,  1712,  1723;  John  Stevenson, 
1705,  1710;  Samuel  Moore  jr.,  1705;  Nicholas  Berrien, 
1706;  Josias  Furman  jr.,  1706;  Joseph  Moore,  1707, 
1709;  Silas  Titus,  1707;  John  Gancel,  1708;  James  Bur- 
roughs, 1708;  Richard  Betts,  1710;  Thomas  Alsop,  1710; 
Daniel  Stevenson,  1 7 1 1 ; Samuel  Fish,  1711;  Nathaniel 
Hazard,  1722;  Johannes  Schenck,  1722;  William  Steven- 
son, 1724;  Samuel  Fish  jr.,  1728,  1736;  Teunis  Brinck- 
erhoff,  1728,  1736;  Joseph  Sackett  jr.,  1732;  Cornelius 
Berrien,  1732;  John  Way,  1733;  Isaac  Brinckerhoff, 
1733;  Cornelius  Rapelje,  1734;  Samuel  Moore  jr.,  1734; 
Philip  Edsall,  1735,  1743,  1749,  1751,  1753,  1763,  1775; 
Benjamin  Field,  1735;  Jeromus  Remsen,  1737;  Hen- 
drick Brinckerhoff,  1737;  William  Van  Wyck,  1738;  John 
Hallett,  1738;  Daniel  Rapelje,  1839;  Thomas  Betts,  1739, 
1843,  1749;  Robert  Coe,  1740;  John  De  Bevoise,  1740; 
John  Wyckoff,  1741;  John  Sackett,  1741;  Jacob  Rapelje, 
1742;  William  Moore,  1742,  1747;  Jeromus  Rapelje, 
1746;  William  Hazard,  1746;  Nathaniel  Fish,  1747; 
Teunis  Schenck,  1748;  Richard  Hallett  jr.,  1750;  George 
Brinckerhoff,  1750;  Justice  Cornelius  Berrien,  1751, 
1753;  Samuel  Moore,  1752;  John  Burroughs,  1752; 
Isaac  Bragaw  jr.,  1754;  William  Moses  Hallett,  1754; 
Fldward  Titus,  1754;  John  Pettit  jr.,  1754;  John  Ra- 
pelje, 1755;  John  Leverich  jr.,  1755;  Joseph  Morrell, 
1 7 5 5 ; John  Wyckoff,  1756;  Daniel  Rapelje,  1756;  Wil- 
liam Sackett  jr.,  1758,  1760;  Wilhelmus  Wyckoff,  1758, 
1761;  Cornelius  Rapelje  jr.,  1759;  William  Howard,  1759; 
Nathaniel  Moore,  1760;  Samuel  Moore  jr.,  1761;  Samuel 
Hallett  jr.,  1762;  Captain  Samuel  Hallett,  1765;  Abraham 
Brinckerhoff  jr.,  1762;  Garret  Springsteen,  1762;  John 
Gosline,  1762;  Thomas  Betts,  1763;  Dow  Van  Duyn, 
1764;  William  Lawrence,  1764;  Ezekiel  Furman, 
1765;  Richard  Betts  jr.,  1765;  John  Moore  jr., 
1765;  Daniel  Lawrence,  1766;  Richard  Alsop,  1766; 
Caspar  Springsteen,  1766;  Jonathan  Coe,  1766;  Abra- 
ham Polhemus,  Joseph  Burroughs,  John  Suydam,  Abra- 
ham Ryker  jr.,  1767;  John  Fish,  John  Bragaw,  George  Ra- 
pelje 3d.,  Samuel  Betts,  1768;  George  Brinckerhoff  sen., 
Benjamin  Coe  sen.,  Samuel  Riker,  1769;  Jeromus  Rem- 
sen, 1770,  1772,  1775 ; Abraham  Rapelye  jr.,  Cornelius  Ber- 
rien, 1770;  Benjamin  Cornish, William  Leverich,  Jeremiah 
Remsen,  1771;  Daniel  Rapalje,  1772;  John  Suydam, 
Hendrick  Suydam,  1777;  Abraham  Lent,  John  Schenck, 
1779;  Martin  Rapelye,  Nicholas  Wyckoff,  1780;  Abra- 
ham Rapelye,  Simon  Remsen,  1781;  William  Howard, 
1783,-1784;  John  Gosline,  William  Lawrence,  Richard 
Bragaw,  1783;  Daniel  Lawrence,  Samuel  Blackwell,  Luke 
Remsen,  1784,  1785,  1790,  1792,  1793;  Theodorus  Pol- 
hemus, John  Lawrence,  Samuel  Edsall,  1785;  John  Mor- 
rell, Robert  Moore,  William  Furman,  1786;  Abraham 
Springsteen,  1786,  1787;  Cornelius  Berrien,  1787;  Abra- 
ham Furman,  1787-89,  1792,  1793;  Jacob  Palmer,  1787, 
1788;  Samuel  Riker,  1788,  1790;  Jeromus  Remsen,  1788; 
Simon  Remsen,  1792;  Charles  Roach,  1793;  David 
Moore,  1796-98;  Robert  Moore,  1796-1800;  Jacob  Field, 
Samuel  Waldron,  1796;  Cornelius  R.  Remsen,  1797;  John 
Suydam,  1798,  1799;  Edward  Leverich,  1799,  1802,  1808, 
1809;  David  Springsteen,  1800;  James  Suydam,  1800, 
1801;  Thomas  Lawrence,  1801,  1807;  Timothy  Roach, 


1801;  John  Sackett,  Abraham  Remsen,  1802;  Robert' 
Moore,  1803-05;  William  Furman,  1803;  Jacob  Rapelye, 
1803,  1804;  Edward  Howard,  1804-06;  Cornelius  Ra- 
pelye, 1805;  John  Lawrence,  1806;  Daniel  Riker,  1806-08; 
Jonathan  Howard,  1807,  1808,  1813,  1814;  Edward 
Moore,  Abraham  Riker,  1809;  Daniel  Riker,  1813-15, 
1818,  1819;  Cornelius  R.  Duryea,  1813;  MartinWay,  1814- 
j 17;  Richard  B.  Leverich,  1815;  Charles  Debevoise,  Abra- 
ham Furman  jr.,  1816;  Charles  Palmer,  181  7-20,  1822;  Pe- 
ter Luyster,  1817-20,  1822-25,  i835'37>  1840-43.  1 855 ; 
John  M.  Rapelye,  Samuel  Blackwell,  1818;  Edward 
Moore,  1818-20;  Timothy  Roach,  Daniel  S.  Moore,  Luke 
Kouwenhoven,  Cornelius  N.  Diimas,  Benjamin  Moore, 
1821;  John  De  Bevoise,  1822,  1823,  1835,  1836;  Arthur 
Remsen,  1822,  1823;  Abraham  Rapelye,  1822,  1823; 
William  Bragaw,  1823,  1826,  1827;  William  Morrell, 
1824;  Walter  Way,  1824;  Jarvis  Jackson,  1824,  1825;  Ed- 
ward Leverich,  1824-26, 1829;  Isaac  Debevoise,  1826, 1833, 
1834;  Francis  Duryea,  1827;  Thomas  Moore,  1827,  1828; 
Joseph  Tompkins,  1827-32;  John  Waters,  1827;  Jero- 
mus I.  Rapelye,  1828;  Underhill  Covert,  1829;  Isaac  I. 
Bragaw,  1830;  Abraham  Remsen,  1830,  1832;  George 
Kouwenhoven,  1832,  1833;  Cornelius  R.  Remsen,  1833; 
Daniel  Lent,  John  Tompkins,  1834;  John  I.  Van  Alst, 
Theodorus  Burroughs,  Edward  Tompkins,  1835;  William 
Hendrickson,  1836,  1837;  Richard  Way,  1837,  1840-43, 
1845-47,  1856,  1859;  Henry  F.  Blackwell,  1837;  William 

G.  Kouwenhoven,  1837, 1838,  1842,1844;  William  T.  Hen- 
drickson, Abraham  A.  Remsen,  Jacob  Debevoise,  Charles 

H.  Roach,  1838;  Daniel  L.  Rapelje,  1839,  1840;  John 
Kolyer,  Peter  Van  Pelt,  1839;  Abel  Samrnis,  1840,  1841; 
George  C.  Debevoise,  1840,  1843,  1844;  William  Payn- 
ter  jr.,  1841-43,  1845;  Daniel  Morrell,  1841-43;  John  D. 
Rapelje,  1843;  Peter  E.  Bourdett,  1844;  John  B.  Reboul, 
1844-46;  John  Van  Cott,  1844;  Henry  S.  Vanderveer, 
1845,  1846,  1848,  1851,  1854;  W.  A.  Payntar,  1845;  James 
W.  Carrington,  1847,  1849;  N.  Filby,  1850,  1852;  J.  Kol- 
yer, 1850;  George  Hulst,  1853;  Frost  T.  Covert,  1857, 
i860,  1866;  Amsted  C.  Henry,  1858,  1865;  William  A. 
Watson,  1861;  John  Van  Cott,  1862;  Adrian  A.  Seaman, 
1863;  James  A.  Johnson,  1864,  1867;  William  B.  Wilson, 
William  McGowan,  1868;  Joseph  B.  Denton,  1869;  Gar- 
ret Furman,  1870,  1874,  1878;  Joseph  Closius,  1871; 
William  Randell,  1872;  James  W.  Dare,  1873;  Henry 
Zeh,  1875;  Thomas  Morse,  1876;  David  P.  Rapelye, 
1877;  Joseph  Closius  jr.,  1880;  Joseph  J.  Tompkins, 
1881. 

Supervisors — Samuel  Moore,  1684,  1687,  1691;  Thomas 
Stevenson,  1685;  Jeremiah  Burroughs,  1686;  Jonathan 
Hazard,  1690;  Lieutenant  Joseph  Sacket,  1697,  1700,  1706, 

1 7 1 1 ; John  Berrian,  1699;  Peter  Berrien,  1703,  1708;  John 
Coe,  1716;  Captain  Thomas  Hazard,  1720;  Samuel  Fish 
sen.,  1733;  Jacob  Rapelje,  1756;  Jeromus  Remsen  jr., 
1774;  Daniel  Luyster,  1777;  Samuel  Riker,  1783,  1803; 
Robert  Furman,  1786;  John  Lawrence,  1807;  Jonathan 
Howard,  1810,  1825;  James  Lent,  i8ir,  1822;  John 
Alsop,  1821;  Jarvis  Jackson,  1829;  John  De  Bevoise, 
1837;  Daniel  L.  Rapelje,  1844;  William  H.  Furman, 
1845,  1852;  Peter  Luyster,  1849;  Silvanus  S.  Riker, 
1856;  Charles  G.  Covert,  1858,  1865;  Joseph  Rice,  1864; 
Robert  Burroughs,  1871;  John  E.  Van  Nostrand, 
1878-81. 

John  E.  Van  Nostrand, 

Present  Supervisor  op  the  Town  of  Newtown. 

John  Everitt  Van  Nostrand  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Newtown,  Queens  county,  N.  Y.,  April  20th  1848,  and 
has  always  lived  at  the  old  homestead.  He  is  of  Hol- 
land Dutch  descent,  son  of  Norman  Van  Nostrand,  who 


died  in  March  1868,  before  the  subject  of  this  sketch  be- 
came of  age.  The  care  and  management  of  his  father’s 
estate  and  business  were  intrusted  to  him  by  his  mother, 
and  the  trust  thus  devolving  upon  him  was  executed  in 
the  most  faithful  and  conscientious  manner.  He  at- 
tended the  district  school  of  his  town  at  an  early  age, 
and  afterward  the  public  schools  of  Brooklyn,  from 
which  he  graduated,  after  which  he  received  the  benefits 
of  private  instruction  in  higher  branches  of  learning. 
He  was  engaged  with  his  father  a number  of  years  in 
publishing  the  Christian  Ambassador  at  119  Nassau 
street,  New  York  city,  a newspaper  devoted  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  Universalist  denomination.  He  entered 
Columbia  College  Law  School  in  1872,  and  graduated 
with  high  honors  in  May  1874,  receiving  therefrom  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  in  New  York,  Kings  and  Queens  counties, 
having  his  office  at  No.  15 1 Broadway,  New  York.  Upon 
the  erection  of  the  present  Evening  Post  building  he,  with 
M.  E.  Sawyer,  engaged  offices  in  that  building,  where  he 
still  continues.  In  his  professional  labors  he  is  of  cool 
and  even  temper,  yet  energetic;  shrewd  and  wonderfully 
capable  of  using  the  passing  opportunity,  and  in  every 
way  careful  of  his  clients’  interest. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  the  Bar  Association  of 
Queens  county  he  became  a member,  serving  upon 
various  committees. 

He  has  always  been  a Republican  in  politics,  taking  a 
deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  principles  of  that 
party;  he  has  been  a member  of  the  Queens  county  Re- 
publican central  committee  for  a long  term  of  years. 

He  was  nominated  for  the  Assembly  by  the  Republi- 
can party  in  1876  in  the  second  district  of  Queens 
county,  comprising  the  towns  of  Newtown,  Jamaica  and 
Hempstead,  and  Long  Island  City.  The  district  is  over- 
whelmingly Democratic,  but  although  defeated  in  the  con- 
test he  ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket.  The  following  year 
hewas  again  nominated  for  the  Assembly,  but  failedof  elec- 
tion, although  running  ahead  of  his  ticket  over  600  votes. 

He  was  nominated  in  the  spring  of  1878  for  supervisor 


of  the  town  of  Newtown,  against  Robert  Burroughs,  then 
the  incumbent  of  that  office.  A very  active  canvass  en- 
sued, and  excitement  in  the  town  ran  high.  The  largest 
vote  ever  polled  at  a spring  election  was  the  result,  and 
when  the  votes  were  counted  it  was  found  that  Mr.  Van 
Nostrand  was  62  ahead  of  his  Democratic  competitor. 
Thus  for  the  first  time  in  its  existence  Newtown  elected 
a Republican  supervisor.  The  election  of  Mr.  Van  Nos- 
trand resulted  in  making  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
Queens  county  Republican  for  the  first  time  in  its  his- 
tory. In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  Mr.  Van  Nos- 
trand was  again  nominated  for  supervisor,  his  former  op- 
ponent, Robert  Burroughs,  being  again  nominated  by  the 
Democrats.  The  canvass,  as  in  the  preceding  year,  was 
extremely  spirited,  but  the  result  was  the  defeat  of  Mr. 
Burroughs,  the  majority  for  Mr.  Van  Nostrand  being 
over  275.  Mr.  Van  Nostrand  instituted  reforms  in  the 
town  government,  reduced  its  bonded  indebtedness,  and 
lowered  its  rate  of  taxation;  the  credit  of  the  town  rose 
under  his  administration,  so  that  its  bonds  bearing  in- 
terest at  7 per  cent.,  which  could  hardly  be  disposed  of 
at  par  at  the  time  he  entered  the  office,  rose  rapidly  to 
twenty  and  twenty-five  per  cent,  premium.  So  satisfac- 
tory was  his  course  to  the  people  of  the  town  that  upon 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  was  re-elected 
without  opposition,  and  the  present  year  he  was  again 
honored  in  like  manner,  having  no  competitor  but  re- 
ceiving the  almost  unanimous  vote  of  the  town.  In  the 
board  of  supervisors  he  has  served  on  the  most  impor- 
tant committees. 

Mr.  Van  Nostrand  married  on  the  5th  of  October  1881 
Miss  Anna  R.  Wyckoff,  a daughter  of  Peter  Wyckoff  and 
granddaughter  of  Nicholas  Wyckoff,  the  venerable  pres- 
ident of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Brooklyn.  She  is  a 
young  lady  of  rare  attainments  and  culture,  having  re- 
ceived the  benefits  of  a classical  education,  and  of  exten- 
sive travel  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The  families  of 
Van  Nostrand  and  Wyckoff  are  among  the  oldest  in  the 
country,  their  ancestors  having  emigrated  to  America 
sometime  in  the  seventeenth  century. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY, 


346 


Remains  of  Ancient  Newtown.* 

The  Alsop  Family. — Among  the  early  settlers  of  New- 
town were  the  Alsop  family.  Writers  on  English  sur- 
names inform  us  that  this  family  derives  its  name  from 
the  village  of  Alsop,  in  Derbyshire.  Richard  Alsop,  the 
progenitor  of  the  Newtown  family,  was  induced  to  locate 
here  by  his  uncle,  Thomas  Wandell.  Mr.  Wandell,  ac- 
cording to  reminiscences  in  the  Alsop  family,  had  been  a 
major  in  Cromwell’s  army;  but,  having  some  dispute  with 
the  “ protector,”  was  obliged  to  flee- for  safety,  first  to 
Holland  and  thence  to  America.  Some  doubts  of  this 
may  be  entertained,  for  Mr.  Wandell  was  living  at  Mes- 
pat  Kills  in  1648,  which  was  prior  to  the  execution  of 
King  Charles,  and  when  Cromwell  enjoyed  but  a subor- 
dinate command  in  the  parliamentary  army.  Mr.  Wan- 
dell married  the  widow  of  William  Herrick,  whose  plan- 
tation on  Newtown  Creek  he  bought  in  1659.  This  was 
originally  patented  to  Richard  Brutnell.  To  this  he 
afterward  added  fifty  acres  for  which  Richard  Colfax  had 
obtained  a patent  in  1652.  On  this  property,  since  com- 
posing the  Alsop  farm,  Mr.  Wandell  resided.  He  was 
one  of  the  jury  in  1665  for  the  trial  of  Ralph  Hall  and 
his  wife  for  witchcraft  (the  only  trial  for  witchery  in  this 
colony),  and  shared  the  honor  of  acquitting  the  accused. 
Some  years  later  he  visited  England,  and.  it  is  supposed 
that  on  his  return  he  brought  with  him  his  sister’s  son, 
Richard  Alsop,  whom  he  made  his  heir.  Mr.  Wandell 
died  in  1691  and  was  buried  on  the  hill  occupied  by  the 
Alsop  cemetery  Many  years  later  the  silver  plate  of  his 
coffin  was  discovered  in  digging  a new  grave. 

Richard  Alsop,  while  yet  under  age,  received  a com- 
mission in  the  troop  of  horse.  Inheriting  the  estate  of 
his  uncle  he  continued  to  reside  upon  it  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  October  1718,  when  he  was  58  years 
old;  but  his  widow,  Hannah  (who,  tradjtion  says,  was  a 
Dutch  lady,  whom  he  courted  through  an  interpreter), 
attained  her  91st  year,  and  died  August  23d  1757.  The 
farm  was  subsequently  bought  by  their  son  Richard  Al- 
sop, who  was  for  twenty  years  a justice  of  the'  peace  in 
Newtown.  It  remained  in  the  family  three  generations 
longer.  The  last  of  the  family  who  owned  it  died  in 
1837,  and  as  he  left  no  heirs  the  farm  was  sold  and  the 
name  Alsop  became  extinct  in  Newtown.  A consider- 
able part  of  this  farm  has  been  converted  into  the  Cath- 
olic burial  place  known  as  Calvary  Cemetery.  The  old 
house  built  by  Mr.  Wandell  was  destroyed  in  October 
1879.  The  little  Alsop  cemetery  is,  fortunately  for  itself, 
snugly  inclosed  in  Calvary;  but  by  a reservation  to  the 
family  it  is  still  Protestant  ground. 

Captain  Richard  Betts , whose  public  services  appear 
for  fifty  years  on  every  page  of  Newtown's  history,  came 
in  1648  to  New  England,  but  soon  after  to  Newtown, 
where  he  acquired  great  influence.  In  the  revolution  of 
1663  he  bore  a zealous  part,  and  after  the  conquest  of 

* Under  this  title  and  over  the  worn  de  plume  of  “ The  Tourist  ” Wil- 
liam O’Gorman,  of  Laurel  Hill,  has  during-  the  last  few  years  written 
for  the  Long  Island  Star  an  excellent  series  of  historical  sketches,  which 
preserves  much  that  is  valuable  and  interesting  regarding  the  old  fami- 
lies of  the  town.  To  him  the  reader  is  indebted  for  much  in  this  article. 


New  Netherlands  by  the  English  was  a member  from 
Newtown  of  the  provincial  Assembly  held  at  Hempstead 
in  16,^5.  In  1678  he  was  commissioned  high  sheriff  of 
“Yorkshire  upon  Long  Island,”  and  he  retained  the  po- 
sition until  1681.  He  became  a bitter  opponent  to  Di- 
rector Pieter  Stuyvesant  and  the  little  town  of  Bushwick, 
which  he  had  founded.  Under  leave  from  the  governor 
the  English  settlers  had  planted  their  town,  but  were  re- 
fused the  usual  patent,  and  in  1656  Richard  Betts  ad- 
ministered a severe  blow  to  Stuyvesant  by  purchasing 
the  land  for  himself  and  55  associates,  from  the  red  men, 
at  the  rate  of  one  shilling  per  acre.  The  total  cost 
amounted  to  _^)68  16s.  4b.,  which,  with  the  sum  of  ^76 
9s.  paid  to  the  sachems  Pomwaukon  and  Rowerowestco, 
extinguished  the  Indian  title  to,  Newtown.  For  a long 
series  of  years  Betts  was  a magistrate.  During  this  time 
he  was  more  than  once  a member  of  the  high  court  of 
assize,  then  the  supreme  power  in  the  province.  He  be- 
came an  extensive  landholder  at  the  English  Kills.  His 
residence  was  here,  in  what  is  still  known  as  “ the  old 
Betts  house.”  It  is  further  said  that  here  within  sight 
of  his  bedroom  he  dug  his  own  grave,  in  his  100th  year, 
and  from  the  former  to  the  latter  he  was  carried  in  1713. 
No  headstone  marks  the  grave,  but  its  absence  may  be 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  his  sons  had  become 
Quakers  and  abjured  headstones.  The  old  house,  which 
we  may  enter  by  lifting  the  wrought  iron  latch  of  heavy 
construction,  worn  by  the  hands  of  many  generations; 
the  polished  flags  around  the  old  deep  well,  where  the 
soldiers  were  wont  to  wash  down  their  rations,  are  still 
as  the  British  left  them  on  their  last  march  through  Mas- 
peth.  This  house  is  but  one  of  several  most  ancient 
farm  houses  still  carefully  preserved  for  their  antiquity, 
on  the  old  Newtown  road,  between  Calvary  Cemetery  and 
Maurice  avenue.  These  venerable  companions  have 
witnessed  many  changes,  and  now  enjoy  a green  old  age, 
respected  by  the  community  in  which  they  stand. 

The  Moore  Family  and  Estates. — Rev.  John  Moore,  the 
early  ancestor  of  the  Newtown  family  of  this  name,  was 
supposed  to  be  of  English  birth,  though  it  is  unknown 
when  or  whence  he  emigrated.  He  was  an  Independent, 
and  the  first  minister  of  the  town.  Though  not  author- 
ized to  administer  sacraments  he  preached  to  the  people 
of  Newtown  until  his  death,  in  1657.  In  consequence 
of  his  interest  in  the  purchase  of  Newtown  from  the  In- 
dians the  town  awarded  80  acres  of  land  to  his  children, 
thirty  years  after  his  decease.  One  of  his  sons,  Samuel 
Moore,  became  a grantee  of  land  in  Newtown  village  in 
1662,  and  afterward  bought  an  adjacent  tract,  previously 
owned  by  his  father,  which  subsequently  came  into  the 
hands  of  John  J.  Moore.  In  1684  he  bought  a farm 
near  the  Poor  Bowery,  to  which  he  removed. 

Among  the  distinguished  members  of  the  Moore  fami- 
ly was  Benjamin  Moore,  who  was  born  at  Newtown, 
October  5th  1748.  He  received  his  education  at  Kings 
(now  Columbia)  College,  and  afterward  became  its 
honored  president.  After  pursuing  theological  studies 
he  went  to  England  and  was  ordained  to  the  Episcopal 
ministry.  In  1800  he  was  appointed  rector  of  Trinity 


THE  MOORE  AND  FISH  FAMILIES  OF  NEWTOWN. 


34i 


Church,  and  in  1801  was  elected  a bishop  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  he  continued  in  this  relation  until  his  death,  Feb- 
ruary 1 6th  1816.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Major 
Clement  Clark,  of  New  York. 

His  brother  William  Moore,  born  at  Newtown,  Janu- 
ary 17th  1754,  was  a medical  student  and  a graduate  of 
Edinburgh  in  1780.  He  then  returned  home,  and  for 
more  than  forty  years  was  engaged  in  the  duties  of  an 
extensive  practice.  For  many  years  he  was  president  of 
the  New  York  Medical  Society,  and  trustee  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  His  wife  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  Fish,  of  Newtown.  One  of  their  sons, 
Nathaniel  F.,  succeeded  his  uncle  as  president  of  Colum- 
bia College. 

Captain  Daniel  Sackett  Moore  was  a successful  and 
respected  ship-master.  He  owned  the  Moore  residence 
near  Newtown  village,  and  died  here  in  1828.  His  son, 
John  Jacob  Moore,  the  last  of  the  sixth  generation  of 
the  Moore  family,  died  here  June  14th  1879,  aged  73 
years.  The  ancestors  of  this  gentleman  form  an  un 
broken  line  of  proprietors  in  fee  from  the  original  Indian 
purchase,  in  1656,  in  the  following  order:  Rev.  John 
Moore,  died  1657;  Samuel  Moore,  died  1717;  Benjamin 
Moore,  died  1750;  John  Moore,  born  1730,  died  1827; 
Captain  Daniel  Sackett  Moore,  died  1828;  John  Jacob 
Moore,  died  1879. 

The  venerable  Moore  house  standing  on  the  Shell  road 
was  one  of  the  mansions  of  the  colonial  period.  It  is 
carefully  preserved  and  has  been  occupied  constantly  by 
the  Moore  family  since  its  erection,  more  than  a hundred 
years  before  the  Revolution;  no  part  of  it  is  allowed  to 
go  to  decay,  nor  is  there  much  change  save  by  additions, 
which  are  not  allowed  to  displace  the  old  structure.  The 
same  hall  door — in  two  sections,  of  solid  oak  and  secured 
by  the  original  strong  hinges,  bolts  and  locks,  and  with 
the  original  ponderous  brass  knocker — is  still  spared; 
the  old  well  built  stairway  give  access  to  the  upper 
rooms;  the  ancient  beams  still  exhibit  their  full  propor- 
tions and  are  well  varnished.  This  house  occupied  the 
center  of  the  British  camp  for  many  years.  The  .well 
beside  it  requires  but  one  glance  down  its  mossy  stones 
to  discover  its  antiquity. 

The  house  now  owned  by  the  Penfolds,  another  an- 
cient building,  was  the  birthplace  of  Bishop  Benjamin 
Moore  and  his  brother  Samuel  Moore,  M.  D.  This  house 
was  laid  out  exactly  north  and  south,  which  brought  it  at 
an  angle  with  the  street,  and  by- this  it  may  be  readily 
identified. 

The  third  Moore  house,  on  the  Bowery  Bay  road,  is 
fast  yielding  to  decay;  desolation  surrounds  the  house, 
once  of  such  fine  proportions  that  even  for  this  age  it 
would  be  an  ostentatious  country  seat. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  established  his  headquarters  on 
these  premises  after  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  and  in 
this  building  he  wrote  his  orders  to  the  commanders  to 
debouch  their  troops  from  the  many  camps  which  covered 
this  section,  and  converge  to  Newtown  Creek,  there  to 
embark  in  boats  for  the  capture  of  New  York  city. 


Adjoining  Clinton’s  headquarters,  on  the  Bowery  Bay 
road,  is  the  Moore  burying  ground.  This  little  cemetery 
was  carefully  guarded  by  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Jackson  until 
his  death. 

The  Fish  Family  and  Property. — The  Fish  family  of 
Newtown  were  descendants  of  Jonathan  Fish,  who  with 
his  brother  Nathaniel  originally  came  from  England  and 
settled  in  Massachusetts.  As  early  as  1659  Jonathan 
Fish  joined  the  settlement  of  Middleburg  or  Newtown. 
His  name  often  appears  on  the  town  books  in  an  official 
capacity,  and  also  as  the  owner  of  a twenty-shilling  pur- 
chase right  in  the  town  lands,  which  right  afterward  passed 
to  his  sons  Nathan  and  Samuel.  He  died  about  1663, 
leaving  a wife  and  three  sons,  all  patentees  of  Newtown 
in  1686.  His  son  Samuel  died  in  1700.  John  appears 
to  have  left  the  town,  and  Nathan  remained  in  Newtown. 
He  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  died  at 
an  advanced  age  in  1734.  Hi's  eldest  son,  Jonathan, 
served  as  town  clerk  of  Newtown  fifteen  years.  He 
owned  the  homestead  and  considerable  land  in  Newtown, 
and  presented  the  ground  on  which  the  Presbyterian 
church  now  stands.  He  lived  and  died  in  the  “Corner 
House,”  that  famous  old  landmark  built  by  him,  which 
still  stands  on  the  corner  of  Grand  street  and  the  Hoff- 
man boulevard.  Clinging  around  it  are  all  the  associa- 
tions of  Newtown  with  the  French  war  of  1754.  Jona- 
than Fish  died  in  1723.  His  son  Samuel  kept  the  old 
house  as  an  inn.  He  died  in  1767.  Of  his  fifteen  chil- 
dren Jonathan  died  in  1779,  leaving  two  children,  Sarah 
and  Nicholas.  The  son  was  born  in  1758.  At  the  com- 
’mencement  of  hostilities  between  this  country  and  Great 
Britain  he  entered  the  American  service  with  the  com- 
mission of  major,  and  he  retired  at  the  settlement  of 
peace  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  at  the 
battle  of  Long  Island,  was  wounded  at  Monmouth  and 
shared  in  the  capture  of  the  British  army  under  Burgoyne 
at  Saratoga,  and  that  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  He 
enjoyed  much  of  the  confidence  of  General  Washington, 
and  continued  with  the  army  for  a time  after  peace  was 
declared,  but  retired  in  a few  years.  His  death  occurred 
in  1833.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Petrus  Stuyvesant. 
Hamilton  Fish,  formerly  governor  of  New  York,  United 
States  senator,  and  President  Grant’s  secretary  of  state, 
is  one  of  their  children. 

The  famous  old  “Corner  House”  commenced  its  public 
career  about  1700,  under  the  guidanct  of  Jonathan  Fish. 
With  the  exception  of  its  front  it  remains  much  in  its 
original  state.  The  rear  door  swings  in  the  old  style, 
with  its  upper  and  lower  sections,  on  four  great  hinges. 
A visit  to  the  attic  floor  reveals  its  solid  framing;  its 
timbers,  seasoned  to  the  hardness  of  lignum  vitae,  are 
framed  with  dowels,  ship  fashion. 

Many  of  the  unfortunate  farmers  of  Nova  Scotia, 
who  were  scattered  helpless  exiles  over  the  colonies, 
found  shelter  here  with  Samuel  Fish.  Many  French 
officers  on  parole  in  the  families  of  the  Sacketts,  Moores, 
Bettses  and  Lawrences  of  that  day  were  frequenters  of 
the  “Corners.” 

But  this  old  landmark  reached  its  greatest  importance 


342 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


during  the  period  from  August  1776,  when  General  Howe 
dismounted  at  the  door,  to  September  1783,  when  the 
Hessian  regiment  Deknoblauch  halted  before  the  same 
door,  and  resumed  its  last  march  through  Newtown  vil- 
lage. This  long  interval  was  a time  of  soldiers,  arms, 
drums,  prisoners  and  marches,  together  with  balls  and 
revelry  around  this  focus  of  British  rule.  Through  all 
this  eventful  period  Abraham  Rapelye  was  host.  He  died 
in  1798,  having  continued  the  business  until  his  death. 
Tradition  asserts  that  not  a few  refugees  of  the  patriot 
stamp  were  wont  to  find  a hiding  place  in  the  old  house, 
for  the  host  was  at  times  a useful  medium.  He  now  sleeps 
on  the  shore  of  Bowery  Bay.  The  old  house  has  been 
converted  successively  into  a parsonage  and  school-house, 
and  now  stands  an  object  of  interest  to  all. 

The  Jackson  mill  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sackhickneyah 
stream,  whose  foundations  were  laid  in  1668  by  Pieter 
Cornelisz  Luyster,  is  the  only  surviving  mill  of  ancient 
Newtown.  As  we  examine  its  wooden  fastenings  and 
measure  its  main  shaft — all  in  working  order  after  so  many 
years — we  question,  can  time  destroy  it?  In  1715  Samuel 
Fish  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Hon.  Thomas  B.  Jackson,  and  in  1824  he  purchased  this 
mill  property  adjoining;  hence  the  name  “Fish’s  Point.” 
The  Indian  name  Sackhickneyah  still  adheres  to  the 
stream  which  turns  the  mill,  and  around  its  waters  some 
dark  crimes  were  perpetrated  by  the  Indians  on  the  white 
settlers;  the  tomahawk  was  freely  used,  and  an  old  mill 
was  burned  by  them  before  they  took  their  final  departure 
from  what  appears  to  have  been  a favorite  resort  to  them. 
Their  most  extensive  cemetery  is  in  this  region,  and  large 
mounds  of  oyster  shells  remain. 

In  1691  a fulling-mill  was  built  on  this  stream.  It  re- 
mained for  many  years,  but  every  vestige  of  it  long  since 
disappeared,  though  the  locality  still  retains  the  name  of 
Fulling-mill  Dam.  This  was  one  of  the  first  mills  of  the 
kind  in  the  province. 

The  Palmers  now  own  and  occupy  a portion  of  the 
mill  farm,  and  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  representatives 
of  the  Fish  family,  as  Sarah  Fish,  daughter  of  John  Fish, 
married  William  Palmer.  Their  neat  homestead  recalls 
the  olden  times.  On  an  elevation  which  forms  the  east- 
ern hook  this  house  presents  its  gable  to  the  still  more 
ancient  cottage  of  Jacob  Rapalye.  Between  these  houses 
stand  the  homesteads  of  the  Riker,  Luyster  and  Kouw- 
enhoven  families,  the  whole  five  of  them  having  an  ante- 
Revolutionary  date.  In  a field  a few  yards  east  of  the 
Palmer  cottage  lie  the  remains  of  John  Fish;  his  head- 
stone bears  the  inscription,  “In  memory  of  John  Fish, 
who  died  2nd  day  of  July  1793,  aged  73.”  His  wife 
may  rest  here,  but  no  headstone  marks  the  spot.  One 
of  their  daughters  and  her  husband  also  lie  buried  here. 
Some  of  this  ancient  family  sleep  in  the  old  town  bury- 
ing ground,  others  in  the  Alsop  family  cemetery,  and 
still  others  in  the  Presbyterian  church  yard  at  Newtown, 
around  which  was  the  original  home  of  the  family.  Of 
this  family  is  the  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish  jr.,  a son  of 
Governor  Fish  and  a distinguished  member  of  the  State 
Legislature. 


The  Luysters. — The  farm  on  Fish’s  Point,  which  Sam- 
uel Fish  purchased,  was  but  a small  part  of  the  Luyster 
farm,  which  then  covered  Bowery  Bay  up  to  the  Riker 
homestead.  Luyster  Island,  now  bearing  the  Stein  way  and 
Riker  residences,  was  also  included  in  the  Luyster  pur- 
chase from  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  The  Dutch 
church  of  New  Amsterdam  had  received  the  whole  of 
this  property  from  the  Dutch  government,  under  the 
usual  delusion  of  converting  it  into  a self-supporting 
farm  for  the  poor.  Nothing  however  came  of  that 
speculation  save  the  bestowal  of  the  name  “ Poor  Bow- 
ery ” on  the  district,  a name  usually  understood  as  mark- 
ing the  barrenness  of  the  soil,  than  which  nothing  could 
be  more  foreign  to  its  quality.  The  Poor  Bowery  farm 
extended  from  Fish’s  Point  nearly  a mile  westward.  It 
was  purchased  from  the  church  by  Peter  Cornelisz 
Luyster,  the  progenitor  of  all  in  this  country  bearing  this 
name,  who  came  here  in  1656.  He  was  a descendant  of 
a very  respectable  Dutch  family,  long  resident  in  Hol- 
land and  Rhineland,  and  some  of  them  had  been  distin- 
guished citizens  of  Cologne.  He  soon  acquired  property 
in  Newtown,  and  erected  a grist-mill  at  Fish’s  Point. 
He  died  in  1695,  when  this  estate,  on  which  he  was  buried, 
was  bought  by  his  son  Cornelius,  who  acquired  promi- 
nence here,  served  in  the  magistracy,  and  held  a captain’s 
commission.  He  died  in  1721.  The  estate  was  divided 
among  his  children,  and  for  more  than  a century  after- 
ward remained  in  the  family;  but  it  has  passed  into  other 
hands  and  is  divided  into  half  a dozen  farms,  still  among 
the  best  lands  and  most  beautiful  locations  in  Newtown. 
The  family  cemetery  is  dismantled  and  potatoes  and 
cabbage  grow  over  several  generations  of  dead,  and  of 
the  ancient  house  of  Luyster  here  only  a heap  of  family 
tombstones  remains. 

Abraham  Rycken s Descendants. — Abraham  Rycken,  or 
de  Rycke,  as  the  name  is  written  in  early  records,  was 
the  progenitor  of  the  present  Riker  families  of  the 
United  States;  his  descendants  of  the  third  generation 
having  assumed  the  present  mode  of  spelling  the  name. 
He  is  presumed  to  have  emigrated  in  1638,  as  in  that  year 
he  received  an  allotment  of  land  at  the  Wallabout,  from 
Governor  Kieft.  They  were  originally  a German  family, 
and  it  is  believed  that  this  branch  descended  from  a 
family  of  importance  at  Amsterdam.  In  1654  Abraham 
Rycken  obtained  a grant  of  land  at  the  Poor  Bowery, 
afterward  adding  to  his  domain  the  island  known  as 
Riker’s  Island.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Hendrick 
Harmensen,  He  died  in  1689,  leaving  his  farm  by  will 
to  his  son  Abraham,  who  added  considerably  to  the  ex- 
tent of  his  lands,  and  at  his  death,  in  1746,  left  the  estate 
to  his  sons  Abraham  and  Andrew.  Abraham  located 
upon  that  part  of  his  father’s  estate  which  included  a 
third  of  the  Tuder  patent.  The  tenement  which  he 
erected  still  remains,  and  forms  the  center  room  of  the 
house  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Charles  Rapelye,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Riker  took  an  active  part  in  the  erection  of 
the  first  Dutch  church  built  at  Newtown,  and  was  one  of 
the  trustees  to  whom  the  deed  for  the  church  lot  was 
executed;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  February  20th 


OLD  FAMILIES  OF  NEWTOWN. 


343 


1770,  he  was  a ruling  elder.  His  son  Jacobus  bought 
the  homestead  farm  soon  after  his  father’s  death,  and  re- 
sided here  until  his  death,  in  1809.  Anotherson,  Andrew 
Riker,  purchased  Riker’s  Island,  where  he  erected  a 
house  and  resided  the  remainder  of  his  life.  At  his 
death,  in  1815,  he  left  the  island  to  his  sons  Abraham  and 
l’eter.  This  island  has  passed  from  one  generation  to 
another,  and  is  still  in  the  family.  Daniel  Riker,  son  of 
Jacobus,  inherited  the  paternal  estate,  but  sold  it  in  1827. 
It  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Charles  Rapelye. 

The  family  cemetery  at  the  Poor  Bowery  was  early  ap- 
propriated as  a place  of  burial  by  the  Rikers  and  Lents, 
and  in  all  subsequent  sales  of  the  farm  it  has  been  re- 
served to  these  families.  While  the  farm  was  owned  by 
Isaac  Rapelye  he  enlarged  this  cemetery  by  the  gift  of  a 
strip  of  land  adjoining.  The  tombstone  of  Abraham 
Riker,  who  was  buried  here  in  1746,  is  in  a compara- 
tively good  state  of  preservation.  A cenotaph  is  also 
here  which  records  the  death  of  Captain  Abraham  Riker, 
who  died  at  Valley  Forge  in  1778.  These  grounds  are 
full  of  historic  interest  to  all,  associated  as  they  are  with 
so  much  of  importance  in  the  early  days  of  Newtown. 
The  living  representatives  of  this  family  are  now  residing 
in  New  York. 

The  Lent  family  is  of  common  origin  with  the  Riker 
family,  being  descended  from  Ryck  and  Hendrick,  the 
tldest  and  youngest  sons  of  Abraham  Rycken,  who,  for 
reasons  not  clearly  known,  renounced  their  own  name 
and  assumed  the  name  Lent.  Abraham  Lent,  son  of 
Ryck,  came  from  Westchester  county  to  Newtown  in 
1729,  and  took  possession  of  a farm,  left  him  by  his  uncle 
Jacobus  Krankheyt,  on  Bowery  Bay.  He  resided  here 
until  his  death,  in  1746,  when  his  son  Jacobus,  for  years 
a ruling  elder  in  the  Dutch  church,  succeeded  to  the  farm. 
His  death  occurred  in  1779.  Daniel  Lent,  youngest  son 
of  Jacobus,  was  the  last  of  the  family  who  occupied  this 
estate.  It  was  sold  just  prior  to  his  death,  which  occur- 
red April  20th  1797.  Daniel,  his  only  child  that  surviv- 
ed infancy,  removed  to  Flushing  Bay,  and  for  years  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  formerly  owned  by  Captain  Thomas 
Lawrence  and  now  by  the  surviving  heirs  of  the  Lent 
family. 

The  first  ancestor  of  the  Suydam  family  in  this 
country  was  Hendrick  Rycken,  a member  of  the  Riker 
family  as  previously  stated.  It  is  a curious  though  .well 
established  fact  that  about  the  year  1710  the  sons  of 
Hendrick  Rycken  adopted  the  name  Suydam,  and  from 
these  three  persons  descended  all.  the  Suydams  in  this 
and  adjoining  States.  Dow  Suydam,  a grandson  of  Hen- 
drick Rycken,  settled  at  Hempstead  Swamp,  in  New- 
town, in  1736.  He  was  the  first  of  the  name  who  located 
in  the  town.  Prior  to  the  Revolution  he  sold  his  farm 
to  his  nephew  John  Suydam,  and  left  Newtown, 
living  in  various  parts  of  the  island  during  the  war 
and  suffering  on  account  of  his  Whig  principles. 
He  died  at  the  house  of  his  son  John  in  Jamaica, 
in  1794.  His  wile,  whom  he  survived  thirty-seven 
years,  was  Sarah  Vanderveer.  John  Suydam,  who 
bought  the  farm  at  HempsteadSwamp,  remained  on  the 


farm  until  his  death,  in  1809,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  his  son  Rem,  and  at  his  death,  in  1829,  to  his 
heirs.  The  old  house,  now  standing,  is  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  the  late  Thomas  Hunt,  of  New  York.  Another 
grandson  of  Hendrick  Rycken,  Jacobus  Suydam,  married 
a daughter  of  Captain  Cor.  Rapelye.  After  engaging 
successfully  in  commerce  in  the  city  of  New  York  he  re- 
tired from  business,  and  bought  the  estate  of  William 
Lawrence  in  Newtown.  Here  he  lived  until  his  death,  in 
1825.  Another  member  of  this  family,  Hendrick  Suy- 
dam, removed  to  Hallett’s  Cove,  prior  to  the  Revolution. 
He  bought  and  conducted  the  mill  on  Sanswick  Creek. 
He  was  a much  esteemed  member  of  the  Dutch  church. 
He  died  in  1818.  Of  his  sons  all  became  merchants  in 
New  York,  except  James,  who  remained  on  the  paternal 
estate.  The  only  living  representative  of  the  Suydam 
family  in  Newtown  is  Mrs.  Dow  Rapelye,  who  lives  on 
Jackson  avenue,  near  Corona. 

The  Retnsen  family  are  descendants  of  a family  whose 
original  name  was  Van  der  Beeck.  Rem  Jansen  Vander- 
beeck  came  to  this  country  early  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. His  sons  adopted  the  name  Remsen.  One  of  them, 
Abraham  Remsen,  settled  at  Hempstead  Swamp,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  David  Kinsey.  In  1735  Jerotnus 
Remsen,  a son  of  Abraham,  bought  the  paternal  farm,  on 
which  he  lived  until  his  death.  His  son  Jeromus,  born 
November  22nd  1735,  was  a man  of  unusual  abilities, 
and  deserves  honorable  notice  in  the  history  of  his  native 
town.  He  did  service  in  the  French  war  and  stood  con- 
spicuous among  the  Whigs  of  Newtown  at  the  opening  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  a clerk  of  the  county  commit- 
tee, and  as  colonel  of  militia  was  present  at  the  battle  of 
Long  Island. 

On  Van  Duyn  Hill  is  the  only  property  in  Newtown 
confiscated  after  the  Revolution.  Here  is  a small 
cemetery  known  as  the  Remsen  graveyard.  In  this  is 
the  tomb  .of  Jeromus  Remsen. 

Simon,  another  representative  of  the  Remsen  family 
in  Newtown,  was  born  in  1748.  He  married  Aletta, 
only  child  of  Daniel  Rapelje,  of  Newtown,  and  occupied 
his  father-in-law’s  estate  on  Bowery  Bay.  His  daughter 
married  James  Strong,  whose  heirs  now  own  the  home- 
stead farm  occupied  by  Benjamin  W.  Strong. 

In  1719  William  Van  Duyn , whose  remote  origin  is 
French,  removed  to  Newtown,  having  bought  property  at 
Hempstead  Swamp,  which  he  subsequently  enlarged. 
At  his  death,  in  1769,  his  son  Dow  received  half  of  the 
farm,  the  other  half  going  to  the  heirs  of  Cornelius  Van 
Duyn,  whose  wife  was  a daughter  of  Dominicus  Vander- 
veer. The  farm  is  now  owned  by  Jerome  Vanderveer, 
who  lives  in  the  old  Van  Duyn  house  enlarged  and  im- 
proved. 

The  Family  of  Brinckerhoff  in  America  are  descend- 
ants of  Joris  Dericksen  Brinckerhoff,  who  came  to  this 
country  in  1638  and  settled  in  Brooklyn.  His  son  Abra- 
ham bought  a large  farm  on  Flushing  meadow,  a part  of 
which  is  now  owned  by  the  Elliott  brothers.  The  Bur- 
roughs farm  was  also  a part  of  this  estate.  Occupying  a 
commanding  position,  on  the  bluff  overhanging  Flushing 


38 


344 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Bay  is  the  Brinckerhoff  cemetery.  It  is  beautiful  in 
summer,  and  wild  in  winter  it  must  be  as  the  tempest 
sweeps  over  this  resting  place  of  an  extinct  family. 
Their  tombstones  are  scattered  more  or  less  in  every 
cemetery  in  the  township;  but  it  is  doubtful  if  there  is 
here  one  living  representative  of  the  family. 

The  Burroughs  Family. — The  old  Burroughs  burying 
ground  is  in  the  rear  of  a lot  which  faces  on  the  com- 
mons of  Newtown.  The  most  historical  tombstone  here 
is  that  of  William  Howe  Burroughs,  who  died  in  1805. 
He  was  named  in  respect  to  General  Howe  of  the  king’s 
army.  This  is  a part  of  the  old  Burroughs  farm,  and 
here  too  we  find  an  old  house  of  ante-Revolutionary 
date,  which  was  built  by  the  great-grandfather  of  George 
W.  Burroughs  of  Corona,  the  oldest  living  male  represent- 
ative of  this  family.  The  old  farm  has  nearly  all  passed 
out  of  the  Burroughs  family.  The  heirs  of  Joseph  Bur- 
roughs (brother  of  George)  own  a small  part  of  it  still, 
and  the  old  burying  ground  is  retained  in  the  family, 
though  this  is  only  the  resting  place  of  former  genera- 
tions, the  present  generation  having  buried  their  dead  in 
the  Episcopal  church  yard  at  Newtown.  The  earliest  rec- 
ord of  this  family  in  America  is  in  1637,  when  John 
Burroughs  is  found  in  Salem.  He  soon  after  came  to 
Newtown.  He  filled  the  office  of  town  clerk  several 
years.  His  sons  Jeremiah  and  Joseph  shared  their 
father’s  estate.  Jeremiah  died  in  1698.  Joseph  lived  to 
an  advanced  age.  The  old  house  before  mentioned  was 
built  by  his  son  John,  who  died  on  this  estate,  July  7th 
1750.  IT  is  children  John  and  Joseph  inherited  the  pa- 
ternal farm.  Joseph’s  son  Thomas  succeeded  to  the 
property  and  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  Wyck- 
off.  He  died  September  21st  1835.  His  children  were: 
Lydia,  wife  of  George  I.  Rapelye;  Sarah,  now  Mrs. 
Charles  H.  Roach;  Mrs.  John  B.  Hyatt;  Joseph  (de- 
ceased), George  Wyckoff  and  John  W.,  who  died  when 
17  years  old.  George  W.  has  two  children — James  S. 
Burroughs,  who  resides  at  Astoria,  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Moe, 
of  Corona. 

IVi/liam  Howard , the  progenitor  of  the  Long  Island 
family,  came  to  Newtown  near  the  close  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  The  old  Howard  place  on  the  road  from 
Newtown  to  Jamaica  is  still  owned  by  the  family,  and  the 
oldest  house  in  Newtown  village  is  owned  by  Jonathan 
Howard,  who  now  resides  in  Newtown.  It  was  formerly 
owned  by  the  Furman  family.  Mrs.  Howard  was  a 
daughter  of  Aaron  Furman,  who  lived  and  died  in  this 
old  house.  It  is  fast  going  to  decay,  and  is  now  used  as 
a tenant  house. 

The  Hallets,  now  mostly  removed  from  the  town,  were 
formerly  prominent  in  Newtown.  In  1655  William  Hal- 
lett  settled  at  Hallett’s  Cove,  where  his  house  and  planta- 
tion were  destroyed  by  the  Indians,  whereupon  he  re- 
moved to  Flushing.  He  subsequently  located  at  Hell 
Gate,  where  he  lived  to  the  age  of  about  ninety  years. 
His  grandson  Richard  Hallett  married  a daughter  of 
John  Bowne,  of  Flushing,  an  eminent  Quaker.  Mr.  Hal- 
lett embraced  the  principles  of  the  Friends,  which  his 
descendants  still  profess.  Some  of  the  family  settled  at 


Maspeth.  Gideon  Hallett  owned  the  farm  on  which  the 
old  Quaker  meeting-house  at  Maspeth  stood,  and  this 
farm  is  still  in  possession  of  the  family.  The  old  meeting- 
house, long  since  torn  down,  stood  on  the  corner  of  the 
Newtown  turnpike  and  the  Fresh  Pond  road.  Around 
this  was  the  Quaker  burying  ground. 


Leading  Citizens  of  Recent  Years. 

ASCAN  BACKUS. 

Ascan  Backus,  who  was  one  of  the  most  noted  farmers 
of  Long  Island,  died  at  his  residence  in  Newtown  on  the 
1 8th  of  March  1880.  He  was  a fine  type  of  physical 
manhood,  being  about  six  feet  in  height  and  proportion- 
ally developed,  and  with  a face  when  not  in  repose  indica- 
tive of  great  geniality  of  nature.  His  struggles  against 
early  difficulties,  and  the  great  success  that  crowned 
his  industry  and  perseverance,  merit  historic  recognition; 
for  from  the  lessons  of  his  life  many  a young  farmer  now 
buffeting  with  the  world  may  borrow  renewed  hope  and 
courage. 

He  was  born  in  the  duchy  of  Saxe  Gotha,  in  1814. 
His  father,  an  affluent  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  took  a 
leading  part  in  the  political  troubles  of  his  time  and 
country,  and  as  a consequence  found  himself  stripped  of 
his  possessions;  and  young  Ascan,  who  was  at  the  time 
studying  for  one  of  the  professions,  was  obliged  to  leave 
his  books  and  his  country  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  landed 
in  New  York  on  the  4th  day  of  July  1829,  at  the  age  of 
fifteen;  and,  with  a naturally  strong  and  independent 
mind,  at  once  turned  his  thoughts  to  agriculture.  At 
first  he  assisted  his  brother  Charles,  who  had  arrived  a 
year  before,  in  the  management  of  his  farm,  and  by  pru- 
dent action  he  soon  amassed  means  to  hire  a little  place 
of  his  own.  Here  he  raised  market  produce,  which  in 
those  days  had  to  be  sent  by  boat  down  Newtown  Creek 
and  around  the  Battery  to  New  York  market.  The  young 
farmer  kept  a vigilant  eye  upon  the  markets  and  made 
himself  acquainted  with  marketmen  and  dealers,  with 
whom  he  soon  became  a favorite  for  his  amiable  and 
manly  qualities  and  the  strict  integrity  of  his  conduct. 
He  was  winning  success.  By  intelligent  watchfulness,  by 
prudence  and  honorable  dealing,  he  was  advancing  to  the 
very  front.  His  acres  soon  grew  to  hundreds,  his 
few  laborers  became  many,  commodious  outbuildings 
sprung  up,  his  stock  multiplied  and  increased,  a number 
of  wagons  carried  the  rich  abundance  of  his  farms  to  the 
markets  of  New  York,  and  munificent  returns  poured  in 
upon  him.  To  sterile  spots  he  had  brought  bloom  and 
blossom  and  fruitage,  and  he  lived  to  enjoy  the  rich  re- 
wards of  his  skillful  labor.  There  is  no  doubt  that  his 
early  mental  training  had  much  to  do  with  his  success; 
for,  although  cautious  in  introducing  new  methods,  his 
mind  was  quick  to  grasp  the  principles  upon  which  they 
were  based,  and  to  apply  them  to  the  best  advantage 
when  he  put  them  to  the  test.  With  sound  judgment, 
too,  he  saw  that  in  the  management  of  his  large  estates 


THE  DE  BEVOISES  OF  NEWTOWN. 


349 


the  good  will  and  cheerful  co-operation  of  his  employes 
were  necessary  factors,  and  he  always  manifested  a sort 
of  paternal  interest  in  their  affairs.  In  their  little  dis- 
sensions he  was  a pacificator,  in  their  sickness  he  was  a 
solicitous  friend,  in  their  merrymakings  he  gave  them  his 
approving  smile.  He  took  great  pains  to  encourage  in 
them  habits  of  economy,  and  many  of  them  who  are  now 
successful  farmers  for  themselves  owe  much  of  their  suc- 
cess to  his  constant  interest  in  their  undertakings.  Ihis 
generous  treatment  of  his  laborers  would  have  been  im- 
possible unless  Mr.  Backus  possessed  a sensitive  nature 
and  kindly  heart,  and  it  affords  salutary  material  for  re- 
flection for  all  employers  of  labor  who  desire  to  be  faith- 
fully served. 

Mr.  Backus  attended  the  Reformed  church,  and  was  a 
very  liberal  contributor  to  deserving  works.  He  kept 
himself  informed  of  the  events  of  the  day  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic,  and  was  a man  of  decided  opinions;  but 
these  he  never  permitted  to  interfere  with  his  friendships, 
which  were  very  strong.  His  tastes  were  refined  and  his 
pleasures  simple.  He  had  a keen  relish  of  gleeful  joke 
and  repartee,  and  was  noted  for  his  hospitality.  He  left 
three  daughters  and  three  sons,  who  inherit  his  property. 

JOHN  C.  DE  BE  VOISE. 

John  C.  De  Be  Voise  is  a son  of  Charles  I.  and  Maria 
(Covert)  De  Be  Voise,  and  was  born  at  Fresh  Ponds,  Au- 
gust 31st  1815.  His  earlier  ancestry  may  be  traced  in  the 
sketch  of  the  De  Be  Voise  family  on  page3i7.  His  edu- 
cation was  limited  to  the  meager  course  of  study  of  the 
Fresh  Ponds  district  school,  and  he  was  left  fatherless  at 
the  age  of  fifteen. 

Mr.  De  Be  Voise  soon  found  himself,  young  though 
he  was,  at  the  head  of  the  business  left  by  his  father, 
and  managed  the  farm  successfully  and  profitably  until, 
at  the  age  of  thirty,  he  removed  to  his  present  residence 
at  the  corner  of  Fresh  Ponds  road  and  Myrtle  street. 

In  1848  Mr.  De  Be  Voise  married  Mary  Jane,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Way,  of  Fresh  Ponds,  who  is  still  living  and 
presiding  over  his  elegant  home. 

Mr.  De  Be  Voise  had  two  brothers,  and  one  sister. 
These  were  Michael  Covert  De  Be  Voise  and  the  late 
Cornelius  S.  De  Be  Voise  and  Rebecca  Ann  De  Be  Voise, 
deceased,  who  became  the  wife  of  William  H.  Purdy. 
Mr.  De  Be  Voise  is  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
farmers  and  market  gardeners  in  his  vicinity.  Never  a 
politician  or  office  seeker,  he  yet  has  ever  felt  a keen 
interest  in  passing  events.  He  has  always  been  a sup- 
porter of  all  measures  which  he  thought  were  conducive 
to  the  public  good. 

JOHN  DE  BEVOISE. 

John  De  Bevoise,  son  of  John  C.  and  Jenny  (Beadle) 
De  Bevoise,  was  born  at  the  old  De  Bevoise  homestead 


on  the  Fresh  Pond  road  (now  at  the  corner  of  that  road 
and  the  Myrtle  avenue  road),  in  the  town  of  Newtown, 
March  3d  1798.  His  descent  from  the  original  member 
of  the  family  in  this  country  is  shown  by  the  sketch  on 
pages  317  and  318. 

December  22nd  1819  he  was  married  to  Cornelia  M. 
Van  Cott  of  the  town  of  Bushwick,  Kings  county.  Mr. 
De  Bevoise  was  well  known  as  an  honest,  upright,  enter- 
prising and  influential  man.  He  was  a lifelong  farmer, 
and  was  often  chosen  to  positions  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility by  his  townsmen  and  business  acquaintances.  For 
seven  years  he  was  supervisor  of  the  town,  in  those  good 
old  times  when  the  taxes  were  light  and  an  honest  man 
was  accounted  “the  noblest  work  of  God.”  Ever  public 
spirited  to  a remarkable  degree,  he  was  desirous  of  im- 
provements, not  for  his  own  convenience  alone,  but  for 
the  benefit  of  all,  and  he  spent  a great  deal  of  time  and 
money  in  opening  and  improving  what  is  now  called  the 
Myrtle  avenue  road.  He  died,  deeply  regretted  by  a 
wide  circle  of  relatives  and  friends,  September  2nd  1862. 

John  De  Bevoise,  the  only  son  of  the  deceased,  now 
lives  on  the  estate.  He  was  born  October  26th  1820, 
and  married  Gertrude  J.  Suydam,  of  Bedford,  Kings 
county,  by  whom  he  has  six  children  living:  John  H., 
Fred  J.,  Cornelia  G.,  Gertrude  S.,  Abraham  B.  and  Ma- 
rietta. Of  these,  Cornelia  G.  and  Marietta  are  married, 
the  former  to  John  Hyatt  Vanderveer,  the  latter  to  How- 
ard Hayden,  of  Great  Neck,  L.  I. 


35° 


CORNELIUS  S.  DE  BE  VOISE. 


Cornelius  S.  De  Be  Voise  (deceased),  the  son  of  Charles 
I.,  and  the  grandson  of  John  De  Be  Voise,  was  born  July 
18th  1823,  on  the  old  homestead  at  Fresh  Ponds,  referred 
to  in  the  article  on  this  family  on  page  317.  From  early 
life  his  habits,  his  tastes  and  his  education  were  such  as 
befitted  a farmer’s  son,  who  was  of  choice  to  be  a farmer 
too. 

At  the  age  of  31  he  courted,  won  and  married  Miss 
Adrianna  De  Be  Voise,  daughter  of  Jacob  De  Be  Voise, 
who  was  also  a native  of  Newtown  and  was  his  junior  by 
five  years.  They  settled  at  once  on  the  farm  and  founded 


another  of  the  many  solid,  respected  families  of  Newtown. 
Two  children  were  the  fruit  of  their  union — John  Wil- 
liam and  Jeannette.  The  former  was  born  on  the  27th 
of  June  1866,  and  died  of  diphtheria  December  3d  1875, 
at  the  age  of  9 years.  The  latter- was  born  June  1st 
1868,  and  died  August  21st  following. 

A little  over  a year  before  his  death  Mr.  De  Be  Voise 
began  to  suffer  from  a kidney  trouble,  which  grew  more 
and  more  alarming,  until  it  developed  into  Bright’s  dis- 
ease and  terminated  in  his  death  September  1st  1878. 
In  politics  he  was  first  an  old  line  Whig  and  afterward  a 


35 1 


MRS.  ADRIANNA  DE  BE  VOISE. 


thorough  Republican.  He  was  a consistent  member  of 
the  Reformed  church  during  the  whole  of  his  mature 
years,  an  exemplary  father,  husband  and  neighbor,  never 
looking  for  enjoyment  outside  of  his  family  and  the  so- 
ciety of  his  friends.  His  mother  spent  the  last  few 
years  of  a ripe  old  age  at  his  house,  and  died  there. 
Mrs.  De  Be  Voise  also  had  the  satisfaction  of  having  her 
mother  with  her  before  and  when  she  passed  from  this 
life  to  the  next,  which  occurred  January  6th  1867. 

About  a year  ago  Mrs.  De  Be  Voise  left  her  old  home 


on  the  farm,  and  came  to  live  with  her  husband’s  nephew, 
Charles  W.  Purdy,  at  89  Bedford  avenue,  Brooklyn.  Mr. 
Purdy  was  left  an  orphan  and  lived  with  his  uncle  from 
his  boyhood  until  about  three  years  ago.  He  went  at 
the  age  of  14  into  a drug  store  in  New  York,  and  is  now 
a wholesale  druggist  in  William  street.  Deprived  of  her 
own  children  by  death,  it  seems  peculiarly  fitting  that 
Mrs.  De  Be  Voise  should  now  make  her  home  with  one 
to  whom  she  for  so  long  a time  sustained  the  relation  of 
mother. 


352 


JOHN  M.  DEBEVOISE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a son  of  Moses  Debevoise, 
whose  wife  was  Maria  Duryea,  and  was  born  at  Fresh 
Ponds,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  brother  Peter 
Duryea  Debevoise,  December  12th  1819.  The  genealogy 
of  the  Debevoise  family  appears  on  pages  317  and  318. 

Mr.  Debevoise  received  a limited  education  at  the  dis- 
trict schqol  at  Fresh  Ponds,  spending  his  boyhood  on  the 
farm  at  home.  On  his  13th  birthday  he  was  left  an 
orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father.  With  his  brother 
Peter  he  assumed  the  management  of  the  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  30,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

February  7th  1849  he  was  married  to  Esther  B.  Gos- 
man,  a daughter  of  William  Gosman,  of  Dutch  Kills. 
They  have  had  eight  children  born  to  them,  as  follows: 
■William  G.,  January  20th  1850;  Sarah  Maria,  January 
T3lh  1852;  Edward,  December  13th  1853;  Elizabeth 
Bragaw,  December  26th  1856  (died  February  25th  1867); 
Charles,  October  20th  i860;  George  Gosman,  October 
25th  1863;  Louisa  Vanderveer,  March  17th  1868;  Mar- 
garet Aletta,  August  16th  1872  (died  December  1st  1876). 

The  family,  now  connected  with  the  Reformed  church 
of  Bushwick,  were  formerly  identified  with  the  old  Dutch 
Reformed  church  of  Newtown,  which  Mr.  Debevoise’s 
father  helped  to  found.  Mr.  Debevoise  takes  little  ac- 
tive part  in  politics,  though  he  is  deeply  interested  in 
affairs  of  public  moment,  and  has  never  sought  official 
preferment  nor  held  any  office  except  such  as  have  been 
conferred  upon  him  by  his  townsmen. 


William  G.,  his  eldest  son,  early  chose  a mercantile 
career,  and  for  eleven  years  was  in  the  employ  of  A.  T. 
Stewart  & Co.,  at  their  New  York  store.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  had  been  long  in  Mr.  Stewart’s  service,  to 
whom  he  bequeathed  $300  each  as  a mark  of  the  esteem 
in  which  he  held  them.  He  has  since  been  employed 
in  the  Chicago  store  of  A.  T.  Stewart  & Co. 

CHARLES  I.  DE  BEVOISE. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a son  of  Isaac  and  a 
grandson  of  Carel  De  Bevoise,  who  left  the  homestead  at 
Brooklyn  in  October  1736  and  became  a farmer  in  Bush- 
wick, on  the  present  property  of  Charles  I.  De  Bevoise, 
where  the  latter  now  resides. 

Charles  I.  De  Bevoise  was  born  September  21st  1796, 
and  has  been  twice  married — October  15th  1828  to 
Adrianna,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Magdalene  Boerum; 
and  October  24th  1836  to  Jane  Lefferts,  daughter  of 
Folkert  Rapelyea  and  Agnes  De  Bevoise.  He  had  one 
child,  Magdalene,  by  his  first  marriage,  and  four — Isaac 
C.,  Agnes  R.,  Susanna  and  Adrianna — by  his  second 
marriage.  Mr.  De  Bevoise,  who  is  still  living,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  85,  at  104  De  Bevoise  avenue,  Brooklyn, 
has  during  a long  and  active  life  enjoyed  to  a high  degree 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  has  been  iden- 
tified with  many  of  the  leading  interests  of  the  past.  For 
a number  of  years  he  was  the  supervisor  of  the  town  of 
Bushwick.  Politically  he  is  a Democrat.  He  has  been  a 
lifelong  member  and  long  an  elder  of  the  old  Bushwick 
Reformed  church,  with  which  his  family  are  identified. 


{s-lu-v*  . \f.  (ft $ ■ l 'Is*  ■ 


355 


ROBERT  BURROUGHS. 

Robert  Burroughs  was  born  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 
September  15th  1821.  His  father,  Thomas  Burroughs, 
was  born  on  a farm  then  belonging  to  the  family,  in  the 
town  of  Newtown,  at  White  Pot,  which  farm  was  more 
recently  owned  by  Jarvis  Jackson,  and  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Abraham  V.  S.  Lott  and  Frederick  D.  Backus. 
Removing  to  Brooklyn  he  married  and  settled  there. 
His  parents  having  both  died  he  was  placed  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years  on  a farm  at  Middle  Village,  in  Newtown, 
and  kept  at  farm  work  until  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he 
was  sent  to  Brooklyn  to  learn  the  trade  of  a house  car- 
penter. Having  learned  that  trade  in  its  different 
branches,  he  returned  to  Newtown,  where  for  a number 
of  years  he  carried  on  business  as  a practical  architect 
and  builder,  and  planned  and  put  up  a good  many  houses. 

April  5th  1853  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of 
the  town,  for  the  term  of  four  years.  This  was  the  first 
public  position  he  ever  held,  and  he  was  re-elected  to  it 
April  7th  1857,  and  again  April  2nd  1861,  and  served 
out  each  term  in  full.  April  4th  1865. he  was  chosen  for 
another  term  of  four  years,  but  in  November  1867,  before 
the  expiration  of  this  term,  he  was  elected  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  clerk  of  Queens  county;  and  he  resigned 
the  position  of  justice,  after  having  performed  its  duties 


fourteen  years.  He  served  out  his  full  term  of  three 
years  as  county  clerk  from  January  1st  1868.  At  the 
town  meeting  held  April  4th  1871  he  was  chosen  super- 
visor of  Newtown,  and  he  was  annually  re-elected  for  six 
successive  years,  the  last  election  being  held  April  3d 
1877.  The  financial  condition  of  the  town  of  Newtown 
at  the  time  he  was  first  elected  supervisor  was  very  bad, 
owing  in  a great  measure  to  the  incorporation  of  Long 
Island  City,  within  the  limits  of  the  town,  and  not  mak- 
ing any  provision  for  the  apportionment  of  the  bonded 
debt  (which  was  very  large)  between  the  two  places.  By 
great  exertion  and  after  many  delays  an  act  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature  on  June  5th  1874,  to  accomplish  this 
object,  and  Mr.  Burroughs  served  as  one  of  the  commis- 
sioners under  this  act  in  adjusting  the  debt  and  making 
the  apportionment,  the  effect  of  which  was  to  put  a stop 
to  any  more  suits  and  relieve  the  town  from  its  financial 
embarrassment.  During  his  period  of  service  as  super- 
visor he  held  the  position  of  court-house  commissioner, 
for  the  construction  of  a new  court-house  for  Queens 
county,  under  both  acts,  and  was  very  active  and  attent- 
ive in  the  discharge  of  the  trust  imposed.  In  his  time 
also  Metropolitan  avenue,  Myrtle  avenue  and  Grand 
street,  three  prominent  thoroughfares  in  the  town,  were 
built,  in  all  of  which  improvements  important  duties  were 
I confided  to  him  by  the  Legislature.  Myrtle  avenue  was 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


35  6 


graded  and  macadamized  by  his  direction,  under  the  su- 
pervision of  an  engineer  selected  and  appointed  by  him 
without  the  intervention  of  commissioners.  The  job  was 
not  quite  completed  during  his  official  term  and  was  fin- 
ished by  his  successor. 

He  is  now  engaged  in  business  as  one  of  the  firm  of 
H.  T.  Burroughs  &:  Co.,  extensive  dealers  in  building  ma- 
teiials  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  and  enjoys  exceptionally 
good  health. 

GEORGE  I.  RAPELYE 

was  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  February  7th  1787.  His  father, 
John  Rapelye,  was  a native  of  Newtown,  and  descendant 
of  the  Rapelye  family  that  settled  in  Newtown  more  than 
two  centuries  ago.  He  was  born  in  what  is  now  known 
as  the  old  Schenck  house,  opposite  the  house  of  Joseph 
A.  Lawrence,  on  the  old  Winfield  road  from  Newtown. 
The  father  was  a British  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  went  to  Nova 
Scotia,  where  he  married  Miss  Lemma  Boice,  a native  of 
New  Jersey.  They  resided  in  Nova  Scotia  until  after 
the  birth  of  their  sons  George  I.  and  Jacob,  a period  of 
four  or  five  years,  when  they  came  to  Newtown  and  set- 
tled on  a farm  of  170  acres.  Here  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  Mr.  Rapelye’s  death  occurred 
April  5th  1829,  and  his  wife  survived  him  until  Septem- 
ber 15th  1832.  A part  of  this  homestead  farm  is  still 
owned  and  occupied  by  George  I.  Rapelye,  who  was 
married  December  20th  1814  to  Lydia  Burroughs.  She 
died  November  8th  1822,  leaving  two  children,  Maria 
and  Sarah  J.;  Maria  is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  L.  Ra- 
pelje,  of  Corona,  and  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  Henry  S. 
Vanderveer,  one  of  the  prominent  and  well-to-do  farm- 
ers of  Newtown. 

Mr.  Rapelye  was  again  married.on  the  4th  of  January 
1827,  to  Elizabeth  Van  Wickel.  She  died  December 
13th  1866,  leaving  three  children — Lydia  E.,  now  the 
widow  of  Abraham  Stockholm;  Mary  M.,  and  John 
Jacob,  who,  with  his  wife  Gertrude  V.  C.  Luquer,  their 
three  children  and  his  sisters,  now  lives  with  their  aged 
father,  who  at  the  advanced  age  of  95  years  is  compara- 
tively active,  and,  while  enjoying  the  society  of  his  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren,  is  able  to  tell  us  of  the  early  set- 
tlers and  the  history  of  nearly  a century  ago.  He  speaks 
familiarly  of  those  who  filled  important  places  in  the 
history  of  our  country  when  he  was  a young  man,  and  has 
in  his  possession  many  letters  and  papers  important  and 
ancient.  Among  these  is  a letter  of  which  the  following 
is  a copy: 

“Albany,  Feb.  24th  1835. 

“Dear  Sir: — I have  great  pleasure  in  forwarding  to 
you  a commission  for  the  office  of  inspector  of  turnpikes, 
which  the  governor  handed  to  me  yesterday.  It  will  be 
necessary  for  you  to  go  to  the  clerk’s  office,  enter  your 
name  on  the  list  of  county  officers,  and  be  qualified. 

“With  great  respect, 

“ John  A.  King.” 

“ To  George  I.  Rapelye,  Esq.” 

This  office  he  held  five  years,  and  he  was  for  seven 
years  commissioner  of  highways. 


From  early  childhood  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Episcopal  church  at  Newtown,  of  which  he  has  been  for 
62  years  a verstryman,  and  is  now  senior  warden.  The 
accompanying  portrait  is  engraved  from  a photograph 
showing  this  venerable  gentleman  as  he  now  appears,  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  all  his  faculties,  at  the  remarkable 
age  to  which  he  has  attained;  and  is  of  historical  interest 
as  preserving  a remembrance  of  a generation  which  with 
this  notable  exception  has  already  passed  away. 

GEORGE  W.  VANDERVEER. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  George 
R.  and  Phebe  (Whitson)  Vanderveer.  He  was  born  on 
the  old  family  homestead  in  Newtown,  February  2nd 
1842,  and  began  his  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Newtown,  graduating  later  from  Cook’s  Academy  in  New- 
town village. 

Mr.  Vanderveer  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  at  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  February  1866,  assumed  control  of 
the  farm,  which  he  has  since  very  successfully  managed. 

Reared  to  Whig  proclivities  by  his  father,  Mr.  Van- 
derveer is  an  ardent  adherent  of  the  Republican  party, 
having  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He 
was  elected  the  first  police  justice  of  Newtown,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  four  years  to  the  great  satisfaction 
of  his  townsmen,  among  whom  his  unswerving  honesty 
and  sound  judgment  are  proverbial. 

In  1866  Mr.  Vanderveer  married  Miss  Mary  Whitson, 
of  Newtown,  who  died  several  years  since,  leaving  her 
husband  and  their  daughter,  Jennie  Sheperd  Vander- 
veer, and  a wide  circle  of  relatives  and  friends  to  mourn 
their  bereavement. 


JOSEPH'J.  TOMPKINS— NEWTOWN  VILLAGE. 


359 


JOSEPH  J.  TOMPKINS. 


Joseph  J.  Tompkins  is  a son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
(Way)  Tompkins,  of  Newtown,  and  was  born  in  that  town, 
September  17th  1815.  His  father  was  born  in  1788  and 
died  in  1864.  His  mother  was  born  in  1783  and  died  in 
1853.  Mr.  Tompkins  attended  the  district  schools  at  the 
neighborhood  and  was  reared  to  farm  life.  In  1843  he 
married  Sarah  Amelia  Tompkins,  of  Newtown.  They 
have  six  children  living,  born  as  follows:  Oscar  E.,  July 
27th  1845;  Phebe  Eliza,  November  30th  1850;  Elizabeth 
S.,  May  22nd  1853;  Josephine,  December  17th  1856; 
Eloise,  January  3d  i860;  Clarence  P.,  August  17th  1862. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Tompkins  began 
farming  on  his  own  account  on  a portion  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  he  has  since  become  owner  of  the  whole 
property,  which  he  manages  successfully,  devoting  his 
attention  principally  to  market  gardening.  Mr.  Tomp- 
kins has  never  been  a politician,  but  is  a Democrat  upon 
principle  and  takes  a proper  interest  in  affairs  of  public 
moment.  His  standing  among  his  townsmen  may  be 
judged  from  the  fact  that  he  has  held  various  important 
local  offices.  He  has  been  a member  of  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society  since  its  organization,  and 
for  some  years  was  a member  of  the  board  of  directors. 

The  family  are  attendants  at  the  Reformed  church  of 
Newtown. 


VILLAGES. 

After  the  incorporation  of  Long  Island  City  there  re- 
mained no  incorporated  villages  within  the  limits  of  the 
town  of  Newtown,  but  there  are  nearly  a score  of  hamlets 
which  are  centers  of  population  and  business.  These  are 


Newtown,  Corona,  Woodside,  Locust  Grove,  Winfield, 
Charlotteville,  Maspeth,  Columbusville,  Laurel  Hill,  Ber- 
lin, East  Williamsburgh,  Middle  Village,  Ridgewood, 
Glendale,  Hopedale  and  Richmond  Hill.  In  each  of 
these  places  surveys  have  been  made  and  maps  of  village 
plans  filed.  In  several  of  the  cases  it  appears  that  good 
farms  have  been  spoiled  to  lay  out  streets  which  are  not 
used,  and  to  make  building  lots  which  have  been  left  to 
become  useless  commons. 


Newtown  Village. 

This  is  the  oldest  village  in  the  town,  and  has  more  of 
historical  interest  connected  with  it  than  any  other  men- 
tioned in  this  article.  Under  the  name  of  Middleburg  it 
was  the  scene  of  many  exciting  episodes  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  to-day  it  contains  several  important  landmarks 
which  have  been  already  noticed  in  a previous  section  of 
this  town’s  history.  The  building  of  the  North  Side  rail- 
road gave  the  place  valuable  connection  with  New  York, 
and  in  1876  it  was  made  the  eastern  terminus  of  a street 
railroad  connecting  it  with  Brooklyn. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  present  business  establish- 
ments in  this  village  of  more  than  strictly  local  impor- 
tance. The  growth  of  the  business  part  of  the  place  has 
been  very  slow. 

The  Newtown  Hotel,  owned  by  Joseph  A.  Lawrence 
and  conducted  by  Albert  Bailey  and  James  O’Brien,  is 
on  the  site  of  the  old  town-house,  where  a hotel  was 
kept  over  a century  ago. 

An  excellently  stocked  drug  store  and  a half  dozen 
general  stores  and  markets  supply  the  wants  of  the  com- 
munity. T.  Burford’s  bakery  furnishes  the  village  with 
the  staff  of  life  and  many  of  life’s  delicacies  as  well, 
while  Jo  Hiland  jr.  from  behind  the  bar  at  the  Palace 
Hotel  does  his  part  with  a dozen  others  toward  meeting 
a demand  which  has  come  to  be  almost  as  universal  as 
the  demand  for  bread. 

There  had  been  several  attempts  made  by  Messrs. 
Moore,  Hallett,  Moody  and  others  to  establish  an  under- 
taking business  here,  but  none  had  succeeded  prior  to 
1877,  when  Henry  Skelton  began  business  here;  by  skill 
acquired  during  several  years  in  the  city  and  by  close 
attention  to  the  public;  needs  he  has  built  up  a good  busi- 
ness reputation,  and  supplied  a public  want  satisfac- 
torily. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  press  of  this  village  consists  of  four  weekly  news- 
papers, the  first  of  which,  the  Newtown  Register,  was  es- 
tablished July  17th  1873  by  Charles  White,  the  editor 
and  publisher.  The  political  course  of  this  paper  has 
been  directed  in  the  interest  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  its  local  department,  under  the  direction  of  George 
T.  White,  the  associate  editor,  is  ably  conducted  and 
well  filled  with  the  local  news  and  spicy  comments.  It 
is  now  published  as  a seven-column,  eight-page  paper, 
and  has  a circulation  of  about  1,500.  It  has,  from  its 
foundation,  been  the  official  town  paper. 


360 


HISTORY  Of  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Early  in  1874  Charles  F.  White  undertook  the  publica- 
tion of  a local  newspaper  in  the  German  language,  and  in 
that  spring  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Long  Island 
Journal  and  Volks-Blatt.  This  paper  is  neutral  in  poli- 
tics. and  is  patronized  liberally  by  the  German-reading 
people  of  this  vicinity.  It  is  printed  at  the  Register 
office. 

The  Queens  County  Safeguard  was  founded  in  March 
1875  by  G.  K.  Lyman,  and  has  since  been  ably  edited  by 
him  as  a Democratic  newspaper.  It  is  a four-page,  eight- 
column  sheet,  26  by  40  inches,  and  enjoys  its  fair  share 
of  the  public  support.  Although  a thorough  Democrat 
in  principle  and  practice  Mr.  Lyman  has  given  his  paper 
a degree  of  independence  which  has  proved  objectionable 
to  that  element  in  Newtown  politics  calling  itself  the 
regular  Democracy. 

The  Newtown  Advertiser  is  the  youngest  paper  here, 
having  been  established  in  January  1881  by  Angus  P. 
McIntyre. 

ASSOCIATION  HALL. 

This  hall  was  first  built  for  a Baptist  church,  and  stood 
for  some  time  on  the  Hoffman  boulevard;  but  through 
the  enterprise  of  a few  gentlemen,  when  it  was  no  longer 
used  for  chapel  purposes,  it  was  moved  to  Grand  street 
and  remodeled,  furnishing  the  village  with  a very  suit- 
able public  hall  for  lectures  and  similar  entertainments. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  village  maintains  a very  thorough  public  school, 
employing  four  teachers.  It  is  under  the  principalship 
of  J.  A.  Swartout.  The  assistants  are  Mary  E.  Murton, 
Franc  L.  Sleight,  and,  in  the  colored  school,  Mary 
Green.  Thomas  S.  Burford  is  president  of  the  board  of 
education  and  Hon.  J.  G.  Garrettson  secretary. 

POSTAL  FACILITIES. 

Newtown’s  first  mail  was  furnished  by  stage  from 
Brooklyn,  and  no  direct  communication  was  had  with  the 
eastern  towns  of  Long  Island  until  as  late  as  1801,  when 
the  first  bridge  was  built  across  the  meadow  connecting 
this  town  with  Flushing.  A mail  and  passenger  route 
was  then  established  between  Flushing  and  Dover  street 
ferry,  Brooklyn,  by  way  of  Newtown.  In  the  early  days 
Barnard  Bloom,  who  kept  a hotel,  received  and  distrib- 
uted the  mail,  though  it  does  not  appear  that  a post-office 
had  yet  been  established.  This  hotel  was  the  Corner 
House,  mentioned  as  one  of  the  ancient  landmarks.  Mr. 
Bloom  subsequently  kept  tavern  in  a building  where  the 
Newtown  Hotel  now  stands,  and  here  also  he  acted  as 
postmaster. 

POLICE  COURT. 

In  1872  the  State  Legislature  provided  by  special  act 
that  a police  justice  should  be  elected  in  and  for  the 
town  of  Newtown,  to  hold  court  in  this  village,  the  town 
court-house  being  located  here.  The  term  of  office  is 
four  years.  George  W.  Yanderveer  was  elected  in  1873 
and  Thomas  Marshall  in  1877;  William  Burcham  was  ap- 


pointed in  1880  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  Mr.  Mar- 
shall’s death.  Francis  McKenna,  the  present  incumbent, 
was  elected  in  1881. 

MASONIC. 

Mizpah  Lodge,  No.  738,  was  instituted  in  1873.  After 
it  had  been  under  a dispensation  two  months  a charter 
was  granted. 

The  first  officers  under  the  charter  were:  G.  J.  Gar- 
rettson, W.  M.;  S.  F.  Worthington,  S.  W.;  Samuel  Doug- 
las, J.  W.;  Thomas  E.  Anderson,  T.;  Joseph  A.  Law- 
rence, Sec.;  R.  M.  Donaldson,  S.  D.;  Abel  Powell,  J.  D ; 
James  Cating,  senior  M.  of  C.;  C.  A.  Anderson,  junior 
M.  of  C.;  William  H.  Gordon  and  Howard  E.  Sanford, 
stewards;  C.  Rapalye,  marshal;  G.  W.  Garrettson,  or- 
ganist; John  H.  Tebins,  tiler.  The  trustees  were  Samuel 
Douglas,  James  Cating  and  C.  A.  Anderson.  Nine  of 
the  charter  members  were  from  Island  City  Lodge.  The 
meetings  of  this  lodge  are  on  the  second  and  fourth 
Thursdays  of  each  month.  The  masters  have  been:  G. 
J.  Garrettson,  1873-76;  S.  Douglas,  1877;  G.  J.  Garrett- 
son, 1878;  Abel  Powell,  1879;  James  S.  Fairbrother, 
1880.  The  officers  for  1 88 1 were:  George  M.  William- 
son, W.  M.;  Henry  Skelton,  S.  W.;  C.  A.  Anderson,  J. 
W.;  G.  J.  Garrettson,  treasurer;  James  S.  Fairbrother, 
secretary;  Abel  Powell,  S.  D.;  Adam  Weise,  J.  D.; 
Stephen  A.  Spratt,  senior  M.  of  C.;  Franklin  Booth, 
junior  M.  of  C.;  Oliver  C.  Young,  marshal;  John  H. 
Jebins,  tiler;  Robert  Burroughs,  Howard  E.  Sanford  and 
Thomas  Burford,  trustees. 

CHURCHES  OF  NEWTOWN  VILLAGE. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. — As  with  other  English  set- 
tlements on  Long  Island,  the  early  settlers  of  Newtown 
were  dissenters  in  religious  principles,  and  mainly  Pres- 
byterians. The  facts  in  the  case  are  not  known,  but  it  is 
believed  that  Rev.  John  Moore  settled  here,  coming  with 
a church  already  organized,  and  was  the  first  minister  as 
well  as  school  teacher  in  this  locality.  It  is  certain  that 
soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  English  company  here 
“a  town-house  was  erected,  which  served  the  double  pur- 
pose of  a church  and  a residence  for  a minister,”  and  in 
this  the  Rev.  John  Moore  preached.  But  little  is  known 
of  this  first  pastor,  save  that  he  died  in  1657.  Richard 
Mills  was  employed  to  teach  in  his  place  and  assisted  in 
maintaining  Sabbath  services.  For  five  years  the  church 
struggled  on  with  no  settled  pastor,  and  was  then  (in 
1662)  able  to  secure  Rev.  William  Leverich  as  pastor. 
He  served  the  church  until  his  death,  in  1677.  The 
records  of  his  labors  are  lost;  but  it  is  known  that  during 
his  pastorate  the  first  building  devoted  exclusively  to 
divine  worship  was  erected,  in  1671,  on  ground  nearly 
opposite  the  present  church  edifice.  From  1677  to  1708 
the  town  enjoyed  the  services  of  Rev.  S.  Morgan  Jones, 
John  Morse  and  Robert  Breck. 

Rev.  Mr.  Jones,  a graduate  of  Oxford  University, 
England,  was  one  of  2,000  dissenting  Presbyterians  who 
were  ejected  from  their  parishes  by  the  Act  of  Uniform- 
ity in  1662.  Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  of  Harvard  College,  set- 


PRESBYTERIAN  AND  REFORMED  CHURCHES,  NEWTOWN. 


36 1 


tied  here  in  1695;  soon  afterward  the  house  and  grounds 
now  occupied  by  the  heirs  of  Robert  Thompson  were 
bought  for  the  use  of  the  minister.  Mr.  Morse  died 
here  in  the  midst  of  his  work,  but  twenty-six  years  of 
age.*  Mr.  Breck,  also  from  Harvard  College,  served  this 
church  but  two  or  three  years.  He  boldly  asserted  the 
principles  of  the  non-conformists,  and  through  the  ill- 
treatment  and  threats  of  the  Episcopal  governor  was 
compelled  to  leave  his  charge.  The  combined  pastorates 
of  these  three  ministers  embraced  but  twelve  years; 
hence  the  church  was  vacant  at  intervals  for  eighteen 
years.  This  was  owing  in  part  to  colonial  troubles,  the 
inroads  of  the  French  and  the  measures  of  Lord  Corn- 
bury  against  dissenting  churches. 

The  church  building  was  taken  possession  of  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Urquhart  of  the  Episcopal  church,  in  1703,  and  held 
till  1708.  During  this  time  Revs.  John  Hampton  and 
Francis  Mackennie,  both  Presbyterians,  were  arrested 
and  imprisoned  for  preaching,  one  in  Newtown,  the  other 
in  New  York,  without  license  from  Lord  Cornbury. 

All  church  records  previous  to  1708  have  been  lost, 
save  a memorandum  of  eight  names,  the  only  members  at 
the  beginning  of  the  important  ministry  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Pumroy.  It  was  during  his  ministry,  in  1715,  that  he  with 
this  church  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 
phia. Under  his  ministry  sixty-seven  members  were 
added  to  the  church.  In  1717  a new  church  was  erected 
on  the  site  where  the  present  church  building  stands, 
but  not  fully  completed  until  1741.  After  a successful 
ministry  of  thirty-six  years  Mr.  Pumroy  died  June  30th 
1744,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  church  yard,  where  a 
tombstone  with  a quaint  inscription  marks  his  grave. 

From  this  period  until  the  war  of  the  Revolution  the 
successive  pastors  were:  Rev.  George  McNeish,  two 
years;  Rev.  Simeon  Horton,  26  years;  Rev.  Andrew  Bay, 
two  years.  From  1776  to  1783,  when  the  British  troops 
had  possession  of  Newtown,  this  patriotic  church  suffered 
severely.  Its  members  were  exiled  or  imprisoned,  and 
its  house  of  worship  first  used  as  a hospital  and  guard 
house,  and  then  demolished.  The  pulpit  pillar  afterward 
was  a hitching  post  by  the  town-house.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  by  the  kindness  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church, 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  worshiped  in  its  edifice. 
The  church  was  not  in  condition  to  settle  a pastor,  and 
from  1784  to  1790  the  services  of  Rev.  James  Lyon, 
Rev.  Peter  Fish  and  Rev.  Elihu  Palmer  were  engaged 
successively. 

In'1787,  ninety-five  years  ago,  the  edifice  in  which  this 
society  still  worships  was  commenced.  In  1791  it  was 
completed  and  dedicated.  Nathaniel  Woodhull  was  in- 
stalled pastor  in  1790,  and  his  pastorate  lasted  twenty 
years.  His  death  was  universally  regretted.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Rev.  William  Boardman.  His  pastorate  was 
marked  by  a remarkable  revival,  the  fruit  of  his  own  and 
his  predecessors’  faithful  labors.  He  died  in  1818.  In 
1817  the  old  parsonage  property  was  sold  and  the  “Union 
Hotel,”  with  eleven  acres  of  land,  was  purchased  for  a 
parsonage.  In  1819  Dr.  John  Goldsmith  was  installed. 
His  faithful  pastorate  continued  34  years,  during 


which  he  received  215  members  into  full  communion. 
He  died  in  1854.  The  parsonage  was  sold  and  a new 
one  erected  in  1821.  On  the  28th  of  March  1855  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  John  P.  Knox,  was  installed  over 
this  church.  During  his  pastorate  he  has  received  into 
full  communion  139  members,  and  baptized  129  infants 
and  17  adults.  The  church  edifice  has  been  refitted  and 
adorned  several  times,  and  the  chapel  enlarged,  removed 
and  made  commodious  for  the  Sabbath-school.  Pastor 
and  people  are  united  more  closely  as  the  years  advance, 
and  are  together  doing  efficient  work,  the  results  of  which 
time  only  can  unfold. 

The  Dutch  Reformed  Church  at  Newtown. — The  first 
church  edifice  erected  by  this  congregation  was  begun  in 
1732.  Prior  to  this  time  Dutch  inhabitants  located  in 
the  north  and  west  portions  of  the  town  found  easy  ac- 
cess to  churches  in  New  York,  Bushwick  or  Harlem, 
while  others  worshiped  at  Jamaica.  On  the  2nd  of  De- 
cember 1731  a united  effort  was  made;  a subscription 
soliciting  funds  for  building  a church  was  started,  which 
resulted  in  securing  ^277  12s.  for  that  purpose.  Abra- 
ham Remsen,  Isaac  Bragaw,  Joris  Rapelje,  Abraham 
Lent,  Nicholas  Berrien  and  Abraham  Brinkerhoff  were 
the  building  committee.  Peter  Berrien  deeded,  April  3d 
1 7 33» to  Elbert  Luyster  and  Abraham  Riker,  as  trustees,  a 
building  plot  near  the  town-house,  and  here  was  finished, 
in  August  1735,  quaint  specimen  of  architecture 

which  is  still  remembered  as  the  octagon  church. 

The  first  church  wardens — Thomas  Skillman,  Peter 
Berrien  and  Petrus  Schenck — were  chosen  on  the  26th  of 
June  1736.  From  this  time  until  1739  this  church  was 
dependent  for  preaching  upon  ministers  from  Kings 
county  and  New  York.  This  society  then  united  with 
three  neighboring  churches  in  securing  the  services  of 
one  pastor  for  all,  and  this  arrangement  continued  sixty- 
three  years.  The  following  named  pastors  thus  served 
these  churches:  Dominie  Van  Basten;  Johannes  H. 
Goetschius,  a native  of  Zurich;  Thomas  Romeyn,  Her- 
manns Lancelot,  Solomon  Froeligh,  Rynier  Van  Nest 
and  Zachariah  H.  Kuypers. 

Rev.  Mr.  Froeligh,  whose  pastorate  commenced  in 
1775,  was  an  avowed  Whig:  hence  the  entrance  of  the 
British  army  in  September  1776  forced  him  to  flee  his 
pulpit.  From  this  time  until  the  war  closed  the  pulpit 
was  vacant  or  supplied  at  irregular  intervals.  During 
two  years  no  records  of  baptisms  appear,  and  the  church 
was  used  as  a powder  magazine. 

On  the  20th  of  April  1802  Newtown  and  Jamaica  ex- 
tended a call  to  Rev.  Jacob  Schoonmaker,  D.  D.,  the 
classis  of  New  York  having  dissolved  the  combination  of 
the  four  collegiate  churches,  at  their  request,  on  the  24th 
of  October.  Dr.  Schoonmaker  was  ordained  at  New- 
town. Rev.  Garret  J.  Garrettson  was  settled  as  a co- 
laborer with  Dr.  Schoonmaker  in  these  two  collegiate 
churches  January  6th  1835.  In  June  1849  he  resigned 
his  charge  here,  which  resignation  was  soon  followed  by 
the  withdrawal  of  Dr.  Schoonmaker  from  his  pastoral 
charge  in  Newtown,  owing  to  the  desire  of  this  church  to 
separate  from  Jamaica,  a measure  demanded  by  the  in- 


865 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


increase  of  the  congregation.  The  farewell  discourse 
was  delivered  October  14th  1849.  The  occasion  was 
deeply  affecting,  it  being  the  severing  of  a tie  of  half  a 
century’s  continuance. 

Under  his  pastorate  a new  church  was  built.  The  old 
church  building  was  taken  down  September  4th  1831, 
having  stood  ninety-eight  years,  and  the  corner  stone  of 
the  new  one  was  laid  September  1 6th.  It  was  dedicated 
July  29th  1833,  a discourse  being  delivered  by  Dr. 
Schoonmaker.  The  sermon,  with  many  others,  and  the 
life  and  labors  of  this  good  man  are  still  cherished  in  the 
hearts  of  this  church.  He  died  in  1852.  His  successor 
at  Newtown,  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Strong,  was  installed  De- 
cember 1 2th  1849.  He  served  this  church  ten  years, 
and  in  1859  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Anderson, 
who  resigned  in  1866  and  was  followed  by  Charles  J. 
Shepard,  under  whose  pastorate  the  church  is  still  pros- 
pering. 

Episcopal  Church  of  Newtown. — As  early  as  1732  an 
Episcopal  society  was  formed  here,  with  Rev.  Thomas 
Colgan  rector,  his  parish  including  also  Jamaica 
and  Flushing.  In  1732,  by  the  earnest  efforts  of 
Joseph  Moore,  a deed  for  a part  of  the  town  lot  was 
secured  by  this  church,  on  which  a church  building  was 
erected  in  1735.  The  interior  of  the  building  was  not 
immediately  completed,  and  five  years  elapsed  before  it 
was  furnished  with  pews.  Mr.  Colgan ’s  labors  as  rector 
of  this  parish  were  terminated  by  his  death  in  December 
1755.  At  this  time  the  old  feud  between  Episcopalians 
and  dissenters  was  revived,  and  the  dissenters  chose  a 
Presbyterian  to  take  charge  of  the  parish,  petitioning  the 
government  to  sanction  their  choice,  which  was  denied 
them.  After  a period  of  more  than  six  months  Rev. 
Samuel  Seabury  jr.  was  appointed  by  the  governor  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  The  three  towns  under  one  rector  did  not 
prosper,  and  the  Episcopalians  at  Newtown  presented  a 
petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation  whereby  they  might 
call  a clergyman  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  parish. 
Their  petition  was  granted  September  9th  1761,  but  for 
some  reason  a separate  rector  was  not  obtained.  Mr. 
Seabury  continued  over  the  parish  until  1766.  May  23d 
1769  Rev.  Joshua  Bloomer  was  appointed  rector.  He 
remained  in  charge  during  the  period  of  the  Revolution, 
officiating  regularly  in  the  three  charges,  and  until  his 
death,  June  23d  1790.  His  immediate  successor  was 
Rev.  William  Hammel.  He  lost  his  sight  and  was 
obliged  to  resign  in  1795.  In  1797  the  church  of  New- 
town withdrew  and  called  a separate  rector,  Rev.  Henry 
Van  Dyke,  who  officiated  five  years.  In  1803  Newtown 
and  Flushing  churches  united  and  called  Rev.  Abraham 
L.  Clarke.  In  1809  the  two  societies  dissolved  this  con- 
nection, and  Mr.  Clarke  continued  in  Newtown  until  his 
death,  December  31st  1810.  The  vacancy  was  filled  by 
Rev.  William  E.  Wyatt,  D.  D.,  but  he  was  soon  after 
called  to  St.  Paul’s  church,  Baltimore.  Rev.  Evan  Mal- 
bone  Johnson,  the  next  rector,  settled  here  in  1814  and 
remained  until  1827,  when  he  removed  to  St.  John’s 
church,  Brooklyn. 

His  successor,  Rev.  George  A.  Shelton,  was  rector 


thirty-three  years,  from  18^  to  1863.  The  most  import- 
ant step  taken  by  the  parish  during  his  rectorship  was 
the  building  of  a new  church  edifice  This  was  done  in 
the  year  1848,  the  new  church  occupying  an  advan- 
tageous position  on  the  corner  of  Grand  street  and  Union 
avenue,  on  ground  which  had  been  given  to  the  parish 
at  its  beginning  by  William  Sackett.  The  church  was 
built  upon  a plan  furnished  by  Mr.  Lefevre,  the  architect 
of  Holy  Trinity  church,  Brooklyn,  and  was  considered 
at  the  time  a very  handsome  one.  It  was  built  of  wood 
in  the  early  English  style,  with  open  roof,  and  two  west 
towers,  in  one  of  which  a clock  was  placed.  The  chan- 
cel and  vestry  room,  however,  were  very  small;  the 
church  having  only  the  one  central  alley,  the  pews  were 
very  long,  but  not  numerous  enough  to  accommodate 
any  great  increase  of  congregation,  and  in  spite  of  Mr. 
Shelton’s  earnest  ministry  the  parish  had  no  material 
growth. 

After  his  death,  in  the  year  1863.  the  vestry  called  to 
the  parish  the  Rev.  N.  W.  Taylor  Root,  a man  of  fine 
pulpit  ability,  whose  ministrations  attracted  so  large  a 
congregation  that  an  immediate  enlargement  of  the 
church  was  proposed;  and  twelve  acres  of  land  lying  ad- 
jacent, the  larger  part  of  Mr.  Sackett’s  generous  endow- 
ment, were  sold  for  the  purpose.  This  was  done,  how- 
ever, not  without  an  emphatic  protest  from  the  venerable 
senior  warden  of  the  parish,  George  I.  Rapelye,  who 
raised  his  voice  against  the  further  diminution  of  the 
property  of  the  parish,  a dangerous  policy  which  seems 
to  have  been  too  often  followed  during  its  history. 
The  vestry  at  this  time  purchased  of  Dr.  Stryker  the 
house  and  lot  adjoining  the  church,  for  a rectory,  thus 
securing  a front  on  Grand  street  of  nearly  200  feet,  with 
a depth  of  about  the  same,  for  the  church,  rectory  and 
graveyard;  about  the  same  quantity  of  land  being  re- 
served in  the  rear,  fronting  on  Union  avenue,  for  garden 
purposes.  The  plan  of  church  enlargement  was  not  car- 
ried out  at  that  time;  and  after  a ministry  of  four  years 
Mr.  Root  resigned  and  went  to  Portland,  Maine,  where 
he  died  some  years  after. 

The  parish  was  temporarily  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Rob- 
ert Lowry  and  other  clergymen,  until  the  year  1868, 
when  the  Rev.  Samuel  Cox,  D.  D.,  then  rector  of  Christ 
church,  Bordentown,  N.  J.,  was  called  to  the  parish;  he 
entered  upon  the  rectorship  July  1st.  The  congregation 
was  small,  and  the  parish  had  suffered  from  change  and 
the  vacancy.  Dr.  Cox  was  a Philadelphian  by  birth,  but 
had  spent  the  first  eight  years  of  his  ministry,  beginning 
in  the  year  1849,  as  rector  of  Christ  church  at  Manhasset, 
Queens  county;  and  had  been  in  the  interim  rector  of 
the  Church  of  the  Ascension,  Philadelphia,  and  St.  Paul's 
church,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  he  brought  with  him,  therefore, 
the  experience  of  an  active  ministry  of  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  under  his  charge  the  parish  thrived,  the  con- 
gregation outgrew  the  limited  accommodations  of  the 
church,  and  the  plan  of  enlargement  was  again  mooted. 
At  that  time  the  country  was  prosperous,  money  was 
plenty,  and  a rapid  improvement  was  expected  of  all 
places  within  easy  access  of  New  York. 


I 


NEWTOWN  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH— JOHN  I.  VAN  ALST. 


365 


In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1870  a meeting  of  the 
congregation  was  called  to  consider  the  matter  of  the 
church  enlargement,  and  initiatory  steps  were  shortly  ta- 
ken to  that  end.  The  vestry,  having  in  hand  the  proceeds 
of  the  land  sold,  which  was  sufficient  for  the  substantial 
work  of  the  enlargement,  the  rector  invited  from  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  donations  for  special  purposes 
in  addition.  The  response  was  most  favorable,  so  that 
by  the  spring  of  the  following  year  the  church,  having 
been  closed  and  under  alterations  for  several  months, 
was  reopened  with  enlargement  and  improvements  cost- 
ing in  all  nearly  $11,000,  one  third  of  which  was  the  gift 
of  members  and  friends  of  the  parish.  The  changes  em- 
braced the  addition  of  aisles  to  the  nave,  adding  fifty  per 
cent,  to  the  seating  capacity;  an  increase  of  fifteen  feet 
to  the  depth  of  the  chancel,  with  large  organ  chamber 
and  vestry  room;  the  enlargement  of  the  organ  and  its 
removal  from  the  gallery  to  the  south  side  of  the  chan- 
cel; a costly  west  window,  the  gift  of  the  family  of 
Samuel  Lord  as  a memorial  to  their  mother;  a new  chan- 
cel window  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shelton;  new 
nave  and  clerestory  windows,  from  the  ladies  of  the  par- 
ish; new  chancel  furniture  from  several  members;  a gas 
machine  for  lighting  the  church;  and  new  carpets  and 
cushions  throughout.  The  church  was  formally  re- 
opened on  Thursday  March  30th  1871.  Bishop  Little- 
john presided  and  preached  the  sermon;  the  rector  read 
a brief  history  of  the  parish,  and  a number  of  the  clergy 
of  Brooklyn  and  of  Queens  county  assisted  in  the  ser- 
vices. 

The  enlarged  church  was  soon  filled  by  a greatly  in- 
creased congregation.  But  since  that  time  a number  of 
the  old  families  have  removed;  many  prominent  resi- 
dents have  been  taken  away  by  death;  the  country  has 
been  under  a cloud  of  great  financial  and  business  de- 
pression; the  village  of  Newtown  has  seen  but  little 
growth,  and  the  old  parish  has  had  hard  work  to  hold  its 
own. 


JOHN  I.  VAN  ALST. 

There  are  some  lives  whose  tracing  is  peculiarly  diffi- 
cult for  the  pen  of  a biographer,  not  only  from  the  simple 
conviction  of  how  inadequate  it  may  be  to  perform  the 
duty,  but  also  because  they  were  lives  of  such  unobtru- 
sive usefulness,  nobleness  and  benevolence  among  their 
fellow  men  that  to  lift  the  veil  and  bring  the  venerated 
name  into  the  full  light  and  the  recognition  of  admiring 
humanity  is  indeed  felt  to  be  a delicate  task.  Nor  could 
it  well  be  attempted  but  for  the  earnest  demands  of  those 
whose  daily  paths  have  been  brightened  by  the  sympathy 
and  generosity  of  spirit  which  have  lightened  their  bur- 
dens and  left  in  grateful  hearts  a deep-seated  and  affec- 
tionate remembrance  of  an  unfailing  friend,  of  whose  su- 
perior excellence  and  goodness  their  enthusiasm  must 
neglect  to  keep  the  secret.  There  must  come  an  occa- 
sion when  the  eloquent  tongue  may  speak  its  praises — 
the  long  silent  pen  portray  its  honored  memories. 


In  the  month  of  May  1877  was  recorded  the  much  la- 
mented death  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known  citi- 
zens of  Newtown.  The  gentleman  referred  to  was  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  John  I.  Van  Alst,  than  whom  no 
one  was  more  honored,  respected  and  beloved  in  the  vil- 
lage and  township.  He  was  a descendant  of  one  of  the 
oldest  families  located  in  Queens  county  during  its  early 
settlement  by  the  ancient  householders  from  Holland. 
The  name  of  Van  Alst  was  originally  one  well  known  in 
the  history  of  West  Flanders,  from  whence  the  founder 
of  the  family  emigrated  in  or  about  the  year  1652.  Joris 
Stevensen  Van  Alst  (or  “George  the  sailor,”  as  he  was 
called)  came  from  noble  stock,  whose  home  was  in  the 
ancient  manor  of  Alst,  in  a district  bearing  that  title,  ly- 
ing between  the  rivers  Scheld  and  Dender,  and  having 
also  a capital  of  the  name. 

Marrying  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  the 
family  progenitor  settled  at  Dutch  Kills,  situated  on  that 
portion  of  Newtown  Creek  which  was  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Dutch  settlement  recognized  as  “Burger’s 
Creek,”  or  by  its  more  euphonious  Indian  name  “ Cana- 
paukah.”  Here  Joris  Van  Alst,  being  a man  of  sub- 
stance, purchased  two  plantations,  for  which  he  obtained 
a confirmatory  patent  dated  September  1 6th  1670;  and 
it  was  upon  these  ancient  farm  lands  that  his  lineal  de- 
scendants dwelt  from  one  generation  to  another,  till  with- 
in a few  years  of  the  present  date,  well  known  and  hon- 
ored for  their  staunch  character  of  highest  respectability 
and  ever  ready  to  take  their  share  in  the  common  inter- 
ests and  burdens  of  the  era  in  which  they  lived.  From 
Johannes  or  John  Van  Alst — belonging  to  the  third  gen- 
eration of  the  family  and  name — our  subject  traced  his 
descent.  That  gentleman,  his  grandfather,  married  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Bennett  of  “ Bennett’s  Point,”  who 
was  a grandson  of  Captain  Pieter  Praa,  one  of  the  most 
ancient  and  wealthy  patroons  of  those  days  of  early  settle- 
ment in  Queens  county.  John  Van  Alst  the  elder,  being 
also  the  oldest  son,  would  at  the  death  of  his  father,  ac- 
cording to  the  law  of  entail  then  in  vogue,  have  been  en- 
titled to  the  undivided  inheritance  of  the  paternal  estate. 
But  such  was  the  generosity  of  his  character  that,  having 
but  one  brother,  he  could  not  endure  the  idea  of  receiv- 
ing the  whole  of  his  father’s  property;  and,  therefore, 
soon  after  the  decease  of  the  latter,  he  divided  the  farm 
lands,  giving  an  equal  share  to  his  brother  George — an 
act  of  liberality  and  nobleness  of  spirit  worthy  of  imita- 
tion on  the  part  of  some  grasping  inheritors  of  this  more 
modern  day.  At  the  death  of  John  Van  Alst,  in  1823, 
his  son  Isaac  became  possessor  of  the  ancient  farm  and 
homestead;  and  in  this  mansion  of  the  olden  time — the 
second  which  had  been  erected  upon  the  family  lands 
and  which  in  1766  was  called  the  “new  house” — John 
I.  Van  Alst,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born  on  the 
8th  of  December  1805.  In  the  old  home  of  his  child- 
hood, and  where  the  early  years  of  a promising  manhood 
were  spent,  he  gave  evidence  of  a thoughtful,  manly  and 
energetic  soul.  Trusted  in  early  youth  with  the  manage- 
ment of  his  father’s  farm,  as  time  passed  on  the  spirit  of 
progress  prompted  him  to  extend  his  efforts  in  a wider 


39 


366 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


area.  Not  content  to  sit  still  and  wait  for  the  assurance 
of  good  fortune  promised  him  on  the  paternal  side  with 
advancing  years,  he  was  always  on  the  alert  to  secure  ad- 
vantages in  the  opportunities  of  the  present,  yet 
often  pausing  to  extend  the  helping  hand  to  others  who 
might  not  have  been  so  fortunate  in  position,  or  who 
were  discouraged  by  the  want  of  money  or  a timely  word 
of  well-directed  counsel. 

In  1834  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  De  Bevoise,  one 
of  the  descendants  of  Carel  De  Beauvois’s  ancestry,  and 
an  aunt  of  Henry  S.  De  Bevoise,  the  present  mayor  of  Long 
Island  City.  It  was  in  the  year  1836  that  John  I.  Aran 
Alst  removed  to  Newtown,  where  for  twenty-three  years 
he  conducted  a highly  successful  and  lucrative  business, 
occupying  the  store  and  building  of  the  well  known 
Peter  Gorsline.  These  he  subsequently  purchased,  and 
in  course  of  time,  just  beyond  the  outskirts  of  the  vil- 
lage, erected  a pleasant  family  homestead,  whose  well- 
kept,  well  cultivated  grounds  are  still  an  ornament  to  the 
vicinity.  In  1859  he  gave  up  the  cares  of  business  to  his 
partner,  the  late  William  E.  Furman.  Some  years  before 
his  retirement  he  became  interested  in  several  public  in- 
stitutions. At  the  organization  of  the  Williamsburgh  City 
Bank,  opened  May  13th  1852,  he  was  chosen  a director,  in 
which  capacity  he  was  ever  found  ready  and  faithful  in 
the  discharge  of  duty.  This  bank  is  now  known  as  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Brooklyn,  retaining  its  old-time 
president,  Nicholas  Wyckoff.  In  the  same  year  the  Wil- 
liamsburgh City  Fire  Insurance  Company  was  organized, 
in  which  also  Mr.  Van  Alst  was  a director,  and  he  occu- 
pied this  position  in  both  these  well  known  and  solid  in- 
stitutions for  nearly  a quarter  of  a century,  so  highly  es- 
teemed at  this  post  of  duty  that  his  seat  was  retained 
for  him  even  through  many  later  years  of  invalidism,  when 
it  had  practically  been  vacated.  The  Cyprus  Hill  Cem- 
etery in  its  earlier  days  also  knew  and  benefited  by  his 
guardianship  and  interest  as  a trustee,  whose  earnest  sym- 
pathy and  abilities  were  in  the  work;  but  when  ill  health 
incapacitates,  the  labors  of  love  must  needs  be  aban- 
doned, and  thus  the  period  came  when  this  most  benev- 
olently assumed  burden  was  necessarily  forever  laid 
aside. 

In  the  month  of  July  1852,  and  at  the  old  homestead 
at  Dutch  Kills  (where  he  was  born  and  lived  till  past  the 
allotted  three  score  and  ten),  died  Isaac  Van  Alst,  father 
of  the  honored  subject  of  this  sketch.  But  long  ere  his 
death  occurred,  his  son,  as  we  have  seen,  had  built  for 
himself  by  his  own  praiseworthy  efforts  and  business 
talent  an  enduring  reputation  and  a high  position  among 
his  compeers.  In  this  respect  he  may  be  mentioned  as  a 
model  to  young  men  of  the  present  and  coming  time; 
for  how  often  does  the  disposition  to  depend  upon 
prospects  of  inherited  wealth  and  position  destroy  the 
inherent  germs  of  manliness. 

In  the  record  before  us  we  have  a noble  example  of  the 
independent  spirit  that  loves  to  stand  by  its  own  work 
and  worth,  but  finds  its  ideal  of  happiness  in  ability  to 
be  of  service  to  the  weaker  and  less  fortunate.  In  the 
township  of  Newtown,  and  through  a wide  circuit  of  the 


surrounding  country,  the  name  of  Van  Alst  had 
grown  in  honor,  as  that  of  a representative  man  of  the 
time.  Neighbors  and  friends  and  even  strangers,  attract- 
ed by  its  possessor’s  reputation  for  executive  ability, 
soundness  of  judgment  and  energy  of  purpose,  came 
from  far  and  near  to  seek  his  ever  kindly  given  counsels 
in  their  seasons  of  pressing  need.  As  a commissioner  in 
matters  where  just  arbitration  was  a requisite  his  decision 
was  sought  for  and  relied  upon  with  the  fullest  confi- 
dence. Many  higher  offices  of  trust,  in  the  service  of 
the  village  and  county,  were  constantly  offered  for  his  ac- 
ceptance; but  his  ambition  was  never  of  the  kind  that 
sought  publicity,  and  these  alone  of  all  friendly  offerings 
received  from  him  a prompt  and  imperative  denial.  In 
the  walks  of  usefulness  and  a wide-spread  benevolence 
he  had  found  a fitting  sphere.  The  church  with  which 
he  was  connected  received  from  him  always  a liberal 
share  of  sympathy  and  support,  and  the  pastors  ever  rec- 
ognized and  relied  upon  him  as  a steadfast  friend. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  accepted  the  appoint- 
ment of  treasurer  of  the  volunteer  patriotic  fund,  and 
for  nearly  four  years  of  the  war,  and  as  long  as  the  money 
and  necessity  continued,  he  disbursed  weekly  the  fund 
for  the  benefit  of  the  wives  and  families  of  the  Union 
soldies.  In  after  times,  when  for  twelve  years  he  was  an  in- 
valid and  the  prey  of  an  incurable  disease,  which  forever- 
more incapacitated  him  from  labor  in  the  active  outdoor 
world,  his  mind  and  sympathies  were  still,  as  ever,  busy 
with  plans  for  the  benefit  of  others;  and  many  a quiet 
home  in  the  village  of  Newtown  and  thereabouts  to-day 
owes  its  existence  and  prosperity  to  his  kindly  outstretched 
hand  of  assistance,  which  was  never  withheld  if  the  ob- 
ject seemed  worthy.  And  thus  we  recognize  him  through 
all  the  later  years  of  his  life,  nobly  fulfilling  the  promise 
and  ideal  of  his  youth;  his  most  ambitious  dream — 

“ To  be  a glimpse  of  summer  sent 
Into  the  bleak  hearts  of  the  poor ; 

To  make  God’s  sunshine  evident 
By  opening  Eden’s  humble  door 
To  souls  where  darkness  reigned  before.” 

With  each  year  from  the  date  of  his  first  attack,  as  the 
victim  of  a hopeless  malady,  his  sufferings  continued  to 
increase  until  the  winter  of  1877,  when  it  became  pain- 
fully evident  that  the  useful  life  was  drawing  to  its  close. 
He  lingered  in  much  quiet  and  patient  endurance  of  suf- 
fering until  the  last  spring  month  of  that  year,  dying  on 
the  31st  of  May.  Said  one  of  the  local  papers: 

“In  the  death  of  Mr.  John  I.  Van  Alst  we  have 
lost  a highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Newtown,  well  known 
to  the  oldest  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  were  his 
companions  in  childhood.  He  was  one  who  by  dili- 
gence and  unusual  business  qualifications,  combined 
with  strict  integrity  in  all  the  transactions  of  his  life, 
commanded  the  respect  and  love  of  all  that  knew 
him.  Through  all  his  social  and  religious  relations  this 
gentleman  possessed  the  entire  reverence  and  confidence 
of  the  community,  and  his  memory  will  be  fragrant  in  the 
hearts  of  his  numerous  friends.  His  sickness,  so  long 
and  painful,  was  borne  with  great  patience  and  Christian 
resignation,  and  his  end  was  peaceful.” 


SAMUEL  RIKER.  369 


Many  similar  offerings  of  praise  could  be  quoted,  show- 
ing the  universal  regret  and  also  the  sympathy  for  his 
surviving  household.  From  among  these  we  have  only 
space  to  subjoin  the  following  tribute  by  the  directors  of 
the  Williamsburgh  City  Fire  Insurance  Company: 

“ This  board  has  learned  with  painful  regret  of  the 
death  of  our  late  associate  John  I.  Van  Alst,  who  had 
been  a director  in  the  Williamsburgh  City  Fire  Insurance 
Company  for  more  than  twenty-four  years,  during  all  of 
which  time  he  was  a faithful  and  efficient  member  of  the 
board,  high-toned  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings  and 
transactions  with  his  associates  and  this  company;  and 
up  to  the  time  when  stricken  down  by  disease,  which 
finally  terminated  fatally,  there  was  no  one  who  labored 
more  faithfully  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  company 
than  Mr.  Van  Alst.  In  his  death  the  community  has 
lost  a valuable  citizen  and  Christian  gentleman.” 

The  remains  of  Mr.  Van  Alst  were  buried  in  the  family 
plot  in  Cypress  Hills  Cemetery,  beside  those  of  his  wife 
and  son  Isaac,  whose  deeply  deplored  death  in  the  prime 
of  manhood  had  proved  one  of  the  saddest  bereavements 
in  a good  man’s  life.  But  one  child,  a daughter,  outlived 
him,  and  still  occupies  the  family  mansion  at  Newtown. 

L.  O.  H. 

SAMUEL  RIKER. 

This  gentleman  is  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  prominent  families  in  the  town  of  Newtown, 
whose  earlier  history  is  given  at  length  on  page  342. 
Abraham  Rycken,  its  first  ancestor  in  this  country,  was 
born  at  Amsterdam,  in  1610,  and  emigrated  in  1638.  He 
settled  upon  land  at  Bowery  Bay  granted  him  by  Gover- 
nor Stuyvesant  in  1654.  A portion  of  this  land,  con- 
taining upward  of  100  acres,  has  netfer  since  been  out  of 
the  possession  of  the  family,  and  is  now  owned  in  part  by 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Abraham  Riker,  a son  of  the  first  settler,  died  in  1746, 
in  his  91st  year.  A rude  slab  marks  his  grave  in  the 
family  cemetery  at  Bowery  Bay. 

His  three  grandsons,  John  Berrien,  Abraham  and  Sam- 
uel, at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution  ardently  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  colonies  against  the  mother  country. 
John  Berrien  Riker  joined  the  army  under  Washington, 
with  which  he  continued  as  surgeon  during  the  entire 
period  of  the  war. 

Abraham  Riker  was  present  at  the  fall  of  Montgomery, 
at  Quebec,  and  fought  gallantly  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga. 


He  died  at  Valley  Forge,  May  7th  1778,  expressing  with 
his  last  words  regret  that  he  could  not  live  to  witness  the 
freedom  of  his  country. 

Samuel  Riker  was  justly  esteemed  for  his  public  spirit 
and  integrity.  After  the  Revolution  he  was  supervisor 
of  Newtown  for  several  years,  once  a member  of  the 
State  Assembly  and  twice  a member  of  Congress. 

Among  his  sons  was  Andrew,  who  was  master  of  a 
merchant  vessel  in  the  European  and  East  India  trade. 
In  the  war  of  1812  he  commanded  the  privateers  “Sara- 
toga” and  “ Yorktown.”  Another  son,  Richard,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1795,  was  district  attorney  of  New 
York  in  1802,  and  for  20  years  recorder  of  the  city  of 
New  York.  His  brilliant  conversational  powers  and  pol- 
ished manners  made  him  the  center  of  attraction  in  the 
social  circle,  while  his  extensive  legal  learning,  deep  in- 
sight into  character,  and  charitable  yet  resolute  nature 
eminently  fitted  him  to  preside  over  the  criminal  courts, 
where  in  the  midst  of  judgment  he  ever  remembered 
mercy. 

John  L.,  another  son,  studied  law  with  his  brother 
Richard  and  continued  to  practice  until  his  death,  in 
1861.  He  was  noted  for  his  uprightness  and  that  genu- 
ine politeness  which  springs  from  the  heart. 

Of  his  eleven  children,  Samuel,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  sixth.  He  was  born  in  1832  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1853.  Though  residing  in  Queens 
county,  he  has  always  practiced  his  profession  in  the  city 
of  New  York.  Among  his  professional  brethren  he  is 
distinguished  for  his  profound  knowledge  of  the  law  of 
real  property  and  for  his  skill  in  the  drawing  and  inter- 
pretation of  wills.  While  devoting  much  of  his  time  to 
legal  studies  he  has  yet  found  leisure  to  range  through 
other  fields  of  knowledge,  and  in  the  gratification  of  a 
strong  passion  for  reading  he  has  gathered  around  him  a 
library  rich  in  almost  every  department  of  literature  and 
not  surpassed,  if  equaled,  by  any  other  collection  in  the 
county.  He  is  characterized  by  great  independence  of 
thought,  and  has  little  respect  for  opinions  resting  on 
tradition  or  authority  merely  and  not  on  reason.  His 
conduct  is  regulated  and  governed  by  principle  and  not 
by  expediency,  and  hence  is  always  consistent.  In  the 
community  in  which  he  dwells  absolute  confidence  is  re- 
posed in  his  integrity.  In  1865  he  married  a great- 
granddaughter  of  Major  Jonathan  Lawrence,  of  Revo- 
lutionary memory,  the  friend  and  companion  of  his 
grandfather.  He  has  never  held  nor  sought  a public 
office. 


37° 


JOSEPH  A.  LAWRENCE. 

Joseph  A.  Lawrence  was  born  in  Newtown,  N.  Y., 
March  16th  1817.  He  is  a son  of  Joseph  Lawrence,  and 
a grandson  of  Jonathan  Lawrence,  who  was  very  prom- 
inent in  local  affairs  in  his  time,  and  one  of  the  most  con- 
spicuous and  devoted  of  those  who  have  passed  into  his- 
tory as  having  identified  themselves  with  the  cause  of 
freedom  at  the  time  of  the  struggle  for  American  inde- 
pendence. A particular  account  of  the  career  of  this  re- 
markable man  may  be  found  in  the  “Annals  of  Newtown  ” 
and  Thompson’s  “History  of  Long  Island.” 

Mr.  Lawrence’s  father  died  when  the  son  was  only 
about  six  weeks  old,  and  the  latter  was  early  thrown  in  a 
great  measure  on  his  own  resources,  and  has  made  his 
way  in  the  world  so  satisfactorily  that  he  is  now  known 
as  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  useful  citizens  of  the 
town.  At  the  age  of  16  he  entered  the  store  of  Law- 
rence & Munsell,  in  New  York,  as  a clerk.  About  two 
years  later  he  went  to  New  Orleans  and  was  employed 
in  a store  there  for  a short  time.  On  his  return  to  his 
native  town  he  became  a member  of  the  firm  of  Lawrence 
& Bush,  who  opened  a store  in  Newtown.  About  twelve 
years  afterward  the  firm  removed  their  store  to  the  head 
of  Flushing  Bay,  where  they  established  a lumber  yard 
and  were  extensively  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  coal 
trade  until  1879,  when  the  premises  were  leased  to  Harry 
Hill,  since  which  time  Mr.  Lawrence  has  lived  retired. 


Since  the  first  existence  of  the  Republican  party  Mr. 
Lawrence  has  been  a member  of  that  political  organiza- 
tion, and  before  that  he  had  for  years  been  an  outspoken 
“ abolitionist,”  condemning  in  unmistakable  terms  the 
slave  system  of  the  south,  and  contending  always  for  the 
equal  rights  of  people  of  all  races  and  creeds  under  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States.  While  no  man  could 
be  more  positive  in  his  opinions  upon  all  matters  of  pub- 
lic interest  than  Mr.  Lawrence,  he  has  never  been  in  any 
sense  of  the  term  a politician  and  has  never  sought  nor 
accepted  office  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow  citizens  except 
in  one  instance,  when  he  consented  to  assume  the  duties 
of  tax  receiver  for  the  town,  which  he  performed  faith- 
fully and  well  for  eight  years,  from  1872  to  1879. 

Mr.  Lawrence  married  Eliza  D.  Gordon,  of  Newtown, 
who  has  borne  him  six  children,  named  respectively 
Joseph  A.,  Margaret  D.,  Mary  (deceased),  Mary  Anna, 
Peter  G.  and  Elizabeth  Anna. 

Among  the  most  widely  known  and  personally  most 
popular  men  of  Long  Island  Mr.  Lawrence  is  prominent. 
His  manners  are  genial,  frank  and  friendly,  and  his  home 
is  one  of  the  most  hospitable  in  Newtown.  The  best  in- 
terests of  the  town  always  have  had  in  Mr.  Lawrence  a 
firm  supporter,  and  in  him  the  deserving  poor  have  ever 
known  a ready  and  helpful  friend.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life  he  has  ever  been  found  fully  up  to  the  standard 
of  true  manhood,  and  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  best  of  the 
many  representatives  of  the  old  families  of  Long  Island. 


INSTITUTIONS  OF  WINFIELD  VILLAGE. 


37i 


Winfield. 

This  village  is  a post  station  on  the  Long  Island  Rail- 
road, half  a mile  west  of  Newtown  village.  Joshua  F. 
Kendall  once  owned  a considerable  tract  of  land  here. 
G.  G.  Andrews  purchased  it  of  him  and  laid  it  out  in 
town  lots.  The  only  industry  here  of  any  importance  is 
the  manufacture  of  metallic  burial  cases.  In  September 
1849  Almond  D.  Fisk  built  the  old  Winfield  foundry;  he 
subsequently  secured  a patent  on  the  metallic  burial  case 
and  here  at  Winfield,  under  his  patent,  the  first  cast-iron 
burial  cases  were  made.  John  G.  Forbes  and  Horace 
White  of  Syracuse  became  interested  in  the  business,  and 
subsequently  Mr.  Forbes’s  son  William  H.  Forbes  suc- 
ceeded him  and  William  M.  Raymond  came  in  as  a part- 
ner. In  1875  the  W.  M.  Raymond  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  incorporated.  Hon.  D.  P.  Wood,  of  Syracuse, 
who  owned  a controlling  interest  in  this  company,  made 
his  brother,  William  S.  Wood,  superintendent.  The 
name  of  the  corporation  was  changed  in  October  1877 
to  the  Metallic  Burial  Case  Company.  This  company 
now  employs  seventy  men  and  the  monthly  pay-roll  foots 
up  nearly  $5,000.  The  castings  for  the  Singer  sewing 
machine  were  made  here  until  its  manufacturers  erected 
their  works  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

The  post-office  here  was  established  in  1872.  Louis 
Hamman  has  been  the  postmaster  since  the  opening  of 
the  office. 

The  business  part  of  this  village  consists  of  some  half 
dozen  general  stores.  In  1867  Hermann  Beyer,  a drug- 
gist at  Astoria,  located  a branch  drug  store  here;  Gustav 
Rholeder  came  here  as  clerk,  and  shortly  after  bought  the 
business  and  erected  his  neat  store  and  dwelling  on  Mad- 
ison avenue.  Thomas  F.  McGowan  has  kept  a provision 
store  since  1865.  J.  & L.  Hamman  opened  a provision 
store  here  in  1868  as  a branch  from  Williamsburgh;  the 
present  building  was  erected  in  1870,  and  at  J.  Hamman’s 
death,  that  year,  L.  Hamman  succeeded  to  the  business. 

The  town  poor-house  is  located  here  and  was  for  nine- 
teen years  under  the  superintendence  of  Major  William 
McCoy.  The  present  manager  is  Thomas  McGowan. 

FIRE  COMPANIES. 

Winfield  Fire  Company , No.  2. — The  Gooderson 
Engine,  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  2,  named  for 
Matthew  Gooderson,  was  organized  May  2nd,  1862,  in 
the  old  “ Fashion  House  ’’’  on  the  Shell  road.  This 
building  was  used  until  by  a division  of  the  company 
Friendship  Company,  No.  3,  was  organized,  when  No.  2 
erected  a.  building  at  the  junction  of  the  Shell  road  and 
Thompson  avenue,  a frame  structure  with  brick  base. 
The  land  was  donated  to  the  company  by  G.  G.  Andrews. 
The  old  “gooseneck”  engine  was  used  until  1868, 
when  the  company  purchased  of  the  New  York  Fire 
Department  a double  engine,  class  3.  In  1878  a hook 
and  ladder  truck  was  bought.  The  company  now  owns 
all  its  property,  including  the  house  and  lot. 

The  first  officers  were:  Joseph  Cornell,  foreman; 

Anthony  Quiss,  assistant  foreman;  Michael  Quiss,  sec- 


retary; Joseph  McLaughlin,  treasurer.  The  following 
is  the  list  of  foremen  in  their  order:  Joseph  McLaugh- 
lin, four  years;  John  Roth,  three  years;  Andrew  Man- 
ger, one  year;  Charles  Klosset,  three  years;  C.  Becker, 
one  year;  Michael  Kappel,  one  year;  John  H.  Eichler, 
two  years;  Bernard  Becker,  since  October  16th  1877. 
His  present  assistant  is  Edward  Hartman;  secretary, 
Arnold  Schrader;  and  treasurer,  John  Engelstadter. 

Friendship  Fire  Company , No.  3,  of  Newtown. — In  the 
spring  of  1863  a number  of  the  members  of  the  Gooder- 
son Fire  Company,  having  become  dissatisfied  with  the 
proposed  site  of  an  engir.e-house  for  the  company,  with- 
drew in  a body  and  organized  as  Friendship,  No.  3 
(Newtown),  with  J.  McGinness  as  foreman,  Anthony 
Quiss  assistant,  M.  McGowan  treasurer,  and  Dan 
Frawley  secretary.  That  year  the  town  appropriated 
$500  to  the  company  for  hose,  etc.  The  company  ob- 
tained a machine  from  Williamsburgh,  which  has  done 
good  service  in  many  fires.  At  first  it  was  kept  in  the 
barn  of  James  Hyatt.  This  was  inconvenient,  and  soon 
afterward  G.  G.  Andrews  donated  a lot  which  the  com- 
pany sold  and  with  the  proceeds  purchased  the  present 
site,  upon  which  stood  a small  building.  This  building 
was  afterward  burned,  and  the  present  brick  structure 
was  built  at  a cost  of  about  $1,500. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

Winfield  village  and  vicinity  was  organized  as  school 
district  No.  n under  a special  act  of  1879,  and  includes 
what  was  formerly  part  of  five  other  districts.  The  cen- 
sus of  the  district  taken  by  Jacob  Keyser  jr.  in  July  1879 
showed  327  resident  pupils.  An  election  was  held  July 
14th  1879,  when  Edward  H.  Weber,  Bernard  Becker  and 
Jacob  Keyser  were  chosen  trustees  and  Thomas  F.  Mc- 
Gowan district  clerk.  Eight  lots  were  purchased  for 
$1,280,  and  a building  erected  which  cost  $3,000.  Be- 
fore the  completion  of  this  building  a private  house  was 
rented,  in  which  a public  school  was  opened  in  October 

1879.  The  new  building  was  first  occupied  in  September 

1880,  with  the  school  under  the  present  faculty — W.  S. 
Worth,  principal;  Mary  McGowan,  first  assistant;  Eliza 
McGowan,  second  assistant.  At  the  election  of  1880 
Thomas  F.  McGowan  was  chosen  trustee. 

WINFIELD  CHURCHES. 

St.  Mary's. — This  church  is  located  on  the  east  side  of 
Madison  avenue,  between  Franklin  and  Monroe  streets. 
In  the  year  1854  Bishop  Loughlin  of  Brooklyn,  recogniz- 
ing the  necessity  of  having  a Catholic  church  in  this  part 
of  Queens  county,  bought  three  lots  from  G.  G.  Andrews 
for  the  consideration  of  one  dollar.  Soon  afterward  he 
sent  Rev.  — Brunemann,  a priest  lately  arrived  from  Ger- 
many, in  order  that  under  his  supervision  a church  edifice 
might  be  erected.  The  Catholics  being  few,  mostly  poor 
and  living  widely  scattered,  there  was  not  much  progress 
in  this  matter  until  the  bishop  furnished  the  necessary 
funds  and  credit.  Then  everything  took  a businesslike 
aspect,  and  the  new  church  was  dedicated  by  the  bishop 
June  17th  1855.  From  this  day  forward  a regular  minis- 


37* 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


try  was  maintained  at  St.  Mary’s  church.  This  promoted 
an  influx  of  Catholics  from  the  neighboring  cities,  as  well 
as  of  newly  arrived  immigrants.  The  number  of  families 
that  originally  gathered  in  St.  Mary’s  did  not  much  ex- 
ceed 30;  but  from  this  small  beginning  the  congregation 
continued  for  many  years  to  increase  so  rapidly  that  not 
only  St.  Mary’s  church  obtained  a fair  membership,  but 
five  branch  churches  had  to  be  established  to  accommo- 
date all  its  members.  These  were  chiefly  Irish  and  Ger- 
man, with  some  Frenchmen  and  a few  others.  The  first 
pastor,  Father  Brunemann,  did  not  stay  long  at  the  newly 
founded  mission,  but  was  promoted  to  St.  Anthony’s 
church  at  Greenpoint.  His  successor,  Rev.  Ignatius  T. 
Goetz,  labored  with  unwearied  zeal  from  1853  until  the 
latter  part  of  1868.  To  him  we  have  to  look  as  the  real 
organizer  of  St.  Mary's  church.  He  increased  i-ts  real 
estate,  established  a parochial  school  and  built  a school- 
house  and  the  pastor’s  residence.  He  was  untiring  in 
soliciting  means  from  his  own  people  as  well  as  from 
outsiders  to  accomplish  all  his  undertakings. 

But  it  would  be  enumerating  but  a fraction  of  his 
labors  to  mention  only  what  he  did  for  St.  Mary’s.  In 
his  time  the  influx  of  population  above  referred  to  took 
place.  The  Catholics  of  Middle  Village,  who  were  at 
that  time  a portion  of  his  mission,  needed  a chapel  and  it 
was  built.  Not  long  afterward  he  built  a chapel  for  those 
who  lived  at  Hicksville,  whom  he  visited  from  time  to 
time.  Toward  the  close  of  his  pastorate  at  St.  Mary’s 
he  collected  the  Catholics  in  Laurel  Hill — also  a portion 
of  St.  Mary’s  congregation — and  built  for  them  a church 
north  of  Calvary  Cemetery,  known  as  St.  Raphael’s.  On 
the  completion  of  this  new  church  the  bishop  transferred 
Father  Goetz  to  this  mission.  While  here  he  built  a 
church  for  the  Catholics  at  Dutch  Kills.  His  labors  at 
St.  Mary’s  may  as  a whole  be  called  successful,  because 
all  those  churches  which  he  built  under  the  bishop’s  su- 
pervision are  to-day  self-supporting  and  flourishing,  hav- 
ing their  own  ministers  and  schools.  When  he  came  to 
St.  Mary’s  he  found  the  church  in  debt  about  $3,250. 
When  he  left  it,  with  the  many  improvements  added,  it 
owed  about  $6,750. 

His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Ignatius  H.  Zeller,  for- 
merly a Lutheran  minister  at  Middle  Village.  His  pas- 
torate, which  lasted  from  1868  to  1875,  was  a flourishing 
period  for  St.  Mary’s  church.  It  was  a time  of  greater 
spiritual  activity  and  prosperity,  and  the  circumstances 
of  the  times,  which  provided  labor  at  good  wages  for  the 
members  of  the  church,  conduced  to  its  financial  pros- 
perity. Father  Zeller  introduced  the  Sisters  of  the  Order 
of  St.  Dominick  to  give  greater  stability  and  efficacy  to 
the  parochial  schools,  improved  the  real  estate  by  filling 
up  the  low  lots,  and  added  the  new  imposing  front  to- 
gether with  24  feet  to  the  body  of  the  church.  He  also 
built  for  the  Catholics  of  Maspeth  a separate  church,  and 
soon  after  another  for  those  of  Corona.  These  two  new 
missions  gave  during  the  prosperous  times  all  indications 
of  vitality  and  were  soon  placed  under  two  ministers; 
but  the  succeeding  hard  times  somewhat  crippled  them 
and  they  had  to  be  united  in  one  mission.  After  Fa- 


ther Zeller  Bishop  Loughlin  sent  Rev.  P.  Dauffenbach 
to  St.  Mary’s  church.  He  had  a previous  experience  in 
missionary  labors  of  five  years  at  one  of  the  largest 
churches  in  Brooklyn.  He  arrived  early  in  January 
1875,  and  is  still  in  charge  of  the  parish.  There  has 
been  a great  falling  off  in  the  revenues  of  the  church, 
from  causes  that  worked  their  depressing  effects  through- 
out the  whole  country.  In  spite  of  this  St.  Mary’s  de- 
creased its  indebtedness,  kept  in  repair  its  many  build- 
ings, enlarged  the  pastoral  residence,  effected  many  im- 
provements within  the  walls  of  the  church,  and  remodel- 
ed the  school-house. 

During  1877  and  1878  St.  Joseph’s  church  was  built  for 
those  members  who  lived  in  Astoria,  which  at  present  is 
self-sustaining  and  in  charge  of  its  own  pastor.  This  is 
the  youngest  and  probably  the  last  branch  of  St.  Mary’s. 

St.  Mary's  church  has  about  150  families  of  regular 
attendants,  and  fifty  others  that  call  upon  it  whenever 
they  feel  the  want  of  ministrations  of  religion. 

The  parochial  schools  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Dominick  have  an  average  attendance  of  nearly  100 
scholars.  From  their  own  means  and  earnings  the  sis- 
ters have  built  up  their  beautiful  residence,  and  now 
labor  unceasingly  in  the  interest  of  the  church. 

Lutheran  Ei  angelical  Church. — This  church,  located 
at  Locust  Grove,  adjacent  to  the  village  of  Winfield,  was 
organized  in  May  1867,  with  George  Meinhardt,  A. 
Deangler,  C.  H.  R.  Wolfmiller,  J.  Lehr  and  C.  Fischer 
as  trustees.  During  that  year  a small  church  building 
was  put  up,  costing  about  $3,000.  The  society  is  now 
building  a parsonage  in  the  vicinity  of  the  church.  A 
school  has  always  been  maintained  in  connection  with 
this  church.  The  following  pastors  have  served  the  con- 
gregation: A.  F.  U.  Ernst,  from  a German  university; 
Rev.  Messrs.  Koerner,  C.  Frincke,  A.  Geyer,  M.  Heyer, 
and  the  present  pastor,  G.  A.  Henkel,  all  of  whom  except 
Mr.  Ernst  were  graduates  of  the  St.  Louis  university. 

Hope  Chapel. — The  Dutch  Reformed  church  of  New- 
town established  a mission  at  Winfield  several  years 
since,  and  has  recently  erected  a neat  house  of  worship 
between  Winfield  and  Woodside.  Here  Sunday-schools 
and  religious  services  are  maintained  by  the  parent 
church. 


Woodside. 

This  pleasantly  situated  country  village  is  on  the  North 
Side  Railroad  in  Newtown,  adjoining  Long  Island  City, 
and  twenty  minutes  from  New  York.  The  name  was 
first  applied  to  the  place  by  John  A.  F.  Kelly,  who  dated 
a series  of  newspaper  articles  from  his  home  here,  and 
in  allusion  to  the  forest  adjoining  his  residence  used  the 
term  “ Woodside.” 

The  village  may  never  be  noted  for  the  extent  of  its 
manufactures,  but  will  probably  remain,  as  it  now  is  and 
has  been  for  some  time  past,  the  favorite  place  of  resi- 
dence of  many  New  York  merchants.  As  early  as  1849 
it  was  conspicuous  for  the  beauty  of  its  villas.  One  of 


THE  VILLAGE  OE  WOODSIDE. 


373 


the  first  to  take  advantage  of  its  retirement,  pure  atmos- 
phere and  delightful  scenery  was  John  Andrew  Kelly. 
He  had  been  a resident  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  but  had  be- 
come part  owner  of  the  Independent  Press  of  Williams- 
burgh.  He  removed  here  and  purchased  a place  from 
Captain  Sackett  in  1827.  ' Another  gentleman  from 
Charleston,  William  Schroeder,  on  a friendly  visit  to  Mr. 
Kelly  was  so  favorably  impressed  that  he  also  purchased 
a summer  residence,  and  occupied  it  each  year  thereafter 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1 86 r . His  son-in- 
law,  Hugh  Percy  Cameron,  then  occupied  the  farm  until 
his  death,  when  his  widow  divided  the  farm  into  town 
lots. 

In  1872  A.  P.  Riker,  who  has  been  largely  interested 
in  real  estate  here,  bought  the  Duryea  farm  and  laid  it 
out  as  Riker’s  addition  to  Woodside. 

Adjoining  Woodside  on  the  north  was  a farm  owned 
by  Nathaniel  Moore,  which,  passing  through  several 
hands,  came  finally  into  the  possession  of  Henry  G. 
Schmidt  & Co.,  who  laid  it  out  in  building  lots,  and  gave 
it  the  name  of  Charlotteville. 

The  first  store  at  Woodside  was  opened  in  1870  by 
Thomas  Way,  and  in  1873  Narcisse  Pigeon  began  the 
manufacture  of  wine  and  vinegar  here. 

A floral  establishment  started  here  in  1864  by  Gabriel 
Marc  has  grown  to  considerable  proportions.  He  pur- 
chased thirteen  acres,  and  has  some  twenty  thousand  feet 
of  ground  covered  with  glass.  A specialty  is  made  here 
of  China  azaleas,  camelias,  japonicas,  and  roses. 

A landmark  near  this  place  is  a chestnut  tree  said  to  be 
three  hundred  years  old;  it  is  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Hell  Gate  road.  This  road  was  first  an  embankment 
thrown  up  by  the  industrious  beavers.  Another  old  land- 
mark is  a stone  house  on  the  place  now  owned  by  H. 
S.  Carpenter,  built  in  1 732,  and  which  served  as  the  head- 
quarters of  the  English  general  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  A number  of  soldiers’  bodies  were  found  on  this 
farm  while  excavating  was  recently  going  on  for  the 
Woodside  and  Flushing  Railroad.  Another  historic  spot 
is  the  site  of  the  Leverich  house,  which  has  been  burned. 
It  was  occupied  by  William  Sackett  until  1836,  when  he 
built  what  is  known  as  the  John  J.  Hicks  house. 

A post-office  was  established  at  Woodside  in  1864,  in 
the  depot  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad;  John  Fargo  post- 
master. In  1873  Thomas  Way  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter. He  died  in  1875,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  office 
by  his  widow,  with  Samuel  Clark  as  deputy. 

I he  Woodside  School  District.  No.  10,  was  organized 
in  1872,  and  the  school  was  held  in  a private  house,  re- 
fitted for  the  purpose,  until  July  1878,  when  a school 
building  was  completed  and  occupied.  It  is  a neat 
wooden  structure  containing  rooms  for  two  teachers  on 
the  lower  floor,  the  second  floor  being  used  for  public 
amusements  until  the  growth  of  the  school  may  require 
its  use.  The  first  teacher  was  W.  H.  Lamson,  who  need- 
ed no  assistant;  neither  did  Miss  Moody,  who  succeeded 
him.  Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Ketchum  taught  alone  for  about 
a year,  when  she  called  to  her  assistance  Miss  Emma 
Rice.  Professor  Samuel  Twaddell,  the  present  principal, 


has  been  in  charge  since  October  1876.  He  is  assisted 
by  his  wife,  formerly  Miss  Emma  Rice.  The  first 
trustees,  elected  in  October  1875,  were  A.  P.  Riker, 
Joseph  Rice  and  Robert  J.  Duff.  The  present  board 
consists  of  John  S.  Powers,  Gabriel  Marc  and  James  M. 
Post.  The  attendance  this  year  has  averaged  ninety. 

CHURCHES  AT  WOODSIDE. 

St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  May  5th 
1873.  Some  three  years  previously  an  Episcopal  Sunday- 
school  had  been  held  at  the  residence  of  C.  A.  Susdorf, 
the  ladies  of  whose  family  organized  it  and  remained  in 
charge  until  the  school  was  formally  transferred  to  the 
church,  when  John  S.  Powers  was  appointed  superinten- 
dent. At  the  organization  of  the  church  Rev.  Samuel 
Cox,  D.  D.,  presided;  Lester  Dudley  Hibbard  and  John 
D.  Smedley  being  elected  wardens,  and  Augustus 
Rapelye,  A.  P.  Riker,  John  A.  F.  Kelly,  Edward  L. 
Fargo,  John  J.  Hicks,  Louis  Windmuller  and  Clarence 
G.  Mitchell,  vestrymen.  The  chapel  was  opened  March 
19th  1874.  Rev.  Samuel  Cox,  D.  D.,  was  elected  rector, 
John  J.  Hicks  treasurer,  and  E.  L.  P’argo  clerk.  Four 
lots  had  been  donated  and  the  building,  which  is  of 
wood,  cost  $5,000.  The  congregation  numbered  from 
twenty  to  fifty.  April  5th  the  first  communion  was  ad- 
ministered, to  some  20  members.  The  pupils  in  the 
Sunday-school  numbered  about  50.  Dr.  Cox  served  as 
rector  until  March  1880,  when  he  resigned  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Southard  Compton,  D.  D.,  who  has  served 
the  parish  ever  since.  The  Sunday-school  now  numbers 
some  seventy-five  scholars,  and  has  a library  containing 
some  three  hundred  volumes.  The  school  is  self-sup- 
porting, and  even  more,  through  its  system  of  officers  and 
teachers’  association,  which  holds  a regular  semi-monthly 
meeting. 

Baptist. — The  strenuous  efforts  of  James  M.  Post  were 
rewarded  by  the  organization  of  the  Baptist  Sunday- 
school  February  22nd  1874.  Three  ladies  were  the  first 
to  lend  their  aid,  and  the  children  were  gathered  in  a 
room  used  for  a private  weekday  school  on  First 
street.  For  two  years  the  meeting  was  held  in  some 
private  house,  but  in  1876  a building  erected  by  Mr.  Post 
was  rented  by  the  school  for  five  years.  Then  it  was 
rented  by  the  church.  The  first  superintendent  was  Mr. 
Denure,  who  was  succeeded  by  W.  T.  Dunsby.  He  was 
followed  by  the  present  superintendent,  S.  Smith,  who  is 
assisted  by  Mr.  Dunsby.  James  H.  Post  has  always  been 
secretary.  The  attendance  now  is  from  seventy-five  to 
eighty,  and  there  is  a very  good  library. 

The  deacons  of  the  church  are  James  M.  Post,  W.  T. 
Dunsby,  and  S.  Smith.  The  trustees  are  Mr.  Jackson, 
Mr.  Dennison,  and  Oliver  Chapell. 

RIKER  BROS.  & WOODWARD. 

The  fruit  canning  business,  although  of  such  promi- 
nence and  importance  in  every  fruit  exporting  State  in 
the  Union,  is  of  recent  origin  as  an  industry.  The  first 
establishment  which  made  it  a success  was  one  at  Oceanic, 
j N.  J.,  in  1860.  Riker  & Hudson  began  at  Woodside  in 


376 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1876,  and  were  succeeded  some  time  after  by  Riker 
Bros.  & Woodward,  the  brothers  being  J.  N.  and  A.  L. 
Riker  jr.  During  three  months  of  the  year  they  employ 
eighty-five  hands,  and  twelve  or  fifteen  during  the  rest  of 
the  season.  The  winter  is  the  time  for  the  manufacture 
of  their  air-tight  cans,  which  is  done  on  the  premises, 
and  an  immense  number  are  required,  as  shown  by  the 
business  done  last  year,  when  50,000  cans  of  squash,  10,- 
000  of  beans,  and  30,000  of  peas  were  put  upon  the  mar- 
ket. This  is  not  inclusive  of  their  canned  meats.  The 
total  business  done  last  season  must  have  equaled  $100,- 
000  at  least.  The  business  commences  with  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  asparagus  in  the  spring,  and  only  ends  when 
frost  stops  all  further  growth  of  vegetables.  The  busi- 
ness is  so  important  as  to  have  largely  increased  the  farm- 
ing industry  of  the  vicinity,  as  the  firm  furnishes  seed 
and  contracts  with  the  farmers  for  acres  of  tomatoes. 

ASSOCIATIONS. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Company  No.  3,  organized  in  May  1878, 
has  a fine  outfit,  which  cost  $650.  The  original  officers 
were:  H.  T.  Cameron,  foreman;  David  Leahy,  assistant 
foreman;  Samuel  Twaddell,  recording  secretary;  Morton 
Wise,  treasurer;  Frank  Jordan,  financial  secretary.  The 
present  officers  are:  J.  Judson  Post,  foreman;  Henry 
Borges,  assistant;  Samuel  Twaddell,  recording  secretary; 
Morton  Wise,  treasurer;  Robert  C.  Smith,  financial  sec- 
retary. 

The  Philharmonic  Society  of  Woodside  was  organized 
in  January  1878,  by  some  young  men  of  the  village;  its 
object  being  mutual  improvement  and  the  cultivation  of 
a taste  for  music.  It  numbers  eighteen  members,  ten 
performing  on  string  and  eight  on  wind  instruments.  Its 
present  officers  are:  Henry  J.  Brown,  conductor;  John 
N.  Riker,  president;  H.  N.  Terrett,  vice-president;  AVil- 
liam  Ingliss,  secretary;  John  C.  Kelly,  treasurer.  The 
society  meets  in  the  public  school  hall. 


Laurel  Hill. 

This  village  is  located  in  the  extreme  northwestern  cor- 
ner of  the  town  of  Newtown  and  is  separated  from 
Brooklyn  by  Newtown  Creek,  which  is  spanned  at  this 
point  by  the  old  “ Penny  Bridge  ” built  in  1836. 

A large  portion  of  the  land  included  in  the  village  plan 
was  formerly  a part  of  the  Alsop  property.  Here  was 
the  home  of  the  Alsop  family — a family  now  extinct  in 
Newtown,  although  for  more  than  two  centuries  they 
were  among  the  most  prominent  residents  of  the  town. 
Edward  Waters  once  owned  a farm  here  of  a hundred 
acres,  which  he  sold  in  1852  to  Jacob  Rapelye.  Augus- 
tus Rapelye,  his  son,  became  owner  of  seven  or  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land  here,  and  in  1853  laid  out  the  first 
village  lots.  His  map  is  known  as  “ the  four  hundred 
lots.” 

George  W.  Edwards  in  1845  bought  a portion  of  the 
Alsop  property,  and  subsequently  that  was  laid  out  into 
building  lots. 


The  laboring  people,  who  compose  a large  part  of  the 
population  of  the  village,  are  principally  employed  in 
Calvary  Cemetery,  located  here,  and  in  the  marble  works 
in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

In  1858  Henry  Schafer  established  his  cabinet  manu- 
factory here,  and  for  several  years  manufactured  a gene- 
ral line  of  cabinet  ware;  but  for  the  last  ten  or  twelve 
years  he  has  made  a specialty  of  children’s  cribs  and 
cradles,  in  which  he  and  his  sons  are  doing  a business  of 
considerable  proportions. 

The  shirt  manufactory  of  Edward  H.  Inglis  furnishes 
employment  for  twenty  or  thirty  female  operators. 

A post-office  was  established  here  in  the  summer  of 
1881,  with  James  Duffy  as  postmaster. 

THE  LAUREL  HILL  CHEMICAL  WORKS. 

These  works  were  established  in  1866,  by  C.  W. 
Walter  and  A.  Baumgarten,  but  remained  comparatively 
small  for  several  years.  In  1871  G.  H.  Nichols  and  W. 
H.  Nichols  entered  the  firm,  and  A.  Baumgarten  retired. 
In  1872  their  first  oil  of  vitriol  works  were  erected.  The 
acid  gav.e  such  satisfaction  that  increased  manufacturing 
facilities  were  required,  and  one  factory  after  another  was 
erected,  until  now  the  works  comprise  the  largest  plant 
for  the  manufacture  of  oil  of  vitriol  in  the  United 
States. 

Muriatic,  nitric  and  other  acids  are  made  in  quantity, 
as  well  as  Paris  white  and  whiting. 

The  proprietors  have  recently  purchased  a copper  py- 
rites mine  in  Canada,  and  intend  taking  the  ores  to 
Laurel  Hill,  extracting  the  sulphur  in  the  manufacture  of 
oil  of  vitriol,  and  smelting  the  copper  in  works  about  to 
be  erected. 

In  May  1875  Mr.  Walter  and  his  family  were  lost  on 
the  “ Schiller,”  and  the  works  have  since  been  the  ex- 
clusive property  of  G.  H.  Nichols  & Co.,  and  are 
only  one  of  several  enterprises  in  which  they  are 
engaged. 

The  superintendent  of  the  chemical  works  is  J.  B.  F. 
Kerreshoff;  of  the  whiting  works,  E.  V.  Crandall.  The 
analyist  is  Lucius  Pitkin. 

The  buildings  shown  in  the  illustration,  where  the 
business  is  now  conducted,  have  all  been  erected  by  the 
present  proprietors,  the  first  plant  erected  by  Walter  Sc 
Baumgarten  having  been  entirely  removed.  The  pres- 
ent buildings  cover  one  block,  200  by  300  feet  on  one 
side  of  the  railroad  and  on  the  other  side  200  by  240  feet, 
with  a dock  frontage  on  the  creek  of  about  400  feet.  The 
capacity  of  the  works  at  present  is  the  production  daily 
of  about  600  carboys  of  oil  of  vitrol,  besides  muriatic  and 
nitric  acid  made  from  sulphuric  acid  as  a base.  The 
whiting  works  produce  about  10,000  bbls.  annually. 
Forty  thousand  pounds  of  sulphur  is  burned  daily  in 
cold  weather,  but  less  during  the  summer  months.  The 
business  employs  from  sixty  to  seventy-five  men  steadily- 
The  manufacturers  are  redeeming  several  lots  now  under 
water,  and  contemplate  a new  dock  on  the  creek,  to  cost 
from  $5,000  to  $6,Ooo,  on  which  they  are  to  erect  copper 
furnaces  for  smelting  ore. 


lltfljfetils? 

?si#teil|ti 

' ‘V  v'j%A 


■ 


LAUREL  HILL  CHEMICAL  WORKS  1881,  G.H  .NICHOLS  & CO.  PROPRIETORS  OfFice+l  Cec/a  r St.cor.  William  Sc.NewYork. 


CALVARY  CEMETERY— THE  VILLAGE  OF  MASPETH. 


379 


CALVARY  CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery,  which  is  located  at  Laurel  Hill,  was 
set  apart  and  consecrated  in  1848.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
accessible  rural  cemeteries  near  New  York,  and  it  would 
be  difficult  to  select  a lovelier  or  fitter  spot  as  a place  of 
sepulture.  The  old  ground  comprised  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres,  but  in  1853  a charter  was  obtained  from  the 
State  by  the  trustees  of  St.  Patrick’s  cathedral,  New  York 
city,  for  250  acres;  165  acres  of  this  are  now  enclosed. 
The  artesian  well  in  that  part  of  the  enclosure  called 
New  Calvary  was  sunk  in  1879.  It  is  606  feet  deep  and 
6J^  inches  in  diameter,  and  was  bored  in  white  granite 
for  a large  part  of  its  depth.  Last  year  32,000  persons 
died  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  of  this  number  15,500 
were  buried  in  Calvary.  The  cemetery  keeps  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  regularly  employed,  and  two  hundred 
more  are  kept  at  work  by  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the 
deceased.  Here  may  be  found  some  of  the  choicest  of 
materials  and  the  finest  models  in  monumental  structure; 
and  here  we  may  mention  as  worthy  of  note  the  vault 
and  chapel  built  by  John  Johnston,  at  a cost  of  $75,000, 
and  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  to  be  found  in  any 
ground.  This  cemetery  is  to  the  Catholics  of  New  York 
what  Greenwood  is  to  the  Protestant  population.  Since 
1872  Hugh  Moore  has  been  the  general  superintendent, 
and  to  his  ability  much  of  the  beauty  and  attractiveness 
ot  the  place  is  due;  he  has  been  assisted  by  Michael 
Rowen.  The  mortuary  chapel,  of  fine  architectural  de- 
sign and  finish,  was  built  in  1856.  The  present  chaplain 
is  Rev.  M.  J.  Brennan. 


Maspeth. 

Of  this  village,  situated  in  the  western  part  of  New- 
town, the  name  is  about  all  that  is  left  to  remind  the 
present  inhabitants  of  the  former  existence  of  the  Mez- 
pat  tribe  of  red  men,  whose  camping  ground  was  near  its 
site;  and  even  the  name  has  been  modernized  so  it  is  but 
an  allusion  to  the  original  word.  The  village  is  located 
on  three  plots  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  street  rail- 
road leading  from  Brooklyn  to  Newtown  village.  The 
map  of  the  first  plot  was  filed  by  Joseph  H.  Van  Mater 
jr.,  in  August  1852. 

Maspeth  has  been  in  times  gone  by  the  nursery  of 
poetry  and  the  home  of  genius.  Here  was  produced 
that  clever  pastoral  poem  “ Rural  Hours,”  and  here  in 
the  home  of  his  father-in-law,  Walter  Franklin,  Hon.  De 
Witt  Clinton  composed  a line  of  prose  connecting  Lake 
Erie  with  the  Hudson.  Once  Maspeth  was  a community 
of  Quakers,  but  now  scarce  a representative  of  the  sect 
remains.  The  old  meeting-house  has  gone  to  decay,  the 
cemetery  has  gone  to  the  commons,  the  faithful  minister 
has  gone  to  his  reward  long  ago. 

MANUFACTURES,  ETC. 

The  principal  business  interest  here  is  the  oil  cloth 
manufactory  owned  by  Alden  Sampson’s  sons.  It  is  the 
largest  factory  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 


In  1836  Alden  Sampson  started  an  oil  cloth  business 
in  a pleasant  hamlet  then  a part  of  Hallowed — now  Man- 
chester— Maine.  He  successfully  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness alone,  manufacturing  floor  oil  cloth  only,  until  De- 
cember i860,  when  he  admitted  two  of  his  sons  as  part- 
ners in  the  business.  Two  years  later  a third  son  was 
admitted  into  the  firm,  and  in  1867  a fourth.  The  senior 
partner  retained  the  actual  management  until  1868,  from 
which  time  it  gradually  came  under  the  control  of  his 
sons.  In  i860  a new  factory  was  built  in  the  city  of 
Hallowed,  and  two  years  later  the  original  works,  distant 
about  four  miles,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  firm,  not 
deeming  it  desirable  to  rebuild  on  the  old  site,  secured  a 
desirable  location  in  Maspeth,  and  July  2nd  1862  Henry 
C.  Sampson  commenced  the  construction  of  extensive 
works  here.  In  1863  the  house  began  a business  which 
has  increased  and  prospered.  The  senior  partner  died 
in  1878.  The  superintendent,  Thomas  Freeman,  died 
in  1879  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Ansel  L. 
Freeman,  who  had  been  in  the  business  nine  years. 
One  hundred  and  twenty-five  men  are  constantly  em- 
ployed here. 

Cord  Meyer  established  in  1852,  on  Newtown  Creek, 
between  Maspeth  avenue  and  Grand  street,  a manufac- 
tory of  animal  carbon.  It  is  used  chiefly  in  the  filtration 
of  sugar.  His  business  has  grown  to  very  large  propor- 
tions, and  beside  manufacturing  carbon  he  prepares  a 
large  proportion  of  the  ivory  black  used  by  carriage 
painters  in  New  York  city.  A large  part  of  the  bones 
used  comes  from  South  America  and  Texas.  The  prod- 
uct of  this  manufactory  amounts  to  about  200,000 
pounds  of  carbon  a month.  The  refuse  is  made  into 
“drop  black,”  used  extensively  as  carriage  paint. 

Adjoining  Maspeth  on  the  southwest  is  the  village  plot 
called  Melvina.  The  principal  business  man  here  is 
Frederick  Hellrigle,  an  enterprising  grocer  who  came 
here  in  i860.  His  large  double  store  on  Maspeth  ave- 
nue was  built  in  1876. 

Columbusville  is  a plot  adjoining  Maspeth  on  the  east. 
The  name  was  given  it  by  F.  Monteverde,  who  built  a 
hotel  here.  Cristadoro,  the  famous  hair-dye  man,  has 
his  country  seat  here. 

The  manufacture  of  twines  and  small  cordage  has  been 
an  important  industry  at  Maspeth  for  several  years. 
John  Murch  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  this  business 
and  carried  it  on  successfully  at  Newtown  village  as 
early  as  1842.  Several  parties  are  now  engaged  in  the 
business  in  the  vicinity  of  Maspeth.  The  late  William 
Burcham  was  the  principal  manufacturer  for  several 
years.  James  Inglis  came  from  Glasgow  in  1851  and 
worked  for  Mr.  Burcham  for  a time,  and  in  1854  begun 
business  for  himself.  James  Cating  and  Gus.  Haflinger 
are  also  quite  largely  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness. 

9> 

THE  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  OF  MASPETH 

is  number  5 of  the  town.  The  present  school  building 
is  a large  and  well  arranged  structure  erected  about  ten 
years  since.  The  original  school-house  in  this  vicinity 


3 8 o 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


stood  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  district  and  was 
known  as  the.  “Creek  school-house.”  The  school  popu- 
lation of  the  district  is  435.  The  registered  pupils  num- 
ber 290,  of  whom  from  109  to  150  are  usually  in  attend- 
ance. Prof.  H.  C.  Hervey  has  been  principal  of  the 
school  since  1876,  and  is  assisted  by  Eugenie  Barberie 
and  Josephine  Barberie.  The  board  of  trustees  in  1881 
consisted  of  Washington  Pullis,  James  H.  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam Burcham. 

THE  REPUBLICAN  ASSOCIATION 

of  Maspeth  was  incorporated  in  December  1880,  under 
the  general  act  of  1875.  The  directors  are  William 
Burcham  (president),  Charles  M.  Chamberlain  (treas- 
urer),  Stephen  H.  Joseph  (secretary),  Tames  Cating,  Jo- 
seph Hewins,  Edward  C.  Davis  and  Ansel  L.  Freeman. 

MASPETH  CHURCHES. 

St.  Saviour's  Church  is  situated  near  the  junction  of 
Maspeth  and  Flushing  avenues.  Religious  services  after 
the  order  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  were  held 
in  this  locality  in  1846,  mainly  through  the  influence  of 
Hon.  David  S.  Jones,  then  occupying  the  homestead  of 
his  father  in  law,  Gov.  De  Witt  Clinton.  In  May  1847  a 
parish  was  duly  organized,  with  Mr.  Jones  and  John  R. 
Maurice  as  wardens,  and  steps  were  at  once  taken  by  the 
vestry  for  the  erection  of  a church;  Mr.  Jones  and  James 
Maurice  having  been  appointed  a committee  to  carry 
out  the  project.  A wooden  structure  capable  of  accom- 
modating about  three  hundred  persons  was  erected  dur- 
ing the  year  at  a cost  of  $3.5°°;  the  corner  stone  having 
been  laid  November  1st  1847,  by  Bishop  Potter,  and  the 
edifice  consecrated  June  28th  1848  by  Bishop  DeLancey. 
According  to  the  parish  record  there  were  but  four  per- 
sons identified  with  the  project  at  the  beginning,  namely, 
Mr.  Jones,  Mr.  Maurice,  Garrit  Furman  and  John  Van 
Cott,  all  of  whom  were  liberal  contributors  to  the  work. 
A Sunday-school  was  early  commenced  and  faithfully 
maintained,  mainly  through  the  exertions  of  the  Misses 
Maurice,  who  still  keep  an  excellent  library  in  perfect 
order.  The  first  rector  of  the  parish  was  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Walsh,  who  occupied  the  cure  for  over  six  years. 
The  Rev.  Edmund  Embury  was  rector  from  March  1854 
to  July  1855;  Rev.  Beverley  R.  Betts  from  November 
1855  to  December  1868;  Rev.  William  C.  Cooley  from 
June  1869  to  October  of  the  same  year;  and  the  present 
incumbent,  Rev.  C.  B.  Ellsworth,  from  November  1870. 
In  1878  Hon.  James  Maurice  conveyed  some  land  lying 
about  the  original  church  ground,  with  a dwelling  thereon 
(making  in  all  a block  of  two  acres),  to  the  diocese  of 
Long  Island,  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  use  and  benefit 
of  the  rector  of  the  parish  for  the  time  being  as  a par- 
sonage. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church— In  1854  a Methodist 
Episcopal  society  was  organized  at  Maspeth  and  a church 
built,  which  was  burned  in  1868.  Shortly  after- 
ward a new  church  was  built  here  on  land  given 
by  Baldwin  Pettit.  The  first  pastor  in  the  old 
church  was  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt,  who  was  succeeded  by  John 


H.  Stansbury.  When  the  new  church  was  built  Rev.  J. 
M.  Hall  was  pastor.  Since  that  time  the  church  has 
been  served  by  the  following  preachers:  Joseph  R.  Ham- 
mond, Benjamin  Powell,  Abraham  Belmont,  William 
Twiddy,  Joseph  Patterson,  Isaac  S.  Brundage.  A Sun- 
day-school was  organized  in  1854.  Joseph  H.  Way  was 
superintendent  from  1869  until  1875.  Since  then  Gus. 
Haflinger  has  had  charge  of  the  school. 

The  Catholic  Church  at  Maspeth  was  built  in  1871  by 
Father  Zeller,  then  located  at  Winfield.  Subsequently 
Father  Mcllhinny,  assistant  at  Winfield,  took  charge  of 
this  parish  in  conjunction  with  Corona,  where  a church 
had  just  then  been  erected.  Father  McElhinny  continued 
in  charge  until  relieved  some  three  and  one-half  years 
later  by  Father  Baxter,  who  continued  until  July  1880, 
when  he  joined  the  Jesuits  and  the  parish  again  came 
under  charge  of  Father  John  McElhinny,  of  Corona. 

MOUNT  OLIVET  CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery,  one  of  the  most  beautifully  situated  of 
the  many  cemeteries  included  in  the  town  of  Newtown,  is 
near  Maspeth,  about  three  and  a half  miles  from  the  fer- 
ries at  Williamsburgh.  The  situation  is  eminently  rural, 
and  sufficiently  remote  to  be  free  from  the  liability  of 
being  overrun  by  population.  The  grounds  are  elegantly 
diversified  with  hill  and  dale,  wood  and  water,  lawn  and 
thicket,  and  present  beautiful  changes  of  surface  and 
scenery  at  every  step.  Mt.  Olivet  was  chartered  under 
the  general  laws  of  the  State  in  1850,  by  New  York  and 
Brooklyn  capitalists,  who  purchased  some  sixty  acres  of 
ground,  nearly  all  of  which  has  been  laid  out.  It  is  en- 
tirely undenominational.  The  first  officers  of  the  cor- 
poration were:  Noah  Waterbury,  president;  Rev.  Samuel 
M.  Haskins,  vice-president;  Hon.  James  Maurice,  treas- 
urer; David  Longworth,  secretary.  The  present  officers 
are:  Hon.  James  Maurice,  president;  J.  Howard,  secre- 
tary; Charles  M.  Chamberlain,  superintendent. 

HON.  JAMES  MAURICE. 

James  Maurice  is  a son  of  James  Maurice  and  Jean  his 
wife,  who  resided  for  many  years  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  His  father  was  a native  of  Ireland,  of  English  an- 
cestry— English  in  race  and  in  religion — and  was  born  in 
the  parish  of  Maryborough,  Queens  county,  August  16th 
1777;  emigrated  to  America  immediately  after  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion,  in  which  he  took  part  against 
the  insurgents,  and  landed  in  Philadelphia  in  1799;  died 
at  Maspeth,  Queens  county,  N.  Y.,  March  22nd  1842. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  December  14th 
1792,  of  pure  Scottish  descent;  and,  her  mother  dying 
while  she  was  yet  an  infant,  she  was  brought  up  in  the 
family  of  her  uncle,  John  Rutherford,  of  Lansingburgh, 
Rensselaer  county,  N.  Y.  She  died  at  Maspeth,  Decem- 
ber 19th  1877,  aged  85  years  and  5 days.  They  had  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

James  was  the  second  son,  and  was  born  at  No.  39 
Water  street,  near  Coenties  slip,  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
November  7th  1814.  He  was  sent  at  a very  early  age  to 


HON.  JAMES  MAURICE. 


383 


the  Broad  Street  Academy,  a famous  institution  in  those 
days,  where  he  studied  the  branches  usually  taught 
in  a good  school,  and  became  noted  for  his  remarkable 
skill  in  penmanship.  He  narrowdy  escaped  death  by 
drowming  on  twro  occasions,  and  was  in  very  great  danger 
for  some  months  in  the  year  1822  from  an  attack  of  yel- 
low fever,  being  one  of  the  very  first  cases  at  the  time 
that  dreadful  disorder  became  epidemic.  He  continued 
at  school  until  the  spring  of  1826,  and  on  July  6th  in  that 
year,  recommended  by  his  handwriting  and  being  not 
quite  12  years  of  age,  he  entered  the  office  of  Messrs. 
William  Seaman  and  Thomas  Wills,  attorneys  and  coun- 
sellors at  law,  as  a clerk.  The  firm  kept  their  office 
at  No  3 Peck  slip,  then  a great  business  quarter  ot 
the  city,  and  had  a large  and  somewhat  miscella- 
neous business — law,  equity,  admiralty,  conveyancing, 
and  every  branch,  indeed,  of  the  profession — which  was 
all  the  better  for  such  of  their  clerks  as  were  disposed  to 
learn;  but  Mr.  Wills  wras  most  eminent  as  an  equity  law- 
yer, and  held  for  some  time  before  his  death  the  appoint- 
ment of  injunction  master  for  the  first  circuit;  he  died 
in  January  1831,  and  Mr.  Seaman,  who  was  of  the  old 
Long  Island  family  of  that  name,  followed  him  to  the 
grave  in  January  1832.  John  I.  Cameron,  the  law  part- 
ner of  Mr.  Seaman,  continued  the  business,  and  soon  after 
Mr.  Seaman’s  death  formed  a connection  with  Philo  T. 
Ruggles,  who  also  was  appointed  a master  in  chancery; 
and  Mr.  Maurice  continued  with  them  and  with  Mr. 
Ruggles — who  still  survives — after  Mr.  Cameron’s  death, 
until  his  admission  to  practice.  He  was  admitted  as  an 
attorney  at  law  and  as  a solicitor  in  chancery — the  offices 
at  that  time  being  quite  distinct — in  1835,  and  immedi- 
ately afterward  began  business  on  his  own  account, 
in  the  old  office  of  Seaman  & Wills.  Plere  he  remained 
some  two  or  three  years  and  then  returned  to  the  office 
of  Mr.  Ruggles.  In  May  1839  he  was  admitted  as  coun- 
sellor in  the  supreme  court  and  in  the  court  of  chancery. 

In  October  1840  he  purchased  from  Garrit  Furman  a 
few  acres  at  Maspeth,  and  began  the  erection  of  a dwell- 
ing house  thereon,  which  was  completed  and  occupied  in 
June  1841,  and  in  which  he  still  resides,  with  the  surviv- 
ing members  of  his  father’s  family.  About  February 
1841  he  formed  a professional  partnership  with  James  T. 
Brady,*  and  for  some  eight  or  nine  years  thereafter  the 
firm  of  Brady  & Maurice  was  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  considerable  legal  firms  in  the  city.  He  received 
the  appointment  of  master  in  chancery  from  Governor 
Bouck  in  March  1843.  At  this  period  there  were  only 
ten  masters  for  the  whole  city  and  county  of  New  York, 
and  the  office  was  a very  important  one.  He  continued 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  office  until  the 
court  of  chancery  itself  became  extinct,  July  1st  1847. 
He  also  assisted  Mr.  Brady — who  had  been  appointed 

* James  Topham  Brady  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  April  9th 
1815,  ancLdied  there,  February  9th  1869.  His  father  was  of  Celtic  and  his 
mother  (whose  maiden  name  was  Topham)  of  English  ancestry.  He  was 
a very  able  lawyer  and  a highly  eloquent  speaker,  and  withal  one  of  the 
most  gifted  men  that  ever  practiced  at  the  New  York  bar.  The  present 
John  Biker  Brady,  one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court  for  the  first 
judicial  department,  is  his  only  surviving  brother. 


counsel  to  the  corporation  of  the  city  of  New  York  in 
1845 — to  discharge  the  many  duties  of  that  position,  and 
had  under  his  control  the  practical  management  of  the 
suits  and  street  openings  to  which  the  city  was  a party; 
and  had  besides  to  act  in  a general  advisory  capacity  in 
regard  to  the  current  business  of  the  different  city  de- 
partments. 

In  the  fall  of  1850  he  made  his  first  essay  in  political 
life,  and  was  elected  member  of  Assembly  for  Queens 
county  on  the  Democratic  ticket  in  November  of  that 
year,  after  a most  exciting  contest.  The  Democrats  were 
in  the  minority  in  the  Assembly,  hiving  only  about 
one-third  of  the  members.  Henry  J.  Raymond  was 
chosen  speaker  at  the  regular  session,  and  Joseph  B. 
Varnum  at  the  extra  session  held  in  July  1851.  Mr. 
Maurice  served  on  the  judiciary,  privileges  and  elections 
and  manorial  rents  committees  and  on  local  general  or- 
ders, commonly  known  as  the  “grinding  committee,” and 
was  rarely  absent  from  his  seat  in  the  House  except  when 
acting  upon  a committee.  He  represented  his  district  in 
the  Democratic  convention  held  at  Syracuse  in  1851, 
and  took  a prominent  part  in  the  debates  and  proceed- 
ings of  that  convention.  In  1852  he  received  the  nomi- 
nation for  representative  in  Congress  from  the  first  dis- 
trict, at  the  Democratic  convention.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  XXXIIId  Congress  by  a very  satisfactory 
majority  over  John  A.  King,  afterward  governor,  and  serv- 
ed from  March  4th  1853  to  March  4th  1855.  He  belong- 
ed to  the  Hunker  or  Hardshell  division  of  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  and  his  party  friends  were  practically 
ignored  by  President  Pierce;  but  he  still  kept  up  his 
connection  with  the  organization.  He  represented  Queens 
county  in  the  Democratic  convention  of  1853,  and  was 
very  active  in  promoting  the  nomination  of  George  W. 
Clinton  for  secretary  of  state  and  increasing  the  majority 
which  Mr.  Clinton  obtained,  in  November  of  that  year, 
in  Queens  county.  In  1856  he  attended  the  Union  State 
convention — the  precursor  and  harbinger  of  the  Repub- 
lican organization — at  Albany,  as  a delegate  from  Queens 
county,  his  collaegue  being  John  A.  King,  his  former 
competitor  for  Congress;  and  was  very  instrumental  in 
effecting  the  nomination  of  Mr.  King  for  governor  and 
aided  efficiently  in  securing  his  election.  In  1865  Henry 
W.  Genet,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  bought  (as  was  sup- 
posed) the  nomination  for  member  of  Assembly  in  the 
second  district  of  Queens  county  from  the  Democratic 
nominating  convention.  Mr.  Maurice  was  prevailed 
upon  to  run  against  Genet,  and  defeated  him,  after  a 
bitter  struggle,  by  a large  comparative  majority.  He 
served  in  the  Assembly  of  1866,  Lyman  Tremain  being 
speaker,  on  the  judiciary  committee  and  on  the 
committees  on  cities  and  the  rules  of  the  house, 
and  contributed  his  best  efforts  to  the  business 
of  the  session;  but  had  lost  his  relish,  if  he  ever  had 
any,  for  public  employment,  and  was  very  well  satis- 
fied to  leave  Albany  for  a “ private  station  ” when  the 
time  came  for  final  adjournment.  His  three  nominations 
for  the  Assembly  and  Congress  were  the  only  occasions 
on  which  he  offered  himself  for  the  support  of  the  peo- 


38  4 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


pie,  and  he  was  successful  in  all.  In  1855  he  was  offered 
the  nomination  for  justice  of  the  supreme  court  for  the 
second  judicial  district,  by  gentlemen  belonging  to  both 
wings  of  the  Democratic  party  (a  nomination  equivalent, 
probably,  to  an  election),  but  deeming  himself  unsuited 
to  the  position  he  declined  to  become  a candidate.  He 
has  acted  as  referee  in  several  important  cases,  and  some- 
times, although  rarely,  as  counsel  in  others,  and  has 
always  had  a place  of  business  in  the  city  of  New  York 
since  the  expiration  of  his  Congressional  term  in  1855; 
but  he  is  not  now  nor  has  he  been  for  some  years  past 
actively  engaged  in  his  profession.  His  health  has  usu- 
ally been,  and  still  continues,  very  good. 

CHARLES  G.  COVERT. 

Charles  G.  Covert  was  born  at  Maspeth,  September 
30th  1826.  For  his  first  wife  he  married  Nancy  Leonora 
Aldrich,  of  Newtown,  October  29th  1840.  Mrs.  Covert 
died  April  8th  1845,  having  borne  him  three  children,  as 
follows:  Underhill  J.,  October  19th  1841:  Henry  Aid- 
rich,  September  29th  1842,  and  Charles  Johnson,  March 
27th  1845,  who  died  in  infancy.  March  29th  1850  Mr. 
Covert  married  Elizabeth  Welch,  of  New  York,  who  sur- 
vives him  and  who  has  borne  him  four  children — George, 
Cornelia  Maria,  Annie  Louise  and  Lizzie  Grace,  born 
respectively  May  15th  1851,  May  31st  1856,  July  22nd 
1859,  and  July  nth  1865.  Mrs.  Covert  was  born  in  New 
York,  December  24th  1827.  Mr.  Covert  died  deeply  and 
widely  regretted  for  his  many  amiable  and  admirable 
qualities  as  a husband,  a father,  a neighbor,  a citizen  and 
a helper  to  those  in  need  of  timely  and  friendly  assist- 
ance. 

Mr.  Covert  was  born  in  a house  still  standing  on  his 
estate,  only  a short  distance  from  his  late  residence. 
His  father  was  Underhill  Covert;  his  mother  Maria 
(Johnson)  Covert,  a daughter  of  Charles  Johnson,  who 
resided  at  Maspeth,  near  the  Covert  place.  Mr.  Covert 
remained  at  home,  assisting  on  his  father’s  farm,  until  he 
attained  his  majority,  after  which  for  a few  years  he  kept 
a store  in  Maspeth,  later  engaging  in  the  lumber  trade, 
in  which  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  George.  He  was 
always  prominent  in  affairs  of  the  town.  In  1858  he 
was  first  chosen  supervisor,  and  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  office  with  great  credit  to  himself.  That  his  public 
service  was  also  satisfactory  to  his  constituents  is  well 
evinced  by  the  record  of  his  repeated  re-election  for 
several  years,  as  shown  on  page  338.  His  time  of  ser- 
vice included  those  important  years  during  the  great 
Rebellion,  and  Mr.  Covert  is  remembered  as  a faithful, 
efficient  officer  during  that  eventful  period.  Though  not 
a professor  of  religion  he  was  a respecter  of  righteous- 
ness, and  always  a liberal  supporter  of  churches  of  all 
denominations. 


East  Williamsburgh. 

The  name  of  this  village  on  the  western  border  of 
Newtown  signifies  its  position  relative  to  Williamsburgh, 


now  the  eastern  district  of  Brooklyn.  The  Williamsburgh 
and  Jamaica  turnpike  (built  about  1813)  and  the  placing 
of  a toll-house  here  determined  the  location  of  this  vil- 
lage. A hotel  here  was  kept  by  Daniel  Taylor  as  early 
as  1814.  His  successors  were  Albert  Vanderwater,  Wil- 
liam Roe,  Stephen  B.  Masters  and  Samuel  Masters 
(deceased).  The  last  two,  who  were  brothers,  operated 
the  turnpike  under  a lease  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years. 
The  Long  Island  farmers  en  route  for  the  city  with  hay 
made  this  a weighing  station,  and  “ Masters’  toll-gate  ” 
was  as  well  known  then  as  East  Williamsburgh  is  now. 

The  Metropolitan  Park  Hotel,  now  kept  by  M.  Schu- 
macher & Son,  was  kept  by  Samuel  Smith  as  early  as 
1840  and  until  his  death.  It  was  leased  in  1877  by  the 
present  occupants,  who  enclosed  the  park  and  made  the 
modern  improvements. 

In  May  1881  George  V.  Todd  established  the  Queens 
County  Republican , a sprightly  four-page  weekly  paper, 
devoted  to  the  local  news  and  politically  allied  with  the 
Republican  party. 

John  Cozine  was  an  early  settler  in  this  vicinity.  He 
owned  the  farm  of  the  late  Nicholas  Schoonmaker.  John 
Culver  and  Michael  Venes  were  residents  here  about 
1790.  Francis  Titus  had  a farm-house  before  the  Revo- 
lution where  Schumacher’s  hotel  now  stands.  A part  of 
General  Howe’s  forces  camped  here.  Francis  White’s 
farm  has  been  occupied  by  his  family  since  about  1700. 
His  grandfather,  Thomas  White,  kept  the  king’s  store  in 
Maspeth  before  the  Revolution. 

THE  EAGLE  FIRE  WORKS  FACTORY. 

Phillipp  Licht,  manufacturer  of  the  Eagle  Fireworks 
and  patentee  of  the  detached  short  stick  rocket,  was 
born  in  Bavaria  in  1820  and  came  to  America  in  1832. 
His  parents  were  Louis  and  Elizabeth  Licht.  Mr.  Licht 
at  first  located  in  New  York  city,  but  began  his  present 
business  on  Forest  avenue,  East  Williamsburgh,  in  1859. 
His  works  cover  an  extensive  area  and  consist  of  no  less 
than  fourteen  shops,  in  which  the  several  departments  of 
pyrotechnical  manufacture  are  carried  on.  There  are 
four  charging  shops,  a paper  store  and  cutting  shop,  a 
finishing  shop,  a rolling  and  drying  shop,  five  storage 
shops,  a tool  house,  and  a stable  and  wagon  house.  Mr 
Licht  has  a New  York  office  at  No.  12  Park  place.  He 
was  married  in  1842  to  Mary  Kreider,  of  New  York,  by 
whom  he  has  two  children,  Phillipp  and  Mary. 

During  the  civil  war  Mr.  Licht  made  for  the  govern- 
ment large  quantities  of  bomb  fuse  and  signal  rockets. 
He  put  the  time  fuses  in  the  first  Monitor  shells  that  left 
New  York,  and  during  the  war  his  whole  force  of  men 
was  employed  principally  in  making  time  fuses.  Subse- 
quently the  business  was  increased,  and  all  the  modern 
inventions  in  pyrotechnics  are  here  manufactured.  Thirty 
persons  are  constantly  employed.  In  1876  his  sales 
amounted  to  $78,000. 

STARCH  WORKS. 

The  manufacture  of  starch  by  E.  R.  & R.  B.  Liver- 
more is  carried  on  in  the  buildings  erected  by  David 


\ 


RESIDENCE  AND  EAGLE  FIRE  WORKS  BUILDINGS  OFPHILLTPP  LICHT. 

FOREST  AVENUE, EAST  Wl  LLIAMS  B URGH,  QUEENS  CO,,L.I. 


# 


1 


4^4 


{Amp 

Mi 

V--- 

UBii-fujS 

OLD  HOMESTEAD  OF  THE  WYCKOFF  FAMILY,FLUSHING  AV  E N U E,  E.D.  BROOKLYN  , N .Y. 


NICHOLAS  WYCKOFF— MIDDLE  VILLAGE. 


39l 


Morrison  in  1853.  In  1854  Messrs.  Livermore  took  pos- 
session and  began  making  starch  from  damaged  wheat 
recovered  from  defective  canal  boats.  Thus  a large 
amount  of  grain,  formerly  nearly  worthless,  was  made 
valuable.  The  works  were  burned  in  1868  and  rebuilt 
the  following  year.  Four  runs  of  stones  are  now  used 
for  grinding  merchantable  wheat,  and  from  175  to  200 
barrels  of  starch  are  produced  weekly  of  standard 
quality.  Samuel  G.  Morrison  is  general  superintendent 
at  the  works. 

In  1854  John  Parr  and  John  Barnett  began  the  manu- 
facture of  wheat  starch  at  East  Williamsburgh.  Mr.  Bar- 
nett bought  his  partner’s  interest,  and  in  1859  E.  H.  E. 
Dickson  becam'e  a partner  in  the  firm  of  John  Barnett  & 
Co.  They  have  facilities  for  manufacturing  100  barrels 
of  starch  per  week. 

NICHOLAS  WYCKOFF. 

Nicholas  Wyckoff  was  born  in  Bushwick  (now  in 
Brooklyn),  October  30th  1799.  The  Wyckoff  homestead, 
where  he  now  lives,  was  in  the  possession  of  his  ances- 
tprs  prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution;  the  residence, 
since  repaired  and  remodeled,  being  the  same  that  was 
then  occupied.  Mr.  Wyckoff’s  grandfather  on  his  father’s 
side  was  Nicholas  Wyckoff.  His  mother’s  father  was 
Lambert  Suydam.  Both  were  active  participants  in  the 
stirring  scenes  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle.  His  father 
was  Peter  Wyckoff  and  his  mother  was  Gertrude  Suy- 
dam. It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Wyckoff  is  of  that  illus- 
trious race  who  laid  in  the  Netherlands  the  foundations 
of  modern  civilization  and  taught  the  world  its  first  les- 
son in  regulated  civil  liberty  and  unrestricted  religious 
toleration.  He  traces  his  lineage  back  to  ancestors  who 
were  pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  Long  Island,  and  it  is 
likely  that  the  old  homestead,  with  its  hallowed  memo- 
ries and  historical  associations,  will  be  in  the  possession 
of  his  descendants  generations  after  him. 

In  his  childhood  Mr.  Wyckoff  attended  school  at  Bush- 
wick. Two  subsequent  years  of  schooling,  at  Darien, 
Connecticut,  beginning  when  he  was  only  about  eleven, 
completed  the  sum  total  of  such  educational  advantages 
as  were  available  to  him.  From  his  youth  up  Mr.  Wyck- 
off devoted  his  attention  to  farming,  and  was  ever  wide 
awake  as  a farmer  and  eager  to  adopt  improvements  in 
practical  agriculture.  Accordingly  he  studied  such 
works  as  he  thought  useful  and  took  pains  to  inspect  the 
methods  of  others.  He  was  for  a time  a member  of  the 
agricultural  department  of  the  American  Institute,  and 
has  been  otherwise  prominently  identified  with  agricul- 
tural interests  and  in  every  sense  the  friend  of  the  farm- 
er. Ever  since  Williamsburgh  first  became  known  Mr. 
Wyckoff  has  labored  assiduously  to  promote  its  best  in- 
terests. He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  con- 
solidation of  Williamsburgh  with  Brooklyn,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  first  board  of  commissioners  for  constructing 
the  Ridgewood  water  works. 

Mr.  Wyckoff’s  connection  with  monetary  institutions 
dates  from  1852,  when  he  helped  to  organize  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Brooklyn  and  became  one  of  its  direct- 


ors. At  the  resignation  of  the  first  president,  Noah 
Waterbury,  Mr.  Wyckoff  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of 
the  institution,  and  he  has  since  continuously  held  the 
position.  He  is  also  a trustee  of  two  savings  banks  and 
a director  of  the  Williamsburgh  City  Insurance  Com- 
pany and  also  of  several  horse  railroads,  mostly  in 
Brooklyn. 

A writer  in  the  Brooklyn  Herald , referring  to  Mr. 
Wyckoff,  some  years  since,  said  of  him:  “He  is  truly  a 
Christian  man,  for  he  practices  what  he  professes. 
Hardly  a public  charity  escapes  his  benefactions.  He  is 
full  of  gentle  and  generous  sympathies  for  young  men 
and  takes  pleasure  in  aiding  them  forward.  He  has 
stirred  and  stimulated  rich  and  poor  to  push  ahead.  He 
has  aided  a great  number  of  people  in  their  first  efforts  to 
lay  the  foundations  of  their  subsequent  prosperity,  and 
he  has  ever  been  willing  to  be  among  the  first  to  project 
enterprises  of  local  utility,  sharing  with  others  the  pecu- 
niary risks.  It  is  well  known  that  there  are  some  people 
whose  wealth  has  been  made  for  them  by  the  industry 
and  foresight  of  others,  but  who  cannot  be  induced  to  do 
much  to  enhance  the  honor  or  prosperity  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  vegetate  and  where  they  will  die 
and  be  forgotten.  In  no  sense  is  it  possible  to  impute  to 
Nicholas  Wyckoff  the  slightest  proclivity  to  indulge  in 
such  unworthy  use  of  the  common  weal.” 

Mr.  Wyckoff  was  married  in  1826  to  Sarah  Ann  John- 
son (daughter  of  General  Jeremiah  Johnson,  of  Walla- 
bout),  who  still  shares  with  him  the  comforts  of  the  old 
home  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors. 


Middle  Village. 

The  name  of  this  village  refers  to  its  position  between 
Williamsburgh  and  Jamaica  on  the  old  turnpike  which 
connects  them.  The  village  is  made  up  very  largely  of 
German  families,  and  nearly  all  the  business  of  the  place 
is  transacted  in  that  language.  A post-office  was  estab- 
lished here  in  the  summer  of  1881  and  Christian  F.  Seibs 
was  commissioned  postmaster. 

THE  LUTHERAN  CEMETERY. 

This  cemetery  is  the  principal  feature  of  Middle  Vil- 
lage, and  the  labor  connected  with  it  is  the  principal  in- 
dustry of  the  people  in  the  vicinity.  This  is  perhaps  the 
most  important  Protestant  cemetery  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York;  the  interments  here  in  1879  were  nearly 
twice  as  many  as  at  Greenwood,  and  in  1880  more  than 
in  all  the  other  Protestant  cemeteries  in  Newtown.  The 
existence  of  this  cemetery  is  largely  due  to  the  efforts  of 
the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Geissenhainer.  In  1850,  when  the 
common  council  of  New  York  forbade  burial  in  the  city, 
Dr.  Geissenhainer  was  pastor  of  St.  Paul’s  German  Luther- 
an church  in  Sixth  avenue.  St.  Matthew’s  church  sent 
John  H.  Imbush  and  Benjamin  Van  Raden  to  confer 
with  Dr.  Geissenhainer  as  to  some  means  of  providing 
the  two  churches  with  a suitable  and  cheaper  place  of 
burial  than  Greenwood.  Dr.  Geissenhainer’s  church  de- 


41 


3 92 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY 


dining  to  co-operate  he  took  the  responsibility  individ- 
ually, and  became  half  owner  in  this  new  cemetery  at 
Middle  Village.  Ten  acres  were  purchased  of  Jonathan 
Morrell  and  divided  in  halves,  so  that  the  part  owned  by 
St.  Matthew’s  church  was  distinct  from  the  part  owned 
by  Dr.  Geissenhainer.  F.  W.  Geissenhainer  jr.  purchased 
eight  acres  adjoining,  which  was  subsequently  added  to 
the  cemetery.  St.  Matthew’s  society  also  made  addi- 
tions to  its  part  of  the  cemetery.  Dr.  Geissenhainer’s 
part  was  laid  out  and  improved  by  him  as  a private  en- 
terprise, until  March  22nd  1852,  when  a company  was 
organized  under  the  general  act  of  1847,  and  the 
“ Lutheran  Cemetery  ” was  incorporated.  Dr.  Geissen- 
hainer’s part  of  the  original  purchase  and  the  lands  sub- 
sequently bought  by  his  son  were  conveyed  to  this  cor- 
poration. In  i860  the  corporation  bought  the  Harper 
farm  of  thirty-eight  acres.  St.  Matthew’s  society  had 
in  the  meantime  purchased  several  acres,  and  during 
the  eight  years  that  followed  a bitter  rivalry  existed  be- 
tween the  two  parties.  These  differences  were  termi- 
nated in  1868  by  the  Lutheran  Cemetery  proprietors 
purchasing  all  the  land  belonging  to  St.  Matthew’s 
church. 

The  price  of  burials  in  this  cemetery  was  originally 
$2.50,  and  lots  were  sold  at  $7.00.  The  managers  have 
followed  the  design  of  the  founder  by  keeping  the  price 
of  lots  as  low  as  in  any  incorporated  cemetery. 

In  1880  16,844  interments  were  made  in  the  several 
cemeteries  in  the  town  of  Newtown,  as  follows:  Method- 
ist Episcopal,  Middle  Village,  17 1;  Machpela,  Ridge- 
wood, 199;  Cypress  Hills,  949;  Evergreen,  Ridgewood, 
1,693;  Lutheran,  Middle  Village,  3,815;  Calvary,  Laurel 
Hill,  10,017. 

REV.  FREDERICK  WILLIAM  GEISSENHAINER. 

Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  William  Geissenhainer  was  born  in 
New  Hanover,  Montgonery  county,  Pa.,  June  28th  1797. 
His  father  was  Rev.  Dr.  Frederick  William  Geissenhai- 
ner, a native  of  Prussia  (whence  he  came  in  1793)  an 
early  Lutheran  minister  in  America  and  a man  of  remark- 
able literary  and  theological  attainments,  distinguished 
for  his  intelligence  and  particularly  noted  for  his  thorough 
scholarship  in  Hebrew,  Latin  and  Greek,  and  as  a pro- 
found mathematician,  mineralogist  and  botanist  of  exten- 
sive scientific  acquirements.  The  history  of  the  iron  and 
coal  interests  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  world  pictures 
him  as  a character  of  importance  in  the  infancy  of  those 
interests,  with  an  influence  upon  their  subsequent  devel- 
opment which  will  be  felt  to  the  end  of  time.  He  was 
the  first  to  discover  the  value  of  anthracite  coal  for  smelt- 
ing iron,  and  his  name  is  prominently  identified  with 
other  important  discoveries  which  have  for  years  been  a 
portion  of  the  recognized  system 'of  iron  manufacture. 
For  a number  of  years  he  officiated  as  pastor  of  Christ 
Lutheran  church,  in  Frankfort  street,  New  York,  which 
was  distinguished  as  being  the  only  church  in  New  York 
besides  the  Episcopalian  which  escaped  desecration  at 
the  hands  of  the  English,  it  being  attended  by  the  Hes- 


sian soldiers,  who  were  Lutherans.  The  senior  Dr. 
Geissenhainer  died  in  1838. 

The  subject  of  the  present  notice  came  to  New  York 
with  his  father  at  an  early  age,  and  received  a thorough 
academical  and  theological  education  under  the  able 
preceptorship  of  his  father  and  instructors  whom  the 
latter  employed.  In  1818,  when  he  was  only  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  was  licensed  as  a minister  of  the  Luther- 
an church.  He  was  first  settled  over  a congregation  at 
Vincent,  Chester  county,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  ten 
years,  when  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  St.  Mat- 
thew’s church  in  Walker  street,  New  York,  in  which  he 
continued  about  fourteen  years.  The  congregation  of 
Christ  church  after  a time  became  the  possessors  of  the 
property  of  St.  Matthew’s  congregation  and  took  the 
name  of  the  latter  organization.  In  pursuance  of  a re- 
solve to  found  a new  church,  Dr.  Geissenhainer  estab- 
lished St.  Paul’s,  ot  which  he  was  pastor  until  his  death, 
June  2nd  1879.  The  first  preaching  was  in  a hall  in 
Eighth  avenue.  A church  was  built  in  1842,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Sixth  avenue  and  Fifteenth  street,  chiefly 
through  the  liberality  of  Dr.  Geissenhainer  himself.  It 
is  a fine  stone  structure  and  the  valuation  of  the  property 
now  reaches  $80,000.  Dr.  Geissenhainer  organized  St. 
Paul’s  church  with  eleven  poor  families.  The  congrega- 
tion now  has  about  1,300  communicants  and  the  Sunday- 
school  has  a membership  of  over  600  scholars. 

Through  Dr.  Geissenhainer’s  efforts,  and  largely  at  his 
own  personal  cost,  the  Lutheran  Cemetery  at  Middle  Vil- 
lage was  established,  it  being  his  design  to  open  a place 
of  sepulture  where  graves  would  be  sold  at  such  low 


LUTHERAN  CEMETERY,  INCORPORATED  MARCH  2 2d  1852. 
MIDDLE  VILLAGE,  QUEENS  CO.,  L.l. 


REV.  F.  W.  GEISSENHAINER— CHURCHES  OF  NEWTOWN. 


397 


prices  as  to  render  them  obtainable  by  people  of  limited 
means,  who  were  often  taxed  far  beyond  their  ability  to 
pay  by  the  managers  of  other  cemeteries.  So  entirely 
feasible  was  Dr.  Geissenhainer’s  plan,  and  so  good  his 
management  of  the  affairs  of  the  cemetery  (now  in  the 
hands  of  his  son  F.  W.  Geissenhainer,  the  present  treas- 
urer), that  the  annual  interments  in  the  Lutheran  Ceme- 
tery outnumber  those  in  any  other  Protestant  cemetery 
in  the  United  States.  This  cemetery  was  opened  in 
1850  and  incorporated  March  22nd  1852. 

Dr.  Geissenhainer  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Boltis 
Moore,  of  New  York  city,  September  6th  1824.  Three 
of  their  children — Frederick  W.,  Mary  L.  (now  Mrs. 
Hunter)  and  Jacob  A. — are  living.  Boltis,  another  son, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  in  1827. 

A portrait  of  Dr.  Geissenhainer  accompanies  this  ar- 
ticle. He  was  of  about  the  medium  height,  sparely 
made,  and  even  in  his  old  age  possessed  a great  amount 
of  activity.  It  will  be  observed  that  his  head  was  more 
long  than  round  in  its  contour,  with  features  of  the  Ger- 
man type,  small  and  regularly  moulded.  His  eyes  were 
lit  with  a keen,  often  merry  twinkle.  He  was  a person 
of  much  vivacity  and  cheerfulness,  and  his  conversational 
powers  were  such  as  to  render  him  a most  agreeable 
social  companion,  while  his  manners  were  not  only  cour- 
teous, but  so  kindly  and  unassuming  that  a stranger 
found  himself  on  the  best  terms  with  him  in  the  shortest 
possible  time.  He  talked  upon  any  subject  with  interest, 
knowledge  and  animation,  and  showed  himself  at  once 
the  profound  scholar  and  thinker,  the  shrewd  observer  of 
passing  events,  and  the  genial,  open-hearted  gentleman. 
He  preached  an  original  and  very  practical  sermon,  and 
was  a pointed,  logical  writer,  and  while  he  came  very 
directly  to  the  idea  he  wished  to  convey,  his  argument 
in  maintaining  every  position  was  absolute  and  over- 
whelming. He  dealt  mostly  with  themes  which  invited 
a learned  exposition  of  the  Scriptures  and  of  the  moral 
obligations  which  are  incumbent  upon  mankind.  His 
people  sought  and  obtained  of  him  practical  religious 
and  moral  instruction,  given  with  the  authority  of  a man 
holding  a sacred  commission  to  proclaim  the  truth,  and 
with  the  tender  concern  of  a father  solicitous  for  their 
temporal  and  spiritual  welfare.  He  had  a clear,  distinct 
voice  and  was  emphatic  in  his  manner  of  delivery,  and 
equally  acceptable  as  a speaker  in  the  English  and  Ger- 
man languages,  having  them  both  at  his  command.  There 
was  an  ever  present  dignity  and  seriousness  about  him  in 
the  pulpit,  and  everything  he  did  was  in  evident  recog- 
nition of  the  sacredness  of  the  place  and  occasion  and 
the  responsibility  resting  upon  himself  as  a teacher. 

MIDDLE  VILLAGE  M.  E-  CHURCH. 

The  Methodists  built  a church  in  1785  at  Middle  Vil- 
lage. This  was  subsequently  converted  into  a dwelling, 
and  in  1836  a new  edifice  was  built  about  a quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  former  site,  on  the  Williamsburgh  and  Ja- 
maica turnpike  road.  This  was  effected  chiefly  through 
the  liberality  and  personal  effort  of  Joseph  Harper,  who 
spent  his  entire  life  in  this  immediate  vicinity — a period 


of  over  eighty  years.  In  1839  a small  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  was  erected  at  Newtown  village,  and  in  1843 
one  at  Astoria.  For  a time  these  three  churches  formed 
one  charge,  but  that  of  Astoria  subsequently  withdrew. 
Until  within  a few  years  the  churches  of  Middle  Village 
and  Newtown  village  have  employed  one  pastor,  but  they 
are  now  distinct,  the  Newtown  pulpit  being  supplied  from 
the  Methodist  Book  Concern. 


Corona. 

Almost  adjoining  the  village  of  Newtown  and  extend- 
ing nearly  to  Flushing  Bay  is  the  pretty  little  country 
village  of  Corona,  on  the  Flushing  and  North  Side  Rail- 
road. Its  location  first  suggested  the  name  of  West 
Flushing,  but  when  the  post-office  was  established  here 
the  name  Corona  was  adopted  for  the  office,  and  the 
village  is  more  generally  now  known  by  that  name. 

THE  UNION  EVANGELICAL  CHURCH 

of  Corona  originated  in  a Sunday-school,  established 
in  1869  by  Mrs.  Page.  Collecting  a few  truant  children  on 
her  porch,  she  succeeded  in  interesting  them  in  Bible 
stories.  Her  efforts  were  the  means  of  others  becoming 
interested  in  the  work,  among  the  number  being  Charles 
P.  Leverich.  At  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  summer 
season  in  Barker’s  grove,  and  in  the  winter  season  in  Mr. 
Leverich’s  house;  The  work  grew  until  it  was  found  very 
necessary  to  have  some  more  suitable  place  of  worship. 
Mr.  Leverich  donated  the  ground  and  building,  which  he 
dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  late  ministers  of  the  town 
of  Newtown.  No  church  organization,  however,  was  com- 
pleted until  May  15th,  1873.  Previous  to  this  time  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  from  the  neighboring  villages,  but  the 
insufficiency  of  this  was  now  felt,  and  an  earnest  desire 
expressed  to  call  a minister.  In  answer  to  this  desire  the 
Rev.  William  H.  Ford  was  installed  as  first  pastor,  and 
was  succeeded  in  April  1874  by  the  Rev.  O.  A.  Kings- 
bury, a man  of  deep  learning.  The  next  regular  pastor 
was  Rev.  William  H.  Ballaugh,  who  resigned  in  Novem- 
ber 1879.  Supplies  were  furnished  by  the  various  evan- 
gelical institutes  except  the  Episcopal,  until  June  1881, 
when  Rev.  Mr.  Peck,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed. 
The  original  members  of  the  church  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Isaac  L.  Moe,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Van  Wickel,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Earl  Lee,  Charles  D.  Leverich,  George  W.  Smith, 
Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Reed,  Mrs.  Mary  Stuckey,  Miss  Charlotte 
Main  and  Mrs.  R.  Coddington.  Charles  P.  Leverich  died 
in  January  1876,  after  having  provided  that  this  church, 
which  he  had  founded,  should  forever  remain  undenomi- 
national and  free.  A handsome  tablet  has  appropriately 
been  placed  in  the  church  in  memory  of  Mr.  Leverich, 
reading  as  follows:  “ In  Memory  of  Charles  P.  Leverich, 
Founder  of  this  Church.  Died  January  10  1876.” 

The  officers  for  the  year  1881  were:  Trustees — Isaac 
L.  Moe,  John  Van  Wickel,  Charles  D.  Leverich,  George 
W.  Smith,  Earl  Lee,  George  W.  Leonard,  Allen  J.  Dennis; 
elders — Isaac  L.  Moe,  John  Van  Wickel,  Charles  D. 
Leverich,  Earl  Lee,  George  W.  Leonard;  treasurer, 
Charles  D.  Leverich;  clerk,  George  W.  Smith. 


398 


COLONEL  EDWARD  LEVERICH. 

From  the  “Annals  of  Newtown  ” we  copy  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  ancestry  of  the  Leverich  families  of 
the  present  day,  by  way  of  tracing  the  descent  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch: 

“The  learned  and  Reverend  William  Leverich,  than 
whom  his  descendants  need  wish  no  better  ancestry,  first 
appears  as  a student  at  Emanuel  College,  Cambridge 
[where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  in  1625, 
receiving  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1629],  and  in  the  town 
records  of  Newtown  it  appears  unquestionably  that  he 
wrote  his  name  as  above,  though  a few  of  his  descend- 
ants now  write  Leveridge.  [A  large  manuscript  in  his 
own  handwriting  is  still  extant,  and  valued  as  the  oldest 
records  of  the  town  of  Newtown.]  Engaging  to  become 
the  minister  of  Dover  in  New  Hampshire  he  embarked 
at  London  in  the  ship  ‘James,’  and  after  a passage  of 
eight  weeks  arrived  at  Salem,  October  loth  1633.  He 
immediately  entered  upon  his  work  at  Dover;  but  after  a 
stay  of  less  than  two  years  he  left  and  came  to  Boston, 
where  he  united  with  the  church  August  9th  1635.  [He 
was  a man  of  great  piety  and  meekness.]  His  residence 
here  was  also  brief,  for  he  soon  became  an  assistant  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Partridge  at  Duxbury,  where,  in  1637,  a 
home  lot  was  assigned  him.  Three  years  later  we  find 
him  in  office  at  Sandwich,  on  Cape  Cod,  and  here  he  re- 
mained a good  many  years,  engaged  in  imparting  relig- 
ious truth  to  the  Indians  and  proving  himself  a worthy 
cotemporary  of  the  apostle  Eliot.  In  1653  he  became  a 


purchaser  and  settler  at  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  the  inhabit- 
ants agreeing  to  give  him  ^[15  per  year  as  minister  among 
them.  At  this  place,  Huntington  and  Newtown  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life.  '*  * * He  left  sons  Caleb  and 

Eleazer,  the  former  of  whom  took  out  letters  of  admin- 
istration on  his  estate  June  19th  1667.  * * * Caleb 

Leverich  came  with  his  father  to  Newtown  at  his  first 
settlement  here.  He  acquired  much  land  in  different 
sections  of  the  town,  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  his  towns- 
men, and  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  He  died  in  1717,  aged  79,  having  sur- 
vived his  wife  Martha.  His  children  were  John  1st, 
Mary  and  Eleanor. 

“ John  Leverich,  son  of  Caleb  and  grandson  of  the 
Rev.  William  Leverich,  died  in  or  shortly  prior  to  1705, 
leaving  a widow,  Hannah,  and  children  John  2nd,  Wil- 
liam Benjamin,  Hannah  ” and  Martha.  * * * “John 

Leverich,  son  of  John  1st,  was  born  in  1696.  He  mar- 
ried first,  on  December  14th  1720,  Amy  Moore;  secondly, 
Susannah,  widow  of  John  Sackett;  and  thirdly,  Sarah, 
widow  of  Francis  Cornish  and  daughter  of  Silas  Titus. 
By  the  latter  he  had  no  issue.  He  died  in  1780,  aged 
84,  and  was  interred  in  the  family  cemetery  in  Train’s 
Meadow,  his  widow  surviving  him  many  years.  His 
children  were  John,  William  Samuel  and  Elnathan,  the 
latter  by  the  second  marriage.  * * * ” 

“William  Leverich,  son  of  John  2nd,  was  born  October 
5th  1723,  and  married,  December  13th  1747,  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  Way;  and  secondly,  on  September  15th 
1751,  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Ephraim  Morse  and  sister  of 


COL.  EDWARD  LEVERICH— CHARLES  P.  LEVERICH. 


401 


Captain  E.  Morse  of  the  French  war.  He  occupied  the 
place  on  the  south  side  of  Train’s  Meadow  afterward  the 
residence  of  his  son  William.  * * * Here  he  closed 

his  life,  June  13th  1787,  his  death  resulting  from  a cold 
taken  while  assisting  to  draw  stone  for  the  foundation  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  was  a trustee.  His 
widow  died  April  17th  1814,  in  her  87th  year.  Their 
children  were”  John,  Amy,  Abigail,  Hannah,  Jesse,  Pa- 
tience, William,  Edward,  Elizabeth,  James,  Sarah  and 
Deborah. 

Colonel  Edward  Leverich  was  born  December  3d  1763, 
and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  Palmer,  who 
died  after  having  borne  him  ten  children,  as  follows: 
Jacob  Palmer,  William  H.,  James  H.,  Henry  S.,  Charles 
P.,  Ann  P.,  Abigail,  Eliza  F.,  Jane  P.  and  Aletta.  He 
married  for  his  second  wife  Patience,  daughter  of  David 
Moore,  who  bore  him  two  daughters,  named  respectively 
Ann  and  Sarah. 

Colonel  Leverich  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and  was 
stationed  at  different  times  at  Sag  Harbor  and  at  Fort 
Greene.  He  was  after  the  war  connected  with  the  New 
York  State  militia,  during  his  identification  with  which  the 
title  by  which  he  was  afterward  known  was  conferred 
upon  him.  Politically  he  was  a Democrat  of  the  staunch 
old-fashioned  kind,  and  greatly  interested  in  the  public 
questions  of  his  time.  He  took  a strong  and  active  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and  was  chosen  justice 
of  the  peace  and  assessor,  besides  holding  other  offices 
in  the  gift  of  his  townsmen.  A letter  written  to  Colonel 
Leverich  by  Rufus  King,  which  the  writer  has  seen, 
shows  that  they  were  both  members  of  the  county  agri- 
cultural society  as  early  as  1820.  The  conduct,  in  pub- 
lic and  private,  of  Colonel  Leverich  was  such  that  he  was 
greatly  respected  by  people  of  all  classes.  It  comes  down 
to  us  that  his  advice  was  often  sought  by  the  leading  men 
of  the  county  of  his  day,  and  documents  are  extant  which 
prove  that  he  was  identified  with  the  most  important 
public  interests  of  his  time.  His  death  occurred  June 
14th  1835,  in  his  seventy-second  year. 

There  are  two  life-size  portraits  in  oil  of  Colonel  Lev- 
erich, one  belonging  to  Henry  S.  Leverich,  and  the  other 
hanging  in  the  late  residence  of  his  other  son,  Charles  P. 
Leverich,  at  Newtown,  where  it  has  been  more  than  forty 
years. 

CHARLES  P.  LEVERICH 

was  the  fifth  son  of  Colonel  Edward  Leverich.  and 
through  him  was  descended  from  one  of  the  earliest  res- 
idents of  the  town,  viz.  Rev.  William  Leverich,  whose 
private  life  and  public  services,  after  more  than  two  cen- 
turies, still  shed  lustre  on  the  family  fame.  The  open- 
ing and  closing  paragraphs  in  the  short  biography  of  his 
father,  preceding,  fill  out  this  brief  outline  of  the 
life  of  the  gentleman  whose  portrait  appears  on  the 
opposite  page. 

Charles  P.  Leverich  was  born  July  17th  1809,  and  the 
family  record  states  that  he  was  baptized  in  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Newtown,  January  1st  1810.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  public  “ district  No.  2 ” 


| school  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  situated  about  a mile 
'west  from  the  old  family  homestead,  where  he  was  born 
and  where  his  childhood  days  came  and  passed.  The 
school-house  is  still  standing,  but  the  school  site  was 
changed  during  the  year  1870.  At  about  18  years  of  age 
he  went  to  New  York  city  as  clerk  with  Peter  Remsen  & 
Co.,  109  and  in  Pearl  street,  in  which  firm  his  older 
brother,  Henry  S.,  soon  became  a partner.  Here  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a thorough  business  training  for 
that  prosperous  and  honorable  career  which  closed  with 
his  life  on  the  morning  of  January  10th  1876.  His  boy- 
hood and  youth,  although  seeming  uneventful  to  the 
casual  reader,  were  marked  by  many  exhibitions — says 
his  old  friend  George  W.  Burroughs — of  the  manly  qual- 
ities which  his  after  life  so  fully  developed.  The  old 
Leverich  homestead,  where  the  subject  of  this  memoir 
was  born  (at  Corona,  facing  the  meadows  which  lie  be- 
tween Newtown  and  Flushing),  is  now  the  residence  of 
John  and  George  Elliott.  The  farm  connected  with  this 
homestead  was  one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  in  the 
town.  The  massive  barn  and  outbuildings  for  storage 
of  hay,  grain  and  other  produce  afforded  shelter  for  the 
stock  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  etc.,  of  no  mean  kind.  The 
Messrs.  Elliott  purchased  the  property  about  the  year 
1851  of  Mr.  Hendrickson,  who  bought  it  of  Colonel  Ed- 
ward Leverich  some  thirty  years  previous,  after  his  pur- 
chase of  the  place  now  in  possession  of  Henry  S.  Lever- 
ich and  the  heirs  of  Charles  P.  Leverich. 

Among  his  early  associates  as  clerks  in  Peter  Remsen 

& Co.’s  store  were Rudrow,  Brent,  C.  J. 

Aldis,  William  N.  Chadwick,  Samuel  Hicks,  Edward 
Whitehouse,  John  McCoun,  Henry  Platt,  Felix  Garcia, 
Henry  S.  Wyckoff,  William  C.  Maitland,  and  Henry  S. 
Leverich.  The  house  did  business  with  nearly  all  the 
places  of  note  over  the  world.  An  anecdote  is  told 
about  their  first  importation  of  gongs  from  China,  to  the 
effect  that  after  midnight  Henry  S.  and  Charles  P.  Lev- 
erich got  two  of  the  gongs  from  the  store,  took  them  into 
the  street  and  there  rung  or  beat  them,  much  for  their  own 
pleasure,  but  to  the  fright  and  discomfiture  of  the  resi- 
dents. These  two  brothers  had  lodgings  together  at  Mrs. 
Peek’s,  Pearl  street;  then  at  Mrs.  Baker’s,  No.  5 Nassau 
street,  at  $4  per  week  board;  later  they  took  a house  in 
Greenwich  street,  and  finally  Charles  married  and  set- 
tled in  Mercer  street,  after  which  (about  1841)  he  pur- 
chased and  built  on  some  sixteen  acres  adjoining  the 
second  or  present  homestead,  now  occupied  by  Henry, 
at  Newtown,  L.  I. 

He  boarded  near  the  office  and  store  from  youth  up, 
until  moving  to  Newtown;  owing  to  the  great  amount  of 
business — especially  hand  copying  of  accounts,  letters, 
etc. — he  was  compelled  to  be  there  early  and  return  after 
supper.  The  pleasures  of  the  theater  were  indulged  in 
about  once  a year.  Moses  Taylor,  Edward  Whitehouse, 
James  Punnett,  S.  M.  W.  Gouveneur,  George  W.  Bur- 
roughs, Jacob  Vermilye,  John  L.  Riker  and  John  C. 
Jackson  were  among  his  early  friends;  but  later  the 
more  prominent  merchants  and  bankers  of  New  York 
city,  again  others  of  our  cities,  often  sought  his  com- 


42 


40  2 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


pany  for  friendly  social  talk  and  for  his  views  and  coun- 
sel on  all  financial  subjects. 

The  firm  of  Peter  Remsen  & Co.  was  the  first  and  per- 
haps the  largest  house  then  doing  a mercantile,  commis 
sion,  importing  and  jobbing  business  in  the  city,  first  at 
26  South  street,  then  in  Hanover  square  (109  and  hi 
Pearl  street).  The  partners  of  Peter  Remsen  were 
Daniel  Remsen,  who  died  in  Rome;  Francis  Olmsted, 
James  Strong,  James  McCall  and  Henry  S.  Leverich;  the 
latter  at  the  present  writing  is  the  only  one  surviving. 
This  firm  dissolved  soon  after  Peter  Remsen’s  death — 
about  1836. 

In  March  1833  Charles  P.  Leverich  left  Peter  Remsen  & 
Co.  and  started  in  business  in  New  street,  taking  with  him 
Peter  R.  Brinkerhoff  as  partner.  They  dissolved  after 
being  only  one  year  together.  Mr.  Leverich  then  went 
to  Boston,  and  there  arranged  with  John  H.  Bradford  & 
Co.  to  attend  to  the  purchasing  and  selling  of  goods  for 
them  in  New  York  city,  which  business  proved  success- 
ful and  mutually  remunerative.  This  inroad  was  detri- 
mental to  the  old  house  of  Peter  Remsen  & Co.,  who  at 
one  time  attended  to  all  of  J.  H.  Bradford  & Co.’s  busi- 
ness. 

Later  Mr.  Leverich  did  a very  large  business  with  Me- 
Closkey,  Hagan  & Co.,  of  Mobile.  During  1836  he  had 
accepted  bills  for  this  house  to  the  amount  of  $500,000 
— most  of  which  were  held  by  the  Bank  of  America, 
New  York  city;  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  prompt  and 
ready  tact  this  might  have  been  financial  death  to  him. 
The  bills  were  accepted  against  shipments  of  cotton. 
The  price  fell  and  the  vessels  with  the  cotton  were  late 
in  arriving.  The  bank  of  Mobile,  being  interested  in  the 
cotton  by  advances,  was  compelled  to  send  him  the 
bank’s  stock  as  collateral  security,  together  with  the  bills 
of  lading  for  the  cotton. 

Mr.  Leverich’s  trips  to  New  Orleans — where  his  two 
elder  brothers  William  E.  and  James  H.  had  been  estab 
lisfied  since  about  1819 — were  quite  frequent,  both  by 
land  and  water.  There,  and  at  Natchez,  Miss.,  he  met 
with  Dr.  Stephen  Duncan,  Dr.  William  Newtown  Mercer, 
the  Davises,  Surgets,  Marshalls,  Porters,  Minors  and 
other  prominent  men,  and  succeeded  in  acting  in  a great 
measure  as  their  banker,  merchant,  adviser  and  friend. 
He  furnished  these  men,  who  were  growing  cotton  and 
sugar,  with  plantation  supplies,  and  received  the  crops, 
aggregating  many  thousands  of  dollars.  Twice  did  the 
Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  New  York  city 
pay  him  the  amount  of  $250,000  for  losses  of  cargoes  in 
one  winter  by  the  vessels  being  cut  by  the  ice  in  the  har- 
bor of  New  York. 

Mr.  Leverich  was  married  to  Matilda  Duncan  Gustine 
September  17th  1839,  at  No.  357  Walnut  street,  Philadel- 
phia, by  Rev.  Henry  A.  Boardman.  His  children  were: 
Charles  D.,  Sarah  E.  (died  January  30th  1851),  Stephen 
D.,  James  Henry,  Matilda  R.  and  William  E.  (died  Jan- 
uary 10th  1858).  Charles  D.  married  Julia  L.  Riker,  who 
died  February  28th  1866.  She  bore  him  two  children, 
both  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  June  28th  1870  he  mar- 
ried Fannie  Floyd-Jones,  of  South  Oyster  Bay,  Long 


Island,  by  whom  he  has  two  children.  Stephen  D.  mar- 
ried Mary  W.  De  Forest,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.;  they 
had  one  child.  James  Henry  married  Mary  E.  Wilmol, 
of  Brooklyn,  and  has  one  child.  Matilda  R.  married  Dr. 
Theodore  D.  Bradford,  of  New  York  city;  they  have  two 
children. 

Mr.  Leverich  took  great  pride  in  his  home  and  was 
always  ready  to  extend  that  hospitality  which  is  one  of  the 
great  characteristics  of  the  family.  As  a merchant  and  a 
banker  few  ever  reached  the  esteem  which  he  enjoyed  and 
which  made  his  opinion  so  often  sought.  He  shrank 
from  public  office,  not  seeking  notoriety,  preferring  the 
simple  but  active  life  of  a business  gentleman.  On  May 
12th  1840  he  was  elected  a director  of  the  Bank  of  New 
York,  the  oldest  bank  in  the  city.  On  February  2nd 
1853  he  was  chosen  its  vice-president,  and  on  May  14th 
1863  was  made  president.  We  find  resolutions  offered  in 
1858,  1859  and  1862  in  recognition  of  his  untiring  devo- 
tion and  his  constant  refusals  to  accept  pecuniary  com- 
pensation. A suite  of  three  offices  in  the  bank  was  ten- 
dered him  for  the  business  of  his  house,  all  of  which  he 
declined.  Later  an  arrangement  was  effected  for  com- 
pensation when  he  became  president,  in  which  position 
he  continued  up  to  his  death.  He  was  director  of  many 
moneyed  institutions,  among  them  the  Long  Island, 
Knickerbocker,  Hoffman,  United  States  Life  and  Fire- 
men’s insurance  companies,  trustee  of  the  old  Chambers 
street  (notv  the  Bleecker  street)  “Bank  for  Savings,”  and 
director  in  the  Rutland  Marble  Company,  the  Panama 
Railroad  Company,  and  other  prominent  institutions. 

On  November  21st  i860  was  formed  the  first  “Loan 
Committee”  authorized  by  the  association  of  the  banks 
of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Boston.  It  consisted  of 
Moses  Taylor,  James  Punnett,  Reuben  W.  Howes,  A.  S. 
Fraser  and  Charles  P.  Leverich.  This  committee  repre- 
sented the  banks  in  loaning  to  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment $50,000,000  to  enable  it  to  carry  on  the  war  for 
the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  The  country  had  no 
funds  nor  ammunition,  and  ex-Secretary  Floyd  had  gotten 
possession  of  all  the  arms.  The  timely  action  of  the 
banks  of  New  York  city  saved  the  country,  and  the  pro- 
found thanks  of  the  populace  are  ever  due  to  the  five 
gentlemen  above  named.  Mr.  Taylor  was  chairman  of 
this  committee  and  Mr.  Leverich  was  made  custodian. 
Three  times  did  he  act  in  this  capacity,  having  under  his 
sole  charge  the  enormous  sum  of  $150,000,000  in  securi- 
ties, which  were  lodged  with  him  and  certificates  repre- 
senting them  were  issued.  On  the  retiring  of  these  cer- 
tificates and  the  exchanging  of  the  securities  all  were 
returned  without  a mistake  and  nothing  lost.  For  this, 
a service  of  plate  and  a dinner  were  repeatedly  tendered 
to  Mr.  Leverich,  but  each  time  declined. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  clearing  house  associa- 
tion of  the  banks  of  New  York,  and  on  October  6th  1863 
was  unanimously  elected  chairman,  which  position  of 
honor  and  trust  he  declined. 

Another  of  the  noble  acts  of  his  life  was  building  and 
giving  to  his  friends  and  neighbors  at  Corona  (West 
Flushing)  a little  chapel  for  both  Sabbath-school  and. 


I 


* 


V 


/ 

/ 


AMERICAN  PATENT  PORTABLE  HOUSE  MANUFACTURING  CO., CORONA,  QUEENS  CO.,  L.l. 
Sam.WilletS/TreasT B.  M ozley.  Vice  Pres, T C D.  Leverich,  Pres, l 


CHARLES  P.  LEVERICH—  MANUFACTORIES  AT  CORONA. 


405 


church  services.  This  was  done  during  the  year  1871. 
He  called  it  the  Union  Evangelical  Church  at  Corona, 
and  deeded  it  forever  as  a free  church.  In  one  corner  of 
this  edifice — which  is  a monument,  living  as  it  were, 
speaking  volumes  as  to  his  character,  integrity  and  useful- 
ness— we  find  a handsome  marble  slab,  the  upper  portion 
containing  his  likeness,  a side  view  in  bas  relief, 
and  under  it  the  following  inscription:  “In  memory  of 
Charles  P.  Leverich,  Founder  of  this  Church.  Died 
January  10  1876.” 

In  January  1872,  on  confession  of  faith,  Mr.  Leverich 
joined  the  Fifth  avenue  and  Nineteenth  street  Presby- 
terian church,  New  York,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  John 
Hall,  D.  D. 

The  funeral  of  Mr.  Leverich  occurred  January  12th 
1876  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  New 
York,  and  was  very  largely  attended.  He  was  buried  in 
the  family  vault  in  the  Presbyterian  church-yard  at  New- 
town, Long  Island.  One  greatly  respected,  valued  and 
loved  is  gone,  and  his  posterity  would  be  worse  than 
negligent  did  they  not  honor  the  memory  of  their 
ancestor. 

His  widow  now  resides  at  No.  15  West  Forty-eighth 
street,  New  York,  during  the  winter  months,  having  her 
daughter  and  family  with  her.  Charles  D.and  James  H. 
Leverich  are  in  the  stock  and  bond  brokerage  business  at 
31  Wall  street,  and  Stephen  D.  Leverich  takes  charge  of 
his  mother’s  summer  home  on  Cayuga  Lake,  in  the  cen- 
tral part  of  the  State. 

PORTABLE  HOUSE  MANUFACTORY. 

The  latest  industry  established  here  is  the  manufac- 
ture of  portable  buildings,  and,  although  the  factory  is 
scarcely  in  operation  at  the  date  of  this  writing,  the  en- 
terprise bids  fair  to  rapidly  become  a leading  feature  of 
the  village.  In  1880  Earl  Lee  secured  letters  patent  on 
a system  of  making  light,  cheap,  portable  houses,  which 
might  supply  the  demand  heretofore  imperfectly  met  by 
the  various  kinds  of  tents,  and  began  their  construction 
on  a small  scale  at  his  shop  at  Corona.  Bringing  to  the 
business  not  only  the  resources  of  an  inventor  but  his 
extensive  experience  as  an  architect  and  builder,  Mr. 
Lee  very  soon  made  the  experiment  a success,  and  the 
portable  houses  at  once  found  a place  in  the  market  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  and  before  the  close  of  1881  larger 
facilities  were  demanded  for  their  manufacture. 

About  this  time  Charles  D.  Leverich  became  interested 
in  having  Mr.  Lee  locate  a factory  at  Corona.  Upon  in- 
vestigating the  merits  of  his  invention  Mr.  Leverich  saw 
that  to  operate  successfully  would  require  more  than  in- 
dividual effort,  and  accordingly  a stock  company  was  in- 
corporated under  the  name  of  the  American  Patent  Port- 
able House  Manufacturing  Company,  with  the  following 
board  of  officers:  President,  Charles  D.  Leverich;  vice- 
president,  B.  Mozley;  secretary  and  treasurer,  Samuel 
Willets.  Mr.  Lee,  the  inventor,  became  the  manager  at 


the  factory,  which  is  located  at  Corona.  Among  the  in- 
corporators, besides  the  above  named  gentlemen  were 
BenjaminW.  Strong  and  James  H.  Leverich.  Gustave  Am- 
sinck,  of  G.  Amsinck  & Co.,  importers,  New  York,  James 
M.  Constable  (of  Arnold,  Constable  & Co.j,  Frederic  B. 
Jennings,  Charles  G.  Lincoln,  William  Prall  Thompson, 
James  B.  Houston,  L.  P.  Hawes  and  Charles  G.  Franck- 
lyn,  owner  of  the  Francklyn  cottage  at  Long  Branch,  are 
among  the  largest  stockholders.  The  company's  business 
office  is  at  31  Wall  street,  New  York. 

The  buildings  are  being  constructed  in  various  styles 
and  sizes,  and  about  fifty  persons  are  thus  given  regular 
employment.  A variety  of  styles  and  sizes  of  these  build- 
ings have  been  shipped  to  fill  orders  at  home  and  abroad. 
One  of  the  two-story  houses  was  sent  to  Paris  to  be  used 
as  a permanent  residence;  a portable  hotel  was  recently 
shipped  to  Aspinwall,  and  at  the  time  of  this  writing  a 
portable  chapel  is  being  made  for  a camp  meeting  associa- 
tion, as  well  as  six  large  buildings  for  the  Panama  Canal 
Company,  besides  other  orders.  The  largest  of  this  style 
of  buildings  can  be  taken  down  or  put  up  in  a few  hours. 
One  of  the  most  ingenious  features  of  the  invention  is 
the  system  of  bracing  the  buildings  by  heavy  iron  wire, 
with  turn  buckles  to  regulate  the  strain.  These  braces 
are  placed  between  the  siding  and  the  lining  and  also 
diagonally  under  the  roof. 

The  Long  Island  straw  works  were  established  here 
by  Thomas  M.  Maguire  in  1874.  He  converted  a wooden 
building  into  a factory  and  in  1878,  when  this  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  he  erected  a brick  block  60  by  75  feet, 
three  stories  high.  This  was  used  as  a factory  where 
straw  hats  were  made  with  varying  success  until  the 
close  of  the  season  of  1881,  when  the  machinery  was  re- 
moved and  the  buildings  were  bought  by  the  Portable 
House  Manufacturing  Company  before  mentioned. 

PORCELAIN  WORKS. 

The  first  manufactory  of  any  considerable  importance 
here  was  the  porcelain  works  which  are  now  operated  by 
the  Corona  Porcelain  Manufacturing  Company.  William 
Boch  sen.  was  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  this  art  in 
America.  He  was  a Frenchman  who  came  to  New  York 
about  thirty  years  ago.  His  sons  had  been  educated  to 
the  business  while  yet  in  France,  and  after  coming  to 
America  they  established  the  great  works  at  Green  Point. 
Subsequently  William  Boch  jr.  built  the  pdrcelain  works 
at  Corona,  but  as  he  had  little  or  no  capital  ,the  business 
became  crippled  and  at  his  death  the  property  passed 
into  the  hands  of  J.  Maidhoff  as  mortgagee.  The  prop- 
erty was  rented  for  a brief  time,  but  was  most  of  the  time 
idle  until  1879.  About  this  time  the  buildings  were 
burned,  but  they  were  at  once  rebuilt.  The  present 
building  is  a brick  structure,  two  stories  high,  75  by  40 
feet.  There  are  two  kilns  and  the  capacity  of  the  works 
is  75,000  knobs  in  each  kiln  per  week.  Porcelain  hard- 
ware trimmings  of  every  description  are  made  here,  and 


406 


HISTORY  OF  QUERNS  COUNTY. 


knobs  are  now  mounted,  this  branch  having  been  added 
in  1880.  From  thirty  to  fifty  persons  find  employment 
here.  In  1879  the  owners  organized  as  a stock  company 
with  a paid-up  capital  of  $30,000.  Louis  E.  Maidhoff  is 
general  manager. 


Maple  Grove  Cemetery  Association 

was  organized  in  February  1875,  and  the  cemetery  com- 
prises about  eighty  acres.  The  work  of  improvement 
was  commenced  in  May  1875,  and  there  were  twenty- 
three  burials  that  year,  the  first  February  12th.  The 
number  of  interments  in  1880  was  202,  and  the  total  at 
the  close  of  that  year  867. 

The  association  in  1880  buiU  at  the  western  entrance 


of  the  grounds  a new  stone  lodge  house,  containing  the 
superintendent’s  office  and  waiting  rooms  for  visitors  and 
funeral  parties.  Facilities  for  holding  funeral  services 
are  afforded  in  the  building  when  desired. 

From  the  entrance  of  the  cemetery  to  Maple  Grove 
station  on  the  Long  Island  Railroad  a broad  avenue  was 
completed  some  time  since.  Portions  of  Lake  and  South 
Border  plots  have  been  surveyed  and  opened  for  sale. 
It  is  the  aim  of  the  association  to  keep  the  prices  of  lots 
as  low  as  is  consistent  with  the  expenses  incurred  in  put- 
ting and  keeping  the  grounds  in  order. 

The  cemetery  lies  about  two  miles  west  of  Jamaica,  at 
an  elevation  varying  from  100  to  150  feet  above  tide 
water.  The  grounds  are  well  wooded,  of  finely  diversi- 
fied surface,  and  seem  especially  adapted  to  their 
purpose. 


407 


Henry  S.  Vanderveer. 

Henry  Suydarn  Vanderveer,  of  Newtown,  was  born  in 
an  old  house  that  stood  just  across  the  road  from  his 
present  dwelling,  September  30th  1812.  His  father, 
Michael  Vanderveer,  moved  from  Flatbush,  where  his 
family  had  long  borne  high  repute,  about  1810,  having 
bought  this  farm,  then  consisting  of  130  acres.  He  was 
born  October  22nd  1777,  and  died  April  19th  1821,  in 
the  prime  of  manhood,  not  yet  44  years  old.  He  mar- 
ried Martha  Vandervoort,  of  Newtown,  who  was  born 
March  31st  1878  and  died  November  13th  1855.  Their 
children  were:  James,  born  October  16th  1801;  Gitty 
Ann,  born  March  31st  1803;  George  R.,  born  July  29th 
1807;  Peter,  born  May  14th  1809;  Henry  S.;  Paul  V., 
born  June  13th  1815,  and  Ellen  M.,  born  May  31st 
1818. 

Henry  S.  Vanderveer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  up  with  no  experience  worthy  of  special  remark,  as 
other  boys  in  so  many  farmers’  families  have  before  and 
since,  going  to  district  school  when  old  enough,  doing 
chores  for  his  mother,  and  helping  on  the  farm  summers 
as  he  got  larger,  until  he  arrived  at  the  estate  of  man- 
hood. He  has  always  been  a farmer,  a good  neighbor 
and  a good  citizen. 

Mr.  Vanderveer  married  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  George 
I.  and  Lydia  Burroughs  Rapelye,  January  6th  1847,  in 
the  village  of  West  Flushing.  Mrs.  Vanderveer  was 
born  July  25th  1818,  and  comes  from  a vigorous,  long- 


lived  family,  as  is  attested  by  the  portrait  and  biographi- 
cal sketch  of  her  father  on  page  356. 

The  children  born  to  this  couple  have  been:  Martha 
Elizabeth  (now  Mrs.  Edward  R.  Shipman  of  Brooklyn), 
November  8th  1847;  George  Rapelye,  October  21st 
1849,  and  John  Hyatt,  June  14th  1856.  At  the  age  of 
14  George  R.  fell  from  a load  of  lumber,  and  received 
internal  injuries  which  resulted  in  his  death  two  days 
after,  September  25th  1863.  He  was  an  unusually 
bright,  promising  boy,  and  his  loss  was  a cruel  depriva- 
tion, which  his  parents  can  never  cease  to  feel. 

John  Hyatt  married  (November  13th  1878)  Cornelia 
G.,  daughter  of  John  and  Gertrude  de  Bevoise.  He  re- 
mains at  home,  engaged  in  carrying  on  the  farm.  A 
grandchild  completes  this  household,  representing  the 
third  generation — always  such,  an  impressive  reminder  of 
the  passage  of  time. 

In  1864  Mr.  Vanderveer  united  with  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  of  Newtown,  of  which  Rev.  Charles  I. 
Sheppard  has  for  the  past  14  years  been  the  esteemed 
pastor.  Of  this  religious  society  he  has  always  been  an 
active  and  worthy  member,  serving  first  as  deacon  and 
now  as  elder. 

He  built  the  house  in  which  he  lives  in  1850,  remodel- 
ing and  adding  thereto  in  1873,  making  it,  with  its  pleas- 
ant surroundings,  the  cheerful  and  inviting  home  which 
Mr.  Vanderveer  and  his  family  now  enjoy,  and  to  which 
their  friends  are  always  welcomed  with  a most  genuine 
hospitality. 


408 


History  of  queers  county. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose  portrait  appears 
above,  was  born  in  the  year  1800,  and  was  killed  by  one 
of  his  cattle  in  1864. 

His  father,  Jacob  Duryea,  was  born,  according  to  the 
family  record  now  in  possession  of  Mrs.  Duryea,  in  1772, 
and  his  grandfather,  also  named  Jacob,  was  born  in  1730. 
His  great-grandfather  was  christened  with  the  name  Jacob, 
but  the  date  of  his  birth  cannot  be  ascertained.  It  is 
known  however  that  he  was  born  in  the  southern  part  of 
Kings  county  and  if,  as  is  supposed,  he  was  the  son  of 
JooSt  Duryea,  the  early  history  and  genealogy  of  the 
family  are  already  fully  recorded  in  the  work  of  that  in- 
defatigable genealogist  the  late  Teunis  G.  Bergen. 

Mr.  Duryea  spent  his  life  as  a farmer  in  Newtown, 
and  here  at  his  death  he  left  a widow  and  two  sons,  Na- 
thaniel and  Jacob  S.,  who  reside  on  the  farm  which  he 
left  to  them. 


The  Jackson  Family. 

Robert  Jackson  and  Agnes  his  wife  were  original 
settlers  in  Hempstead.  His  will  is  dated  May  25th  1683. 
His  children  were  John,  Samuel,  Sarah  (Mrs.  Nathaniel 


Moore)  and  Martha  (Mrs.  Nathaniel  Coles).  Of  these 
children,  John  owned  430  acres  in  1685,  and  was  called 
colonel.  He  was  a leader  in  public  affairs.  His  sons 
were  John,  Samuel  and  James.  The  first  mentioned 
settled  near  Jerusalem,  and  died  in  1744,  leaving  ten 
children — Obadiah,  John,  Parmenus,  Martha,  Elizabeth, 
Nancy,  Mary,  Jerusha,  Rosanna  and  Abigail.  Obadiah 
was  the  father  of  General  Jacob  S.  Jackson.  John,  his 
brother,  was  the  father  of  Thomas,  John  Tredwell, 
Samuel,  Noah,  Obadiah,  Charity  and  Mary.  Parmenus 
(robbed  and  murdered  January  10th  1781)  had  sons  Par- 
menus  and  John.  The  former  was  the  father  of  Benja- 
min C.  Jackson,  Thomas  Birdsall  Jackson,  Noah,  Oba- 
diah, Mary  and  Elbert. 

Thomas  B.  Jackson  was  born  at  Jerusalem,  L.  I., 
March  24th  1797,  and  lived  on  the  paternal  homestead 
(where  his  grandfather  Parmenus  was  murdered  during 
the  Revolution).  The  early  ancestors  came  from  Eng- 
land, and  first  settled  on  the  Connecticut  shore,  and 
thence  removed  to  Long  Island  about  1643. 

T.  B.  Jackson  removed  to  Newtown,  L.  I.,  in  April 
1835,  and  located  at  Fish’s  Point,  Flushing  Bay.  The 
“ old  grist-mill  ” on  the  dam,  by  the  mill  pond — a relic 
of  the  past,  held  in  the  Fish  family  over  100  years — was 
for  nearly  half  a century  owned  and  used  by  Mr.  Jack- 
son.  The  frame  is  of  hewn  oak  and  is  as  solid  as  on  the 
day  of  its  erection.  In  1666  the  Indians  used  this  lo- 
cality as  their  encampment,  as  is  plainly  shown  to  this 
day  by  numerous  shell  banks  still  seen  in  the  sheltered 
places  about  the  farm. 

Mr.  Jackson,  who  was  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Long  Island,  took  an  active  and  prominent 
part  in  politics,  holding  various  public  offices  during  a 
period  of  30  years.  He  was  twice  judge,  member  of  As- 
sembly from  1833  to  1837,  and  then  member  of  Congress 
until  1841,  in  the  time  of  Webster,  Clay,  Calhoun,  etc. 

Mr.  Jackson  died  April  23d  1881,  in  his  85th  year. 
His  widow  (who  was  formerly  Maria  Coles)  is  now  in  her 
95th  year,  in  the  enjoyment  of  health,  and  all  her  facul- 
ties. She  is  the  survivor  of  a long-lived  family,  whose 
ages  have  averaged  over  90  years. 

The  sons  are  Samuel  C.,  Andrew,  and  William  H. 
The  accompanying  plate  shows  Samuel  C.  Jackson’s 
residence,  which  is  on  a part  of  the  old  farm  and  has 
been  erected  about  20  years.  He  is  engaged  in  a mer- 
cantile and  manufacturing  business  in  New  York  city. 

Andrew  and  William  H.  are  real  estate  agents  at  As- 
toria. 


> Vj 


S#g: 

tT  - 

w|| 

1 Jll 

I 

l v r 

pifl 

u 

■'ll 

NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


HE  town  of  North  Hempstead  comprises  the 
entire  northern  portion  of  the  original  town 
of  Hempstead.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the  east  by  Oyster 
Bay,  on  the  south  by  Hempstead,  and  on  the 
west  by  Flushing,  and  was  a part  of  what  was  for 
merly  known  as  the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire. 

The  town  is  pretty  equally  divided  by  the  “ ridge  of 
hills  ” — a chain  of  miniature  mountains — which,  com- 
mencing at  Flatbush  and  Brooklyn,  extends  eastwardly 
into  Suffolk  county.  In  the  reflecting  mind  the  pecul- 
iar form  of  this  ridge  of  hills  awakens  the  inquiry 
whether  it  and  the  whole  of  Long  Island  were  not, 
in  the  long  past  ages,  a great  sand  beach  gradually 
washed  up  by  the  ocean,  and  which  by  successive  changes^ 
accumulations,  decay  of  weeds,  leaves  and  vegetable 
matter,  was,  in  the  process  of  ages,  so  fertilized  as  to  pre- 
pare it  for  the  use  of  man,  and  ultimately  to  become 
what  it  now  is,  a highly  productive  soil. 

The  Harbor  Hill  in  this  town  is  the  most  elevated 
point  on  Long  Island.  Its  height  was  measured  in  July 
1816  by  I)r.  Mitchell  and  Captain  Patridge  by  the  barom- 
eter, and  was  found  to  be  3 19  feet  above  tide  water;  but  a 
later  and  probably  more  accurate  measurement,  by  the 
water  commissioners  of  Williamsburgh,  made  its  height 
380  feet.  It  is  covered  with  a dense  forest  of  thrifty 
growth.  At  its  summit  Hon.  Stephen  Taber  has 
erected  an  observatory.  This  elevated  spot  is  much  fre- 
quented by  excursionists  and  picnic  parties  in  the  sum- 
mer season.  From  its  summit  is  obtained  a grand  birds- 
eye  view  of  Long  Island,  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  and 
of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  In  a clear  day  the  city  of  New 
York,  its  great  suspension  bridge  and  towers,  and  many 
of  its  prominent  buildings  may  be  seen  by  the  naked 
eye. 

Geological  Phenomena. 


About  the  year  1820  one  Henry  Demilt  dug  a well, 
preparatory  to  erecting  a dwelling  house,  near  the  middle 
of  Cow  Neck,  and  at  the  depth  of  about  seventy  feet  the 
well  diggers  came  to  a bed  of  clam  shells  and  oyster 
shells  which  were  found  there  imbedded  in  and  inter- 
mingled with  dark  mud  of  a saltish  taste  and  of  the  same 
odor  as  the  mud  now  found  at  the  salt  marshes  by  the 
seashore.  Many  persons  from  the  neighborhood  and 


some  scientific  men  visited  the  place  and  examined  this 
remarkable  phenomenon.  By  further  digging  water  was 
reached,  but  it  was  found  brackish  and  unfit  for  use; 
thereupon  the  contemplated  building  was  abandoned,  the 
well  filled  up  and  no  further  attempts  were  made  to  pro- 
cure good  water  there.  The  locality  was  a mile  distant 
from  the  present  salt  water.  A similar  indication  is  re- 
lated in  the  digging  of  another  well,  at  a much  greater 
depth,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town.  In  the 
latter  case,  however,  good  water  was  reached  after  pene- 
trating a great  depth  below  the  shell  and  sea  mud  strata. 

On  August  24th  1787  a large  and  strangely  appearing 
bone,  apparently  of  some  extinct  fish  or  animal,  was 
found  by  workmen  excavating  at  Great  Neck,  which  at- 
tracted much  attention  and  differing  opinions  from 
scientific  men.  The  learned  Dr.  Samuel  L.  Mitchell, 
then  regarded  as  an  eminent  naturalist  and  an  authority, 
pronounced  it  to  be  the  jaw-bone  of  a sea  cow,  but  how 
it  came  in  such  a place,  on  what  is  now  dry  land,  he 
could  not  explain. 

The  celebrated  “Kidd’s  Rock,”  just  east  of  Sands 
Point,  stands  upon  the  shore  of  a small  island  at  the 
northeasterly  extremity  of  Cow  Neck.  This  is  a very 
large  boulder,  equivalent  to  a cube  of  about  2,000  feet. 
Under  it  tradition  says  the  notorious  Captain  Kidd  (who 
was  hung  in  London  in  1701  for  piracy)  concealed  vast 
amounts  of  the  treasures  accumulated  by  his  numerous 
piracies.  This  immense  rock  has  been  on  all  sides  dug 
around,  undermined,  excavated,  blasted,  and  wrought 
with  various  charms  and  incantations  by  superstitious  or 
visionary  persons,  who  have  here  repeatedly  searched  for 
Kidd’s  treasures,  but  all  in  vain.  There  is  a similar 
large  boulder,  called  Millstone  Rock,  at  Manhasset,  a 
quarter  of  a mile  southeasterly  from  the  Friends’  meet- 
ing house,  which  contains  2,400  cubic  feet  as  measured 
by  Dr.  Mitchell  and  Captain  Patridge;  and  there  for- 
merly was  still  another,  of  similar  size,  on  the  Haydock 
property  near  the  head  of  Cow  Bay.  But  this  latter  has 
disappeared,  having  been  blasted  and  broken  up  into 
fencing  stone.  Boulders  of  so  great  a size  are  an  anom- 
aly on  Long  Island. 

Adaptations  of  the  Soil. 

Much  of  that  large  portion  of  the  present  town  of 
North  Hempstead  situated  south  of  the  ridge  of  hills 


HISTORY  OF  QUEE‘ 


m 


410 

was  at  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  for  a long  time  after, 
lying  as  open  plains,  used  as  commons  by  the  towns- 
people for  pasturing  their  sheep  and  cattle,  and  was 
deemed  almost  valueless  for  tillage.  But  in  process  of 
time  small  portions  were  inclosed  and  appropriated — 
first  by  squatters,  then  larger  portions  by  regular  farmers 
— until  finally,  within  the  last  sixty  years,  the  greater  part 
of  it  was  taken  up,  fenced,  inclosed  and  cultivated;  and 
with  sufficient  manuring  is  found  capable  of  producing 
abundant  crops.  Thus  nearly  all  the  land  formerly 
called  “ the  Plains  ” (anciently  known  as  the  “Salisbury 
Plains”)  is  now  in  a high  slate  of  cultivation,  and  mostly 
occupied  by  thrifty,  wealthy  farmers. 

On  March  25th  1830  the  Legislature  authorized  the 
town  to  sell  these  common  lands  or  “plains”;  and  there- 
upon the  town  sold  or  released  its  title  to  them  to  the 
persons  who  had  from  time  to  time  respectively  enclosed 
and  cultivated  portions  of  them,  for  the  trifling  sum  of 
fifty  cents  per  acre.  The  southerly  part  of  these  plains 
lay  adjoining  the  extensive  tract  more  recently  purchased 
of  the  town  of  Hempstead  by  the  late  A.  T.  Stewart, 
and  on  which  Garden  City  is  built. 

The  land  lying  north  of  the  ridge  of  hills,  embracing 
Great  Neck  and  Cow  Neck,  was  always  deemed  the 
most  fertile.  Great  Neck  was  earliest,  and  ever  since  has 
been,  occupied  by  prosperous  and  for  the  most  part 
wealthy  farmers.  The  practice  of  raising  and  selling  hay 
for  the  New  York  market  was  commenced  here  about 
1818-20  and  soon  became  a profitable  business,  which 
has  extended  to  and  is  yet  continued  largely  in  all  parts 
of  the  town. 

The  soil  of  this  town  (emphatically  of  the  northern 
portion)  is  also  specially  adapted  to  the  growth  of  all  the 
fruit  trees.  There  were,  and  yet  are,  here  many  fine 
orchards,  from  which  the  former  owners  derived  large 
annual  returns,  some  of  them  selling  a thousand  barrels 
or  more  in  fruitful  seasons.  Among  those  farmers  who, 
sixty  or  seventy  years  ago,  paid  great  attention  to  the 
culture  of  apple  orchards,  some  of  which  yet  continue 
productive,  may  be  mentioned  Elijah  Allen,  of  Great 
Neck,  Joseph  Onderdonk,  of  Cow  Neck,  and  Benjamin 
Platt,  of  Herricks,  all  of  whom  planted  and  cultivated 
very  extensive  orchards.  Of  those  who  yet  take  pride  in 
orchards  and  fine  fruits  generally,  Elbert  H.  Bogart,  re- 
siding at  the  easterly  side  of  Cow  Neck,  should  be  men- 
tioned. Isaac  Hicks  & Sons,  of  Westbury,  have  an  ex- 
tensive commercial  nursery  for  the  cultivation  and  sale 
of  choice  fruit  and  ornamental  trees.  There  are  some 
other  persons  about  Westbury,  Manhasset  and  the  two 
Necks  who  yet  manifest  some  interest  in  the  culture  of 
choice  fruits  and  ornamental  trees  as  well. 

Harbors,  Light-Houses  and  Navigation. 

The  town  is  indented  with  bays  and  harbors,  which 
are  navigated  by  sloops  of  from  30  to  50  tons.  Hemp- 
stead Harbor,  on  the  east  side,  separates  this  town  from 
Oyster  Bay,  as  respects  the  water-line  north  of  or  below 
the  “Barrow  Beach.”  This  beach  extends  for  about  a 
mile  easterly  from  the  east  side  of  Cow  Neck,  nearly 


across  the  harbor  to  Glenwood,  yet  leaving  a spacious 
opening  called  “ the  Gut,”  through  which  sloops  and 
steamboats  of  large  size  pass  and  repass  at  all  times  of 
the  tide. 

This  harbor  or  bay  on  either  side  furnishes  numerous 
fine  building  sites,  some  of  which  are  occupied  by  elegant 
mansions. 

Cow  Bay  (anciently  known  as  Schout’s  and  also  as 
Howe’s  Bay),  on  the  west  side  of  Cow  Neck,  separating  it 
from  Great  Neck,  furnishes  a still  larger  number  of  beau- 
tiful sites,  on  some  of  which  tasteful  dwellings  are  erected. 
The  west  side  of  Great  Neck,  facing  Long  Island  Sound,, 
has  also  many  beautiful  water  fronts.  Costly  residences 
have  been  erected  along  nearly  all  these  shores  within  re- 
cent years,  chiefly  since  the  opening  of  the  North  Hemp- 
stead turnpike,  giving  direct  communication  from  Roslyn 
and  Manhasset  to  New  York  via  Flushing. 

At  the  northern  extremity  of  Cow  Neck,  on  a point 
jutting  far  into  Long  Island  Sound,  the  United  States 
government  erected  the  Sands  Point  light-house  in  1809. 
Five  acres  of  land  there  were  bought  of  Benjamin  Hew- 
lett, January  15th  1808,  upon  which  the  light-house  was 
built  by  Captain  Noah  Mason,  who  at  its  completion  was 
appointed  its  keeper  and  continued  as  such  until  his 
death,  in  1841.  Adjoining  the  light-house  grounds  a 
large  hotel,  patronized  by  visitors  from  New  York,  has 
been  built,  furnishing  grand  views  of  Long  Island  Sound 
and  the  opposite  shores  of  Westchester  county  and  the 
State  of  Connecticut  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  There 
are  also  several  beautiful  private  residences  in  this  vicin- 
ity, occupied  by  retired  wealthy  persons.  Another  light- 
house half  a mile  northerly  was  about  40  years  after- 
ward erected  on  the  “ Execution  Rocks,”  a dangerous 
reef  directly  in  the  track  of  vessels  navigating  Long 
Island  Sound.  Both  these  light-houses  are  attended  by 
the  same  keeper.  A naval  battle  on  a small  scale  came 
off  here  September  10th  1814,  during  our  last  war  with 
England,  between  the  British  frigate  “Acosta”  and 
thirty  American  gunboats. 

The  bays  and  harbors  bounding  the  northerly  shores 
of  the  town  furnish  good  facilities  for  navigation,  by 
steam  or  sailing  vessels.  The  first  attempt  to  introduce 
steam  navigation  was  made  about  1837,  when  by  neigh- 
borhood subscriptions  the  steamboat  “ Statesman  ” was 
purchased,  and  ran  daily  to  New  York  from  a newly  con- 
structed dock  at  Port  Washington.  But  after  running  a 
year  or  two  and  sinking  most  of  the  capital  embarked 
therein  the  enterprise  was  abandoned.  A steamboat  has 
since  run  from  Port  Washington,  at  irregular  intervals. 
More  recently  spacious  steamboat  wharves  have  been 
constructed  at  Great  Neck,  Sands  Point,  Glen  Cove,  Sea 
Cliff,  and  Roslyn.  Steamboats  leave  Roslyn  in  the  morn- 
ing and  return  at  evening,  stopping  at  each  of  these  places 
on  the  outward  and  the  inward  trips.  From  all  these 
latter  landings  regular  daily  steamboat  communication 
with  New  York  may  now  be  deemed  permanently  estab- 
lished. The  North  Hempstead  and  Flushing  turnpike, 
seconded  by  the  permanent  establishment  of  steamboats, 
and  followed  by  the  yet  incomplete  railroad  facilities. 


ROADS  IN  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD— EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


1 1 


have  induced  many  strangers  to  become  permanent  resi- 
dents here. 

Roads. 

Formerly  the  entire  northern  portion  of  the  town  had 
none  but  a circuitous  communication  with  New  York. 
Residents  of  that  part  of  the  town  were  compelled  to 
travel  by  the  roundabout  way  of  Jamaica  to  reach  the 
metropolis.  But  about  1840,  by  the  exertions  of  a few 
public  spirited  individuals,  a turnpike  was  constructed 
giving  a direct  route  from  Roslyn  by  way  of  Manhasset, 
Great  Neck,  Little  Neck,  and  Bay  Side  to  Flushing,  and 
thence  to  New  York.  Subsequently  this  turnpike  was 
extended  from  Roslyn  to  East  Norwich  and  thence  finally 
to  Cold  Spring.  This  has  given  a great  impetus  to  mar- 
ket gardening  and  the  introduction  of  visitors  and  set- 
tlers from  New  York  and  elsewhere,  and  largely  promoted 
the  productive  capacity  and  growth  of  population  over 
the  entire  northern  portion  of  North  Hempstead.  The 
few  individuals  by  whose  exertions  and  money  the  turn- 
pike was  constructed  have  lost  most  of  their  advances; 
but  the  great  community  has  been  vastly  benefited  by 
their  expenditure. 

The  Jericho  turnpike,  extending  through  the  southerly 
side  of  this  town,  was  constructed  many  years  before. 
By  its  construction  improved  traveling  facilities  were 
furnished  from  Jericho  and  the  southerly  part  of  North 
Hempstead  to  Jamaica  and  Brooklyn.  The  public  high- 
ways of  the  town  are  generally  in  fine  condition. 

The  Long  Island  Railroad  with  its  Glen  Cove  branch 
penetrates  the  town  through  its  southerly  and  easterly 
parts.  The  North  Shore  Railroad,  completed  only  from 
Flushing  to  Great  Neck,  penetrates  but  a mile  or  so,  as 
yet,  on  its  westerly  side,  with  some  promise  of  its  early 
completion  eastwardly  to  Manhasset,  as  originally  con- 
tracted for  and  partially  graded,  and  thence  ultimately  on 
to  Port  Washington  and  perhaps  to  Glen  Cove,  Oyster 
Bay,  Cold  Spring,  and  Huntington. 

Settlement  and  Early  History. 

Though  this  and  the  adjoining  territory  had  for  a long 
time  belonged  to  the  Dutch  government,  yet  there  had 
been  none  but  very  sparse  settlements  made  prior  to 
about  1670.  The  first  important  settlement  was  made, 
or  rather  attempted,  near  the  head  of  Cow  Bay,  in  the 
spring  of  1640,  by  a small  colony  of  English  immigrants 
from  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain Daniel  Howe,  who  came  under  the  pretended  au- 
thority (afterward  disavowed)  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 
They  landed  on  the  west  side  of  Cow  Neck,  near  the 
head  of  Cow  Bay,  and  at  once  pulled  down  the  Dutch 
arms,  which  were  nailed  to  a tree  there,  and  in  derision 
carved  a fool's  face  in  their  stead.  They  then  began 
erecting  dwelling  houses  and  negotiating  with  the  Indi- 
ans for  the  lands  on  Cow  Neck — extending  thence  south- 
erly to  the  “Plains.”  The  Sachem  Penhawitz,  who  had 
previously  sold  the  land  to  the  Dutch,  informed  them  of 
this  trespass.  All  these  doings,  being  in  contempt  and 
defiance  of  the  rights  and  authority  of  the  Dutch  gov- 


ernment, were  of  course  regarded  as  hostile  acts.  The 
Dutch  authorities  thereupon  dispatched  a force  of  twen- 
ty-five soldiers  to  Cow  Bay,  who  summarily  carried  off 
the  trespassers;  and  thus  their  attempted  settlement  was 
necessarily  abandoned  and  soon  after  entirely  broken  up. 
The  same  company,  later  in  the  same  year,  associated 
with  others  and  commenced  the  settlement  of  South- 
ampton. 

D uring  the  next  fifty  years  the  town  became  gradually 
occupied  by  both  Dutch  and  English  settlers,  the  English 
settling  mostly  about  Westbury  and  Herricks,  and  the 
Dutch  generally  preferring  the  necks.  Connecticut  too 
asserted  her  authority  here,  and  on  October  5th  1662 
went  through  the  form  of  annexing  this  and  other  towns 
to  her  province;  but  in  January  of  1664  these  towns  com- 
bined and  threw  off  her  authority. 

The  town’s  history  is  much  interwoven  with  the  early 
history  of  the  town  of  Hempstead.  The  early  settlers 
suffered  much  in  person  and  property  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  the  Indians,  and  were  frequently  compelled  to 
abandon  their  settlements.  Their  cattle  were  stolen,  and 
their  wives  and  children  maltreated.  The  whites  fre- 
quently resorted  to  bribes  as  the  most  effectual  mode  of 
securing  immunity  from  them.  These  Indian  depreda- 
tions were  by  the  Dutch  ascribed  in  part  to  instigation  by 
the  English  settlers  from  Massachusetts  and  the  New 
Haven  colonies. 

Cow  Neck,  containing  about  6,000  acres  of  land,  was  at 
the  earliest  settlement  of  the  original  town  of  Hempstead 
used  principally  for  pasturing  cattle  by  the  inhabitants  of 
other  portions  of  the  town.  Great  Neck,  containing 
about  4,000  acres  of  land  and  formerly  known  as  Mad- 
nan’s  Neck,  was  earliest  permanently  settled,  religious 
services  being  established  there  as  early  as  1676.  For  a 
long  period  and  up  to  about  1676  Cow  Neck  continued 
to  be  used  by  residents  in  distant  parts  of  the  town,  in- 
cluding the  present  town  of  Hempstead,  as  a common 
pasture;  and  for  this  purpose  was  fenced  from  near  the 
head  of  Cow  Bay  across  to  near  the  village  of  Roslyn. 
The  freeholders  of  the  town  were  permitted  to  pasture  a 
number  of  sheep  or  cattle  proportioned  to  the  number  of 
panels  of  this  fence  they  had  respectively  constructed. 
These  rights  of  pasturage  were  bought  and  sold  much  as 
we  now  sell  bank  stocks  or  railroad  bonds.  The  land  was 
divided  among  the  claimants  (probably  in  the  same  pro- 
portions) subsequent  to  1695.  The  part  now 
known  as  Plandome  was  so  named  by  Dr.  Samuel  L. 
Mitchell,  meaning  a pleasant  home;  or,  as  some  say, 
after  the  Place  Vendome  in  Paris,  which  he  had  visited. 
It  was  known  as  Little  Cow  Neck.  Plandome  mill  was 
built  either  by  William  or  Matthias  Nicholls,  early  in  the 
last  century.  It  was  spoken  of  as  “Latham’s  mill  ” in 
1746. 

North  Hempstead  was  set  off  from  Hempstead  by  an 
act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  April  6th  1784.  Its  first 
supervisor  was  Adrian  Onderdonk,  grandfather  of 
Henry  Onderdonk  jr.,  of  Jamaica  (author  of  numerous 
historical  publications  relating  to  Long  Island),  and  Judge 
Onderdonk,  of  Manhasset.  The  entire  town  then  con- 


412 


HISTORY  OF 


QUEENS  COUNTY. 


tained  but  four  churches  or  places  of  worship — the  Re- 
formed Dutch,  erected  in  1732,  near  the  lake  at  Success 
(now  Lakeville);  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  at  Searingtown; 
and  two  Friends’  meeting-houses,  one  at  Westbury  and 
the  other  at  Manhasset. 

Cold,  Storm,  and  Flood. 

North  Hempstead,  like  other  parts  of  Long  Island, 
suffered  greatly  by  the  memorable  “cold  summer.”  This 
occurred  in  the  year  1816.  The  crops  of  hay,  corn, 
wheat,  rye,  oats,  and  potatoes  were  shrunken  up,  with- 
ered and  destroyed  by  the  long  continued  cold  of  this 
remarkable  summer.  The  farmers  had  great  difficulty 
and  expense  in  procuring  food  for  their  livestock.  For 
the  following  winter  they  had  to  rely  on  salt  hay  from 
the  meadows  and  marshes. 

Another  calamity  by  which  this  town  suffered  greatly 
was  the  “September  gale,”  September  3d  1821,  which 
prostrated  buildings,  trees,  fences  and  growing  crops, 
causing  immense  damage. 

On  August  ioth-i3th  1826  came  “ the  great  flood,” 
when  tremendous  rains,  long  continued,  caused  the  over- 
flow of  streams,  and  great  disasters.  The  flood  broke 
through  the  dam  of  John  T.  Mitchell’s  mill-pond  at  Man- 
hasset Valley,  and  carried  away  the  grist-mill  there  and 
the  adjacent  saw-mill.  It  also  broke  through  and  carried 
away  the  dam  of  William  Hewlett’s  mill-pond  at  Cow 
Neck.  The  dam  of  Judge  Mitchell’s  tide-water  mill  at 
Plandome  shared  the  same  fate.  On  the  12th  and  13th 
nine  inches  of  water  fell.  Roads,  fields  and  crops  in  all 
parts  of  the  town  were  destroyed  or  damaged  to  an  ex- 
tent never  known  before  or  since. 

Family  Names,  etc. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  names  of  most  of  the 
old  families,  original  settlers  of  the  town,  dating  back  to 
colonial  times  : Allen,  Brinkerhoff,  Bogart,  Burtis, 
Cornwell,  Cox,  Cock,  Denton,  Dodge,  Hewlett,  Hege- 
man,  Hicks,  Hoagland,  Kissam,  Mitchell,  Morrell,  Mott, 
Onderdonk,  Platt,  Pearsall,  Post,  Powell,  Robbins,  Rem- 
sen,  Rapelyea,  Schenck,  Smith,  Sands,  Titus,  Treadwell, 
Thorne,  Underhill,  Valentine,  Willets,  Willis,  Williams 
and  Woolley. 

The  Sands  family  was  once  numerous  in  the  town,  but 
that  name  has  now  become  nearly  extinct.  They  were 
once  large  landholders,  especially  near  Sands  Point 
light-house,  which  took  its  name  from  this  family.  With 
this  exception  many  or  most  of  the  above  named  families 
are  represented  in  the  present  population. 

There  were  also  some  few  families  representing  the 
names  of  Appleby,  Adriance,  Albertson,  Baker,  Burr, 
Burt,  Bedell,  Bennett,  Baldwin,  Baxter,  Craft,  Covert, 
Crooker,  Carpenter,  Cheeseman,  Cornell,  Duryea,  Down- 
ing, Demilt,  Ellison,  Frost,  Foster,  Fowler,  Hutchings, 
Haines,  Haviland,  Hawkshurst,  Hagner,  Ketcham,  Kirk, 
Kirby,  Jackson,  Jarvis,  Lewis,  Losee,  Layton,  Mudge, 
Nostrand,  Peters,  Poole,  Sell,  Seaman,  Sealy,  Townsend, 
Toffey,  Van  Nostrand,  Van  Wyck,  Vandewater,  Van 
Dyne,  Whitson,  Wood  and  Wiggins.  Some,  though  not 


niany,  representatives  of  these  names  and  families  yet 
reside  in  the  town. 

I'he  following  names  are  also  represented  in  the  pres- 
ent population  of  the  town,  but  few  if  any  of  them  were 
“to  the  manor  born,”  having  descended  from  families 
originating  elsewhere  and  settling  here  in  comparatively 
modern  times,  to  wit:  Arthur,  Armstrong,  Burdett,  Bay- 
lis,  Brush,  Brewer,  Chester,  Clapham,  Conklin,  Cline, 
Clark,  Davis,  Doncourt,  Fleet,  Field,  Firth,  Fletcher, 
Gibson,  Grace,  Germaine,  Hayden,  Hyde,  Hendrickson, 
Hoag,  Horsfield,  Jenks,  Jagger,  Jayne,  Kelsey,  Keese, 
King,  L’Hommedieu,  Mackey,  Messenger,  Morgan, 
McKee,  Oakley,  Purdy,  Pierce,  Porter,  Prior,  Rogers, 
Rushmore,  Skidmore,  Sherwood,  Spinney,  Thibbets,  Til- 
ley, Travis,  Taber,  Thompson,  Terry,  Udall,  Van  Pelt, 
Vanderveer,  Velsor,  Walters,  Wight  and  Wright. 

The  town  of  North  Hempstead  has  sent  many  repre- 
sentatives to  the  Legislature;  among  others,  to  the 
Senate  John  Schenck  in  1793,  Andrew  Onderdonk  rn 
1797  and  John  I.  Schenck  in  1828;  and  to  the  Assembly 
Hendrick  Onderdonk  in  1784,  Daniel  Whitehead  Kis- 
sam in  1786,  Richard  Thorne  in  1787,  John  Schenck  in 
1788,  Samuel  L.  Mitchell  in  1791,  John  M.  Smith  in 
1798,  John  Willis  in  1846,  Sylvanus  S.  Smith  in  1852, 
John  A.  Searing  in  1854,  Stephen  Taber  in  i860  and 
Francis  Skillman  in  1867. 

The  town  in  1810  had  2,570  inhabitants;  in  1845, 
3,987;  1850,  4,291;  1855,  9,446;  i860,  5,419;  i865> 

5-335;  1870,6540;  1875,7,217;  1880,7,562. 

There  were  in  1880  about  1,063  persons  assessed  for 
taxation.  In  1801  there  were  but  310  taxpayers  in  the 
town,  and  the  average  tax  was  about  $5.70  for  each 
taxpayer.  The  present  rate  of  taxation  is  increased 
enormously — very  far  beyond  the  increase  in  population. 

The  town  now  has  the  following  post-offices:  Old  West- 
bury, Roslyn,  Mineola,  East  Williston,  Port  Washington, 
Manhasset  and  Great  Neck. 

Cemeteries. 

The  oldest  cemeteries  are  one  near  Sands  Point,  where 
many  persons  of  the  Sands  and  Hewlett  and  some  of  the 
Cornwell  families  are  buried;  another  and  larger  ceme- 
tery, on  the  Treadwell  farm,  just  north  of  Port  Wash- 
ington, where  the  Motts,  Cornwells,  Treadwells,  and 
others  are  interred;  another  at  Flower  Hill,  where  the 
Onderdonks,  Hegemans,  Brinkerhoffs,  Rapelyeas,  Bo- 
garts and  Dodges  comprise  the  more  numerous  inter- 
ments. Some  of  the  Hewletts,  Thornes,  and  others  have 
family  cemeteries  on  their  own  lands.  The  Friends  have 
an  ancient  burial  ground  adjoining  their  meeting-house 
at  Manhasset.  The  Episcopal  and  Reformed  churches 
at  Manhasset  have  burial  grounds  adjoining  their  respect- 
ive churches,  which  have  been  used  about  seventy  years. 
The  Rose  Hill  Cemetery,  at  Manhasset,  adjoining  the 
churches,  has  existed  but  about  forty  years.  There  has 
recently  been  laid  out,  a mile  east  of  Roslyn,  a large 
cemetery,  partly  under  the  auspices  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Roslyn.  In  the  Friends’  meeting-house  grounds 
at  Westbury  is  another  ancient  burial  place.  There 


REVOLUTIONARY  PATRIOTS  IN  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD— ADAM  MOTT’S  WIT/,. 


are  in  various  parts  of  the  town  many  other  less  exten- 
sive cemeteries,  now  disused. 

The  Jones  Fund. 

The  poor  of  North  Hempstead  and  Oyster  Bay  are 
now  mainly  supported  by  “the  Jones  fund  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  poor.”  This  fund  is  a legacy  of  $30,000  left 
by  Samuel  Jones,  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  For  some 
time  after  this  generous  bequest  was  made  there  was  an 
undercurrent  of  hesitation  in  if  not  opposition  to  de- 
manding and  securing  this  $30,000  legacy.  Seeing  this, 
one  public  spirited  gentleman  from  Oyster  Bay  and  an- 
other from  North  Hempstead  called  a public  meeting, 
aroused  the  inhabitants  of  their  respective  towns,  pro- 
cured the  necessary  legislat;on  at  Albany,  and  (all  with- 
out any  charge  for  their  services)  secured  to  the  people 
the  lasting  advantages  intended  by  the  benevolent  donor. 
Further  particulars  are  given  in  the  history  of  Oyster 
Bay. 

The  Will  of  Adam  Mott. 

Although  Adam  Mott  was  a resident  of  Hempstead 
village  he  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  present  town 
of  North  Hempstead,  whither  the  family  subsequently 
removed.  The  will  is  especially  interesting  in  showing 
the  manner  of  thought  in  those  days,  and  the  stress 
laid  on  small  articles  of  personal  property.  Yet 
when  it  is  considered  that  the  people  had  made 
several  homes  since  leaving  England,  and  that  goods 
could  only  be  replaced  at  an  enormous  cost  compared 
with  their  intrinsic  value,  we  look  with  respect  upon 
their  care  for  little  things.  The  following  is  a copy 
of  his  will: 

“I,  Adam  Mott,  lying  now  very  weak,  do  now  declare 
this  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament  from  this  day,  I 
being  through  God’s  mercy  in  my  right  senses.  I do 
humbly  surrender  and  give  my  soul  and  spirit  to  God 
which  gave  it  me,  and  my  body  to  the  earth,  to  be  buried 
in  decent  manner;  that  all  just  debts  that  shall  be  made 
appear  shall  be  paid  justly  to  the  creditors  so  applying. 
I do  give  to  my  eldest  son,  Adam  Mott,  fifty  acres  of 
land  that  he  is  to  take  up  and  five  shillings  in  money;  to 
my  son  Jeames  I give  two  cows  and  a hollow  lying  by 
the  Harbor  parth  and  my  Kersey  wescoat  and  my  Searsg 
drawers  and  my  new  Hatt;  to  my  daughter  Grace  I give 
four  great  pewter  platters,  and  those  Hallows  lying  be- 
between  the  Great  Run  and  Tanner’s  Hook,  those 
two  Hollows  which  lyeth  on  the  left  hand  of  the 
parth  going  to  the  Town  from  Madnan’s  Neck, 
and  three  Hollows  lying  on  next  to  the  other 
side  of  the  parth  by  the  great  Run,  the  said  land 
to  remain  to  her  and  her  heirs  forever;  to  my  son  John 
I do  give  my  Lott  of  Meadow  lying  at  the  Wheat  Neck 
and  my  Hollow  lying  by  the  Harbor  parth;  to  my  son 
Joseph  I give  a hundred  acres  of  land  where  he  shall  see 
good  to  take  up  for  his  use  which  is  yet  untaken  up, 
and  a Hollow  lying  by  the  West  Hollow  in  the  Sandy 
Hollow.  To  my  Gershom  I do  give  five  cows;  to 
my  son  Henry’s  three  children  I do  give  one 
two  years  old  Heifer.  To  my  dear  wife  Eliza- 
beth Mott  and  all  the  children  I have  by  her  I do  give 
and  bequeath  my  house  and  lott  upon  Madman’s  Neck, 
and  wiih  all  the  rest  of  my  said  Estate  except  mentioned 
in  my  will  aforesaid,  Moveables  and  Immoveables,  with 


all  and  every  part  thereof,  to  stand  and  remain  to  my 
wife  and  children,  only  my  House  and  Orchard  and  home 
Lott  at  Hempstead  and  the  Mill  Hollow  in  particular  I 
do  give  to  my  younger  son,  Adam.  But  in  case  my  wife 
Elizabeth  should  see  cause  to  marry,  that  then  the  Estate 
which  I have  given  to  my  wife  and  children  shall  be 
Equally  divided  into  four  parts,  and  my  wife  Elizabeth  to 
have  and  enjoy  the  one  part  and  those  children  which  I 
have  had  by  her  shall  have  the  other  three  parts,  to  be 
Equally  divided  between  them.  And  I do  give  unto  my 
wife  Elizabeth  for  her  life  time,  If  she  shall  see  Cause, 
my  House  and  Land  on  Madnan’s  Neck  and  a Lott  of 
Meadow;  and  If  my  Wife  doth  Remain  a Widow  that 
there  should  be  none  of  the  children  to  enjoy  any  of  the 
said  Estate  untill  they  marry,  Except  that  my  wife  shall 
see  cause  to  the  Contrary.  As  to  four  proprietyships 
which  I have  in  the  bounds  of  Hempstead  I do  give  unto 
my  wife  Elizabeth  and  her  children,  first  to  take  her 
choice  of  two  of  the  said  proprietyships  and  the  Other 
two  to  be  Equally  divided  amongst  my  four  Eldest  Sons 
in  Equall  proportions;  and  with  all  and  Every  Part  of 
this  my  will  and  Testament  I do  heartily  desire  may  be 
performed  in  all  particulars,  as  witness  my  hand  and  seal, 
this  12th  day  of  March  Anno  Dom.  1681.” 

North  Hempstead  during  the  Revolution. 

A large  majority  of  the  people  of  Hempstead,  of 
which  North  Hempstead  was  then  a part,  were  opposed 
to  the  Revolution  and  to  sending  delegates  to  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress.  Congress  having  in  April  1775  recom- 
mended the  appointing  of  Whig  committees  in  each 
town,  some  inhabitants  of  Cow  Neck  and  Great  Neck 
assembled  September  23d  following  and,  taking  into 
serious  consideration  their  distressed  situation,  and  con- 
vinced of  their  inability  to  pursue  proper  measures  for 
the  common  safety  while  they  were  considered  a part  of 
Hempstead,  resolved  that  they  would  no  longer  be  a part 
of  that  town  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  Congressional 
plan.  They  then  elected  a town  committee,  consisting 
of  Benjamin  Sands  (chairman),  Adrian  Onderdonck 
(deputy  chairman),  and  John  Farmer,  a schoolmaster 
(clerk).  They  adopted  a form  of  association  sent  them 
by  the  Congress  and  had  it  circulated  for  signatures. 
They  also  reorganized  the  militia  company  by  appointing 
the  following  officers  and  musicians:  John  Sands,  cap- 
tain; Thomas  Mitchell,  first  lieutenant;  Aspinwall  Corn- 
well,  second  lieutenant;  Andrew  Onderdonk,  ensign; 
Richard  Manee,  William  Hutchings,  Joseph  Akerly,  and 
William  Hicks,  sergeants;  Hosea  Hauxhurst,  Austin 
Mitchell,  Andrew  H.  Onderdonk,  and  Jonathan  Hutch- 
ings, corporals;  Stephen  Cornwell,  clerk;  John  Whaley, 
drummer;  Charles  Stubbs,  fifer;  Gregory  Ritchie,  haut- 
boy. There  was  also  a north  side  company,  of  120  men, 
of  which  Philip  Valentine  was  captain  and  Coe  Searing 
second  lieutenant.  The  Congress  on  learning  of  these 
proceedings  complimented  the  committee  for  their  ac- 
tion. Most  of  the  persons  holding  offices  under  the 
crown  opposed  the  measures  of  the  committee,  who  re- 
ported their  names  to  the  Congress,  by  whose  order  they 
were  arrested  and  carried  off  to  prison.  John  Sands  was 
promoted  colonel  June  25th  1776,  when  Thomas  Mitchell 
was  made  captain,  Aspinwall  Cornwell  first  lieutenant  and 
Oliver  Lawrence  second  lieutenant.  Recruiting  com- 


414 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


menced  July  23d  1776,  $10  bounty  being  offered  to 
volunteers.  Colonel  Sands  bad  bis  headquarters  at 
Nathaniel  Seaman’s,  Westbury.  Some  of  the  men 
were  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Brooklyn,  August 
27th,  and  retreated  with  the  army  to  Westchester 
county,  where  they  were  disbanded,  and  many  crossed 
over  the  sound  to  their  homes.  Some  staid  out  of  the 
British  lines  till  the  end  of  the  war.  As  British  armed 
vessels  were  expected  to  come  down  the  sound  to  New 
York,  a guard,  under  Sergeants  Richard  Manee  and 
William  Hicks,  was  set  at  the  bottom  of  Cow  Neck  and 
Great  Neck,  which  was  visited  and  inspected  August  1st 
1776  by  Cols.  Josiah  Smith  and  John  Sands  and  Major 
Abraham  Remsen.  The  orders  to  Manee  were:  “You 
are  to  take  your  recruits  to  the  bottom  of  Cow  Neck  and 
then  apply  to  Simon  Sands,  who  is  to  reconnoitre  and 
choose  a place  for  you  to  be  stationed  at,  where  you  are 
to  build  a shelter  and  place  one  sentinel  where  he  will 
have  most  prospect  of  the  sound  ; the  sentry  to  be  re- 
lieved once  every  two  hours.  Should  he  spy  any  vessels 
appearing  to  be  ships  of  war,  send  express  to  Simon 
Sands,  William  and  John  Cornwell.  Ask  Sands  also  for 
a long  pole  to  hoist  a flag  on  for  a signal.”  William 
Hicks,  sergeant,  was  ordered  to  take  his  recruits  to  the 
bottom  of  Great  Neck,  now  John  A.  King’s  place,  then 
owned  by  Lawrence  Hewlett  and  called  Haviland’s 
Point.  On  discovering  ships  of  war  he  was  to  report  to 
Major  Richard  Thorne  or  John  Thorne. 

Soon  after  the  defeat  of  the  American  army  at  Brook- 
lyn a detachment  of  the  British  light  dragoons  rode  into 
North  Hempstead  and  carried  off  to  the  provost  prison 
in  New  York  such  of  the  prominent  Whigs  as  had  not 
left  the  island  ; among  others  Colonel  John  Sands, 
Adrian  Onderdonck  and  Major  Richard  Thorne.  The 
livestock,  hay,  grain,  wagons  and  teams  of  rebels  were 
at  once  carried  off  for  the  use  of  Howe’s  army.  But  on 
the  25th  of  October  1776  petitions  were  circulated  and 
signed  by  all  the  residents  of  the  county  praying  to  be 
at  peace  with  the  king  ; and  all  rebels  taking  the  oath  of 
allegiance  were  once  more  left  in  peaceable  possession  of 
their  property,  but  subject  to  the  inconveniences  of  an 
armed  occupation,  such  as  having  officers  quartered  or 
soldiers  billeted  in  their  houses.  The  British  army  from 
time  to  time  needed  horses,  wood,  hay,  straw,  and  grain, 
which  the  farmers  were  obliged  to  furnish  whether  they 
could  spare  them  or  not.  These  were  paid  for,  at  prices 
fixed  by  the  British  general,  in  silver  and  gold,  which 
the  farmers  hid  away  and  buried  in  their  cellars,  and 
which  became  at  last  a temptation  to  robbers,  who  tor- 
tured their  victims  till  they  disclosed  and  gave  up  their 
hidden  treasures.  There  were  requisitions  for  wood  at 
least  three  times  ; we  give  one  list  (June  1st  1782)  as  a 
specimen  : 

Apportionment  of  364^  cords  of  wood  to  be  cut 
under  Major  Kissam’s  directions  for  the  use  of  the 
British  army  in  New  York:  Jacob  Mott,  cords;  Is- 
rael Pearsall,  23;  Michael  Mudge,  6;  Richard  Kirk,  6; 
Jeremiah  Robbins,  5;  George  Weeks,  3;  Joshua  Willis, 
Widow  Ireland,  1;  William  Valentine,  4;  Hendrick 


nderdonck,  4j4;  Thomas  Applebe  and  son,  14;  James 
Hewlett,  6;  Samuel  Hewlett,  8;  John  Burtis,  4;  William 
Hutchings,  2 }4;  John  Sands,  11;  Daniel  Kissam  and 
son,  12;  Andrew  Hegeman,  6;  Andrew  and  Elbert  Hege- 
man,  n;  Daniel  Rapeleye,  3 x/z\  Peter  Onderdonk,  6; 
widow  of  Tristram  Dodge,  ij4;  Oba.  Demilt,  4 
Thomas  Dodge,  5 ; Captain  St.  Thorne,  6;  Henry 
Sands,  19;  John  Cornwell  and  son,  4;  Edward  Sands, 2; 
Simon  Sands,  5;  Stephen  Mott,  9;  Adam  Mott,  10;  John 
Mott,  4;  Joseph  Dodge,  4;  Robert  Sutton,  4;  Hendrick 
Yander  Belt  and  daughter,  7;  Israel  Baxter,  2 John 
Mitchell  and  son,  7;  Daniel  Whitehead  Kissam,  8; 
Joseph  Kissam,  3j4;  Benjamin  Kissam,  ij4;  Dr.  Samuel 
Latham,  6;  Joseph  Pearsall,  5;  Adrian  Onderdonk,  3^; 
Richard  Thorne,  3;  Joseph  Thorne,  3;  Benjamin  Aker- 
ly,  3J2;  George  Rapelye,  4;  Timothy  Smith,  11;  William 
Smith,  3 John  Schenck,  11;  Daniel  Brinckerhoff,  5; 
Cornelius  Cornell,  1;  Charles  Cornell,  2 George  Cor- 
nell, 1 %;  Samuel  Mott  Cornell,  1^;  Samuel  Tredwell,  4; 
Henry  Hawxhurst,  2;  Richard  Sands,  5;  Charles  Hicks, 
4;  Josh  Cornwell,  5;  William  Thorne,  6;  Caleb  Cor- 
nell, 1 Y\. 

The  farmers  had  their  teams  impressed  from  time  to 
time  to  cart  baggage,  pickets,  fascines  for  forts,  and 
military  stores  for  the  army. 

The  Friends,  not  feeling  free  to  aid  war,  were  great  suf- 
ferers. March  3d  1777  Elias  Hicks,  their  great  preacher, 
was  deprived  of  a great  coat  worth  26  shillings  on 
a demand  for  12  shillings  to  pay  the  hire  of  men 
to  repair  the  British  forts  at  Brooklyn;  April  4th  a pair 
of  shoes  worth  10  shillings  was  taken  from  him  on  his 
refusal  to  stand  guard;  on  August  28th  he  was  distrained 
of  a pair  of  silver  buckles  worth  18  shillings,  two  pairs  of 
stockings,  worth  15  shillings,  and  a handkerchief  worth 
5 shillings,  all  because  he  would  not  go  on  an  alarm  in 
armed  pursuit  of  the  enemy;  and  in  June  1778  a pair  of 
stockings  worth  5 shillings  and  a razoi;  case  with  two 
razors,  worth  4 shillings,  were  taken  from  him  for  some 
like  cause. 

Besides  the  outrages  of  British  soldiers  in  stealing, 
burning  fences  and  robbing  at  night,  North  Hempstead 
suffered  greatly  from  the  nightly  depredations  of  whale- 
boatmen,  as  they  were  called,  who  had  their  quarters  in 
Connecticut.  Guards  were  stationed  along  the  shores  of 
the  sound.  After  years  of  mischief  the  head  of  a gang 
of  these  robbers  was  shot,  and  the  governor  of  Connecti- 
cut, on  a representation  made  to  him  by  the  sufferers,  re- 
fused to  commission  any  more.  On  a Thursday  evening 
(October  26th  1782)  two  whaleboats  with  muffled  oars 
landed  a number  of  whaleboatmen  in  Cow  Bay  at 
Thorne’s  dock  (afterward  Judge  Kissam’s)  and  pro- 
ceeded to  James  Burr’s  store,  Manhasset  Valley.  Burr 
had  been  robbed  once  before,  and  slept  in  the  store  with 
his  gun  loaded.  As  soon  as  they  demanded  admittance 
he  fired.  Judging  of  his  position  by  the  report,  the  rob- 
bers fired  diagonally  through  the  front  corners  of  the 
store.  Burr  received  a ball  in  his  body,  went  to  the 
bedside  of  his  little  brother,  told  him  he  was  a dead  man, 
and  fell.  Being  unable  to  force  open  the  door,  the  rob- 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


4i5 


bers  ripped  off  the  boards,  entered  through  the  side  of 
the  store,  and  loaded  themselves  with  goods.  As  they 
returned  and  were  rounding  the  corner  of  John  Burtis’s 
blacksmith  shop,  west  of  the  house  occupied  by  the  late 
Dr.  Purdy,  David  Jarvis,  an  apprentice  boy,  fired  on 
them,  one  after  another,  from  the  second  story  window, 
Burtis  loading  the  guns  and  Molly,  his  wife,  handing 
powder.  In  this  way  several  were  wounded,  till  at  last 
came  their  leader,  Captain  Martin,  staggering  under  an 
enormous  load  of  goods,  who  received  a buckshot  in  the 
center  of  his  forehead  and  had  his  breast  also  tattooed 
with  shot.  Throwing  down  his  carbine,  he  stumbled  up 
the  hill  north  of  Dr.  Purdy’s,  dropping  his  load  by  the 
way,  and  fell  down  dead  on  the  summit,  where  his  body 
was  discovered  by  George  Onderdonk.  The  firing 
alarmed  the  neighbors,  who  had  now  assembled  in  great 
numbers.  Before  it  was  yet  day  Joseph  Onderdonk  was 
dispatched  for  Major  Kissam,  who  came  and  held  an  ex- 
amination. In  Martin’s  pocket-book  were  found  a list 
of  his  crew  and  a captain’s  commission  from  the  State  of 
Massachusetts  authorizing  him  “ to  cruise  against  the  en- 
emies of  the  United  States,”  but  not  to  go  on  land. 
Captain  Martin’s  clothes,  shoes  with  silver  buckles,  and 
watch,  together  with  the  guns  dropped  in  the  flight,  were 
given  to  Jarvis.  He  was  also  presented  with  a pair  of 
new  pistols  as  a reward  for  his  heroic  daring.  Jarvis  had 
on  a previous  occasion  beaten  off  a party  of  whaleboatmen 
and  wounded  one  Jim  Brown.  Martin’s  body  was  buried 
in  a corner  of  Martin  Schenck’s  land,  south  of  the  Epis- 
copal church.  The  rest  of  the  gang  escaped  to  their 
boats,  which  were  seen  by  Joseph  Onderdonk  during  the 
alarm  of  firing  slowly  dropping  down  the  bay  to  a pre- 
concerted spot,  probably  Mitchell’s  landing.  The  night 
was  overcast.  Joseph  Onderdonk,  a lad  of  sixteen,  was 
stationed  with  a gun  in  a young  locust  northeast  of 
his  father’s  house  to  fire  an  alarm  in  case  the  house  was 
attacked.  While  he  was  here  a fellow  ran  up  to  him, 
crying  out,  “ D — n their  blood,  they’ve  wounded  me!” 
On  discovering  his  mistake  he  made  off  and  was  out  of 
sight  in  an  instant.  Captain  Martin  had  been  a lucky 
fellow,  having  captured  a number  of  prizes. 

The  old  block-house  now  standing  at  Herricks  was 
erected  for  a store,  on  the  Jericho  turnpike  near  West- 
bury,  during  the  Revolution.  It  was  bullet  proof  and 
had  portholes  in  the  second  story  to  afford  protection 
from  robbers.  Not  only  was  there  loss  of  property  on 
land  from  the  \vhaleboatmen,  but  their  captures  of  boats 
plying  between  here  and  New  York  were  numerous. 
The  prizes  were  carried  over  to  the  Connecticut  shore. 
Thomas  Dodge  was  once  a passenger  and  sat  in  the  cabin 
when  a boat  was  taken.  Hearing  a noise  he  tried  to  get 
on  deck,  but  found  he  was  fastened  down.  He  sang  out, 
“ What  are  you  about  up  there?  Open  the  door  and  let 
me  up,  or  else  come  down  yourselves,  and  let  11s  drink 
for  better  acquaintance.”  The  captors  came  down,  and 
were  treated  with  a bottle  of  spirits  from  Dodge’s  pro- 
vision basket.  They  had  a jolly  time  of  it,  and  on 
Dodge’s  arrival  at  Horse  Neck  he  found  many  old  friends, 
and  was  allowed  to  return  on  parole.  This  exempted 


him  from  the  fatigues  of  military  duty  (which  consisted 
in  frequent  trainings  and  patrolling  the  coast  at  night) 
until  he  was  exchanged. 

At  the  peace  in  1783  many  loyalists  sold  out  and  left 
North  Hempstead  for  Nova  Scotia  for  fear  of  being 
punished  by  the  Whigs;  but  some  returned  after  they 
found  it  safe  to  do  so.  The  Legislature  passed  the 
“ trespass  act,”  by  virtue  of  which  suits  were  brought 
against  all  British  agents  who  had  impressed  horses,  cat- 
tle, wagons,  forage,  or  persons,  or  carted  off  wood,  during 
the  war.  Many  farmers  thus  recovered  damages.  Only 
two  farms  in  North  Hempstead  were  confiscated  to  the 
State.  One  was  that  of  Daniel  Kissam  the  elder  (now 
occupied  by  Howell  and  Adrian  Onderdonk,  at  Flower 
Hill).  It  consisted  of  330  acres  and  was  bid  in  by  the 
widow  for  ^2,000,  August  5th  1784.  The  other  belong- 
ed to  the  Ludlows. 

The  Legislature  ordered  a special  town  meeting  De- 
cember 22nd  1783,  when  Whigs  were  chosen  to  office  in 
place  of  the  loyalists  who  had  held  office  during  the  war, 
viz.:  Adrian  Onderdonk,  supervisor;  John  Schenck, 
clerk;  John  Searing  and  John  Burtis,  constables;  Peter 
Onderdonk,  Abraham  Schenck  and  Benjamin  Everitt, 
commissioners  of  highways,  etc.  Such  was  the  antipathy 
of  the  Whigs  of  North  Hempstead  to  the  loyalists  of 
South  Hempstead  that  the  Legislature,  April  1 6th  1784, 
divided  the  town  by  the  line  of  the  “Country  road.” 

Officers  of  North  Hempstead. 

The  first  town  meeting  for  North  Hempstead  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Samuel  Searing,  at  Searingtown,  on  the 
14th  of  April  1784.  Adrian  Onderdonk  was  elected  su- 
pervisor and  John  Schenck  town  clerk.  Supervisors  have 
since  been  elected  as  follows: 

1785,  Adrian  Onderdonk;  1786,  Richard  Thorn;  1787- 
1808,  Andries  Hegeman;  1809-18,  Lawrence  Denton; 
1819,  1820,  John  B.  Kissam;  1821-28,  Singleton  Mitchell; 
1829,  Henry  J.  Hagner;  1830-37,  William  L.  Mitchell; 
1838-45,  John  Willis;  1846-52,  Silvanus  S.  Smith;  1853, 
John  S.  Wood;  1855,  Andrew  J.  Hegeman;  1854,  1856- 
67,  1873,  1877-81,  John  M.  Clark;  1868,  1869,  Benjamin 
W.  Allen;  1870  72,  1874,  Henry  J.  Remsen;  1875,  1 87 6, 
Samuel  Willets. 

John  Schenck  was  town  clerk  until  1818.  His  suc- 
cessors have  been  as  follows:  1819-29,  John  S.  Schenck; 
1830-48,  George  D.  Ketcham;  1849,  Stephen  Taber; 
I^5°'53>  J°hn  R.  Schenck;  1854,  1856-58,  i860,  1861, 
James  M.  Stil well ; 1855,  J.  Louis  Poillon;  1859,  1862, 
James  M.  Mitchell;  1863-66,  William  A.  Mitchell;  1867, 
1868,  Samuel  V.  Searing;  1869-73,  Valentine  Downing; 
1874,  1875,  John  D.  Acker;  1876-80,  William  U.  Nos- 
trand; 1881,  Samuel  Hooper. 

The  following  justices  have  been  elected  since  1834: 
Richard  Allen,  1835,  1839,  1843,  1847;  John  A.  Searing, 
1835,  1837,  1841;  Isaac  H.  Dodge,  1836;  Eliphalet  Mow- 
bray, 1836,  1838;  Lewis  S.  Hewlett,  1837;  Elias  B.  Hig- 
bie,  1839,  1842,  1855;  Samuel  L.  Hewlett,  1840;  Warren 
Mitchell,  1841,  1844,  1848,  1852;  Elias  Lewis,  1843; 
Elias  Lewis  jr.,  1844,  1846,  1850;  John  S.  Wood,  1844, 


4i  6 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


1845,  j849,  1870;  Leonard  A.  Seaman,  1851,  1856,  1859, 
1863,  1867;  Francis  Skillman,  1851,  1854,  1858,  1862, 
1866,  1871;  A.  S.  Mowbray,  1851;  George  H.  Horsfield, 
1853;  Monroe  Henderson,  1856;  A.  J.  Hegeman,  1857; 
Luke  Fleet  jr.,  1857;  Wessel  S.  Smith.  1858,  i860,  1865, 
t868;  Stephen  Bedell,  1858;  Obadiah  J.  Downing,  1859; 
David  Provost,  1 86 1 , 1866,  1869;  Silas  W.  Albertson, 
1864;  Isaac  Sherwood,  1865;  Samuel  V.  Searing,  1871; 
James  L.  Baxter,  1872.  1876;  Willis  P.  Baker,  1873;  W. 
W.  Kirby,  1874,  1878;  Henry  C.  Morrell,  1874,  1877, 
1881;  J.  D.  Armstrong,  1875;  Charles  A.  Van  Nostrand, 
1879;  Selah  H.  Brush,  1880. 

County  Insane  Asylum. 

On  the  completion  of  the  new  court-house  at  Long 
Island  City  in  1877  the  supervisors  of  Queens  county  had 
the  old  building  near  Mineola  (erected  in  1786)  repaired, 
enlarged  and  fitted  up  for  the  accommodation  of  the  in- 
sane of  the  county,  who  had  been  either  sent  abroad  to 
other  asylums  or  kept  in  the  poor-house  in  company  with 
the  paupers.  The  building  is  60  feet  by  70,  with  exten- 
sions on  each  side.  Three  acres  of  ground  are  enclosed 
with  a high  fence.  There  are  over  100  patients  under 
Dr.  David  Rogers,  the  keeper.  The  income  from  paying 
patients  amounts  to  nearly  $4,000  per  year. 

Agriculture. 

Since  its  settlement  by  the  whites  North  Hempstead 
has  always  been  pre-eminently  an  agricultural  town.  A 
few  grist-mills  and  other  small  manufactories  have  been 
scattered  about  in  favorable  locations;  but  the  principal 
occupation  of  its  inhabitants  has  been  and  still  continues 
the  tillage  of  the  soil.  The  location  of  the  township  upon 
Long  Island  Sound,  with  its  shores  indented  by  deep  and 
safe  harbors,  offers  peculiar  facilities  for  the  cheap  and 
easy  carriage  of  its  products  to  market,  and  before  the 
construction  of  railways  regular  lines  of  market  boats 
made  frequent  trips  to  New  York  and  convenient  land- 
ings upon  the  shore.  In  recent  years  the  introduction  of 
improved  wagons  and  the  laying  of  plank  and  macadam- 
ized roads  have  given  the  farmers  an  opportunity  to  carry 
the  produce  from  their  farms  directly  to  market,  and  thus 
avail  themselves  of  the  best  prices. 

The  soil  of  the  town  is  mostly  a yellow  loam  overlying 
thick  deposits  of  sand  and  gravel.  This  affords  excel- 
lent drainage  and  makes  the  land  easy  to  work,  although 
the  mold  is  not  of  sufficient  depth  and  richness  to  pro- 
duce paying  crops  without  the  constant  and  extensive 
use  of  fertilizers.  These  latter  are  principally  the  refuse 
from  the  stables  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  although  of 
late  years  artificially  prepared  fertilizers  have  been  intro- 
duced with  some  success. 

LTnlike  some  of  the  adjoining  towns,  North  Hemp- 
stead was  originally  covered  with  a growth  of  forest. 
This  was  principally  of  oak  and  chestnut,  although  all 
the  native  diciduous  trees  flourished  in  the  different  and 
widely  varying  locations  furnished  by  the  diversified 
character  of  the  land.  The  old  forest  fell  many  years 
ago  before  the  axes  of  the  early  settlers,  and  nothing  of 


. / 

it  now  remains  except  occasionally  an  aged  and  solitary 
oak  which  has  served  as  a landmark  or  been  preserved 
because  of  historic  or  family  association.  The  primitive 
giants  of  the  forest  have  been  succeeded  by  a secondary 
growth,  which  includes  all  the  native  varieties  and  also 
several  which,  like  the  locust,  have  been  imported  from 
other  localities.  A locust  tree  on  the  lawn  of  Daniel 
Bogart’s  residence  at  Roslyn  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  first  planted  on  Long  Island.  It  was  raised  from 
seed  brought  from  Virginia  by  Captain  John  Sands  in 
1701,  and  is  still  sound  and  vigorous.  During  the  pros- 
perous days  of  American  wooden  ship  building  Long 
Island  locust  was  much  sought  after  for  the  making  of 
“ trunnels  ” and  for  other  purposes,  and  a very  profitable 
business  was  carried  on  in  the  planting  and  rearing  of 
this  quick-growing  tree;  but  with  the  decay  of  the  ship- 
ping interest  the  demand  for  locust  has  so  diminished 
that  no  special  attention  is  now  paid  to  its  cultivation. 
The  woodland  is  now  principally  confined  to  the  range 
of  hills  that  traverses  the  town  from  east  to  west;  the 
trees  growing  more  rapidly  there  than  upon  the  level 
portion,  while  the  land  is  less  valuable  for  agricultural 
purposes. 

Both  the  products  of  the  soil  and  the  manner  of  obtain- 
ing them  have  varied  greatly  since  the  first  settlement  of 
the  country.  The  early  farmers  cultivated  a great  variety 
of  crops,  some  of  which,  such  as  tobacco  and  flax,  have 
long  since  been  abandoned.  The  proximity  and  rapid 
growth  of  the  great  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
have  constantly  modified  the  conditions  under  which 
profitable  farming  could  be  conducted  on  Long  Island. 
North  Hempstead,  being  more  remote  from  metropolitan 
influences  than  some  of  her  sister  towns  further  west,  has 
escaped  the  agricultural  revolution  that  has  converted 
their  fair  farms  into  productive  market  gardens.  There 
has  nevertheless  been  a marked  change  in  the  agricultur- 
al products  of  the  town  since  the  early  days,  when  the 
farmer  thought  mainly  of  supplying  the  wants  of  his  own 
household  and  those  of  his  immediate  neighbors,  and 
when  he  had  not  the  great  markets  to  stimulate  the  rais- 
ing of  special  crops.  At  the  present  time,  while  the 
western  section  of  the  town  has  many  acres  devoted  to 
market  gardening,  the  great  body  of  arable  land  is  used 
to  produce  the  two  main  staples,  hay  and  potatoes,  which 
may  be  called  the  chief  market  products  of  the  town,  and 
those  which  bring  in  the  largest  revenue.  All  the  cereals 
are  raised  as  rotation  crops,  and  corn  grows  well  and 
realizes  abundant  returns. 

The  farmers  of  North  Hempstead  have  always  kept 
well  abreast  of  the  times  in  the  employment  of  improved 
agricultural  machinery.  Their  land  being  well  adapted 
to  the  use  of  the  finest  and  most  complicated  imple- 
ments, they  have  been  enterprising  and  far-sighted  in 
adopting  their  use  as  soon  as  convinced  of  their  utility. 

The  production  of  milk  for  use  in  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn has  come  to  be  the  source  of  an  important  part  of 
the  farmer’s  labor  and  income.  About  9,000  quarts  are 
daily  delivered  at  the  different  raihvay  stations  in  the 
town  and  forwarded  to  agents  in  the  city,  who  distribute 


INDUSTRIES  OF  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD— SCHOOLS.- 


40 


the  milk  to  their  customers.  To  produce  this  large 
amount  of  milk  necessitates  the  keeping  of  a great  num- 
ber of  cows,  which  consume  the  products  of  the  farms 
on  which  they  are  kept,  and  thus  modify,  to  a consider- 
able extent,  the  agricultural  products  of  the  town.  It  is 
an  undoubted  fact  that  the  “ raising  of  milk,”  as  it  is 
called,  has  been  profitable,  and  has  added  greatly  to  the 
wealth  of  the  farmers. 

Stock  breeding  has  always  been  followed  to  a greater 
or  less  extent  by  the  people  of  North  Hempstead,  and 
some  celebrated  strains  of  imported  and  native  blood 
have  been  owned  and  maintained  in  the  town;  but  it 
cannot  be  said  that  this  favorite  pursuit  of  the  farmer 
has  ever  assumed  that  paramount  importance  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  island  that  it  has  in  some  others. 

The  old  agricultural  families  of  the  town  have  been  in 
the  main  composed  of  healthy,  thrifty,  moral  men  and 
women,  who  have  made  the  very  best  class  of  citizens. 
Brought  up  to  consider  hard  work  honorable,  and  an 
honest  name  their  best  inheritance,  they  have  labored 
perseveringly,  lived  frugally,  and  prospered  by  prudence. 
Their  well-tilled  farms  have  afforded  them  a good  living, 
and  in  most  instances  a small  yearly  income  besides. 
This  little  surplus,  by  careful  saving,  has  made  many  of 
them  rich,  and  placed  nearly  all  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances. The  representatives  of  the  old  families  cling 
affectionately  to  the  ancestral  acres;  and  it  is  not  un- 
usual to  find  a lineal  descendant  of  the  first  settler  of  the 
name  still  residing  on  the  old  homestead,  which  in  seve- 
ral instances  is  held  by  a deed  running  back  to  the  first 
settlement  of  the  country  and  attested  by  the  curious 
signs  of  the  Indian  chiefs. 

The  town  has  had  many  representatives  in  the  great 
cities  and  other  busy  marts  of  commerce  and  industry, 
as  the  farmers  have  been  in  the  habit  of  encouraging 
some  of  their  sons  to  fit  themselves  for  business  pur- 
suits. Some  of  the  most  respected  and  wealthy  merchants 
in  New  York,  both  at  present  and  in  times  past,  were 
born  in  North  Hempstead  and  were  the  sons  of  farmers. 
These  merchants,  with  scarcely  an  exception,  when  they 
acquired  a competence,  have  themselves  returned  or  sent 
their  sons  to  occupy  and  improve  some  part  of  the  home 
farm;  thus  demonstrating  that  inherited  love  of  the  free- 
dom and  independence  of  a country  life  survives  amid 
the  cares  of  business  and  the  luxuries  of  the  city. 

Oyster  Culture. 

Cow  Bay  and  other  waters  of  North  Hempstead  have 
long  been  famed  for  the  excellence  of  their  clams,  but 
of  late  years  their  oysters,  too,  have  come  into  promi- 
nence. 

The  first  oysters  were  planted  here  by  Henry  Cock,  in 
1832,  in  his  mill  pond,  the  seed  being  procured  from  the 
shores  of  the  bay.  In  1840  the  first  were  planted  in 
the  waters  of  Cow  Bay  by  Henry  Cock  and  John  Mackey. 
These  men  were  followed  by  George  Mackey,  John  H. 
Allen  and  others.  Seed  was  obtained  from  the  natural 
beds  in  the  sound  and  the  beds  in  the  Hudson  River. 
The  business  was  not  active  until  1855,  when  Andrew 


Van  Pelt  and  son,  A.  V.  N.  Thatcher,  Albert  S.  Thatcher, 
Daniel  Van  Pelt,  John  J.  Thompson,  Henry  C.  Jones  and 
others  removed  from  Staten  Island  to  this  place.  When 
they  came  there  were  no  laws  to  regulate  the  planting  of 
oysters,  or  for  protecting  them  when  planted.  The 
oyster  men  soon  found  themselves  a power  in  politics 
and  demanded  legislation  for  the  protection  of  their  in- 
dustry. Laws  for  the  regulation  of  planting  oysters  and 
protection  of  the  beds  have  been  enacted,  giving  security 
to  the  business.  At  this  time  there  was  only  one  store 
of  importance  in  the  place.  There  was  a small  school- 
house,  no  church,  and  not  enough  dwellings  to  shelter 
the  people.  Charles  W.  Mitchel,  anticipating  the  vil- 
lage’s growth,  laid  out  his  farm  in  village  lots.  The  oys- 
termen  bought  these  and  built  houses  on  them.  They 
have  succeeded  and  paid  for  them.  The  amount  of  land 
utilized  under  water  has  been  continually  increased  until 
about  all  the  available  space  is  taken. 

When  the  business  was  commenced  there  were  two 
hundred  inhabitants  in  the  place;  there  are  now  1,200. 

Schools  of  North  Hempstead. 

The  educational  history  of  North  Hempstead  is 
similar  in  most  respects  to  that  of  the  adjoining  towns. 
Running  back  from  beyond  the  recollections  of  the  oldest 
inhabitants  we  find  such  records  and  sketches  as  lead  us 
to  helieve  that  from  the  earliest  settlement  to  the  pres- 
ent time  the  cause  of  education  has  kept  pace  with  ad- 
vancing civilization,  until  now,  as  regards  school  buildings, 
school  furniture,  and  well  qualified  and  well  paid  teachers, 
North  Hempstead  is  not  excelled  by  any  other  town  in 
Queens  county,  and  Queens  county  is  recognized  as 
holding  a prominent  position  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
counties  of  the  State. 

In  colonial  days  public  education  was  in  a crude  state; 
very  little  was  required  of  teachers,  and  very  little  was 
paid  in  return  for  services  rendered. 

Sometimes  there  was  an  exception,  but  generally 
the  schoolmaster  was  supposed  to  teach  only  the  Eng- 
lish language,  arithmetic,  orthography  and  “ de- 
cent behavior,”  and  was  usually  paid,  in  part  at  least,  in 
farm  produce — sometimes  in  wampum.  In  1763  the 
teachers’  pay  was  ^25  and  board.  After  the  lapse 
of  fifty  years  we  find  the  condition  of  things  ma- 
terially improved.  Teachers  were  then  paid  from  $12  to 
$15  per  month,  and  taught  six  hours  a day  in  winter  and 
eight  in  spring,  summer  and  autumn. 

The  schools  were  taught  six  days  in  a week,  and  for  fifty- 
two  weeks  in  the  year,  but  the  results  obtained  were  de- 
cidedly inferior  to  the  results  of  our  present  system  with 
five  or  six  hours  per  day,  five  days  per  week  and  forty 
weeks  per  year.  The  boys  cut  wood  and  built  fires,  the 
girls  swept  the  school  room,  and  the  teacher  collected 
his  own  wages  by  a “rate  bill.” 

Since  that  time  the  improvement  has  been  even 
greater.  There  is  not  at  present  a poor  school  building 
in  the  town,  and  teachers  are  liberally  paid — men  re- 
ceiving from  $75  to  $90  and  women  from  $35  to  $50  per 
month. 


418 


HISTORY  OF  QUERNS  COUNTY. 


The  intellectual  qualifications  of  teachers  and  the 
quality  of  work  done  by  them  are  very  much  higher  than 
fifty  years  ago. 

There  are  in  the  town  ten  school  districts,  of  which 
six  were  organized  under  the  common  school  law  of  1812, 
and  four  are  union  free  schools  organized  under  the  gen- 
eral free  school  law  of  1864. 

On  the  22nd  of  May  1819  the  town  commissioners  of 
common  schools  divided  the  town  into  nine  districts — 
the  tenth  was  afterward  formed  from  districts  No.  2 and 
No.  9. 

District  No.  1 is  at  Old  Westbury.  The  present  school 
building  was  erected  in  1855.  In  1863  it  was  organized 
as  a union  free  school,  and  it  has  at  present  an  average 
attendance  of  about  forty  pupils.  The  board  of  educa- 
tion consists  of  Edward  Hicks,  John  Post  and  Abel 
Payne.  Miss  Maggie  Hawxhurst  is  and  for  several 
years  past  has  been  the  teacher. 

District  No.  2 is  a common  district  school  at  “ North 
Side.”  John  Mollineaux,  Valentine  Velser  an*d  Joshua 
Powell  are  the  trustees,  and  Miss  J.  Florence  Cady  is 
the  teacher.  The  average  attendance  is  about  thirty. 
The  school-house  was  built  about  forty  years  ago.  Dis- 
trict No.  3— Roslyn — is  a union  free  school,  organized  in 
1864.  The  present  school  building  was  erected  in  1862, 
and  in  1868  a colored  school  was  established. 

The  board  of  education  consists  of  J.  Augustus  Prior, 
J.  H.  Bogart,  M.  D.,  Valentine  Downing,  Samuel  Hoop- 
er and  James  K.  Davis,  and  the  present  teachers  are 
Wilfred  M.  Peck,  Margaret  Hennessy,  Olivia  Griffin, 
Hattie  Hurd  and  Grace  R.  Dickinson.  The  average 
attendance  is  140  white  and  15  colored  pupils. 

District  No.  4 — “ Flower  Hill  ” — has  a common  dis- 
trict school,  with  James  R.  Willets  trustee  and  Amelia 
M.  Smith  teacher.  The  average  attendance  is  twenty- 
six.  The  school-house  was  built  in  1869. 

In  district  No.  5 — Port  Washington — is  a union  free 
school,  organized  in  1864.  In  1870  the  “old  red  school- 
house  ” with  one  room  was  found  to  be  too  small,  and  a 
new  one  (the  best  in  the  town)  was  erected  at  a cost 
(with  lot)  of  $6,000.  In  1879  it  was  found  necessary  to 
enlarge  it.  The  board  of  education  consists  of  Warren 

S.  Weeks,  George  C.  McKee,  Edwin  Henderson,  Tilford 
Stevenson  and  Henry  T.  Smith;  and  Mr.  N.  L.  Bogardus, 
Mrs.  Mary  F.  Surdam,  Elma  Brush  and  Laura  B.  Weeks 
are  the  teachers.  The  average  attendance  of  pupils  is 
about  130. 

Charles  E.  Surdam  was  principal  of  this  school  for  ten 
years  prior  to  his  election  to  the  office  of  school  com- 
missioner, which  office  he  now  fills. 

District  No.  6 — Manhasset — was  organized  as  a union 
free  school  in  1866.  The  school-house  was  built  in  1868. 
The  average  attendance  is  85.  The  trustees  are  Charles 
Coles,  Charles  Willets  and  Isaac  Brinkerhoof;  teachers, 
Mary  Bunyan,  Ella  Newman  and  Minnie  Coles. 

District  No.  7 — Great  Neck — has  a common  district 
school.  The  trustees  are  John  Birkbeck,  Edward  L. 
Crabb  and  Samuel  Hayden.  The  teachers  are  Edward 

T.  Allen,  Cassie  Van  Nostrand  and  Emma  Potter.  The 


school-house  was  built  about  1872.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  100. 

District  No.  8 — “Lakeville” — has  a common  district 
school,  with  an  average  attendance  of  about  45.  Miss 
Addie  Hicks  has  for  several  years  been  the  teacher.  The 
trustees  are  John  T.  Woolley,  John  Remsen  and  Benja- 
min P.  Allen.  In  1878  the  old  school-house  burned  and 
the  present  one  (which  is  probably  the  finest  for  one 
teacher  on  Long  Island)  was  erected.  This  district  has 
also  a negro  school,  taught  by  Mrs.  Annie  Van  Horn. 

In  district  No.  9 — “ Herricks” — 'there  is  a common 
district  school.  Miss  Annie  Hubbs  is  the  teacher  and 
Jacob  S.  Parsed,  Elias  C.  Everett  and  Samuel  V.  Arm- 
strong are  the  trustees.  The  average  attendance  is  about 
forty.  The  school-house  was  built  in  1872. 

District  No.  10  embraces  Mineola  and  has  a common 
district  school.  The  house  W2S  erected  in  1876.  The 
average  attendance  is  26.  The  present  teacher  is  Leo- 
nora Hubbs,  who  has  taught  there  ten  years,  and  the_ 
trustees  are  Townsend  Albertson,  George  W.  Emory  and 
Silas  Shaw. 

The  only  private  school  of  importance  is  the  Friends’ 
school  at  Old  Westbury,  which  is  under  the  auspices  of 
the  “ Westbury  Educational  Association.”  About  sixty 
years  ago  the  orthodox  branch  seceded  from  the  Hicks- 
ite  Quakers,  and  for  thirty  years  each  branch  maintain- 
ed a school  under  the  management  of  a committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  society.  About  thirty  years  ago  ‘the 
building  owned  by  the  Hicksite  branch  was  burned, 
after  which  the  two  societies  united  in  organizing  the 
present  association,  which  ever  since  has  maintained  a 
first-class  school.  The  building  is  furnished  with  modern 
apparatus,  and  for  several  years  the  managers  have  em- 
ployed none  but  normal  graduates  as  teachers.  One  of 
the  first  trustees  (of  whom  there  are  three)  was  Stephen 
R.  Hicks,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  active  member 
of  the  board  until  about  twelve  years  since.  Among  the 
others  who  served  as  trustees  were  William  Titus,  Wil- 
liam P.  Titus,  Joseph  Hicks,  and  Robert  W.  Titus.  The 
present  trustees  are  John  D.  Hicks,  William  E.  Hawx- 
hurst and  Edward  Hicks.  The  first  two  have  served 
in  that  capacity  for  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years.  The 
most  prominent  teachers  have  been  Cynthia  Osborne, 
Elizabeth  Ladd,  Lizzie  Lutton,  James  Carej^  Orville 
Libby,  Sarah  Shotwell,  and  Mary  Bunyan.  The  present 
teacher  is  Miss  A.  L.  Collins,  a graduate  of  the  Oswego 
normal  school.  About  twenty  years  ago  a hall  was  at- 
tached to  the  school  building  in  such  a manner  that  both 
rooms  can  be  made  one.  In  this  lectures  have  been  de- 
livered by  Professor  Yeomans,  George  W.  Curtis,  Theo- 
dore Tilton,  William  Loyd  Garrison,  Rev.  A.  A.  Willets 
and  many  others. 

The  Newspapers  of  North  Hempstead. 

The  first  paper  printed  and  published  in  the  town  was 
the  North  Hempstead  Gazette , the  initial  number  of 
which  was  issued  December  3d  1846  at-  Manhasset 
Valley,  by  William  H.  Onderdonk,  editor  and  proprietor, 
who  was  then  a young  lawyer,  and  is  now  prominent  at 


NEWSPAPERS  OF  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD— THE  “FRIENDS.” 


419 


the  Queens  county  bar.  In  March  1848  the  office  of 
publication  was  removed  to  Roslyn,  and  in  June  of  that 
year  Mr.  Onderdonk  sold  the  paper  to  tbe  firm  of 
Cogswell  Brothers  (John  T.  and  Samuel  F.  Cogswell),  who 
conducted  the  same  until  April  1849,  when  Samuel  F. 
Cogswell  retired  from  the  firm,  and  the  publication  was 
thereafter  continued  under  the  proprietorship  of  John  T. 
Cogswell,  who  associated  with  him  as  editor  Eugene  A. 
Hyde.  Mr.  Hyde  was  a Connecticut  schoolmaster,  settled 
at  Roslyn.  This  continued  until  about  July  1852,  when 
Messrs.  Cogswell  & Hyde  removed  the  press  and  material 
to  the  town  of  West  Farms  in  Westchester  county,  where 
for  some  years  thereafter  they  published  a local  paper 
under  a new  name. 

On  July  12th  1850  the  Plaindealer  was  first  issued  at 
Roslyn  by  the  firm  of  Leggett  & Eastman,  editors  and 
proprietors.  Augustus  W.  Leggett  was  a gentleman  of 
considerable  literary  taste  and  ability,  and  his  partner, 
Henry  W.  Eastman,  was  then  a young  lawyer,  who  some 
three  years  before  had  opened  his  office  at  Roslyn,  and 
who  was  only  anxious  to  find  something  to  do  to  keep 
himself  busy — law  business  being  then  somewhat  scarce 
in  that  locality.  There  was  a ladies’  department  in  the 
paper,  which  was  very  ably  edited  by  Mrs.  Eliza  S.  Leg- 
gett, the  amiable  wife  of  the  senior  editor,  and  a most 
excellent  and  worthy  woman.  The  paper  was  independent 
in  politics,  and  strongly  supported  all  local  interests.  It 
remained  a popular  and  successful  local  journal  until 
January  1852,  when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leggett  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  they  now  reside,  and  the  press  and 
material  were  sold  to  James  L.  Crowley,  who  had  been 
the  foreman  in  the  office  since  it  started.  Mr.  Crowley 
removed  the  paper  and  the  office  to  Glen  Cove,  in  the 
neighboring  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  where  he  continued  to 
publish  it  under  the  same  name  until  March  1853,  when 
its  title  was  changed  to  the  Glen  Cove  Plaindealer  and 
Oyster  Bay  Standard,  under  which  head  it  survived  until 
January  1854,  when  it  died  a natural  death. 

During  1876-7  The  Tablet,  established  by  Keeler 
Brothers  (William  and  P.  L.  A.  O.  Keeler),  was  started  at 
Roslyn,  and  it  continued  a very  erratic  existence  for 
about  a year. 

In  March  1878  the  Roslyn  News  was  established  at 
Roslyn  by  William  R.  urling,  the  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Flushing  Times.  It  is  now  in  the  fourth  year  of 
its  existence. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY  OF  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 

The  Society  of  Friends,  Westbury. 

When  Friends’  principles  first  took  root  here  we  can- 
not say.  The  earliest  "minute  is:  “ 1671,  23d  of  3d 
month. — It  is  adjudged  that  there  shall  be  a meeting 
kept  at  the  Woodedge  the  25th  of  4th  month,  and  so 
every  First-day.”  Friends  met  at  the  houses  of  Henry 
Willis  and  Edmund  Titus.  In  1678  Henry  Willis  was 
fined  for  having  his  daughter  married  to  George 
Masters  according  to  Friends’  ceremony,  and  on  his  re- 
fusing to  pay  it,  Joseph  Lee,  under  sheriff,  seized  his 
barn  of  corn.  In  1682  “the  settling  of  the  meeting  of 


Friends  at  the  Farms  [Jericho]  and  at  Woodedge, 
whether  it  be  convenient  for  them  to  be  in  two  meetings 
or  not,  is  left  to  the  consideration  of  the  monthly  meet- 
ing.” In  1690,  the  matter  of  dividing  Jericho  week-day 
and  Westbury  meeting  into  two  coming  up,  the  sense  of 
the  monthly  meeting  was  “that  the  Friends  of  both 
places  keep  their  weekly  meetings  all  together  at  each 
place”  alternately.  In  1697  it  was  decided  that  “a 
meeting  shall  be  kept  every  five  weeks,  on  the  First-day, 
to  begin  at  Edmund  Titus’s,  the  next  First-day  at  Jericho, 
next  at  Bethpage,  next  at  Jerusalem,  and  next  at  Hemp- 
stead.” In  1699  “ the  week-day  meeting  is  kept  one 
Fourth-day  at  Hempstead,  one  at  Westbury,  and  one  at 
Jericho,  and  so  to  keep  their  turn.”  In  “ 1699,  26th  of 
6th  month,”  Roger  Gill  says:  “We  went  to  quarterly 
meeting;  27th,  we  had  a far  larger  and  glorious  meeting 
in  a field;  to  it  came  abundance  of  people  and  some 
ranters,  but  the  Lord’s  power  chained  them  down  so  that 
they  made  no  disturbance.  I lodged  both  nights  at  Ed- 
mund Titus’s.” 

In  1701,  “30th  of  6th  month,”  in  quarterly  meeting  at 
Nathaniel  Seaman’s,  Westbury,  the  building  of  a meeting- 
house was  spoken  of.  It  was  left  to  N.  Pearsall,  T. 
Powell,  Richard  Willets,  B.  Seaman  and  W.  Willis  to  ex- 
amine the  places  spoken  of, ‘select  the  most  convenient, 
and  treat  with  the  owner  for  terms.  They  reported  that 
they  had  chosen  a place  (three  and  a quarter  acres  for 
at  Plainedge,  which  William  Willis  tendered.  It 
was  referred  to  them  to  consider  the  model  of  the  meet- 
ing house  and  treat  with  the  workmen. 

In  1702,  “29th  of  6th  month,”  Thomas  Story,  “ac- 
companied by  many  Friends,  went  from  John  Rodman’s, 
Bayside,  over  the  plains  to  Westbury  quarterly  meeting, 
where  we  had  good  service,  and  the  business  being  all 
finished,  the  Lord  gave  us  a glorious  meeting  on  First- 
day,  in  a new  meeting  house  fitted  up  on  that  occasion, 
and  many  hundreds  of  Friends  and  abundance  of  other 
people  were  there.  The  meeting  being  ended,  there 
came  over  the  Plains  with  us  at  least  one  hundred  horse 
to  their  several  habitations  in  that  quarter.” 

In  1702,  “ 27th  of  12th  month,”  at  a quarterly  meeting 
at  Richard  Willits’s,  Jericho,  it  was  “concluded  to  enter 
in  this  minute-book  that,  since  it  hath  pleased  God  to 
increase  the  number  of  his  dear  people  so  hereaway  that 
at  Jericho  and  Matinecock  [the  former  places  of  Friends’ 
quarterly  meeting]  they  have  not  sufficient  room;  there- 
fore they  have  built  a meeting-house  on  Hempstead 
Plains  for  that  purpose  and  for  what  furthtr  service  may 
be  needed.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  at  the  new  house 
shall  begin  to-morrow.” 

In  1706,  29th  of  3d  month,  monthly  meeting  was  held 
for  the  first  time  in  the  new  house.  The  First-day  meet- 
ings were  held  here,  except  on  the  last  First-day  of  every 
month,  and  then  at  T.  Powell’s,  Bethpage. 

In  1708  William  Willis  built  a stable  for  the  Friends’ 
horses.  In  1716  Nathaniel  Seaman,  for  35  shillings  a 
year,  provided  wood,  and  did  the  janitor  work  on  the 
meeting-house  premises.  In  that  year  meetings  were 
appointed  for  every  First-day  at  Westbury;  the  meetings 


420 


HISTORY  OF  QU EVENS  COUNTY. 


at  Bethpage  and  Hempstead  to  be  kept  as  usual.  In 
1722  it  was  thought  well  to  enlarge  the  meeting-house. 
In  1729  a stable  was  built,  forty-two  by  eighteen  feet, 
with  lean-tos  nine  feet  wide.  In  1739  John  Willis  was 
engaged  to  fence  the  meeting-house  ground;  and  John 
and  Henry  Willis,  Silas  and  Peter  Titus  and  Nathaniel 
Seaman  were  “ to  take  care  and  mind  the  shutting  up  the 
gate  and  putting  up  the  bars,  and  also  to  speak  to  such 
as  shall  turn  their  horses  into  said  ground  [to  pasture]  on 
First-days  when  there  is  no  real  occasion.”  In  1751  the 
partition  of  the  house  was  altered  so  as  to  hang  on  hinges 
and  be  hooked  up  when  occasion  required.  In  1753  two 
acres  of  land  were  added  at  the  south  end  of  the  lot  and 
a gate  was  made  at  the  west  side,  “wide  enough  to  pass 
in  and  out  with  a riding  chair.”  In  1755  the  benches 
were  repaired.  In  1757  Benjamin  Smith  was  “ reasonably 
paid  for  his  trouble  in  helping  Samuel  Willis  to  record 
Friends’  sufferings.”  In  1761  all  gravestones  were  or- 
dered removed.  In  1762,  “it  being  very  tedious  to  write 
on  monthly  meeting  days  in  the  winter  season  and  the 
house  being  cold,”  Samuel  Willis  was  instructed  to  get  a 
wood  stove.  In  1766  the  meeting-house  was  enlarged  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  quarterly  meeting.  In  [780 
it  was  recorded  that  “ Friends  are  sorrowfully  affected  at 
the  schooling  of  their  children,  in  being  joined  with 
those  not  Friends,  and  masters  of  not  good  example  be- 
ing employed,  whereby  our  youth  sustain  a great  loss  in 
a religious  sense;  a school-house  is  to  be  erected,  so 
near  that  the  master  and  children  may  attend  meeting.” 
In  1781  a school-house  forty  by  twenty  feet  was  built  on 
Thomas  Seaman’s  land,  leased  for  jQ 4 a year;  tuition  to 
be  6 shillings  per  quarter.  In  1782  soldiers  took  pos- 
session of  the  house  and  broke  up  the  school.  In 
1784  it  was  repaired.  In  1782  John  Pemberton  “had  a 
large  meeting  of  the  black  people,  who  behaved  well.” 

In  1784  “ it  was  proposed  whether  some  advantage 
may  not  arise  by  appointing  some  meetings  particularly 
for  negroes.”  Four  were  appointed.  In  1792  some 
Friends  professed  scruples  about  using  the  products  of 
slave  labor.  In  1793  “several  satisfactory  meetings  for 
blacks  ” were  held;  “ the  consideration  thereof  is  left  off 
from  the  minutes  for  the  present.”  In  March  1796 
Westbury  meeting  sent  to  the  poor  of  New  York  ^4  17 
and  eight  loads  of  wood;  Matinecock  meeting  ^ji6  12.  1. 
and  two  cords  and  one  load  of  wood;  Cow  Neck  meet- 
ing £8  2.  and  one  and  three-quarters  cords  of  wood.  In 
1799  Westbury  contributed  for  the  poor  of  New  York 
^29  16.  9.  and  five  loads  of  wood,  “ half  a hundred- 
weight of  Indian  meal,  and  half  a hundredweight  of  rye.” 
In  1800  a new  meeting-house  was  built,  40  by  57  feet, 
with  twenty-two  feet  posts,  at  a cost  of  £822  9.  10. 
In  1801,  “ as  there  is  a scarcity  in  England  and  Ireland,” 
the  meeting  sends  over  ^jio8  12.  11.  In  1803^15  4. 
was  raised  toward  civilizing  the  Indian  natives,  and  in 
1807  10.  1°  jSio  more  shelter  for  horses  was 

needed,  and  a stable  was  built,  costing  $218.28.  In 
1818  a horse  stable  was  built,  no  feet  long  and  20  feet 
wide,  at  a cost  of  $331.19.  “ The  burial  committee  are 

to  attend  to  all  funerals  in  our  ground,  and  see  that  de- 


cency and  good  order  are  observed  therein.”  In  1827 
$2,000  was  ordered  raised  for  a deficiency  in  the  fund 
for  the  civilization  and  improvement  of  the  Indians. 

It  was  in  the  last  named  year  that  the  meeting  was 
divided.  The  Hicksite  or  Unitarian  branch  of  the 
Friends  preponderating,  the  Orthodox  branch,  acting  in 
accordance  with  the  meeting  of  that  branch  in  New 
York,  withdrew  and  built  a meeting-house  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  road. 

These  societies  are  as  prosperous  as  any  on  the  island, 
but  the  members  are  not  as  numerous  as  formerly. 

Christ  Church  (Episcopal),  Manhasset. 

The  corporate  title  of  this  parish  is  “ChristChurch, 
North  Hempstead.”  In  age  it  is  ninth  among  the 
churches  of  the  diocese,  the  oldest  of  which  dates 
back  to  the  year  1701.  Previous  to  1800  St.  George’s 
church,  Hempstead,  was  the  central  place  of  gathering 
for  the  Episcopalians  of  this  township.  In  1802  a move- 
ment was  made  by  the  vestry  of  that  church  to  erect  a 
place  of  worship  in  Manhasset,  to  be  a chapel  under  the 
charge  of  the  parent  parish.  The  first  church  building 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  between  $4,000  and  $5,000;  a 
large  sum  for  that  time.  It  was  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Moore,  November  19th  1803.  The  original  price  of  the 
land,  which  is  now  worth  some  thousands  of  dollars,  was 
only  $195.47.  The  first  purchase  was  of  about  three 
acres;  the  lot  has  since  been  increased,  by  exchange,  to 
nearly  four  acres,  comprising  the  site  of  the  church 
buildings,  cemetery  and  parsonage  grounds.  In  1818 
the  parsonage  and  academy  were  erected,  at  an  ex- 
pense, with  subsequent  additions,  of  $5,000.  These 
buildings  remained  unaltered  until  1868,  when  the 
church,  which  had  stood  sixty-six  years,  was  enlarged 
and  rebuilt,  retaining  only  the  frame  and  floor  of  the 
old  building;  The  capacity  of  the  church  was  increased 
to  100  pews,  and  a recess  chancel  added.  The  cost  of 
rebuilding  and  furnishing,  including  stained  glass 
windows,  new  bell,  furnace,  etc.  (completed  in  1870),  was 
about  $18,000.  The  entire  indebtedness  above  the  sub- 
scriptions was  canceled  in  1873. 

During  its  history  of  nearly  60  years  as  a separate  or- 
ganization this  parish  has  been  under  the  charge  of  eight 
successive  rectors.  The  Rev.  Eli  Wheeler,  who  was  as- 
sistant minister  of  St.  George’s  church,  Hempstead,  be- 
came the  first  rector.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  P. 
F.  Clarke,  who  was  twice  chosen  as  rector  (with  an  inter- 
val of  five  years)  and  remained  in  the  parish  over  twenty 
years.  The  other  rectors  have  been  Revs.  J.  F.  Phillips, 
M.  Marcus,  Samuel  Cox,  G.  W.  Porter,  G.  F.  Bugbee 
and  the  present  rector,  Rev.  James  E.  Homans. 

During  the  rectorship  of  Rev. Mr.  Clarke  the  chapel  at 
Glen  Cove  was  established,  and  it  was  under  his  charge 
from  July  1837  to  December  1845,  when  it  became  the 
independent  parish  of  St.  Paul’s  church.  Services  were 
also  held  and  the  chapel  erected  in  Roslyn  under  the 
direction  of  Rev.  Mr.  Porter  and  his  successor.  This 
was  set  apart  as  a separate  parish  under  the  title  of 
Trinity  Church,  Roslyn. 


421 


CHURCHES  OF  MANHASSET. 


Among  the  statistics  of  the  parish  of  Christ  Church 
may  be  mentioned  as  items  from  the  church  records: 
Baptisms,  647;  confirmations,  272;  marriages,  242;  deaths, 

7 1 1.  The  contributions  to  general,  diocesan,  and  paro- 
chial objects  have  amounted  to  about  $65,000. 

During  nearly  half  a century  Christ  Church  Academy,  j 
under  the  charge  of  the  rectors,  was  the  principal  place 
of  education  in  this  community;  and  until  1829,  when 
the  public  school  was  established,  it  was  the  only  place 
of  solid  instruction  in  the  town.  An  old  resident  of 
one  of  the  neighboring  towns,  writing  recently  some  per- 
sonal reminiscences  of  the  parish,  says: 

“I  attended  Christ  Church  Academy  the  first  day  it 
was  opened,  in  1818.  I heard  Rev.  Mr.  Hart  (dressed 
in  black  breeches  and  stockings)  preach  his  farewell  ser- 
mon in  Christ  Church  on  its  separation  from  Hempstead 
in  1819.  He  wept  much.  The  church  bought  the  land 
in  1802;  and  some  were  for  buying  a small  piece,  just 
enough  to  set  the  church  on,  but  B.  T.  (a  long  headed 
man)  said:  ‘Now  is  the  time  to  buy  all  we  shall  proba- 
bly need  for  time  to  come.’  There  were  at  that  time 
only  two  farm  houses  at  all  near  the  church.  In  my 
early  days  there  was  no  ‘church-going  bell.’  Some  one 
would  say,  ‘Come,  the  minister  has  gone  in.’  Then  the 
people  went  into  church.  At  the  academy  a triangle  was 
for  some  time  in  use.  The  clerk  (who  sat  below  the 
reading  desk  in  an  enclosure  with  a door)  and  the  sexton 
were  quite  dignitaries  in  those  days.  The  very  audible 
tones  in  which  the  one  responded,  and  the  soft  footsteps 
of  the  other  as  he  renewed  the  fires,  are  among  the  mem- 
ories of  my  youth.” 

The  parish  of  Christ  Church  is  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive in  point  of  area  in  the  diocese  of  Long  Island. 
It  covers  about  fourteen  square  miles.  The  congrega- 
tion is  drawn  from  the  extremities  of  Great  Neck  and 
Cow  Neck,  eastward  beyond  Roslyn  and  southward  as 
far  as  Garden  City.  -Two-thirds  of  its  members  come 
from  three  to  seven  miles,  and  not  more  than  two  of  its 
families  are  within  walking  distance.  Hence  it  retains 
much  of  the  original  character  and  material  of  the  early 
churches. 

The  Society  of  Friends,  Manhasset. 

Cow  Neck  and  Great  Neck  (now  Manhasset)  meeting 
was  started  in  1702,  when  Thomas  Story  visited  the 
place.  He  says:  “We  went  to  Great  Neck,  to  the  house 
of  William  Mott,  a young  man  lately  convinced  by  the 
ministry  of  Thomas  Thompson,  where  we  had  a large 
meeting,  there  being  many  other  people  with  us,  and  all 
very  sedate.”  A meeting  was  settled  at  his  house.  Story 
visited  Mott  again  in  1704.  In  1703  Samuel  Bownas  had 
a meeting  at  Jacob  Doughty’s,  Cow  Neck,  there  not  hav- 
ing been  any  there  before.  A meeting  every  First-day 
was  settled  at  Doughty’s.  In  1706  a meeting  was  kept 
one  First-day  at  Doughty’s  and  the  next  at  Mott’s.  In 
1708,  on  Doughty’s  removal,  the  meeting  was  appointed 
at  Richard  Cornwell’s,  and  the  Sixth-day  meeting  at 
William  Hutchings’s,  Cow  Neck.  In  1715  this  meeting 
was  transferred  from  the  Flushing  to  the  Westbury 
monthly.  In  1719  it  was  concluded  to  build  a meeting- 
house at  Cow  Neck,  the  place  and  dimensions  to  be  left 
to  Joseph  Latham,  William  Hutchings,  James  Jackson, 


William  Mott,  Jeremiah  Williams  and  Richard  Cornwell. 
In  1722  John  Fothergill  had  a very  large  meeting;  many 
Friends  and  others  were  humbly  affected  with  his  testi- 
mony. On  the  shortest  day  in  the  year  1725,  it  being 
snowy  and  stormy,  eighteen  persons  went,  in  company 
with  Thomas  Chalkley,  from  Thomas  Pearsall’s,  Cedar 
Swamp,  to  Cow  Neck,  where  he  had  a good  meeting, 
larger  than  could  be  expected.  They  then  went  to 
Joseph  Latham’s  and  had  a tender  open  meeting.  In 
037  Chalkley  went  again  to  Latham’s.  “Our  conversation 
was  pleasant.  We  remembered  our  walking  to  and  from 
school  in  the  suburbs  of  London,  when  we  were  beaten, 
stoned  and  abused  for  being  the  children  of  Quakers.” 
In  1755  and  1763  the  house  and  stable  were  repaired. 
In  1762  Adam  Mott  was  appointed  to  remove  the  grave- 
stones and  do  up  the  graves  of  those  who  had  no  re- 
lations. In  1780  half  an  acre  of  land  was  bought  of  Adrian 
Onderdonk,  the  cost  of  which,  with  the  fence,  was  ^19 
8s.  In  1782  the  meeting-house  was  occupied  by  the 
soldiers.  Friends  applied  to  Governor  Robertson,  who 
ordered  Colonel  Wormb  to  restore  it.  In  1783  it  was 
again  used  as  a guard-house,  and  considerable  damage 
done  to  the  seats  and  fence. 

In  1785  it  was  proposed  to  remove  the  place  of  wor- 
ship. In  1786  the  Westbury  stove  was  put  up  in  the 
Cow  Neck  meeting-house  and  more  pipe  bought,  but  it 
did  not  answer,  and  another  was  bought  (1789)  for 
15.  3.  In  1788  the  meeting  wished  a school-house  built, 
the  place  where  the  school  was  then  held  being  incon- 
venient. In  1809  it  was  proposed  to  set  the  new  meeting- 
house on  Thomas  Appleby’s  land,  on  the  Middle  Neck 
road,  one  hundred  rods  north  from  Appleby’s  Corner,  as 
being  more  central  to  the  Friends;  but  in  1812  it  was 
concluded,  after  long  agitation,  to  put  it  on  the  old 
ground,  northeast  of  the  old  house.  The  dimensions 
proposed  were  38  by  28  feet,  and  18  feet  posts,  and  the 
estimated  expense  was  $1,250.  The  building,  completed 
in  January  1813,  cost  $1,547.25;  the  old  stuff  sold  for 
$24.98,  so  that  $272.27  was  yet  wanting. 

At  the  marriage  of  Henry  Mott  and  Temperance 
Hicks  the  old  house  was  crowded,  and  a bench  in  the 
gallery  broke  down  with  the  weight  of  those  standing 
thereon,  and  the  crash  created  a panic. 

The  Reformed  Church  of  North  Hempstead. 

This  church,  now  located  at  Manhasset,  was  first  or- 
ganized at  Success  (now  Lakeville),  as  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church  of  Success,  April  nth  1730.  Half  an 
acre  of  land  was  bought  of  Martin  Wiltse  for  25  shil- 
lings. Money  was  subscribed  to  the  amount  of  ^173  16. 
for  a church  building,  which  was  erected  in  a few  months 
after  the  organization  (the  corner  stone  is  dated  1732). 
Adrian  Onderdonk  and  Martin  Ryerson  were  chosen 
church  masters.  They  allotted  seats  to  the  men  for  25 
shillings  each,  and  to  the  women  for  20  shillings  each. 
The  church  edifice  was  the  largest  in  Queens  county, 
being  50  by  60  feet,  with  pyramidal  roof,  and  was  situ- 
ated in  the  midst  of  a settlement  of  Dutch  families  in- 
cluding the  Schenks,  Onderdonks,  Rapelyeas,  Bogarts, 


46 


422 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Rhodeses,  Remsens,  Van  Nostrands,  Brinkerhoffs,  Cor- 
nells and  others.  It  never  had  a fireplace  or  stove  ex- 
cept foot  stoves  within  its  walls.  The  people  were  ac- 
customed in  cold  weather  to  come  early  and  go  to  Gil- 
bert Cornell’s,  across  the  road,  to  warm  themselves  and 
prepare  their  foot  stoves  to  be  carried  to- the  church.  In 
warm  weather,  between  services,  the  people  would  gather 
under  the  old  white  oak  (now  gone)  to  eat  their  basket 
dinner. 

This  church  was  associated  under  the  same  pastoral 
care  with  the  Reformed  Dutch  churches  at  Newtown, 
Jamaica  and  Oyster  Bay  until  1802,  having  services  but 
once  a month.  From  1802  to  1834  this  with  the  Oyster 
Bay  church  constituted  a circuit,  having  services  once  in 
two  weeks.  Since  1834  it  has  been  a separate  charge, 
supporting  its  own  pastor  and  holding  weekly  services. 
The  churches  were  obliged  to  wait  until  1741  for  a pas- 
tor to  come  from  Holland,  when  Johannes  Henricus 
Goetschius  became  the  pastor  for  the  circuit.  He  re- 
mained seven  years.  Thomas  Romeyn  was  pastor  of  the 
circuit  from  1752  to  1758,  and  Hermanes  Van-  Boelen 
from  1766  to  1772.  Solomon  Froeleigh,  noted  in  later 
years  for  seceding  from  the  denomination,  became  thei-r 
pastor  in  1775;  but,  being  an  ardent  Whig,  he  was  forced 
by  the  British  and  tories  to  leave  after  the  short  pastorate 
of  fifteen  months.  The  pulpit  then  remained  vacant 
until  1785,  when  Rynier  Van  Nest  became  pastor,  which 
position  he  occupied  until  1797.  In  1794  Zachariah  H. 
Kuypers  became  collegiate  minister,  and  he  remained  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  until  1824.  In  1813  the 
northern  part  of  the  congregation  withdrew  and  organ- 
ized a separate  society  at  Manhasset,  with  David  S.  Bo- 
gart as  pastor,  he  having  become  collegiate  minister  that 
year.  The  old  congregation  disbanded  in  1830.  The 
building  was  sold  to  Mrs.  Maria  Hegeman  for  $290, 
and  taken  down  after  standing  one  hundred  years. 

The  new  congregation  built  a church  in  1816.  Judge 
Singleton  Mitchell,  Peter  Onderdonk  and  Daniel  Brink- 
erhoff  were  the  building  committee.  Rev.  David  S. 
Bogart  left  in  1826  and  died  in  1839.  Henry  Hermance 
was  pastor  nine  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  James 
Otterson,  who  was  pastor  from  1827  to  1834.  For  a 
more  detailed  account  of  ministers  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  history  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Oyster  Bay. 
After  Mr.  Otterson  left,  the  church  became  a separate 
charge.  Rev.  John  Robb  was  the  first  pastor  under  the 
new  order,  and  remained  from  1835  to  1837;  Rev.  Wil- 
liam R.  Gordon,  1838-43;  Rev.  John  H.  Sheffield,  1843- 
46;  Rev.  James  Demarest,  1853-59;  Rev.  Ira  C.  Boice, 
1859-70;  Rev.  William  E.  Davis,  1871-80;  Rev.  William 
H.  Stephenson,  the  present  pastor,  came  in  1880. 

During  Mr.  Sheffield’s  pastorate  a Sunday-school  of 
twenty  members  was  organized,  with  Warren  Mitchell  as 
superintendent.  Very  little  interest  in  the  subject  was 
then  manifested  by  the  members. 

Wesley  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Roslyn. 

The  precise  date  of  the  introduction  of  Methodism  at 
Hempstead  Harbor  is  unknown.  It  was  probably  not 


ipany  months  after  the  formation  of  a class  in  the  Sear- 
ingtown  neighborhood,  in  1785.  Bishop  Asbury  visited 
this  locality  in  1787.  He  writes:  “ Tuesday  May  22 
1787. — Rode  twenty  miles  [from  New  York]  on  Long 
Island  to  Hempstead  Harbor,  and  preached  with  some 
liberty  in  the  evening.”  Probably  this  evening  service 
was  not  in  Hempstead  Harbor  proper,  but  in  Searingtown, 
as  the  house  is  still  standing  in  which  he  is  known  to 
have  preached.  Two  days  later  he  made  the  following 
entry:  “ I preached  in  a paper-mill,  on  ‘If  any  man  will.* 
do  His  will  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be 
of  God.”  The  location  of  the  old  paper-mill  in  Roslyn 
is  vvell  known.  A part  of  the  same  building  yet  remains, 
near  the  spot  where  the  bishop  preached. 

The  following,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Ab- 
bott, may  be  taken  as  evidence  that  a Methodist  “class” 
was  organized  in  this  neighborhood  previous  to  1791. 
Mr.  Abbott  was  a preacher  on  the  Long  Island  circuit 
that  year.  He  writes:  “I  went  to  the  paper-mill  at 
Hempstead  Harbor,  and  preached  with  great  freedom. 
God  attended  the  word  with  power,  and  many  wept.  I 
met  class , and  had  a very  precious  time.” 

The  Rev.  Billy  Hibbard,  who  was  circuit  preacher  in 
1801,  gives  a very  entertaining  account  of  an  attempt  on 
the  part  of  a mob  to  put  out  the  light  and  break  up  a 
meeting  he  was  holding,  and  then  throw  him  off  the  dock 
into  the  water.  He  overcame  by  courage  and  stratagem, 
and  “Esquire  Smith”  promptly  undertook  to  humble 
or  punish  the  offenders.  “ One,”  writes  Mr.  Hib- 
bard, “came  forward  and  made  confession,  and  prom- 
ised good  behavior  in  the  future,  but  the  other  five  ran 
away,  and  none  knew  where  to  find  them.  Thus  the  per- 
secution ended.  We  had  no  more  disturbance  in  Hemp- 
stead Harbor.” 

The  oldest  record  of  members  extant  is  a list  made  in 
1806,  by  the  Rev.  Mitchell  B.  Bull,  then  a pastor  on  Long 
Island  circuit.  The  roll  contains  the  following  twenty- 
six  names:  John  Searing  (class  leader),  David  Buck 
(local  preacher),  Anna  Buck,  Phoebe  Craft,  Elizabeth 
Rogers,  Joseph  Starkins,  Sarah  Starkins,  John  Davis, 
Anna  Davis,  John  Rogers,  Daniel  Seaman,  Mary  Seaman, 
George  Rogers,  Margaret  Rogers,  Benjamin  Wheatley, 
Catharine  Wheatley,  Nathaniel  Brass,  Catharine  Brass, 
Lewis  Wilson,  Lucretia  Wilson,  Lydia  Rogers,  Elizabeth 
Sniffings,  Benjamin  Valentine,  Anna  Valentine,  Abigail 
Brass,  Catharine  Wilson. 

So  far  as  known,  John  Searing  was  the  first  class- 
leader,  and  David  Buck  the  first  local  preacher. 

Several  names  were  added  to  the  above  roll  previous 
to  1832,  but  so  great  were  the  losses  that  at  that  date  the 
membership  numbered  19 — less  by  7 than  it  was 
twenty-six  years  earlier. 

Previous  to  1814  services  were  held  in  the  paper-mill 
and  in  private  houses.  A subscription  paper  bearing 
date  December  12th  1813  was  circulated  to  secure  funds 
for  the  building  of  a meeting-house.  The  amount  sub- 
scribed vvas  $616.25.  The  subscriptions  ranged  from 
twenty-five  cents  to  thirty  dollars.  The  following  per- 
sons contributed  each  $10  or  more:  John  Searing,  David 


WESLEY  M.  E.  CHURCH,  ROSLYN. 


423 


Buck,  Samuel  Titus,  each  $30;  Lewis  L.  Hewlett,  $25  ; 
James  Hewlett,  Gabriel  Lawrence,  John  Sands,  each 
$20;  Robert  Glenn,  Joseph  Starkins,  each  $12;  Freder- 
ick Henderson,  Daniel  Seaman,  Richard  Kirk,  Thomas 
Wood,  Rem  Chisshovv,  Benjamin  Sands,  Eliza  Corder- 
man,  Samuel  Hewlett,  each  $10.  The  deed  bears  date 
July  20th  1814. 

The  date  of  the  formal  dedication,  if  indeed  there  was 
any,  has  not  been  ascertained.  The  church  was  located 
on  its  present  site,  a short  distance  from  the  old  paper- 
mill,  and  about  midway  between  the  present  railroad  de- 
pot and  the  North  Hempstead  turnpike.  The  building  re- 
mained unfinished  for  ten  years.  By  another  subscrip- 
tion paper,  dated  September  5th  1824,  funds  were  se- 
cured to  complete  the  edifice.  This  was  the  first  house 
of  worship  in  Roslyn  and  the  only  one  for  more  than 
thirty  years. 

In  1823  this  society  was  styled  “ Wesley  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.”  The  oldest  trustees’  record  which 
has  been  preserved  (1823)  states  that,  all  the  old  trustees 
being  dead,  a new  board  was  elected,  as  follows:  Joseph 
Starkins,  Frederick  Henderson,  Richard  Townsend, 
Cornell  Denton,  James  W.  Smith. 

James  W.  Smith  was  sexton  in  1823,  receiving  a salary 
of  $10  a year.  In  1825  it  was  reduced  to  $5,  and  in  1828 
this  minute  appears:  “The  trustees  agreed  to  give  James 
W.  Smith  $5.5°  for  sextonship.” 

The  following  extremely  economical  figures  are  an 
exact  copy  of  a summary  of  trustees’  expenses  for  fifteen 
consecutive  years,  including  cost  of  “ firewood,  candle- 
light, cleaning,  sweeping  and  sexton’s  fees:” 

i823»  $iS-75;  i8z4-  $18.00;  1825,  $15.28;  1826, 

$19.20;  1827,  $14.89;  1828,  $11.50;  1829,  $16.45;  i83°> 

$19-55;  i83L  $22.25;  l832»  Sr5-00:  i833>  $to-I5;  i834. 
$12.10;  1835,16.75;  1836,  $9.25;  1827,  $23.48. 

A Sunday-school  was  organized  August  26th  1832, 
with  twenty  scholars.  In  a few  months  the  number,  by 
weekly  accessions,  had  increased  to  forty.  Moses  Fow- 
ler is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  superintendent. 
Noah  Bigelow,  A.  Hulin  and  E.  Oldrin  were  the  circuit 
preachers  when  the  first  Sunday-school  was  formed. 
During  the  following  year  this  church  was  favored  with 
a revival. 

In  1843  a parsonage  was  erected  on  land  adjoining  the 
church  plot;  Thomas  Wood  was  the  builder. 

In  1869  a building  committee  was  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  Rev.  T.  C.  Beach  fpastor),  M.  Valentine,  C.  Oak- 
ley, W.  D.  Wilson  and  W.  S.  Wilkey,  to  superintend  the 
work  of  enlarging  and  renovating  the  church  building, 
which  had  up  to  that  time  been  an  “ uncomfortable'  and 
uncouth  affair.”  Additions  were  made,  making  the 
church  48  feet  long  and  25  feet  wide. 

The  reopening  services  took  place  Sunday  September 
19th  1869.  Sermons  were  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G. 
Andrews  (now  bishop),  Rev.  George  Stillman  and  Rev. 
F.  P.  Tower.  The  pastor  wrote  thus  for  the  Christian 
Advocate:  “We  have  now  a neat  and  comfortable  house 
of  worship,  which  of  itself  will  give  Methodism  a better 
representation  in  this  village.  Through  the  energy  of 


the  ladies  the  building  has  been  tastefully  furnished. 
All  the  members  of  the  society  have  given  freely  toward 
the  enterprise,  in  which  they  have  been  nobly  aided  by 
the  people  of  the  village,  also  by  friends  in  New  York, 
and  especially  by  a member  of  one  of  the  Brooklyn 
churches,  now  residing  with  us.” 

This  church  has  never  been  financially  strong,  and  has 
always  been  a part  of  a circuit,  sharing  with  other 
churches — one  or  more — in  the  labors  of  the  appointed 
ministers.  The  following  statement  will  indicate  the  cir- 
cuits to  which  this  Roslyn  church  has  belonged  and  the 
pastors,  also  each  preacher’s  term  of  service,  beginning 
with  the  date  of  Bishop  Asbury’s  preaching  in  the  paper- 
mill: 

1787-1809,  Long  Island  Circuit. — The  preachers  were: 
1787,  Peter  Moriarty;  1788,  Robert  Cloud;  1789,  Wil- 
liam Phoebus,  John  Lee;  1790,  David  Kendall,  William 
Phoebus,  Aaron  Hunt  (supply);  1791,  William  Phoebus, 
Benjamin  Abbott;  1792,  John  Ragan,  James  Boyd;  1793, 
Joseph  "Totten,  George  Strebeck;  1794,  Robert  Hutchin- 
son; 1795,  Sylvester  Hutchinson,  Jacob  Rickhow;  1796, 
John  Clark,  Jacob  Rickhow,  David  Buck,  Timothy 
Dewey;  1797,  Joseph  Totten,  William  Phoebus,  also  - — — 
Donovan  and  Ebenezer  M’Lane  (supplies);  1798,  David 
Brown,  John  Wilson;  1799,  James  Campbell,  John  Wil- 
son; 1800,  Tames  Campbell,  Samuel  Merwin ; 1801,  Peter 
Jayne,  Billy  Hibbard;  1802,  David  Buck,  John  Finne- 
gan, S>lvester  Foster;  1803,  Francis  Ward,  Sylvester 
Foster;  1804,  Francis  Ward,  Henry  Eames,  Henry  Red- 
stone; 1806,  James  Coleman,  Mitchell  B.  Bull;  1807, 
Luman  Andrus,  John  Kline;  1808,  Nathan  Emery,  Ne- 
hemiah  U.  Tompkins,  Henry  Redstone,  also  William 
Brown  fsupply);  1809,  Francis  Ward,  William  Phoebus, 
Henry  Redstone,  also  John  Russell  (supply). 

1810-25,  Jamaica  Circuit. — Preachers:  1810,  Francis 
Ward,  also  Stephen  Richmond  and  Coles  Carpenter 
(supplies);  1811,  Luman  Andrus,  Noble  W.  Thomas,  Sam- 
uel Bushnell;  1812,  William  Thacher,  Theodosius  Clark; 
1813,  Jonathan  Lyon,  Samuel  Bushnell,  William  Blag- 
borne;  1814,  Smith  Arnold,  Theodosius  Clark;  1815, 
Joseph  Crawford,  Benjamin  Griffin;  1816,  Thomas  Ware, 
Marvin  Richardson;  1817,  William  Phoebus,  James  M. 
Smith,  also  Nicholas  Morris  (supply);  1818,  Phineas 
Rice,  Nicholas  Morris,  also  Benjamin  Griffin  and  George 
Coles  (supplies);  1819,  Phineas  Rice,  Noble  W.  Thomas; 
1820,  Samuel  Cochran,  Noble  W.  Thomas;  1811,  Samuel 
Cochran,  Samuel  D.  Ferguson;  1822,  1S23,  Elijah  He- 
bard,  Horace  Bartlett;  1824,  1825,  Jacob  Hale,  Richard 
Seaman. 

1826-32,  Hempstead  Circuit. — Preachers:  1826,  Daniel 
De  Vinne,  David  Plolmes,  also  Bartholomew  Creagh  and 
Oliver  V.  Amerman  (supplies);  1827,  D.  De  Vinne,  D. 
Holmes,  B.  Creagh;  1828,  Noble  W.  Thomas,  Daniel  I. 
Wright,  B.  Creagh;  1829,  N.  W.  Thomas,  D.  I.  Wright, 
Lemuel  Green;  1830,  1831,  Jesse  Hunt,  Gershom  Pierce, 
Richard  Wymond;  1832,  Noah  Bigelow,  Alexander  Hu- 
lin, Edward  Oldrin. 

1833-41,  Huntington  Circuit. — Preachers:  1833,  A. 
Hulin,  R.  Wymond;  1834,  Ira  Ferris,  Ezra  Jagger;  1835, 
Ira  Ferris,  J.  B.  Matthias;  1836,  J.  B.  Matthias,  James  N. 
Shaffer;  1837,  Jesse  Carley,  J.  N.  Shaffer;  1838,  Bezaleel 
Howe,  Paul  R.  Brown;  1839,  B.  Howe,  Humphrey  Hum- 
phreys; 1840,  John  Nixon,  John  A.  Edmonds;  1841,  Or- 
lando Starr,  J.  A.  Edmonds. 

1842-58,  Hempstead  Harbor  or  North  Hempstead 
Circuit. — Preachers:  1842,  1843,  Edmund  O.  Bates; 

1844,  Elbert  Osborn,  also  James  Sweeney  (supply); 

1845,  Elbert  Osborn,  Oliver  E.  Brown;  1846,  1847, 


424 


HISTORY  OF  QUERNS  COUNTY. 


Nathan  Rice,  Alex.  H.  Mead;  1848,  1849,  Edmund 
O.  Bates,  also  Robert  R.  Thompson  (supply);  1850, 
George  Hollis,  Henry  C.  Glover;  1851,  G.  Hollis; 
1852,  Henry  Hatfield,  J.  J.  Bell;  1853,  Henry  Hatfield 
(supply);  1854,  Joshua  L.  Burrows;  1855,  1856,  L.  B. 
Clark  (supply);  1857,  1858,  John  S.  Haugh. 

1859-80,  Roslyn  and Searingtown  Circuit  (Manhasset  and 
Port  Washington  and  Glenwood  some  time  included). — 
Preachers:  1859,  i860,  Edward  K.  Fanning;  1861,  1862, 
Thomas  M.  Terry;  1863,  Charles  W.  Lockwood;  1864, 
1865,  James  L.  Hall;  1866,  1867,  Charles  Stearns;  1868, 
1869,  Theodore  C.  Beach;  1870,  George  Hollis;  1871, 
1872,  Miles  N.  Olmsted;  1873-75,  David  McMullen; 
1876,  Samuel  F.  Johnson;  1877,  1878,  Robert  P.  Chris- 
topher; 1879,  William  Ross;  1880,  Albert  A.  Lathbury. 

Did  space  permit  it  would  be  appropriate  to  mention 
some  of  the  most  honored  among  the  founders  and  sup- 
porters of  this  venerable  and  useful  church.  John  Sear- 
ing, class  leader,  exhorter  and  local  preacher,  was  a 
“ burning  and  a shining  light.”  David  Buck,  for  several 
years  an  honored  and  useful  itinerant  minister,  afterward 
a local  preacher  and  paper  manufacturer,  was  abundant 
in  Christian  labor,  and  chief  among  the  apostles  of  Ros- 
lyn Methodism.  To  these  might  be  added  the  names  of 
Joseph  Starkins,  Cornell  Denton,  William  T.  Hendrick- 
son, Epenetus  Oakley,  Moses  Fowler  and  many  others. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Searingtown. 

When  Philip  Cox,  the  first  circuit  preacher  on  Long 
Island,  entered  upon  his  work,  in  1784,  he  found  two 
Methodist  societies,  one  at  Newtown  (Middle  Village) 
and  one  at  Comae,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  24. 
The  society  at  Jamaica  had  become  extinct.  Methodism 
was  established  in  Searingtown  under  the  following  cir- 
cumstances: “Hannah  Searing,  an  aged  and  respectable 
widow  lady,  opened  her  house  for  preaching,  and  very 
many  attended  until  an  alarm  was  sounded  that  the  false 
prophets  foretold  in  Scripture  had  come.  The  word  of 
truth,  however,  did  not  fall  to  the  ground.  Souls  were 
awakened,  and  a society  formed  which  remains  to  this 
day.”  Among  the  persons  known  to  have  united  in  form- 
ing this  first  class  was  Albert  Van  Nostrand,  who  afterward 
became  a useful  and  honored  minister  of  the  gospel,  and 
died  in  1797. 

The  oldest  known  record  of  the  members  of  this 
church,  made  in  1806,  contains  the  following  names:  Coe 
Searing  (class-leader),  Mary  Searing,  Hannah  Searing, 
Jacob  Searing,  Nancy  Searing,  Freelove  Searing,  Abi- 
gail Searing,  Sarah  Griswold,  James  Beatty,  Amy 
Doxcey,  Anna  Bacon,  Martha  S'earing. 

Bishop  Asbury  visited  Hempstead  Harbor  in  1787,  and 
preached  at  that  time  in  the  house  owned  and  occupied 
by  Coe  Searing,  of  Searingtown.  The  old  building  yet 
stands — a part  of  the  present  residence  (1881)  of  a grand- 
son of  Coe  Searing,  W.  C.  Williams. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1788  the  circuit  preacher, 
Rev.  Peter  Moriarty,  personally  superintended  the  erec- 
tion of  a house  of  worship  for  the  Searingtown  society,  a 
framed  building  34  feet  long  and  30  feet  wide, 
the  second  “meeting-house”  (they  were  so  styled  in  those 
days)  erected  by  the  denomination  on  Long  Island;  since 


/the  destruction  of  the  original  Middle  Village  church 
building  it  is  known  as  the  oldest  Methodist  church  on  the 
island.  The  land  for  the  church,  “ sixty  feet  deep  and 
fifty  feet  wide,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  which  leads 
from  the  plains  to  Searingtown,”  was  given  by  Jacob 
Searing,  the  nominal  price  being  one  shilling.  The  deed 
bears  date  May  4th  1788,  and  the  original  trustees  named 
therein  were  Coe  Searing,  Jacob  Searing  j r.,  and  Daniel 
Searing  jr. 

The  life  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Abbott  contains  the  follow- 
ing account  of  that  celebrated  preacher’s  first  visit  to 
this  place  in  1791:  “I  went  to  Sister  Searing’s  (an  old 
widow  woman  in  Searingtown),  and  preached  in  the  meet- 
ing house  to  a very  attentive  congragation,  and  met  class. 
The  members  spoke  of  the  dealings  of  God  to  their  souls, 
and  I was  happy.  Mr.  G’s  daughter  [probably  Griswold] 
asked  me  to  preach  at  her  father’s.  Thanked  her  and 
told  her  to  have  it  given  out  in  four  weeks.” 

In  1842  Rev.  E.  O.  Bates  was  preacher  in  charge  of 
the  circuit  including  Searingtown.  He  found  the  build- 
ing in  a dilapidated  condition.  Up  to  that  time  it  had 
not  been  lathed  or  plastered.  Before  the  unpainted  ceil- 
ing had  been  nailed  to  its  place,  in  1788,  the  workmen 
had  walked  on  the  boards  with  bare  feet,  and  there  were 
the  mud  stains,  the  prints  of  their  feet  plainly  visible 
after  the  lapse  of  fifty-four  years.  Not  a few  yet  call  to 
mind  their  childish  wonder  at  the  strange  power  of  the 
man  who  could  have  walked  on  the  ceiling,  head  down- 
ward, with  bare  feet!  The  pulpit  reached  almost  to  the 
ceiling,  the  room  was  dark  and  cheerless,  and  the  fence 
was  out  of  repair.  Mr.  Bates  refused  to  preach  in  the 
church  while  it  remained  in  that  condition.  The  frame 
was  then  stripped  and  re-covered,  and  the  people  of  Sear- 
ingtown rejoiced  that  their  old  building  was  made  new. 
The  preacher  engaged  for  the  dedication  failing  to  appear, 
Rev.  Mr.  Bates  preached  from  the  words — “Lord,  I have 
loved  the  habitation  of  thy  house,  the  place  where  thine 
honor  dwelleth.”  The  expense  of  rebuilding  was  pro- 
vided for  by  the  contributions  made  on  that  occasion. 

Besides  the  addition  of  a porch  a few  years  since 
there  has  been  no  increase  of  the  original  size  of  the 
building.  An  organ  was  introduced  into  the  church  not 
many  years  ago,  and  later  still  new  seats  of  modern  and 
improved  style  were  purchased  and  good  horse-sheds 
built.  The  first  sheds  were  erected  on  land  bought  for 
that  purpose  in  1852.  The  church  was  reseated  under 
Rev.  Mr.  McMullen’s  administration. 

About  1834  Miss  Ruth  Searing,  seeing  the  children 
neglected,  gathered  them  together  Sabbath  afternoons 
for  religious  instruction.  There  was  until  recent  years 
no  formal  or  permanent  establishment  of  a Sunday- 
school.  The  pastor  in  i860  reported  to  the  quarterly 
conference  “a  small  Sunday-school  in  Searingtown.”  In 
1862  the  report  was  “no  Sunday-school,  for  want  of 
children.”  Later  a Sunday-school  session  has  been 
regularly  maintained,  Thomas  E.  Pearsall  being  elected 
superintendent  from  year  to  year. 

An  old  record  shows  that  in  1843  the  number  of 
members  was  thirteen,  one  more  than  in  1806.  It 


METHODIST  CHURCHES  IN  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


425 


further  states  that  the  entire  amount  to  be  raised  on  the 
circuit  during  the  year  for  the  preachers  was  $592,  of 
which  Searingtown  was  to  pay  $47. 

The  earliest  pastoral  record  of  Long  Island  circuit  is 
as  follows:  Philip  Cox  traveled  the  circuit  in  1784; 
Ezekiel  Cooper  in  1785;  Thomas  Ware  in  1786;  Peter 
Moriarty  in  1787.  Thomas  S.  Chew  was  presiding  elder 
in  1785,  John  Tunnell  in  1786,  Thomas  Foster  in  1787. 
The  preachers  thenceforward  are  the  same  as  those  of 
the  Roslyn  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

On  the  tombstones  in  the  burial  ground  connected 
with  this  church  one  may. read  the  names  of  the  godly 
men  and  women  who  were  the  founders  of  this  society. 
Here  also  repose  the  mortal  remains  of  two  eminent 
ministers,  David  Buck  and  Richard  Seaman. 

A large  proportion  of  the  Searingtown  church  is  com- 
posed of  descendants  of  the  Searings  and  others  who 
were  members  in  earlier  years,  although  it  is  noticeable 
that  the  name  Searing,  which  occurs  in  the  old  list  so 
frequently,  has  disappeared.  These  Searingtown  Meth- 
odists exhibit  many  of  the  admirable  traits  of  their  fore- 
fathers— intelligence,  thrift,  economy,  simplicity  and 
piety.  One  service  a week,  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  pre- 
ceded by  a Sunday-school  session,  satisfies  the  demand 
of  this  scattered  congregation,  but  these  services  are 
usually  well  attended.  They  are  conducted  by  the  min- 
isters of  the  Roslyn  and  Searingtown  circuit,  residing  in 
the  parsonage  at  Roslyn. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  Warriner’s  forthcoming  “Cy- 
clopaedia of  Long  Island  Methodism  ” for  a full  and  ac- 
curate biographical  record  of  the  pastors  and  members 
of  this  church. 

African  M.  E.  Zion  Church,  Lakeville. 

This  society  was  formed  in  the  year  1821,  with  Rev. 
William  Carman  as  pastor.  Moses  Coss,  Jacob  Mastias, 
Henry  Chappell  and  others  were  the  worshipers.  They 
then  met  at  the  house  of  Moses  Coss,  at  Little  Neck,  and 
in  1829  moved  their  place  of  meeting  to  his  new  house  at 
Success.  In  1833  the  society  bought  land  and  erected  a 
frame  building  convenient  for  worship.  At  this  time  a 
number  of  members  were  added,  increasing  the  member- 
ship to  35.  William  Carman  was  still  pastor,  but  soon 
died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  assistant,  George  Tread- 
well. 

There  have  been  about  twenty  pastors  in  all.  The 
present  church  membership  is  40.  The  value  of  the 
church  property  is  $2,000.  The  trustees  are  T.  Treadwell, 
S.  E.  Smith,  Edward  Smith,  Stephen  Smith  and  George 
B.  Smith,  the  assistant  pastor. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  August  1869,  with 
Richard  Schenck  superintendent.  The  school  has  50 
pupils. 

There  is  another  small  African  M.  E.  church  at 
Roslyn,  also  a negro  Baptist  church  at  Westbury. 

Port  Washington  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  oldest  record  of  Methodism  in  this  vicinity  is 
found  in  the  old  Hempstead  circuit  record  (August  1832), 


when  “Cow  Neck”*  was  included  as  a preaching  place  on 
the  circuit,  the  preachers  being  N.  Bigelow,  H.  Hulin 
and  E.  Oldrin.  Two  dollars  was  the  amount  of  the 
first  payment  of  “quarterage,”  and  William  Wood  was 
the  man  by  whom  it  was  collected.  About  the  same  date 
the  record  of  a class  at  Cow  Neck  was  made  in  the  mem- 
bership list  of  Hempstead  circuit,  consisting  of 
Daniel  Wanzer,  Alexander  Smith,  Ann  Baxter  and 
Leonard  Wanzer.  This  little  company  was  soon 
scattered. 

A second  effort  to  establish  a Methodist  society  here> 
in  1843,  is  thus  narrated  by  Rev.  E.  O.  Bates:  “ With 
brother  E.  Oakley,  a member  of  the  Roslyn  church,  we 
visited  Manhasset  Bay  (now  Port  Washington),  and  held 
meetings  weekly  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Mackey  (James  M). 
His  house  soon  became  too  small.  On  invitation  of 
Captain  Peck,  of  the  steamer  plying  between  that  place 
and  New  York,  we  occupied  the  saloon  until  the  close  of 
their  visits.  We  then  removed  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Moore.  A revival  was  enjoyed.  Over  30  professed  con- 
version. I organized  a class,  and  brother  Mackey  was 
the  principal  man.  The  preachers  met  the  class.”  This 
year  (1843)  the  eleven  members  comprising  this  class 
were  to  pay  $25,  their  portion  of  the  $592  “allowance  ” 
to  the  preachers  on  the  circuit,  as  “quarterage”  and 
“table  expenses.” 

Ere  long  this  new  society  became  extinct.  Rev.  George 
Hollis  thus  describes  its  permanent  reorganization: 
“Before  I left  the  North  Hempstead  circuit,  in  1852, 
about  the  last  thing,  I instituted  meetings,  and  organized 
a class  in  Port  Washington  (Cow  Bay).  Perhaps  there 
had  been  something  before;  it  was  a new  departure.  I 
appointed  an  old  captain  class  leader.”  This  was  doubt- 
less Captain  James  M.  Mackey,  mentioned  above.  Cap- 
tain Mackey  died  in  1854,  and  the  little  society,  though 
it  continued  to  exist,  with  occasional  meetings,  was  in  a 
languishing  state. 

It  is  reported  that  when  the  “Congregational  Method- 
ist” society  was  organized,  in  1858,  some  friends  of  the 
original  Methodists  (rude  and  ungodly  though  they  were) 
in  a sort  of  partisan  zeal  determined  that  the  old  Meth- 
odists of  the  regular  order  should  have  a chance  to  hold 
their  own  against  what  was  taken  to  be  an  effort  to  super- 
sede them.  To  do  this  they  must  have  a preacher. 
Whereupon,  they  contributed  toward  the  expense  of  pro- 
curing the  services  of  the  circuit  preacher  from  Roslyn, 
Rev.  John  S.  Haugh.  A protracted  meeting  was  held 
in  the  school-house,  continuing  two  months,  with  very 
marked  success.  Among  the  sixty  converts  were  thirty 
married  persons,  including  some  of  the  most  talented  and 
influential  people  in  the  place,  and  many  who  had  been 
notoriously  addicted  to  Sabbath-breaking,  gambling,  pro- 
fanity, and  other  forms  of  vice.  Mr.  Haugh  wrote  to  the 
Christian  Advocate  that  previous  to  the  revival  the  village 
had  been  noted  for  wickedness;  there  were  only  six  Epis- 
copal Methodists,  and  only  now  and  then  a preaching 
service.  The  amount  paid  for  preaching  advanced  at 
once  from  nothing  to  $400  a year.  A church  building 
enterprise  was  commenced,  which  resulted  in  the  building 


4 26 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


of  the  “Union  Free  Chapel,”  in  which  the  Methodists,/ 
as  well  as  other  denominations,  worshiped  till  1871. 

It  is  stated  on  the  authority  of  Warren  S.  Weeks  that 
a little  neighborhood  Sunday-school,  claimed  by  no  par- 
ticular denomination,  was  held  in  the  school-house  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  for  a number  of  years.  Later 
(1859)  a “ union  mission  Sunday-school  ” was  organized, 
largely  sustained  by  the  Episcopal  Methodists,  and  super- 
intended, successively,  by  Henry  Baxter  (a  Baptist),  Wil- 
liam B.  Mackey,  Warren  S.  Weeks,  W.  H.  McKee,  James 
E.  Bird  and  Edward  M.  Weeks.  About  1872  the  school 
being  practically  a Methodist  institution,  it  was  so  rec- 
ognized by  vote,  and  it  has  continued  to  meet  on  Sabbath 
afternoons  in  the  union  chapel,  superintended  by  E.  M. 
Weeks  and  Charles  E.  Surdam. 

In  1871,  R.  P.  Christopher  pastor,  a church  was  built 
too  far  from  the  center  of  the  village  to  be  convenient, 
but  on  a most  commanding  site,  the  land  having  been 
contributed  by  Charles  W.  Mitchell.  The  church,  a 
chaste  and  beautiful  edifice,  with  all  its  appointments, 
furniture,  carpets,  heater,  lamps,  bell,  cushions,  books, 
etc.,  was  the  gift  of  John  Wesley  Harper,  eldest  son  of 
John  Harper,  of  Harper  Brothers.  It  is  39  feet  wide 
and  51  feet  long,  with  a tower  63  feet  high.  The  sides 
are  low,  and  the  roof  rises  in  good  proportions.  Its  style 
is  the  old  English  rural,  allied  to  the  gothic,  and  the 
windows  are  of  stained  glass.  It  was  dedicated  Novem- 
ber 19th  1871,  by  Bishop  Ames,  Rev.  H.  F.  Pease  and 
others  participating  in  the  services,  and  Rev.  Charles 
Fletcher  preached  in  the  evening.  The  sermons  were 
eloquent  and  powerful. 

A beautiful  parsonage,  in  a central  and  pleasant  loca- 
tion, was  purchased  in  1874. 

The  pastors  from  the  origin  of  the  society  till  1870 
were  the  same  as  those  of  Roslyn  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  for  subsequent  years  the  list  is  as  follows: 
1870,  P.  W.  Howe  (supply);  1871-73,  R.  P.  Christopher 
(supply);  1874,  Charles  Backman;  1875,  1876,  William 
H.  McAllister;  1877,  William  J.  Robinson;  1878,  1879, 
E.  Watt;  1880,  H.  S.  Still;  1881,  F.  G.  Howell. 

The  membership,  including  probationers,  is  97.  The 
church  property  (1881)  is  valued  at  $9,000.  The  amount 
paid  in  1880  for  ministerial  service,  exclusive  of  house 
rent,  was  $829. 

The  church  purposes  building  a new  Sunday-school 
room. 

Trinity  Church  (Episcopal),  Roslyn. 

The  corner  stone  for  a building  was  laid  by  the  bishop 
of  the  diocese  as  far  back  as  1835,  but  nothing  further 
seems  to  have  been  done  at  that  time  toward  its  erection. 
Mission  services  were  held  in  the  place  with  more  or  less 
regularity  up  to  1862,  when  through  the  kindly  interest 
and  generosity  of  Mrs.  A.  E.  Cairns  a lot  was  procured 
and  the  present  building  erected,  under  the  supervision 
and  management  of  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Christ 
Church  at  Manhasset.  The  building  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Potter,  of  New  York,  December  5th  1862,  and 
designated  as  Christ  Church  Chapel.  In  June  1869  it 


was  organized  into  a separate  parish  and  called  Trinity 
Church,  with  the  Rev.  S.  A.  McNulty  as  the  first  rector. 
A comfortable  rectory  has  since  been  terected  on  the 
church  lot,  which  is  situated  in  one  of  the  pleasantest 
spots  in  the  village.  The  property  is  valued  at  $6,000. 
The  rectors  have  been  as  follows:  Rev.  S.  A.  McNulty, 
from  June  1869  to  March  1873;  Rev.  Charles  Pelle- 
treau,  from  April  1873  to  May  1875;  Rev.  James  W. 
Sparks,  from  November  1875  to  November  1878;  Rev. 
William  P.  Brush,  since  May  1880. 

St.  Bridget’s  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

St.  Bridget’s  church  is  situated  near  Westbury  station, 
on  a farm  containing  120  acres,  owned  by  Bishop  Lough- 
lin.  The  building  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Loughlin  on 
the  27th  of  July  1856,  and  was  the  second  Catholic 
church  built  east  of  Brooklyn.  Father  McGinnis  was 
the  pastor.  The  congregation  at  that  time  numbered 
about  300,  coming  from  Little  Neck,  Manhasset,  Port 
Washington,  Roslyn,  Glen  Cove,  Cold  Spring,  Hunting- 
ton,  Babylon,  as  far  west  as  Rockaway,  and  from  inter- 
mediate places. 

Rev.  James  O’Donnell  held  the  first  mass  in  these 
parts  about  1840,  at  the  residence  of  Bernard  Powers, 
now  Thomas  White’s,  near  the  insane  asylum.  The  con- 
gregation consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  Powers,  James 
Sweeney,  Patrick  Grady,  and  three  children  who  were 
baptized.  Previous  to  building  the  church,  services  were 
held  the  first  Sunday  in  each  month  at  Bernard  Powers’s, 
then  one  and  a half  miles  east  of  Hempstead  village. 
Since  building  the  church,  services  have  been  held  every 
Sunday.  Those  who  have  officiated  here  are  the  Revs. 
Edward  McGinnis,  Arthur  Fearly,  Father  Kelly,  and 
Revs.  James  McEnroe,  Eugene  McShery,  and  P.  Kear- 
ney, the  present  incumbent. 

Roslyn  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  the  autumn  of  1849  Mrs.  James  Losee,  seconded  by 
other  members  of  her  family,  took  the  first  steps  toward 
the  establishment  of  a Presbyterian  church  in  Roslyn, 
the  first  sermon  being  preached  on  the  26th  of  October 
of  that  year,  by  the  Rev.  Franklin  Merrill,  who  conduct- 
ed the  services  for  some  months,  occasionally  assisted 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Graves,  a Congregational  minister  located 
at  Hempstead.  The  meetings  were  held  in  the  academy 
building,  the  free  use  of  which  was  given  by  H.  W.  East- 
man, until  the  latter  part  of  January  1851,  when  they 
were  moved  to  a room  near  where  the  church  now  stands, 
owned  and  offered  free  of  charge  by  Mr.  Pinkney.  The 
meetings  continued  to  be  held  in  this  room  until  the 
completion  of  the  present  church. 

At  first  the  meetings  were  held  on  a week  day  even- 
ing, but  they  were  soon  changed  to  Sabbath  afternoon 
and  during  the  summer  of  1850  to  Sabbath  morning,  and 
they  have  so  continued,  with  an  additional  service  in 
afternoon  or  evening  and  sometimes  a prayer  meeting 
during  the  week.  ■ 

The  first  meeting  of  the  congregation  for  the  purpose 
of  becoming  a corporate  body  was  held  in  the  academy 


PRESBYTERIAN  AND  CATHOLIC  CHURCHES,  ROSLYN. 


427 


building  Thursday  evening  January  24th  1850.  The 
corporators  organized  under  the  name  of  the  Rosiyn 
Presbyterian  Association,  and  Messrs.  James  Losee,  Ste- 
phen A.  Ketcham,  James  W.  Smith,  Joseph  J.  Hegeman 
and  Franklin  Merrill  were  appointed  trustees,  Mr. 
Ketcham  being  elected  permanent  clerk  and  Mr.  Losee 
treasurer.  The  proceedings  of  this  meeting  were  duly 
recorded  in  the  county  clerk’s  office,  and  thereafter  meet- 
ings were  regularly  held  and  the  minutes  kept  by  the 
permanent  clerk.  There  was  no  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tion until  May  1851,  when  a committee  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Long  Island,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  James 
McDougall,  N.  C.  Locke  and  Franklin  Merrill,  met  at 
Rosiyn  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a Presbyterian 
church.  On  the  day  first  appointed,  the  weather  being 
very  stormy,  the  Rev.  N.  C.  Locke  preached  a sermon 
and  the  committee  postponed  the  other  exercises  until 
the  next  Sabbath,  which  was  the  last  in  May.  On  that 
day,  as  no  other  members  of  the  committee  were  present, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  proceeded  to  complete  the  organi- 
zation. The  following  persons  were  received  and  de- 
clared members  of  the  church:  James  \V.  Smith,  Maria 
Losee,  Elizabeth  Ketcham  and  Elizabeth  Losee.  James 
W.  Smith  was  chosen  and  ordained  as  ruling  elder,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
January  1879. 

After  the  organization  the  Presbyterian  association 
transferred  all  its  books  and  property  to  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  and  congregation,  and  the  following  persons 
were  chosen  as  trustees:  James  Losee,  Daniel  Brinker- 
hoff,  S.  A.  Ketcham,  Joseph  J.  Hegeman,  Henry  W. 
Eastman  and  Caleb  Kirby. 

Immediately  after  the  incorporation  measures  were 
taken  to  raise  funds  for  erecting  a church  edifice,  and 
the  foundation  was  laid  that  fall.  About  $r,ooo  was 
subscribed  in  Rosiyn  and  vicinity,  the  balance  being  do- 
nated by  the  Presbyteries  of  New  York  and  Long  Island, 
the  churches  of  Newtown,  Jamaica,  Hempstead,  Babylon, 
Huntington,  Sag  Harbor,  East  Hampton  and  Southamp- 
ton, and  at  the  time  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone 
and  the  dedication.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building 
and  lot  was  $1,900;  $170  being  afterward  raised  in 
Rosiyn  for  the  purchase  of  a bell. 

Rev.  Franklin  Merrill  continued  in  charge  of  the 
church  until  June  1853.  His  salary  was  at  the  rale  of 
$150  per  year. 

From  that  time  until  May  1854  Rev.  H.  B.  Burr  and 
others  conducted  the  services.  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Ely,  D. 
D.,  then  became  the  stated  supply,  and  so  continued 
until  the  spring  of  1870. 

In  the  spring  of  1853  a Sabbath-school  was  established, 
but  it  was  only  kept  up  for  a few  months.  In  May  1854 
William  S.  Ely  and  Samuel  R.  Ely  jr.  reorganized  the 
school,  which  has,  with  the  exception  of  the  winter  of 
1854  and  1855,  continued  in  a flourishing  condition. 

In  August  1858  Mrs.  W.  C.  Bryant,  the  wife  of  the 
poet,  was  baptized  and  admitted  into  the  fellowship  of 
the  church. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Kirby  supplied  the  pulpit  from  spring  of 


1870  until  July  12th  1871,  when  Rev.  Charles  R.  Strong 
was  unanimously  called  as  the  first  installed  pastor  of  the 
church. 

The  report  of  the  church  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
May  1872,  showed  a membership  of  45  and  a Sabbath- 
school  attendance  of  75. 

On  July  12th  1873  the  session  passed  resolutions  of 
sorrow  for  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Ely,  D.  D.,  who 
had  been  for  17  years  the  stated  supply  to  this  church, 
all  of  that  time  devoting  himself  to  the  interests  of  the 
church  without  receiving  any  regular  salary. 

During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1874  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cate  supplied  the  pulpit,  the  pastor  being  in  Europe  on 
account  of  ill  health.  During  the  spring  of  1877,  for  the 
same  reason,  the  pastor  was  absent,  the  pulpit  being 
supplied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jefferson.  On  the  27th  of 
July  1877  the  Rev.  Mr.  Strong  resigned  the  pastorate. 
From  December  19th  1877  the  Rev.  Charles  S.  Syming- 
ton was  pastor  until  June  22nd  1879,  when  he  resigned  to 
accept  another  call.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Buchanan  and  others 
supplied  the  pulpit  until  January  1881,  when  Rev.  George 
S.  Payson,  son  of  Rev.  E.  H.  Payson,  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Utica,  was  unanimously  called,  and  on  the  21st  of  April 
1881  he  was  duly  installed  as  pastor. 

The  membership  at  this  time  was  about  65,  with  an 
average  attendance,  at  morning  service,  of  50,  and  a 
Sabbath-school  with  over  60  on  its  roll. 

Catholic  Church,  Manhasset. 

The  Catholic  church  here  was  dedicated  October  14th 
1857,  and  the  society  is  the  parent  of  the  Rosiyn  church. 
It  is  ministered  to  by  the  pastor  of  the  Rosiyn  church. 

The  Free  Church,  Port  Washington. 

About  the  year  1859  a meeting  of  inhabitants  of  school 
districts  No.  4 and  5 decided  to  build  a free  church.  At 
that  meeting  trustees  were  elected  and  a subscription  list 
started.  The  land  was  given  by  Henry  Cock,  with  a 
stipulation  that  it  should  be  free  to  all  Protestant  Christian 
denominations.  The  whole  cost  of  the  building  was 
$2,000. 

Roman  Catholic  Church,  Roslyn. 

Previous  to  the  establishment  of  a parish,  from  1866 
to  1871,  Roslyn  was  attended  from  Manhasset  by  Rev. 
I.  A.  Strain,  who  said  mass  for  the  people  in  John  Camp- 
bell’s house.  In  June  1871  Rev.  William  O’Donnell, 
who  was  appointed  pastor,  built  a humble  wooden  build- 
ing, in  which  he  said  mass  until  his  death  in  November  of 
the  following  year.  Lie  left  a reminder  of  his  labors  in 
a new  brick  church,  of  gothic  style,  95  feet  long  by  45 
feet  wide.  Rev.  B.  F.  Sheridan,  a Jesuit,  succeeded  him 
on  the  15th  of  November  1872.  During  his  pastorate  he 
fitted  up  the  basement  of  the  church,  where  he  held 
services.  In  May  1876  he  was  transferred  to  the  new 
church  at  Great  Neck,  a section  taken  off  Manhasset. 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  same  month  by  the  present  in- 
cumbent, Rev.  M.  C.  Brennan,  from  St.  Mary’s  Immacu- 
late Conception,  Brooklyn,  E,  D.,  where  he  had  for  five 


428 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


years  acfed  as  assistant.  During  his  first  two  years  at 
Roslyn  he  completed  the  church  up  stairs,  at  an  expense 
of  $4,200,  to  which  the  members  of  other  churches  in  the 
place  contributed  generously.  The  church  was  dedicated 
June  23d  1878.  It  still  needs  about  $3,000  expended  to 
make  its  architectural  designs  complete,  though  it  is  now 
considered  the  finest  Catholic  church  on  Long  Island 
outside  of  Brooklyn.  Thirty  years  ago  the  first  Cath- 
ol.c,  a domestic  in  the  home  of  a lady  who  is  now  an 
honored  great-grandmother,  came  to  Roslyn  to  live.  The 
Catholic  community  in  Roslyn  at  present  numbers  about 
500. 

Great  Neck  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  church  edifice  is  located  on  the  Flushing  and 
North  Hempstead  turnpike,  about  midway  between  the 
Great  Neck  railroad  station  and  Manhasset  village,  on 
one  of  the  highest  inhabited  portions  of  Long  Island.  The 
erection  of  a house  of  worship  in  this  place  was  accom- 
plished in  1872,  solely  by  the  munificence  of  Joseph  S. 
Spinney,  then  engaged  as  a commission  merchant  at  47 
Exchange  place,  New  York,  and  residing  at  “ Forest 
Grove,”  on  the  Great  Neck  shore  of  Manhasset  Bay. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spinney  had  been  induced  to  establish  a 
temporary  residence  in  this  place,  in  the  hope  of  finding 
the  country  air  favorable  to  the  health  of  their  little 
child.  The  child  died,  but  although  the  parents  moved 
hither  for  its  sake  alone  they  had  now  become  so  at- 
tached to  their  country  home  that  they  determined  to 
remain. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  the  denomination  to 
which  Mr.  Spinney  belonged,  had  up  to  this  time  ob- 
tained no  place  or  influence  in  this  community.  Great 
Neck  and  Manhasset  had  been  visited  in  previous  years 
by  Methodist  preachers,  but  they  had  left  no  visible  or 
permanent  impression.  For  a considerable  time  Mr. 
Spinney  worshiped  with  a feeble  society  of  Methodists 
in  their  chapel  at  Little  Neck,  and  greatly  aided  and 
cheered  that  needy  church.  Desirous  also  of  accom- 
plishing good  nearer  home,  he  and  his  father-in-law,  L. 
B.  Loder,  with  occasional  assistance  from  others,  con- 
ducted prayer  and  praise  meetings,  which  were  largely 
attended,  in  the  Great  Neck  union  chapel,  and  in  the 
town  hall  at  Manhasset.  The  good  effect  produced  by 
these  meetings  upon  many  who  were  not  regular  attend- 
ants at  any  place  of  worship  convinced  Mr.  Spinney  that 
there  was  room  in  this  community  for  a Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  real  need  of  the  work  which  such  a 
church  could  accomplish.  Accordingly  he  proceeded  at 
once  to  provide  a house  of  worship  for  a church  that  was 
to  be.  Having  purchased  a large  portion  of  the  cele- 
brated “ Ben.  Wood  property,”  he  selected  about  four 
acres  on  a delightful  eminence  as  the  site  for  a church 
and  parsonage. 

Rev.  John  Pilkington  was  appointed  pastor,  having 
been  transferred  from  the  Wyoming  to  the  New  York 
East  conference.  Mr.  Spinney  paid  him  a salary,  and 
intrusted  him  with  a general  oversight  of  the  enterprise. 
Mundell  & Teckritz,  of  Brooklyn,  were  employed  as  ar- 


chitects; J.  M.  Carpenter,  of  Great  Neck,  as  builder  of 
the  church,  and  Samuel  Travers,  of  Port  Washington,  as 
builder  of  the  parsonage.  The  work  was  commenced  in 
June  1872. 

It  betokened  great  faith  as  well  as  great  generosity  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Spinney  to  provide,  at  large  expense,  com- 
plete appliances  for  a church  while  as  yet  there  was  no 
church  organization  and  but  few  who  might  be  expected 
to  unite  in  forming  one. 

When  completed  the  church  building  was  very  much 
admired.  It  is  66  feet  long  by  34  feet  wide,  with  bell- 
tower  and  spire.  The  windows  are  of  stained  glass, 
beautiful  in  shape  and  tastefully  ornamented.  The  edi- 
fice was  dedicated  on  Sunday  morning  October  6th  1872, 
by  Bishop  Simpson.  He  preached  on  the  occasion  an 
eloquent  sermon  from  the  words  “ I will  make  the  place 
of  my  feet  glorious.”  The  discourse  was  stenographically 
reported,  and  published  in  the  Christian  Advocate.  The 
singing  at  these  services  were  conducted  by  the  choir 
of  the  Hanson  Place  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Brooklyn. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  a Sabbath-school  was 
organized,  consisting  of  twenty-five  scholars  and  seven 
teachers.  Lewis  B.  Loder  was  then  elected  superintend- 
ent, and  he  has  continued  in  that  office  to  the  present 
time  (18811. 

At  a meeting  held  in  the  church  edifice  October  21st 
1872,  “The  Great  Neck  Methodist  Episcopal  Church” 
was  by  vote  adopted  as  the  corporate  name  of  the 
organization.  L.  B.  Loder,  J.  M.  Pray,  J.  E.  Hicks,  J. 
M.  Carpenter  and  Edward  H.  Dodge  were  elected  as  the 
first  board  of  trustees,  and  a proper  certificate  was  filed 
in  the  county  clerk’s  office. 

The  church  was  thus  incorporated,  but  had  no  actual 
membership  until  November  3d  1872,  when,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  first  communion  service,  certificates  of 
removal  were  presented  by  some  thirteen  persons,  and  the 
names  of  two  probationers  were  taken,  whereby  a small 
society  was  formed.  Their  names  were  as  follows:  Full 
members,  Joseph  S.  Spinney,  Emily  A.  Spinney,  Lewis 
B.  Loder,  Catharine  A.  Loder,  Joseph  M.  Pray,  Mary  B. 
Pray,  Kate  C.  Baker,  Park  Brewster,  Daniel  D.  Gordon, 
Mary  A.  Gordon,  Mrs.  John  Pilkington,  Emma  Skid- 
more; probationers,  James  M.  Carpenter,  Richard  I. 
Pray. 

As  soon  as  the  organization  was  effected  the  entire 
property  (including  land,  completely  furnished  church 
and  parsonage,  barn,  sheds  and  other  buildings, 'paid  up 
policy  insuring  the  buildings  for  five  years,  organ,  com- 
munion service  and  Sunday-school  library)  was  presented 
to  the  Great  Neck  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  by  Mr. 
Spinney  and  his  wife,  subject  to  the  conditions  that  it 
should  be  used  for  M.  E.  church  purposes  and  that  the 
seats  in  the  church  edifice  should  be  free.  The  bills  on 
file  show  the  cost  to  have  been  about  $21,000. 

The  first  board  of  stewards  was  appointed  December 
1st  1872,  viz.:  J.  S.  Spinney,  L.  B.  Loder,  J.  M.  Pray, 
J.  M.  Carpenter,  J.  E.  Hicks,  D.  D.  Gordon.  The  first 
class  leader  was  Charles  H.  Colby.  The  first  chorister 


\ 

GREAT  NECK  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


was  L.  B.  Loder;  the  first  organist,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Skidmore; 
the  first  sexton,  Charles  Valentine. 

Four  pastors  have  served  this  church  to  date.  Rev. 
John  Pilkington  was  the  stationed  preacher  three  years 
(1872-74).  His  name  is  pleasantly  associated  with  the 
origin  of  this  church.  He  labored  with  energy  for  the 
accomplishment  of  a work  which  was  evidently  dear  to 
his  heart.  He  left,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  as  the 
result  of  a faithful  improvement  of  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity, a beautiful  church  property,  a prosperous  Sunday- 
school  and  a growing  membership. 

Rev.  Charles  Backman  was  pastor  three  years  (1875- 
77).  He  witnessed  an  extensive  revival  of  religion  in 
the  congregation,  and  rejoiced  in  a large  accession  to  the 
church. 

Rev.  Marcus  D.  Buell  was  the  conference  preacher  for 
one  year  (1878).  Mr.  Buell’s  excellent  sermons  were 
greatly  appreciated.  His  instructions  to  the  young  peo- 
ple in  vocal  music,  and  his  little  paper,  Pastor  and  People , 
printed  at  the  parsonage  and  issued  monthly,  were  notable 
features  of  his  brief  administration.  An  opportunity 
offered  to  visit  Europe  and  the  East,  and  he  left  the 
charge  in  the  spring  of  1879. 

Rev.  Edwin  Warriner  is  pastor  at  the  date  of  this 
writing  (February  1881),  having  been  in  charge  nearly 
two  years  (1879,  1880) — a pleasant  and  prosperous 
term. 

The  pastor’s  salary  has  uniformly  been  estimated  at 
$1,000,  but  the  actual  receipts  have  exceeded  that 
amount. 

Some  notable  facts  appertaining  to  this  church  are: 

1.  Its  singular  and  providential  origin,  as  chronicled 
above.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Dashiell,  in  a sermon  to  this 
people  some  years  ago,  founded  upon  the  words  “ And 
a little  child  shall  lead  them,”  discoursed  feelingly  and 
beautifully  concerning  the  circumstances  which  led  to 
the  founding  of  this  church. 

2.  Remarkable  growth ; beginning  with  a membership 
of  13  in  a sparsely  populated  place,  it  increased  in  num- 
bers tenfold  in  less  than  five  years. 

3.  Eminent  visitors.  On  important  occasions,  such  as 
missionary  days  and  anniversaries  of  the  dedication,  the 
worshipers  on  this  hill-top  have  been  permitted  to  listen 
to  some  of  the  most  eloquent  and  distinguished  preachers 
of  the  denomination.  Some  of  these  are  Bishops  Foster, 
Gilbert  Haven,  Wiley,  Foss  and  Hurst,  and  Doctors 
Dashiell,  Crooks,  Reid,  Newman,  DeHaas,  Kidder,  Hunt 
and  Fowler.  Few  audiences  in  the  country  chapels  have 
been  so  highly  favored. 

4.  Extraordinary  interest  in  the  Sunday-school.  The 
superior  blackboard  illustrations  by  D.  S.  Skidmore,  S. 
E.  Warren  and  others  have  aided  greatly  in  the  teaching 
of  the  Word.  All  observers  agree  that  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  find  in  any  other  Sabbath-school  such  lifelike 
and  beautiful  representations  of  scripture  scenes,  illus- 
trating the  lessons,  as  are  prepared  for  this  school  by  the 
assistant  superintendent,  Mr.  Warren. 

At  each  Christmas  anniversary  Mr.  Spinney  has  dis- 
tributed hundreds  of  dollars  worth  of  presents  to  the 


429 


members  and  friends  of  the  school.  He  has  also  each 
year  paid  the  entire  expense  of  a first-class  Sabbath- 
school  picnic,  furnishing  ice  cream,  band  of  music,  etc. 

The  monthly  “ children’s  meetings,”  held  Sabbath 
evenings,  have  attracted  large  numbers  of  people,  many 
attending  from  a distance  of  several  miles. 

The  Sunday-school  in  the  first  year  or  two  reached  a 
membership  of  175,  which  it  still  retains. 

5.  Wise  financial  management.  No  bills  remain  long 
unpaid.  The  accounts  have  shown  a balance  in  the 
treasury  at  the  close  of  each  year.  Two  church  fairs 
netted  respectively  $1,200  and  $400.  Besides  giving 
due  attention  to  repairs  and  improvements,  the  Ladies’ 
Aid  Society  has  accumulated  a fund  for  the  erection  of 
a chapel  and  Sunday-school  building. 

6.  Benevolent  contributions.  While  Mr.  Spinney  has 
largely  supplemented  his  original  offering  by  his  constant 
and  systematic  support  of  the  various  interests  of  this 
church,  the  people  have  been  schooled  in  the  principles 
and  practice  of  Christian  benevolence,  and  they  have  not 
forgotten  the  sentiment,  “ Freely  ye  have  received,  freely 
give.”  Mr.  Spinney  adds  dollar  for  dollar  to  the  collec- 
tions taken  in  this  church  for  benevolent  objects.  In  the 
average  amount  per  member  contributed  to  the  various 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  denomination  this  has  been 
the  leading  Methodist  church  in  Queens  county,  and 
among  the  foremost  in  the  New  York  East  Conference. 
The  annual  offering  for  missions  has  been  as  large  as 
$500. 

7.  Complete  harmony  and  fellowship  with  Christians 
of  other  denominations. 

At  a meeting  of  the  members  and  friends  interested  in 
“ the  Great  Neck  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,”  held  in 
their  house  of  worship  on  the  morning  of  December  25th 
1879,  a preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted,  thanking  Mr.  Spinney  for  his  benefactions  to 
Methodism  at  Great  Neck.  This  testimonial  was  written 
by  Rev.  Rev.  E.  Warriner,  beautifully  engrossed  by  S.  E. 
Warren,  and  elegantly  framed,  embellished  with  beauti- 
ful emblems  and  illustrations,  including  a picture  of  the 
church  and  parsonage.  It  was  signed  by  Rev.  E.  War- 
riner, pastor;  C.  R.  Disosway,  J.  E.  Hicks  and  H.  J. 
Combs,  on  behalf  of  the  church  and  Sabbath-school,  and 
J.  B.  Hill,  C.  M.  Fletcher  and  C.  W.  Rogers,  on  behalf 
of  friends. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Port  Washington. 

Meetings  were  started  here  April  22nd  1873,  the  result 
of  which  was  the  formation,  on  September  14th,  of  a 
regular  Baptist  church.  Rev.  J.  D.  Fulton,  D.D.,  preached 
the  sermon  on  the  day  of  organization. 

The  original  members  were  Andrew  Van  Pelt,  John 

C.  Jones,  George  Fleet,  Jacob  Pierce,  Dr.  Hall, 

James  E.  Bird,  Eliza  D.  Bird,  Jane  Van  Pelt,  Martha 
Fleet  and  Jane  Scott.  George  Fleet  and  Andrew  Van 
Pelt  were  chosen  deacons,  and  James  E.  Bird  clerk. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  in  June  1873,  with 
65  members. 

In  1875  the  church  had  increased  its  membership  to 


47 


43° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEaNS  COUNTY. 


35,  and  the  Sunday-school  its  membership  to  125.  The 
church  has  since  declined  to  a membership  of  17.  The 
Rev.  Nelson  Palmer  served  as  pastor  from  October  1873 
to  January  1875;  Uriah  B.  Gurscard,  from  January  1875 
to  May  1875;  James  T.  Carr,  from  May  1875  to  June 
1876;  and  Duncan  Young,  from  October  1877  to  June 
1879. 

The  church  has  never  owned  any  real  estate  and  has 
held  its  services  in  the  free  church.  The  Sunday-school 
was  organized  in  the  old  school-house,  but  the  services 
were  held  after  the  first  year  in  the  church. 

St.  Aloysius  Catholic  Church,  Great  Neck. 

The  edifice  of  this  name  was  built  in  1876,  being  dedi- 
cated May  20th  of  that  year.  About  200  regular  mem- 
bers attend.  Rev.  P.  F.  Sheridan,  the  first  pastor,  was  in 
charge  three  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  E.  J. 
Smith,  the  present  incumbent,  whose  charge  commenced 
April  25th  1880.  This  is  the  first  Catholic  church  built 
in  this  part  of  the  island.  It  is  a neat  little  church  in  the 
gothic  style,  situated  about  200  feet  from  the  main  road 
and  a mile  from  the  railroad  depot.  The  value  of  the 
church  is  estimated  at  $8,000.  The  pastor  has  recently 
built  a parsonage.  The  Sunday-school  is  in  charge  of 
some  of  the  young  ladies  of  the  parish,  the  pastor  being 
the  superintendent.  About  60  pupils  attend  Sunday  after 
Sunday,  and  the  strictest  order  and  discipline  are  pre- 
served. This  church  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  most 
attractive  of  its  kind  on  the  island,  as  far  as  art  and  piety 
can  make  it  so. 

Westbury  Union  Sunday-School. 

About  twenty  years  ago  a Sabbath-school  was  organ- 
ized at  Westbury.  It  continued  to  be  held  during  the 
summer  seasons  with  varying  success.  It  was  superin- 
tended first  by  S.  P.  Titus.  July  1st  1875  it  was  opened 
as  a union  school.  Among  those  prominent  and  very 
helpful  was  Albert  W.  Hendrickson,  who  had  for  years 
been  an  earnest  worker  in  Sabbath-schools;  and  to  him 
and  other  interested  friends  the  school  owes  a debt  of 
gratitude  for  much  pecuniary  aid.  I.  C.  Titus,  who  sug- 
gested the  organization,  acted  as  superintendent  for  some 
time.  There  are  at  present  about  40  pupils.  Miss  Hen- 
rietta Titus  is  the  superintendent. 


Old  Families  and  Prominent  Individuals. 

- T.  W.  ALBERTSON. 

Thomas  W.  Albertson,  son  of  Benjamin  Albertson,  was 
born  March  26th  1813,  in  the  town  of  North  Hempstead, 
and  resided  in  the  town  most  of  his  life.  His  father  was 
a farmer,  but  filled  some  of  the  important  offices  of  the 
town,  serving  as  supervisor,  trustee  of  the  Jones  fund, 
etc.  Thomas  W.  devoted  his  life  entirely  to  the  farm. 
He  was  married  May  30th  1846  to  Miss  Harriet  Town- 


send, of  Cedar  Swamp,  in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  They 
removed  the  following  year  to  the  farm  at  the  village  of 
Mineola,  opposite  the  present  Queens  County  Agricul- 
tural Society’s  grounds,  where  the  family  have  since  re- 
sided. Since  that  time  all  the  present  farm  buildings 
have  been  erected  and  the  many  other  improvements 
made.  Mr.  Albertson  was  a man  of  integrity,  a man  of 
thought,  active  and  successful  in  his  chosen  avocation. 
He  was  among  the  first  in  his  section  to  introduce  .from 
the  city  the  use  of  brewers’  grains  for  feeding  stock. 
His  mind  had  an  inventive  turn,  which  he  utilized  in 
many  ways  on  the  farm,  one  of  which  was  the  erection 
of  the  wind  grist-mill. 

Mr.  Albertson  died  May  6th  1874,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren, viz.  Townsend,  ' Alice,  Ethelena  T.  and  Thomas 
W.  jr.  Townsend  resides  on  a farm  about  three 
miles  north  of  the  homestead.  The  others  of  the 
family,  including  the  mother,  reside  on  the  home- 
stead. 

Mrs.  Albertson  was  born  September  28th  1820,  apd  is 
a daughter  of  Hewlett  Townsend.  Her  father  owned 
and  resided  on  the  farm  at  Cedar  Swamp  on  which  the 
Glen  Head  depot  now  stands.  The  farm  descended  to 
him  by  inheritance,  though  his  father,  Timothy,  from  his 
grandfather  Richard  Townsend  2nd,  who  purchased  it 
in  1717.  (Richard  2nd  was  a son  of  the  original  Rich- 
ard Townsend  mentioned  in  the  history  of  Oyster  Bay.) 
Mrs.  Albertson’s  father  was  an  Episcopalian,  and  her 
mother  a Friend.  She  united  with  the  Reformed  (Dutch) 
church  at  Brookville,  October  5th  1844,  and  on  coming 
to  Mineola  after  her  marriage  united  with  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Hempstead. 


I 


PHICAL  S\ 


X 


\ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


JOHN  M.  CLARK. 


John  M.  Clark  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
popular  men  in  Queens  county.  His  father  was  James 
Clark,  a native  of  Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  New  York 
when  quite  young.  He  had  gone  to  sea  when  little  more 
than  a mere  lad,  and  had  even  then  visited  remote  parts 
of  the  world.  He  was  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of 
the  late  John  Jacob  Astorin  the  East  India  trade.  Later 
he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  establishing  the  Havre  line 
of  packets  between  New  York  and  Havre,  France,  and 
he  was  prominently  connected  with  this  line  until  his  re- 
tirement from  active  business  life.  He  died  in  Novem- 
ber 1835.  Mr.  Clark’s  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Mary  McKie,  was  a daughter  of  John  McKie,  then  a 
prominent  business  man  of  New  York  in  the  lumber  and 
timber  trade.  She  survived  her  husband  only  about  a 
year  and  a half. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  New  York,  January  1st  1821. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  in  New  York,  and  later 
was  a student  at  the  grammar  school  at  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey,  connected  with  Rutgers  College  ; but  aban- 
doned his  studies  there  about  the  time  of  his  father’s 
death  and  entered,  as  a clerk,  the  shipping  house  of  Boyd 
& Hincken,  agents  for  the  Havre  line.  Later  he  was  for 
a time  employed  with  his  uncle  in  the  lumber  and  timber 
business  in  the  then  upper  part  of  New  York  city.  In  1840 
he  removed  to  Great  Neck  village,  where  he  resided 
and  was  connected  with  James  Udall  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness till  1849,  when  he  moved  on  to  his  present  farm, 
which  he  had  purchased  the  previous  year. 

In  1849  Mr.  Clark  married  Miss  Matilda  S.  Udall,  of 
Great  Neck,  who  is  living  and  in  the  enjoyment,  in  com- 
mon with  their  household,  of  the  elegant  and  hospitable 
home  which  Mr.  Clark  has  made  for  them.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clark  have  two  children — Mary  C.  (now  Mrs. 
Julian  A.  Udall)  and  Richard  U. 

In  1854  Mr.  Clark  was  elected  supervisor,  and  he  is 
now  serving  his  nineteenth  term  as  the  incumbent  of 
that  office,  the  duties  of  which  he  faithfully  and  satisfac- 
torily performed  during  the  exacting  period  of  the  late 
civil  war.  He  has  several  times  been  chosen  chairman 
of  the  Queens  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  1881 
he  consented  to  become  a nominee  for  the  responsible 
office  of  county  treasurer. 

His  connection  with  the  Republican  party  dates  back 
to  the  Fremont  campaign  of  1856,  and  he  has  ever  been 
an  active,  earnest,  conscientious  and  liberal  abettor  of 
its  principles  and  measures  ; and  so  great  is  the  public 
estimation  of  his  probity  that  he  enjoys  the  respect  of 
his  fellow  citizens  of  whatever  political  affiliation.  He  is 
a director  of  the  Glen  Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
and  has  long  been  a trustee  and  is  now  president  of  the 
Roslyn  Savings  Bank. 

Mr.  Clark’s  father’s  family  were  members  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  the  services  of  which  he  early  attended. 
His  simplicity  of  character  and  dislike  of  all  religious 
ostentation  have  led  him  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  upon 
the  ministrations  of  whose  preachers  he  and  his  house- 
hold attend,  though  he  is  a liberal  contributor  to  the  sup- 
port of  all  of  the  churches  in  his  vicinity  as  occasion 
may  seem  to  offer. 

ISAAC  E.  HAVILAND. 

The  person  who  acquaints  himself  with  the  history  of 
Queens  county  will  assign  to  Isaac  E.  Haviland  a place 
among  its  representative  men.  His  birthplace  was 
Chestnut  Ridge,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was 
born  June  26th  1803.  His  ancestors,  who  were  English, 


43i 


were  for  several  generations  classed  among  the  substantial 
farmers  of  the  county.  His  father,  Eleazer  Haviland, 
was  a minister  of  acknowledged  ability  in  the  Hicksite 
order  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

After  completing  his  education  at  Providence,  R.  I., 
Mr.  Haviland  spent  his  time  in  performing  the  duties 
and  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  home  life  until  his  mar- 
riage to  Ruth,  daughter  of  Stephen  Titus  and  niece  of 
Samuel  Titus,  to  whom,  he  being  childless,  she  was  as"a 
daughter.  Their  ancient  homestead,  situated  at  Hemp- 
stead Harbor,  became  his  home  in  1828.  Here  he  re- 
sided, surrounded  by  all  the  pleasant  and  enchanting  at- 
tachments which  the  possession  of  ancestral  inheritance 
can  bring. 

In  person  he  was  tall,  noble  and  commanding,  with  an 
attractive  and  cheerful  face,  which  betokened  the  genial 
soul  within  and  the  generous  heart,  ever  ready  to  aid  with 
sympathy  or  more  substantial  comfort.  Possessing  many 
of  the  qualities  necessary  to  a leading  public  character, 
he  was  often  able  to  guide  and  direct  where  he  had  not 
the  power  to  control.  His  learning,  his  ready  judgment 
and  his  clear  perception,  joined  to  an  affable  and  engag- 
ing demeanor,  made  up  for  certain  elements  of  character 
which  enable  others  to  attain  a higher  popularity;  while 
the  possession  of  those  solid  qualities  which  always  com- 
mand respect  enabled  him  to  leave  perhaps  a more  en- 
during impression  upon  the  community  under  his  influ- 
ence. His  merits  were  appreciated  and  honored  by  his 
appointment,  May  12th  1843,  by  Governor  William  C. 
Bouck,  and  his  reappointment,  March  20th  1846,  by 
Governor  Silas  Wright,  to  the  office  of  first  judge  of 
Queens  county,  which  office  he  filled  until  the  election 
of  Judge  Hagner,  under  the  new  constitution,  in  1847. 
As  to  the  ability  with  which  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office  and  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  while 
occupying  the  position,  the  language  of  Judge  Arm- 
strong, who  has  kindly  furnished  the  dates  of  his  ap- 
pointment, etc.,  is  here  adopted  as  expressing  the  general 
sentiment  of  the  people  of  the  county  and  of  the  legal 
profession: 

“ Judge  Haviland,  though  not  trained  to  the  legal  profession,  had 
a clear  comprehension  of  principles  of  law  that  governed  the  ordinary 
transactions  of  life,  and  upon  the  bench  was  firm,  courteous  and  im- 
partial. His  views  upon  a novel  and  important  question  of  law  relating 
to  a private  right  of  way  were  made  the  subject  of  review  by  the 
court  of  appeals  of  this  State,  and  that  tribunal  unanimously  sus- 
tained Judge  Haviland’s  position,  and  this  case  to-day  is  the  leading 
case  in  this  State  upon  the  principle  involved.” 

He  was  a director  in  the  Long  Island  Railroad  Com- 
pany from  1837  to  1843  (during  which  time  the  railroad 
was  completed  to  Greenport),  in  1846,  and  from  1850  to 
the  close  of  1855.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  com- 
pany in  1850  and  1852.  His  health  became  impaired  in 
1855  and  has  so  continued  to  the  present  time. 

Coming  to  the  county  at  a period  when  the  various 
elements  of  society  were  more  widely  separated,  and  it 
was  less  imbued  with  the  intrigues  of  city  politics,  he 
was  enabled  the  more  readily  to  impress  upon  the  com- 
munity by  which  he  was  surrounded  the  influence  of  his 
upright  character.  Without  brilliant  attainments  he  had 
at  his  command  a general  fund  of  useful  knowledge  and 
common  sense;  and  either  in  his  official  or  his  business 
career  his  judgment  was  rarely  at  fault.  Never  hesitat- 
ing in  asserting  his  principles,  he  yet  deferred  to  the 
opinion  of  others,  and  in  his  intercourse  with  men  sought 
to  gain  as  well  as  impart  information.  In  his  social  and 
private  life  the  kindly  glow  of  his  warm  heart  shed  hap- 
piness and  delight  upon  every  one  that  it  reached;  and 
the  ancestral  halls  of  “the  old  brick  ” homestead  can 
never  lose  the  charm  evoked  by  the  memory  of  his 
presence. 


WILLIAM  HEWLETT. 


THE  HEWLETT  FAMILY. 

The  Hewletts  have  been  identified  with  Queens  county 
since  about  the  time  Long  Island  was  first  settled  by 
white  people,  but  the  date  of  their  emigrating  from 
England,  the  particulars  of  their  occupying  what  is  now 
Riker’s  Island,  and  the  history  of  their  final  settlement 
on  the  south  coast  of  Queens  county  are  matters  of 
tradition  rather  than  history.  Traditions  agree,  how- 
ever, that  the  ancestor  was  George  Hewlett,  who,  with 
his  four  sons,  came  to  America  about  1660.  After 
sharing  the  hospitality  of  the  Riker  family  for  a short 
time  they  took  possession  of  the  two  small  islands  for- 
merly known  as  Hewlett’s  Islands,  now  called  “ The 
Brothers.”  They  remained  here  but  a few  years  at 
most  then  removed  to  the  south  side  of  Long  Island 
and  settled  at  a place  now  called  Merrick,  in  the  town 
of  Hempstead. 

In  due  time  the  sons  made  settlements  for  themselves. 
Daniel,  the  eldest,  staid  on  the  homestead  at  Merrick, 
and  left  at  his  death  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  some 
of  whose  descendants  still  reside  here.  George,  the 


second  son,  settled  at  the  foot  of  Great  Neck,  in  the 
present  town  of  North  Hempstead.  He  left  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  whose  descendants  are  still  among 
the  prominent  residents  of  the  place.  Lewis,  the  third 
son,  settled  at  the  head  of  Cow  Neck,  where  Henry  T. 
Hewlett  now  resides,  and  left  at  his  death  two  sons  and 
five  daughters.  John,  the  youngest  son,  took  up  his 
home  at  Rockaway,  and  had  six  children — two  sons  and 
four  daughters.  One  son  remained  at  home  ; the  other, 
known  as  John  2nd,  married  Hannah,  the  sister  of  Col. 
John  Jackson,  and  removed  to  East  Woods  (now  Wood- 
bury), in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  Many  of  his  de- 
scendants still  reside  here,  at  Cold  Spring  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  town. 

Samuel  Hewlett,  probably  a grandson  of  Lewis  Hew- 
lett, was  married  when  sixty  years  of  age  to  Ruth  Willis, 
of  Cedar  Swamp.  They  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Henry  T.  Hewlett. 
Five  children,  four  sons  and  a daughter,  grew  up  as  their 
family.  Lewis,  the  eldest,  lived  and  died  on  the  old 
homestead.  Phoebe,  the  second  child,  married  Walter 
Jones,  and  in  her  widowhood  came  and  lived  with  her 


433 


WILLIAM  H.  HEWLETT. 


youngest  brother,  William.  James,  the  second  son,  died 
at  sea,  leaving  no  family.  Samuel,  the  third  son,  married 
a Miss  Hewlett  from  Cold  Spring,  and  spent  his  life  on 
a farm  in  Stonytown. 

William  Hewlett,  whose  portrait  appears  at  the  head  of 
page  432,  the  youngest  of  this  family,  was  born  on  the 
19th  of  October  1784.  His  first  wife  was  Martha,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Thorne.  Their  first  home  was  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  John  S.  Morrell.  Mrs.  Hewlett 
coming  into  possession,  by  inheritance,  of  half  of  her 
father's  farm  they  removed  thither  about  1820,  and  sub- 
sequently purchased  from  a sister  the  remaining  half. 
The  old  house  which  is  now  standing  was  built  by  one  of 
the  Kissams,  who  formerly  owned  the  property.  Mrs. 
Hewlett  was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  church  at  Man- 
hasset  for  many  years,  and  until  her  death.  Her  chil- 
dren were  William  Henry  and  Martha  M.,  the  late  wife  of 
John  S.  Morrell.  Mr.  Hewlett  was  again  married 
August  2nd  1852,  to  Susan  Armstrong,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
who  survives  him. 

Mr.  Hewlett  devoted  some  part  of  his  time  during 
his  whole  life  to  farming.  He  was  for  some  time  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  paper  in  a mill  on  the 


stream  in  front  of  his  home.  He  was  also  a manufacturer 
of  cotton  goods,  which  industry  yielded  him  some 
profits.  He  built,  in  1827,  the  saw-mill  which  is  still  in 
use.  He  never  coveted  political  honors,  but  on  the  con- 
trary preferred  to  follow  a quiet  life,  his  prominent  char- 
acteristics being  unostentatious  benevolence,  humility, 
and  the  unassuming  life  which  he  led.  He  died  October 
5th  1866,  leaving,  as  the  result  of  his  industrious  and  fru- 
gal life,  a good  property  to  his  widow  and  his  only  son, 
William  Henry  Hewlett,  who  now  together  occupy  the 
homestead.  The  surviving  Mrs.  Hewlett  and  the  son 
are  both  members  of  the  Episcopal  church  at  Manhasset. 
He  inherits  largely  those  sterling  traits  of  character 
which  gave  his  father  such  a firm  hold  upon  the  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  had  business  relations.  This 
son,  whose  portrait  appears  above,  is  the  last  descendant 
of  this  branch  of  the  family  who  bears  the  name  Hew- 
lett. He  succeeded  at  his  father’s  death  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  grist-mill  on  the  premises,  a mill  which 
in  his  father’s  time  was  patronized  by  hundreds 
of  those  whose  children  and  grand-children  will 
read  this  page  when  the  mill  and  the  miller  have 
passed  away. 


434 


JOSEPH  LAWRENCE  HEWLETT. 

The  branch  of  the  Hewlett  family  that  has  given  name 
to  Hewlett’s  Point,  in  North  Hempstead,  traces  its  de- 
scent from  George  Hewlett,  who  was  one  of  those  men- 
tioned on  page  432  as  early  residing  on  Riker’s  Island. 
George  Hewlett  after  a brief  stay  on  Riker’s  Island 
removed  to  the  central  part  of  Long  Island,  and  for 
several  years  was  a resident  of  Hempstead.  In  1746  one 
of  this  family  removed  to  what  is  now  known  as  Great 
Neck,  and  here  in  1756  his  descendants  became  owners 
of  that  part  of  the  neck  which  has  since  borne  the  name 
of  “Hewlett’s  Point.”  The  title  deed  was  executed  by 
Luke  Haviland,  and  conveyed  about  250  acres  to  Joseph 
Hewlett.  The  document  was  acknowledged  May  6th 
1757  and  passed  for  record  by  “ Joseph  Kissam,  one  of 
His  Majesty’s  Justices  [assistant]  of  the  court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas.”  The  grantee  named  in  this  deed  bequeath- 
ed the  property  at  his  death  to  his  son  Lawrence  Hew- 
lett, and  he  in  turn  left  it  by  will  to  his  son  Joseph  Law- 
rence Hewlett,  who  was  the  last  to  own  the  whole  of  the 
original  estate. 

The  homestead  house  was  on  that  half  of  the  estate 
now  owned  by  George  Hewlett,  and,  although  it  has  been 
modernized  to  meet  the  taste  and  comfort  of  the  present 
generation,  it  still  has  the  characteristic  architectural 
features  of  the  old  mansions  of  a century  ago.  The  il- 
lustration on  the  opposite  page  shows  this  house,  with  its 
picturesque  surroundings  and  its  beautiful  location  on 
the  east  shore  of  a small  bay  branching  south  from  the 
sound.  “ Oriental  Grove,”  a part  of  which  appears  in 
the  left  of  the  illustration,  is  also  on  this  estate.  This 
for  several  years  has  been  a popular  picnic  resort  for 
Sunday-schools,  societies  and  churches. 

Still  farther  to  the  northward,  on  the  left  of  the  pic 
ture,  is  the  handsome  residence  of  Joseph  L.  Hewlett, 
eldest  son  of  Joseph  Lawrence  Hewlett.  He  owns  about 
30  acres  of  the  original  homestead.  Northward  again, 
to  the  extreme  limit  of  the  “ Point,”  is  the  country  seat 
of  the  Hon.  John  A.  King.  He  purchased  here 
some  twenty-five  years  ago,  erected  a mansion,  and 
has  handsomely  laid  out  and  improved  its  surround- 
ings. 

The  first  building  erected  by  the  Hewlett  family  here 


was  built  before  the  purchase  of  1756.  It  was  a stone 
structure,  and  stood — where  its  ruins  are  still  to  be  seen 
— on  the  place  now  owned  by  William  Mitchell  Smith. 

Thus  briefly  sketching  something  of  the  past  and 
present  of  this  family  and  its  estate,  we  turn  to  notice 
more  fully  those  representatives  of  the  family  who  are  or 
have  been  the  personal  acquaintances  of  those  now  living 
who  will  be  readers  of  this  work.  The  Joseph  Lawrence 
Hewlett  mentioned  as  the  last  who  owned  the  entire  es- 
tate was  born  July  12th  1780,  and  died  July  3d  1849. 
He  was  first  married  at  Jamaica,  on  the  20th  of  August 
1800,  to  Hannah  Wickes.  She  died  March  4th  1816,  leav- 
ing one  son,  Joseph  Lawrence  jr.,  and  one  daughter,  Har- 
riet. The  former  was  born  January  4th  1809,  and  was  mar- 
ried January  20th  1836  to  Mary  T.  Cornwell.  He  owns  a 
very  valuable  portion  of  the  estate,  and  is  enjoying  in 
his  mature  years  the  quiet  of  a rural  life.  Harriet  was 
born  November  1st  1814,  and,  May  23d  1834,  was  mar- 
ried to  William  Mitchell  Smith. 

The  late  Mr.  Hewlett’s  second  wife  (December  15th 
1818)  was  Elizabeth  Van  Wyck,  who  died  August  29th 
1875.  Their  children  were  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Susan  M.,  Abraham  Van  Wyck,  Helen,  Josephine  L., 
Cyrus  and  George. 

The  portrait  at  the  head  of  this  page  shows  Mr.  Hew- 
lett as  he  is  remembered  by  those  who  knew  him  a few 
years  before  his  death.  He  was  a gentleman  who  never 
sought  the  honors  of  public  life,  and  never  held  any 
office  except  such  as  his  native  town  called  upon  him 
to  fill.  He  was  always  an  admirer  of  the  beautiful  in 
nature,  and  became  a farmer  from  the  love  of  rural 
pursuits.  To  this  natural  qualification  he  added  another 
quality  or  habit  not  less  necessary  to  the  successful 
farmer — thoroughness  and  exactness  in  all  business  in- 
tercourse with  others. 

He  was  always  a conservative  Democrat  of  the  old 
school,  and  in  his  religious  life  was  a worthy  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  He  contributed  liber- 
ally to  the  cost  of  erecting  Christ  Church  at  Manhasset, 
and  to  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  a staunch  supporter  of 
the  various  financial  interests  of  the  parish. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Hewlett  was  a noble  man 
to  meet,  a gentleman  of  pleasing  address  and  an  intelli- 
gent, active  mind. 


RESIDENCE  OF  GEORGE  HEWLETT,  GREAT  NECK,  LONG  ISLAND,  N.Y. 


OLD  FAMILIES  OF  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 


437 


THE  KISSAM  FAMILY. 

The  Kissam  family  in  its  various  generations  since 
its  first  settlement  in  this  county  has  contributed 
many  valuable  men  to  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  as 
well  as  to  the  medical  and  legal  professions.  John 
Kissam,  its  common  ancestor  in  America,  when  quite 
young,  was  with  his  parents  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Vlishing  or  Vlissingen  (now  Flushing).  His  father — 
whose  Christian  name  is  lost  with  the  town  records  up  to 
1789,  which  were  burned — died  in  a brief  period  after  their 
arrival,  and  left  an  estate  for  his  son,  in  the  hands  of 
“ Antony  Waters,  of  Jamaica,  and  John  Cockram,  of 
Newtown,  as  overseers  ” until  he  arrived  at  lawful  age  (x). 
The  said  John,  who  was  born  in  July  1644,  married 
Susannah  Thorne,  of  Jamaica,  July  10th  1667  (2),  and  re- 
moved from  Flushing  to  Madnan’s  (now  Great)  Neck  in 
1678.  He  had  sons  Daniel  and  John,  the  latter  of  whom 
with  his  wife  Elizabeth — probably  a daughter  of  Adam 
Mott — settled  in  the  town  of  Freehold  (3),  Monmouth 
county,  N.  J.;  and  there-is  traditional  evidence  that  he 
had  another  son,  Thomas,  also  a resident  of  New  Jersey. 

Daniel  Kissam,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Susannah 
Thorne),  was  born  in  1669;  he  was  a farmer  on  Great 
Neck,  and  was  elected  a vestryman  in  St.  George’s  parish, 
Hempstead,  in  1703.  He  married  Elizabeth  Coombs. 
Issue  : Daniel  2nd  ; Elizabeth,  who  married  Henry 
L’Estrange,  of  Rye,  October  9th  1726;  Joseph;  Martha, 
who  married  James  Woods,  a lawyer  in  New  York  city; 
Levina,  who  married  John  Carman  August  18th  1731; 
and  Hannah,  who  became  the  second  wife  of  Lewis  Hew- 
lett. He  died  in  1752. 

3d  Generation. — Daniel  2nd,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Coombs),  born  in  1701,  married  Ann,  daughter  of 
Richbell  Mott.  Issue:  Daniel  3d  and  Elizabath.  He 
died  in  1728,  and  his  widow  married  Jotham  Townsend, 
of  Oyster  Bay  (second  husband),  October  nth  1730. 

Joseph,  the  second  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Coombs),  born  in  1703,  was  a farmer  on  Cow  Neck,  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years,  and  a member 
of  the  vestry  of  St.  George’s  Church,  Hempstead, 
from  1751  to  1761.  He  married  Deborah,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Sarah  Whitehead,  of  Jamaica,  February 
7th  1727.  Issue:  Daniel  Whitehead;  Benjamin;  Joseph 
2nd;  Elizabeth, ^who  married  Jacob  Mott  October  20th 
1761;  Daniel;  Deborah,  who  married  Edmund  Smith 
September  2nd  1763;  and  Samuel. 

4th  Generation. — Daniel  3d,  son  of  Daniel  2nd  and 
Ann  (Mott),  born  October  13th  1726,  also  a farmer  on 
Cow  Neck,  was  treasurer  of  this  county  from  1759  to 
1782,  member  of  Assembly  from  1764  to  1775,  and 
justice  of  the  peace  until  his  death.  He  married 
Peggy,  daughter  of  Col.  Benjamin  Tredwell,  of  North 
Hempstead,  April  20th  1746.  Issue:  John,  who  married 
Phebe,  daughter  of  John  Allen,  March  8th  1782;  Phebe, 
who  married  Richard  Jackson  April  1st  1767;  Anne,  who 
married  David  Allen  November  29th  1773;  Sarah,  who 

(1)  See  “ Orders,”  vol.  2,  page  226,  in  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  at 

Albany. 

(2)  See  Register  of  Marriage  Licenses,  by  O’Callaghan. 

(3)  See  Queens  County  Records,  Book  B,  No.  2 of  Deeds,  page  115. 


married  Elijah  Allen  Oct.  14th  1777;  Daniel  4th,  who  mar- 
ried Phebe,  daughter  of  Philip  Platt,  December  15  th  1785; 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  C.  Thorne  August  10th 
1786;  and  Benjamin  Tredwell,  who  married  Mary, 
another  daughter  of  Philip  Platt,  April  3d  1793.  Daniel 
3d  died  August  4th  1782.  Of  his  children  John  was  ap- 
pointed “ Major  ” by  Gov.  Tryon  December  9th  1776  and 
was  clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors  from  1797  to  1820; 
was  vestryman  in  St.  George’s  parish  from  1814  to  1819. 
Daniel  4th  was  a member  of  Assembly  from  1809  to 
1819,  and  Benjamin  T.  in  1821  and  1823. 

Daniel  Whitehead,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (White- 
headi,  born  February  24th  1728,  was  also  a farmer  in 
this  town,  and  a member  of  Assembly  in  1786.  He  mar- 
ried Ann  (daughter  of  George)  Duryea,  July  4th  1776. 
He  died  March  8th  1808,  leaving  no  descendants. 

Benjamin,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (Whitehead), 
chose  the  legal  profession,  and  settled  in  New  York  city. 
He  was  eminent  in  his  profession,  and  in  his  of- 
fice such  men  as  John  Jay,  Lindley  Murray  and 
Cornelius  J.  Bogert  were  law  students.  He  was 
a member  of  the  “Committee  of  One  Hundred,” 
and  of  the  first  and  second  Provincial  Congresses. 
He  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Petrus  Rut- 
gers, of  New  York,  Oct.  5th  1755.  Issue:  Peter  Rutgers, 
who  married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Penn  Townsend,  Aug. 
4th  1779;  Benjamin,  who  married  Cornelia,  daughter  of 
Isaac  Roosevelt,  in  1786;  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Richard  Sharpe,  who,  Dr.  Francis,  in  his  “ Old  New 
York,”  page  307,  says,  was  New  York’s  most  popular  sur- 
geon for  twenty  years;  Adrian,  a lawyer,  who  married 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bayard  in  1794;  Samuel,  and  Helena.  The 
last  married  Philip  L.  Hoffman  November  18th  1787,  and 
was  the  grandmother  of  ex-Governor  John  T.  Hoffman. 
Benjamin  died  Oct.  25th  1782.  His  son  Peter  Rutgers 
graduated  at  Columbia  College,  in  1776,  and  was  a mer- 
chant in  New  York;  Benjamin  graduated  in  medicine  at 
Edinburgh  in  1783,  and  was  a professor  in  Columbia 
College  from  1785  to  1792,  a trustee  in  the  same  until  his 
death  and  a vestryman  in  Trinity  Church  for  many  years. 

Joseph  2nd,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (White!', ead), 
was  born  August  22nd  1731,  and  died  May  20th  1815. 
He  was  also  a farmer,  and  justice  of  the  peace  in  this 
town;  married  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and  Hannah 
Hewlett,  October  9th  1752.  Issue:  Benjamin,  who  mar- 
ried Martha  Hewlett  December  17th  1773;  Phebe,  who 
married  William  Duryea  May  16th  1785;  Daniel  White- 
head,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Tredwell,  June  26th  1787,  and  was  a well  known  physi- 
cian in  Suffolk  county;  and  Hewlett,  who  married  Ann 
Wilkins,  March  25th  1786. 

Daniel,  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  (Whitehead),  born 
in  1739,  was  a prominent  lawyer  and  judge  in  this  county, 
and  was  clerk  of  the  county  from  1796  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  3d  1812.  He  was  vestryman 
in  Grace  Church,  Jamaica,  for  many  years,  and  a delegate 
to  the  first  convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  America,  held  in  St.  Paul’s  chapel  in  the  city  of  New 
York  in  1785.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Betts, 


4 38 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


September  19th  1763.  His  children  were:  John  Betts, 
who  married  Mary  Searing  May  2nd  1784;  Elizabeth, 
who  married  Samuel  Sackett  Nov.  9th  1786,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Clarence  D.  and  Grenville  A.  Sackett,  late 
counselors  at  law  in  New  York  city  (4):  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried Jedediah  Sanger,  a judge  in  Oneida  county;  Daniel, 
who  married  Jemima  Searing;  Maria,  who  married  Zede- 
kiah  Sanger;  Catharine;  Whitehead,  who  married  Agnes 
Allen  May  3d  1806;  and  Benjamin,  who  graduated  as 
M.  D.  at  Columbia  College  in  1805,  married 
Mary  Atkinson  May  9th  1807,  and  settled  in  New  York 
city. 

Samuel,  the  youngest  son  of  Joseph  and  Deborah 
(Whitehead),  born  in  1745,  vvas  a student  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury  at  Hempstead,  where  he  was  prepared  for  col- 
lege, and  was  the  first  person  graduated  (1769)  as  M.  D. 
at  Kings  (now  Columbia)  College.  He  settled  and 
practiced  medicine  in  the  West  Indies. 

The  descendants  of  the  fifth  and  later  generations  are 
too  numerous  for  mention  in  these  pages.  In  New  York 
the  name  is  connected  by  marriage  with  the  old  families 
of  Rutgers,  Roosevelt,  Lefferts,  Livingston,  Bayard, 
Tredwell,  Townsend,  Embury,  Vanderbilt,  Aymar, 
Adriance,  Walton,  Lord,  etc. 

This  family,  attached  to  the  Church  of  England,  was 
divided  in  its  support  of  the  principles  involved  in  the 
American  Revolution;  some  of  its  members  were  Whigs, 
but  the  large  majority  were  Loyalists. 

BENJAMIN  W.  ALLEN. 

There  have  lived  but  few  men  if  any  in  this  county 
whose  public  and  private  life  reflects  more  credit  upon 
their  age  and  generation  than  do  the  life  and  public  ser- 
vices of  the  late  Benjamin  W.  Allen,  of  North  Hemp- 
stead. No  event  of  striking  importance  seems  to  mark 
any  separate  period  in  his  personal  history.  He  was  the 
son  of  a plain  farmer,  and  coming  into  possession  of  the 
homestead  at  the  death  of  his  father,  John  Allen,  of 
Great  Neck,  he  gave  most  of  his  life  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits on  the  farm  where  he  was  born.  The  father  was 
successful,  as  success  was  reckoned  among  farmers  of  his 
time,  and  from  him  the  son  received  what  became  under 
his  care  the  nucleus  of  a snug  fortune.  The  mother  was 
a woman  who  gave  to  her  son  many  of  the  elements  of 
his  disposition  and  traits  of  his  character  which  made 
him  through  life  a man  to  be  loved.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Abram  Schenck,  and  through  him  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  worthy  families  in  the 
town. 

The  usual  opportunities  afforded  by  the  district  schools 
and  a clerkship  in  an  uncle’s  store  at  Manhasset  Valley 
were  the  principal  educational  advantages  enjoyed  by 
the  young  man.  In  1839  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
W.  Burtis,  the  marriage  being  celebrated  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam R.  Gordon,  then  the  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
church  of  North  Hempstead,  of  which  Mrs.  Allen  has  for 
several  years  been  a member.  The  whole  of  his  married 


life,  from  December  11th  1839  until  his  death  on  the  an- 
niversary of  that  day  in  1870,  was  a model  of  domestic 
felicity,  and  here  in  a comfortable  home  still  lives 
the  lady  whose  love  was  the  crowning  glory  of  his 
life. 

She  is  the  daughter  of  John  S.  Burtis  and  a grand- 
daughter of  John  Burtis,  who  was  a soldier  under  Gen- 
eral Washington.  Her  mother  was  Eliza  A.  Willets 
Burtis,  a daughter  of  George  Willets.  Their  home  was 
at  what  is  now  Port  Washington,  and  there  on  December 
9th  1817  Mrs.  Allen  was  born.  Married  in  the  bright 
noon  of  her  womanhood,  her  life  was  a very  happy  one 
until  she  was  left  to  mourn  the  loss  of  him  whose  affec- 
tion was  the  center  of  all  her  joys,  and  whose  life  with 
hers  had  so  long  been  one. 

Although  Mr.  Allen  was  not  a member  of  any  church 
organization,  yet  he  was  a contributor  to  the  financial  en- 
terprises of  the  several  religious  organizations  in  the  town. 
Politically  he  was  a lifelong  Democrat.  In  1868  he  was 
elected  by  that  party  supervisor  of  his  native  town,  and 
in  the  following  year  his  townsmen  put  their  seal  of  ap- 
proval on  his  services  as  such  by  re  electing  him  to  the 
office  for  the  term  in  which  he  was  serving  at  the  time  of 
his  death. 

The  data  for  this  memoir  were  kindly  furnished  by  sev- 
eral persons  who  knew  Mr.  Allen,  but  the  following  letter, 
from  a professional  gentleman  whose  relations  with  him 
were  peculiarly  favorable  for  knowing  him  as  he  was,  is 
so  fair  an  expression  of  the  general  estimate  of  the  man 
that  tve  commit  it  to  record  here  as  stating  very  suc- 
cinctly just  what  is  proper  to  say  of  its  subject: 

Great  Neck,  L.  I.,  July  30th  1881. 

Dear  Sir  : I have  read  over  the  enclosed  paper  con- 
cerning the  late  Mr.  Benjamin  Allen — an  old,  and  highly 
esteemed  friend,  whose  loss  was  a,great  affliction  to  me— 
but  concerning  the  details  of  his  life  I am  unable  to  give 
you  more  information  than  you  already  have. 

The  exact  date  or  place  of  his  birth  I do  not  know, 
nor  anything  concerning  his  ancestry,  but  personally  he 
was  a man  who  had  the  love  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him,  and  whose  whole  life  was  above  reproach.  His  per- 
fect integrity  and  strong,  clear,  common  sense,  united  to 
a remarkable  intuitive  good  judgment,  made  him  a valua- 
ble citizen,  whose  aid  and  support  were  in  constant  de- 
mand in  the  community  in  which  he  lived  and  always 
freely  and  willingly  given,  while  his  great  kindliness  and 
genial,  open  hearted  manner  made  him  a much  loved 
neighbor. 

In  the  quiet,  simple  way  of  life  in  a farming  community 
it  would  be  difficult  to  find  one  who  more  fully  possessed 
all  the  requirements  of  a good  citizen,  and  in  his  death 
was  lost  a wise  counsellor,  a good  husband,  an  ever- 
ready  help  in  time  of  need,  and  a model  of  manhood  for 
those  who  were  growing  up  around  him. 

His  life,  though  uneventful,  was  full  of  all  that  men  love 
and  admire  in  a citizen,  neighbor  and  friend,  and  I am 
glad  that  through  your  efforts  we  are  to  have  a record 
of  it. 

Very  truly  yours, 

A.  W.  Rogers,  M.  D. 

The  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  which  appear  at 
pages  440  and  441  were  engraved  from  miniature  like- 
nesses taken  a few  years  prior  to  his  decease. 


(4)  See  Address  of  William  Alfred  Jones  before  the  Long  Island  His- 
torical Society,  November  5th  1863. 


' 


.( 

£' 

} 


J/ji ‘W.. 


/ 


J.  H.  L’HOM M EDIEU — ROSLYN  VILLAGE. 


445 


JAMES  H.  E’HOMMEDIEU. 

James  H.  L’Hommedieu  was  born  at  Smithtown,  Suf- 
folk county,  February  5th  1833.  His  parents  were  Har- 
vey and  Julia  Ann  (Gallaway)  L’Hommedieu.  The  elder 
L’Hommedieu  devoted  his  energies  to  agriculture;  hence 
James  H.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  his  educational 
advantages  were  limited  to  those  afforded  by  the  public 
schools  in  the  old  “Landing  district.”  When  he  was  seven- 
teen his  mother  died,  and  soon  afterward  his  father  dis- 
posed of  his  interests  in  Smithtown  and  removed  to  Port 
Jefferson,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  about  ten  years 
ago.  At  the  time  of  this  practical  breaking  up  of  his 
father’s  household,  James  H.  went  with  his  uncle,  David 
C.  L’Hommedieu,  then  a prominent  builder  of  Smith- 
town,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a carpenter  and  builder.  There 
he  remained  about  three  years  and  a half,  during  which  he 
developed  such  talent  for  the  work  of  his  choice  that  he 
was  often  referred  to  as  a youth  who  would  probably  one 
day  be  an  architect  of  ability  and  reputation. 

At  the  expiration  of  this  period  of  apprenticeship  Mr. 
L’Hommedieu  engaged  with  Messrs.  Meeker,  Angevine& 
Co.,  builders,  of  New  York,  and  was  employed  at  “jour- 
ney” work  during  the  three  and  a half  years  following. 
He  removed  to  Great  Neck  in  June  1857,  and  for  thirteen 
years  lived  in  Manhasset  Valley,  where  he  established  a 
shop  for  the  manufacture  of  builders’  materials  of  all 
kinds,  and  carried  on  an  extensive  business  in  contracting 
and  building.  During  this  time  he  designed  and  erected 
some  of  the  most  costly  and  elegant  residences  in  the 
country  round  about,  establishing  a reputation  second  to 
that  of  no  other  architect  either  on  Long  Island  or  in 
New  York  city;  and  attracting  the  attention  of  the  late 
A.  T.  Stewart,  between  whom  and  Mr.  L’Hommedieu 
business  relations  were  inaugurated,  which  existed  to  their 
mutual  satisfaction  during  Mr.  Stewart’s  life  and  have  con- 
tinued uninteruptedly  between  Mr.  L’Hommedieu  and 
the  Stewart  estate,  represented  by  Hon.  Henry  Hilton, 
up  to  the  present  time.  An  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  busi- 
ness transacted  for  Mr.  Stewart  and  his  estate  by  Mr. 
L’Hommedieu  may  be  gained  from  a knowledge  of  the 
fact  that  the  latter  has  erected,  under  contract,  every 
building  in  Garden  City,  including  the  cathedral,  except 
five,  besides  other  buildings  elsewhere.  The  relations 
between  Mr.  Stewart  and  Mr.  L’Hommedieu  were  of  an 
exceptionally  pleasant  nature,  and  in  them  Mr.  Stewart 
exemplified  that  liberality  and  thoughtfulness  which  char- 
acterized him  throughout  his  long  and  remarkable  busi- 
ness career.  Since  the  death  of  the  great  merchant  Judge 
Hilton  has  dealt  with  Mr.  L’Hommedieu  in  a manner 
that  affords  him  cause  for  the  greatest  satisfaction. 

It  is  probable  that  during  his  professional  career  Mr. 
L’Hommedieu  has  erected  more  detached  houses  than 
any  other  architect  and  builder  in  the  United  States. 
About  three  years  ago  he  established  his  present  steam 
mill  and  warehouses  at  Great  Neck, where  he  manufactures 
or  deals  in  lumber,  hardware,  paints,  oils,  varnishes,  lime, 
lath,  brick,  cement,  drain  pipe,  doors,  sashes,  glass,  blinds, 
mouldings,  brackets,  and  all  other  kinds  of  building  ma- 


terial, doing  all  varieties  of  turning  and  scroll-sawing,  and 
is  prepared  at  any  time  to  furnish  entire  the  materials  for 
a building  of  any  specific  size  or  style. 

January  24th  1857  Mr.  L’Hommedieu  was  married  to 
Miss  Henrietta  Good,  of  New  York.  They  have  eleven 
children  living,  named,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  Julia, 
Howard  A.,  James  H.,  George,  Emma  V.,  Theodore  A., 
Henrietta,  Caroline  R.,  John  K.,  Joseph  S.  and  Ida. 
Three,  Charles,  Stewart  and  Alfred,  have  died.  The 
family  residence  of  Mr.  L’Hommedieu  on  the  Middle  Neck 
road,  leading  from  the  Great  Neck  steamboat  landing  to 
Hyde  Park,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  elegant  and 
home-like  of  the  many  inviting  homes  of  Long  Island, 
and  the  hospitality  of  its  inmates  is  as  well  known  as  the 
skill  and  architectural  talent  of  its  owner. 

Mr.  L’Hommedieu  is  not  a politician,  but  he  is  an 
earnest  and  consistent  Democrat,  who  is  never  found 
wanting  in  time  of  need.  With  his  family  he  is  a regular 
attendant  upon  the  services  of  the  Episcopal  church. 
As  a man  and  a citizen  he  is  above  reproach.  As  a hus- 
band and  father  he  has  endeared  himself  to  a family  of 
whom  any  man  might  well  be  proud. 


, ROSLYN. 

Roslyn  lies  at  the  head  of  Hempstead  harbor,  beauti- 
fully nestling  between  the  hills.  The  village  was  founded 
early  in  the  history  of  the  old  town  of  Hempstead  and 
was  formerly  known  as  Hempstead  Harbor.  Its  situa- 
tion is  well  adapted  for  travel  and  commerce,  it  being 
located  both  on  the  harbor  and  on  the  Locust  Valley 
branch  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad.  A steamer  plies 
daily  to  and  from  New  York  via  Sea  Cliff  and  Glen  Cove, 
acting  in  healthy  competition  with  the  railroad. 

Roslyn  is  abundantly  supplied  with  streams  gushing 
forth  from  the  base  of  the  hills  and  hurrying  merrily 
toward  the  sound.  Numerous  dams  are  thrown  across  their 
courses,  forming  beautiful  little  lakelets  which,  besides 
adding  charms  to  the  scenery,  furnish  the  power  to  drive 
the  machinery  of  several  small  mills  and  factories  ; and, 
not  least  important,  the  inhabitants  have  a never-failing 
supply  of  the  best  of  water  for  household  purposes. 

As  one  leaves  the  cars  at  the  station  he  observes  a small 
collection  of  buildings;  but  this  is  not  Roslyn  proper. 
To  know  its  charms  and  realize  its  beauties  he  must  take 
a carriage  and  drive  through  the  entire  length  of  its  wind- 
ing streets.  Every  few  rods  a turn  in  the  road  reveals 
new  scenes  of  woodland,  lawn  and  water. 

The  means  of  acquiring  an  education  in  Roslyn  were 
formerly  provided  by  private  schools  and  an  academy. 
These  have  been  superseded  by  a graded  union  school. 

Roslyn  is  abundantly  supplied  with  business  establish- 
ments, consisting  of  stores  of  general  merchandise,  hard- 
ware, drugs,  furniture,  and  shoes,  a harness  shop, 
a wagon  shop,  a meat  market,  a bakery  and  minor 
establishments.  There  are  four  hotels  and  two  livery 
stables.  The  Hicks  lumber  and  coal  yard  does  an 
extensive  business. 


48 


446 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


William  Cullen  Bryant. 

To  many  persons  Roslyn  is  best  known  as  having 
within  its  environs  Cedarmere,  one  of  the  homes  of  the 
late  distinguished  poet  and  journalist  Bryant.  Hence  the 
record  of  his  illustrious  life  appropriately  forms  a part  of 
the  history  of  this  village. 

William  Cullen  Bryant  was  born  in  Cummington, 
Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  November  3d  1794,  and  was  a 
son  of  Peter  Bryant,  a physician  of  literary  attainments 
as  well  as  good  professional  standing.  The  latter  was  a 
grandson  of  Stephen  Bryant,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in 
the  “ Mayflower.”  The  poet  displayed  the  bent  of  his 
mind  even  in  childhood,  making  metrical  translations 
from  the  Latin  before  he  was  ten  years  old,  and  writing 
“ The  Embargo  ” and  “ The  Spanish  Revolution  ” in  his 
fourteenth  year.  Entering  Williams  College  in  1810,  he 
remained  but  two  years,  during  which  he  took  high  rank 
in  literary  studies.  He  chose  the  legal  profession,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1815,  and  subsequently  prac- 
ticed at  Plainfield  and  Great  Barrington,  devoting  much 
attention,  however,  to  literary  labor.  “ Thanatopsis,” 
written  in  his  1 8th  year,  was  published  in  the  North 
American  Review  in  1818,  and  Mr.  Bryant  contributed 
prose  articles  to  the  same  periodical.  He  was  married 
while  living  at  Great  Barrington,  and  there  he  wrote 
some  of  his  finest  poems. 

In  1825  Mr.  Bryant  removed  to  New  York,  and  be- 
came the  editor  of  the  New  York  Review ; this  magazine 
was  soon  after  merged  in  the  United  States  Review , for 
which  he  wrote  poems  and  criticisms.  In  1826  he  be- 
came one  of  the  editors  of  the  Evening  Post , and  he  re- 
tained his  editorial  connection  with  that  journal  through- 
out life,  having  exclusive  control  of  the  paper  except 
for  a few  years  after  becoming  connected  with  it.  His 
championship  of  free  trade  was  perhaps  the  most  char- 
acteristic feature  of  the  Rost  under  his  editorship. 

A complete  edition  of  Mr.  Bryant’s  poems  was  pub- 
lished in  1832,  and  republished  in  England,  giving  the 
author  a European  reputation.  In  1832,  1845,  1849  and 
1857  he  traveled  in  Europe,  his  observations  furnishing 
the  material  for  his  books  entitled  “ Letters  of  a Traveler” 
and  “ Letters  from  Spain  and  other  Countries.”  He  trans- 
lated the  Iliad  into  English  verse  in  1870  and  the  Odys- 
sey in  1871,  and  a complete  edition  of  his  poems  was 
issued  in  1876.  The  “ Library  of  Poetry  and  Song,”  a 
volume  of  poems  selected  and  edited  by  Mr.  Bryant,  was 
perhaps  the  most  successful  and  popular  work  of  its  kind 
ever  published. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  often  called  on  to  preside  at  public 
meetings  and  to  deliver  memorial  and  other  addresses. 
The  last  of  these  was  his  oration  on  Mazzini,  delivered 
May  29th  1878,  in  Central  Park,  New  York.  The  sun 
shone  hotly  upon  him  while  speaking,  and  on  entering 
the  house  of  General  James  Wilson  after  leaving  the 
park  he  fainted  and  fell,  his  head  striking  the  doorstep. 
He  partially  recovered  and  was  removed  to  his  own 
house  in  Sixteenth  street,  where  he  died  from  the  effects 
of  his  injury,  in  the  morning  of  June  12th. 


The  Bryant  residence  was  built  in  1787,  by  Richard 
Kirk,  a Quaker.  The  property  was  owned  for  ten  years 
by  Joseph  W.  Moulton,  whose  writings  furnish  a valua- 
ble contribution  to  the  early  history  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  Mr.  Moulton  was  one  of  the  first  of 
the  New  York  business  men  who  came  and  settled  here. 
He  sold  the  place,  then  containing  forty  acres,  to  Mr. 
Bryant  in  1846.  The  original  style  of  the  residence  has 
been  materially  changed.  The  farm  now  contains  200 
acres.  One  peculiar  feature  is  the  stiles  scattered  over 
the  farm.  On  the  property  is  a famous  black  walnut 
tree,  reputed  to  be  the  largest  tree  on  the  island.  Its 
age  is  about  170  years.  The  circumference  of  its  trunk 
is  twenty-four  feet,  while  its  shade  measures  130  feet  be- 
tween perpendiculars.  This  tree  has  a neighbor,  a red 
maple,  of  fourteen  feet  six  inches  girth  twenty  inches 
from  the  ground,  with  drooping  branches  of  great 
spread.  Mr.  Kirk  constructed  the  embankment  which 
forms  the  artificial  lake. 

This  gathering  in  of  the  mountain  springs  was  at  first 
utilized  to  run  a paper-mill  and  other  machinery.  The 
lake  is  now  surrounded  by  rare  trees  and  shrubs  of  many 
kinds,  brought  from  many  regions.  Among  them  grow 
the  native  cedars,  and  from  these  and  the  pretty  lake  the 
place  derives  its  name  Cedarmere. 

Parke  Godwin,  the  journalist  and  historian,  who  is  a 
son-in-law  of  Mr.  Bryant,  lives  in  a beautiful  residence 
across  the  way. 

Bryant  Circulating  Library  Association. 

At  a meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Roslyn  and  vicinity 
held  November  13th  1878  a stock  company  was  formed, 
which  was  subsequently  chartered  as  the  Bryant  Circu- 
lating Library  Association.  This  company  was  formed 
in  accordance  with  the  plans  of  William  Cullen  Bryant, 
who  had  erected  the  hall,  which,  with  the  site,  was  deeded 
as  a free  gift  to  the  association  by  Miss  Julia  S.  Bryant, 
according  to  her  father’s  request.  The  value  of  the  gift 
is  estimated  at  $15,000.  The  building  is  divided  into 
apartments  for  library  and  reading  room,  a public  hall, 
and  a residence  for  the  librarian  who  has  the  care  of  the 
building. 

The  board  of  trustees  is  the  same  that  was  first  elect- 
ed, and  consists  of  Parke  Godwin,  Stephen  Taber,  Henry 
W.  Eastman,  John  Ordronaux,  Daniel  Bogart,  J.  Augus- 
tus Prior,  Benjamin  D.  Hicks,  Thomas  Clapham  and 
James  R.  Willets. 

Roslyn  Savings  Bank. 

This  institution  was  organized  in  December  1875. 
The  following  officers  were  elected  in  1876:  Stephen 
Taber,  president;  John  M.  Clark,  first  vice-president; 
Daniel  Bogart,  second  vice-president;  Henry  W.  East- 
man, treasurer;  Frederic  M.  Eastman,  secretary.  Mr. 
Clark  is  now  president.  The  character  of  the  twenty- 
five  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  ought  to  entitle 
the  institution  to  the  confidence  of  the  people.  The 
bank  accommodates  about  300  depositors,  who  have 
$63,000  on  deposit.  The  operation  of  the  bank  has 


MANUFACTORIES  AT  ROSLYN— THE  CEMETERY. 


449 


been  successful  and  regular  semi-annual  dividends  have 
been  paid. 

Mills  and  Factories. 

There  have  been  numerous  mills  and  factories  at 
Roslyn.  Prominent  mention  of  woolens  manufactured 
here  has  been  made  at  earlier  expositions.  It  is  believed 
that  the  paper-mill  erected  here  in  1773  by  Hendrick 
Onderdonk,  Henry  Remsen  and  Hugh  Gaine,  proprietor 
of  Gaine’s  Mercury , of  New  York,  was  the  first  in  the 
State.  It  is  rendered  certain  by  remarks  made  in  the 
Mercury  that  it  was  preceded  by  no  other  for  any  length 
of  time.  A part  of  the  old  building  is  still  standing  here. 
Several  paper-mills  have  since  been  erected  here.  The 
only  one  remaining  and  in  use  is  owned  and  operated  by 
Myers  Valentine.  General  Washington,  while  making 
his  tour  of  Long  Island,  in  April  1790,  was  entertained  by 
Hendrick  Onderdonk  in  the  old  mansion  now  occupied  by 
Daniel  Bogart.  On  that  occasion  General  Washington 
visited  the  grist  and  paper-mills,  and  spoke  approvingly 
of  their  management. 

Roslyn  Mills. — It  appears  that  one  John  Robson  ap- 
plied to  the  town  and  was  granted  permission  to  erect  a 
dam  and  build  a grist-mill  on  the  stream  at  the  head 
of  Hempstead  harbor.  At  a town  meeting  held  at  Hemp- 
stead April  2nd  1698,  said  Robson  agreed  to  build  the 
dam  and  mill  within  one  year.  He  failed  to  fulfill  his 
contract,  and  by  the  wording  of  the  grant  it  became  void 
and  reverted  to  “ ye  Towne.”  In  1701  he  applied  to  the 
town  meeting  for  a renewal  of  the  grant.  No  action  was 
taken  other  than  the  appointment  of  a committee  to  have 
the  matter  in  charge.  No  report  seems  to  have  been 
made  or  recorded.  In  1709  Robson  deeded  to  Charles 
Mott  the  dam  and  mill,  one  iron  crow  and  some  other 
implements  for  the  consideration  of  ^/jioo;  so  the 
dam  and  mill  must  have  been  erected  prior  to  that  date. 
In  1741  a deed  of  the  property  mentions  an  im- 
proved dam  and  a new  and  spacious  mill,  that  was 
built  and  maintained  on  the  stream  by  Jeremiah  Wil- 
liams. The  present  mill,  according  to  the  data,  was  built 
about  1735.  The  property  has  passed  through  many 
changes  of  ownership  and  many  fortunes  have  been  made 
and  lost  on  it.  During  the  wars,  especially  the  Revolu- 
tionary and  that  of  1812,  the  profits  were  large:  the  own- 
ers made  money  fast,  and  maintained  expensive  house- 
holds. When  the  Erie  Canal  was  opened,  and  products 
from  the  west  supplied  the  market  of  New  York,  the 
millers  on  Long  Island  felt  the  effect  severely,  and 
De  Witt  Clinton  found  many  political  enemies  among 
them,  and  many  that  were  not  without  political  influence 
as  well. 

The  farmers  were,  during  the  millers’  affluence,  much 
annoyed  by  their  insolence,  as  when  they  brought  a grist 
to  the  mill  they  were  obliged  to  carry  it  in  and  wait  till 
the  miller  could  conveniently  grind,  then  turn  the  bolt 
to  sift  the  bran  from  the  flour,  themselves;  as  the  grant 
from  the  town  reserved  the  right  of  the  public  to  one 
pair  of  stones  to  have  their  grists  ground  on,  but  did  not 
mention  the  bolting  arrangements.  The  old  mill  has 


not  yet  passed  to  the  modern  methods  of  converting 
wheat  into  flour,  but  still  plods  on  in  methods  similar  to 
those  in  use  a century  ago. 

Roslyn  Silk  Manufacturing  Company. — This  enterprise 
was  started  here  in  the  latter  part  of  1880,  by  William 
Taber  and  Louis  Dumas,  in  a building  formerly  used  as  a 
glass-cutting  establishment.  After  feeling  assured  of  suc- 
cess, and  in  order  to  strengthen  and  facilitate  the  under- 
taking, a stock  company  was  formed,  which  was  chartered 
January  14th  1881.  The  capital  stock  is  $12,500;  the 
stockholders  are  Hon.  Stephen  Taber,  Benjamin  C. 
Kirk,  J.  J.  Johnson,  Louis  Dumas,  William  Taber  and 
Mrs.  Martha  Willets,  all  of  whom  are  trustees,  except 
Mrs.  Willets.  The  old  building  has  been  repaired  and 
much  enlarged,  and  a new  brick  engine-house  built.  The 
works  now  have  forty-two  looms,  and  are  employing  up- 
ward of  fifty  hands.  A superior  grade  of  silk  is  pro- 
duced. 

Butter,  amt  Cheese  Factory. — This  factory  was  opened 
here  April  3d  1881  by  the  Westbury  Dairy  Association. 
The  object  is  to  provide  means  for  the  profitable  dis- 
position of  milk  when  prices  are  ranging  too  low  for 
profit  in  Brooklyn.  The  expense  has  been  small,  but  the 
plan  succeeds.  The  members  of  the  association  are 
Isaac  H.  Cocks,  Thomas  W.  Willets  and  William  Willets, 
the  last  of  whom  is  superintendent  both  in  Brooklyn  and 
here. 

The  Roslyn  Cemetery. 

The  initiatory  movement  in  founding  this  cemetery 
was  the  gift  of  four  acres  of  land  for  cemetery  purposes 
by  Mrs.  Ann  E.  Cairnes.  The  land  was  bought  by  Mrs. 
Cairnes  from  Caleb  Kirby  and,  on  her  order,  deeded, 
December  8th  i860,  by  him  to  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Roslyn  Presbyterian  church.  A grant  to  establish 
the  cemetery  was  obtained  from  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  Queens  county,  October  1st  1861.  May  25th  1864 
ten  acres  more  were  bought  from  Stephen  Taber  by  the 
trustees  and  added  to  the  cemetery.  The  first  trustees 
were  Samuel  R.  Ely,  Daniel  Bogart  jr.,  James  Losee, 
Warren  Mitchell  and  Singleton  M.  Mott.  Although  the 
cemetery  is  nominally  the  property  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  all  denominations  and  sects  have  been  equally 
free  to  use  it,  and  have  availed  themselves  of  the  privi- 
lege. Roslyn’s  late  illustrious  citizen  William  Cullen 
Bryant  lies  here.  His  monument  bears  the  following  in- 
scriptions: 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT, 

Born  in  Cumming-ton,  Mass.,  Nov.  3 1784, 

Died  in  New  York  June  12  1878. 

FANNY  FAIRCHILD  BRYANT, 

the  beloved  wife  of  William  Cullen  Bryant,  an  humble  disciple  of  Christ, 
exemplary  in  every  relation  of  life,  affectionate,  sympathetic,  sincere, 
and  ever  occupied  with  the  welfare  of  others. 

The  poet’s  grandchildren,  children  of  Parke  Godwin, 
are  buried  in  the  same  plot.  Some  of  the  names  of 
others  buried  in  this  cemetery  are  Abercrombie,  Bogart, 
Brown,  Cahart,  Chamberlain,  Clapham,  Denton,  Dicken- 
son, Ely,  Francis,  Hegeman,  Ketcham,  Killpatrick,  Kirby, 
Losee,  McNally,  Mott,  Moulton,  Oakley,  Rogers,  Smith, 


45° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY 


Snedeker,  Strong,  Underhill,  Vickers,  Wanser,  Wiggins 
and  Wilson. 

The  Burning  of  the  “Seawanhaka." 

As  Roslyn  is  the  terminus  of  the  steamboat  route  to 
which  the  “Seawanhaka”  belonged,  it  seems  in  place 
here  to  chronicle  the  dreadful  catastrophe  which  over- 
took this  ill-fated  steamer,  a catastrophe  which  affected 
families  in  every  section  of  the  northern  half  of  the  town, 
as  well  as  many  of  Sea  Cliff,  Glen  Cove  and  vicinity. 
This  disaster  was  the  last  of  a series  of  six  happening  in 
the  neighborhood  of  New  York  within  three  weeks. 

The  “ Seawanhaka  ” left  pier  24  East  River  at  4 p.  m. 
on  June  28th  1880,  and  after  calling  at  the  foot  of 
Thirty-third  street  had  over  300  passengers  on  board. 
Between  Randall’s  and  Ward’s  islands  the  boat  was  sud- 
denly enveloped  in  flames.  Captain  Charles  P.  Smith 
was  at  the  wheel,  and,  although  severely  burned,  re- 
mained at  his  post  and  ran  his  boat  on  to  a low  marshy 
island  called  the  Sunken  Meadows.  Fortunately  most  of 
the  passengers  were  forward,  and  as  the  boat  struck  they 
jumped  into  the  water,  and  many  were  saved.  A number 
were  severely  burned  before  going  overboard,  and  many 
were  drowned. 


Samuel  T.  Taber. 

Samuel  T.  Taber  was  descended  from  an  old  New 
England  family,  whose  ancestral  home  was  in  Massachu- 
setts. His  grandfather,  William  Taber,  left  the  paternal 
homestead  in  early  life  and  settled  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  purchasing  a farm  on  Chestnut  Ridge,  which  lies 
in  the  most  fertile  portion  of  Dutchess  county.  This 
fine  property  passed  by  inheritance  to  his  son  Thomas, 
the  father  of  Samuel,  who  in  1828  represented  the  dis- 
trict in  the  XXth  Congress. 

In  the  old-fashioned,  roomy  and  comfortable  farm 
house  at  Chestnut  Ridge  Samuel  T.  Taber  was  born,  on 
the  13th  of  April  1824.  He  early  evinced  a taste  for  in- 
tellectual pursuits,  and  after  completing  his  youthful 
education  entered  Union  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1842.  His  preference  being  for  the  law  he  passed 
a year  in  the  law  school  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  after- 
ward continued  his  studies  for  two  years  more,  and  until 
1845,  with  a law  firm  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. ; at  the  end 
of  which  period  he  was  admitted  to  practice.  Inheriting 
ample  means  and  possessing  quiet  and  studious  tastes, 
he  did  not  enter  upon  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion; but,  having  in  the  same  year  that  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  married  Miss  Kate  Hiller,  of  Chautauqua 
county,  N.  Y.,  preferred  to  retire  to  the  home  farm  on 
Chestnut  Ridge,  where  he  passed  several  years  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1856,  having  inherited  from  his 
mother’s  family  the  fine  estate  and  ancestral  home  of  the 
Tituses  in  Queens  county,  he  removed  to  Roslyn,  and 
thenceforth  was  a resident  of  Long  Island.  In  his 
new  home  he  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  con- 
genial surroundings,  and  seemed  to  enter  upon  a life 
of  quiet  and  uninterrupted  happiness.  His  fine 


farm]  was  under  a high  state  of  cultivation,  and]The 
took  constant  pleasure  in  improving  £it  by  adding”the 
latest  inventions  in  agricultural  machinery,  and  in  intro- 
ducing the  most  approved  methods  of  using  them.  He 
was  much  interested  in  fine  stock  of  all  kinds,  but  es- 
pecially in  poultry,  swine  and  cattle,  the  best  strains  of 
which  he  always  kept.  His  herd  of  thoroughbred  Dur- 
hams  was  the  finest  on  the  island,  and  year  after  year 
won  the  highest  prize  at  the  county  fair.  His  cultured 
taste  made  him  also  an  admirer  of  all  that  was  beautiful 
in  nature.  Trees  and  flowers  were  especial  favorites,  and 
the  ample  lawns  surrounding  his  residence  were  taste- 
fully planted  with  choice  varieties  of  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees,  while  a fine  conservatory  attached  to  the 
house  was  always  kept  well  stocked  with  beautiful  and 
rare  plants.  He  was  an  excellent  practical  botanist 
and  an  authority  on  the  native  flora  of  the  island.  His 
quiet  and  studious  habits  withdrew  him  from  active  pub- 
lic life,  and  he  modestly  shrank  from  assuming  the  lead- 
ing position  in  politics  which  his  ability  and  social 
standing  would  otherwise  have  given  him.  He  was 
nevertheless  a man  of  sincere  and  decided  convictions, 
and  never  hesitated  to  espouse  promptly  and  earnestly 
any  cause  that  he  believed  just  and  right.  He  was  quick 
to  respond  to  calls  of  patriotic  duty  of  every  kind,  and 
all  legitimate  schemes  for  public  improvement  or  political 
advancement  found  in  him  an  earnest  advocate  and  a 
generous  supporter. 

While  Mr.  Taber’s  inclinations  turned  toward  the  quiet 
life  of  a country  gentleman,  wherein  he  found  his  greatest 
pleasure  in  the  cultivation  of  his  fertile  acres  and  the 
enjoyment  of  the  home  circle,  he  was  a man  of  excellent 
business  capacity,  and  managed  his  estate  and  the  various 
imporant  interests  intrusted  to  his  care  with  prudence  and 
success,  evincing  great  natural  ability  for  mercantile  pur- 
suits. He  was  in  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Brooklyn 
Bank,  and  also  president  of  the  North  Shore  Transporta- 
tion Company,  which  latter  corporation,  under  his  careful 
supervision,  achieved  a marked  success. 

In  1866  the  Queens  County  Agricultural  Society, 
which  had  been  leading  a species  of  nomadic  life,  de- 
cided to  make  for  itself  a permanent  home.  To  this  end 
a tract  of  40  acres  of  land  donated  by  the  town  of 
Hempstead  was  accepted,  and  the  work  of  planting 
trees,  erecting  buildings,  and  otherwise  preparing  the 
ground  immediately  begun.  In  a few  years  nearly  thirty 
thousand  dollars  had  been  expended  in  these  improve- 
ments, and  the  society  could  justly  take  pride  in  having 
the  best  arranged  and  most  beautiful  agricultural  grounds 
in  the  State.  In  this  great  and  laborious  undertaking 
Mr.  Taber  was  a leading  spirit,  and  to  him  more  than  to 
any  other  person  are  the  people  of  Queens  county  in- 
debted for  its  successful  accomplishment.  He  was 
president  of  the  society  three  consecutive  terms,  and 
during  those  years,  by  his  energy,  good  judgment  and 
generosity,  converted  a doubtful  experiment  into  a per- 
manent success,  and  established  the  society  on  so  firm  a 
basis  that  it  has  ever  since  gone  prosperously  onward, 
lie  was  also  greatly  interested  in  the  State  agricultural 


ru  AJTJL Ht'llie’ 


/ 


45° 

Snedel 
and  1 


SAMUEL  T.  AND  STEPHEN  TABER. 


455 


society,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  its  vice- 
presidents.  as  well  as  a leading  manager  in  its  affairs. 
Had  he  lived  a few  weeks  longer,  and  until  the  annual 
meeting,  he  would  probably  have  been  elected  to  the 
presidency. 

On  the  24th  of  May  1841,  during  Mr.  Taber’s  junior 
year  in  college,  ten  Union  College  men,  of  whom  he  was 
one  of  the  leaders,  met  and  founded  the  since  well  known 
college  fraternity  of  Chi  Psi,  which  now  numbers  twenty- 
three  alphas  or  chapters,  in  as  many  of  the  leading  col- 
leges of  America.  He  was  honored  with  the  highest 
office  in  the  gift  of  this  society,  and  always  maintained  a 
warm  interest  in  its  affairs. 

Mr.  Taber  was  by  birth  a member  of  the  religious 
society  of  Friends,  and,  although  never  professing  to  ad- 
here in  all  things  to  the  more  rigid  rules  of  the  sect,  was 
a conscientious  and  respected  member  of  the  society, 
and  lived  up  squarely  to  his  ideal  of  the  highest  and  most 
advanced  principles  of  Quakerism.  While  a thorough 
gentleman  in  appearance  and  address,  he  was  especially 
plain  and  unassuming  in  all  things,  inheriting  the  Friends’ 
aversion  to  personal  vanity  and  ostentatious  display. 
Although  generous  and  hospitable  in  a marked  degree, 
he  was  conscientiously  careful  to  waste  nothing  in  useless 
luxury,  and  evinced  through  life  the  effect  of  his  early 
Quaker  training  in  frugality,  industry  and  simplicity. 

He  was  a keen  sportsman  and  loved  his  dog  and  gun, 
although  in  this,  as  in  all  other  matters,  he  maintained  a 
sensible  moderation,  and  never  allowed  pleasure  to  inter- 
fere with  the  strict  performance  of  duty.  He  used  fre- 
quently to  make  excursions  to  the  locality  where  game 
was  found,  and  took  great  satisfaction  in  sharing  the  re- 
sults of  his  luck  and  skill  with  his  neighbors.  It  was 
during  one  of  these  gunning  trips  that  he  contracted  the 
malady  which  caused  his  death.  He,  with  several  friends, 
leased  a large  tract  of  meadow  and  marsh  land  on  the 
borders  of  Currituck  Sound,  in  North  Carolina,  and  in 
the  autumn  of  each  year  it  was  his  custom  to  spend  a 
week  or  more  in  hunting  the  wild  fowl  that  frequent 
these  waters.  It  is  supposed  that  during  his  last  visit 
to  the  south  the  malaria  lurking  in  the  swampy 
lands  of  his  shooting  grounds  poisoned  his  system,  and 
thus  was  the  indirect  cause  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
a short  time  after  his  return,  and  on  the  4th  of  February 
1871. 

Stephen  Taber. 

Stephen  Taber,  brother  of  Samuel  T.  Taber  and  son 
of  Thomas  Taber  who  was  a member  of  the  XXth  Con- 
gress, was  born  in  the  town  of  Dover,  Dutchess  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  7th  1821.  After  receiving  an  academic 
education  he  removed  in  1839  to  Queens  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  and  has  so  continued  to  the  present 
time.  In  1845  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rosetta  M. 
Townsend,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living,  namely  William,  Adelaide,  Gertrude  and 
Thomas.  The  oldest  son,  Samuel,  at  the  age  of  18  was 
lost  at  sea  in  the  great  storm  of  October  21st  and  22nd 
1865;  no  tidings  of  vessel  or  crew  having  ever  been  heard 


after  the  vessel  (the  bark  “Tillie  Van  Name,”  bound  from 
Philadelphia  to  New  Orleans)  left  the  Capes  of  Dela- 
ware. 

From  an  early  age  Mr.  Taber  has  taken  an  active  in- 
terest in  local  and  general  politics.  In  i860  and  1861 
he  represented  the  first  Assembly  district  in  the  Legis- 
lature. The  Rebellion  having  broken  out  in  the  latter 
year,  he  sustained  with  his  vote  and  his  counsel,  as  well 
as  in  his  private  acts,  every  legitimate  measure  for  its 
speedy  and  thorough  suppression.  Much  perplexity  arose 
at  this  time  as  to  the  best  method  of  filling  the  quota  of 
troops  demanded  by  the  government  from  the  different 
States,  and  Mr.  Taber  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  having 
made  the  earliest  suggestion  looking  toward  the  solution 
of  this  problem,  by  recommending  that  such  quotas  be 
filled  by  towns  rather  than  by  counties.  This  plan  met 
with  the  hearty  concurrence  of  the  late  William  C.  Bryant, 
who  in  connection  with  Mr.  Taber  was  sent  by  the 
citizens  of  North  Hempstead  to  Albany  for  the  purpose 
of  pressing  it  upon  the  attention  of  the  authorities.  In 
this  they  were  successful — Governor  Morgan  and  the 
State  officers  adopting  the  plan  proposed.  As  a result  a 
new  impetus  was  given  to  recruiting,  and  our  regiments 
were  speedily  filled  up. 

Although  at  all  times  believing  in  and  maintaining  the 
cardinal  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  those 
which  had  they  been  faithfully  carried  out  would  have 
averted  the  great  civil  war,  and  also  believing  that  the 
Republican  party  was  in  a greater  measure  responsible 
for  its  inception  than  even  the  most  radical  wing  of  the 
Democratic  party,  there  seemed  to  Mr.  Taber  but  one 
course  for  every  loyal  citizen  to  adopt  when  once  acts  of 
overt  rebellion  had  been  perpetrated.  That  one  course 
was  to  suppress  the  Rebellion  by  every  legitimate  means 
at  the  disposal  of  the  government.  From  this  course  of 
conduct  he  never  swerved  during  the  entire  war. 

While  in  the  Legislature  he  introduced  and  finally 
carried  through,  against  the  most  vigorous  opposition,  the 
law  extending  the  general  navigation  act  to  Long  Island 
Sound  and  its  adjacent  waters,  a law  under  which  the 
Long  Island  North  Shore  and  numerous  other  navigation 
companies  have  since  been  organized. 

In  1864  he  was  elected  a representative  to  the  XXXIXrh 
Congress  from  the  first  district  of  New  York,  comprising 
the  counties  of  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Richmond.  During 
this  term  of  office  he  served  as  a member  of  the  commit- 
tees on  public  lands  and  public  expenditures.  His 
course  proving  satisfactory  to  his  constituents  he  was  re- 
elected to  the  XLth  Congress,  where  he  served  upon  the 
committees  on  public  lands  and  public  expenditures  and 
was  made  chairman  of  the  committee  on  ventilation  of 
the  hall.  As  a member  of  the  committee  on  public  lands 
he  was  a sturdy  opponent  of  all  special  legislation,  and 
of  all  appropriations  intended  for  merely  local 
purposes  ; holding  resolutely  to  the  principle  that 
the  public  domain  should  no  more  than  the  public 
moneys  be  appropriated  for  any  other  works  than  those 
of  a national  character.  At  the  risk  of  even  his  own 
home  popularity  he  persistently  refused  either  to  ask  for 


49 


456 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


or  to  efficourage  any  improvements  affecting  his  own  dis- 
trict 'or  neighborhood,  except  such  as  were  at  the  same 
tiiyle  of  national  benefit  and  importance.  As  a member 
oft  this  committee  he  also  earnestly  and  vigorously  op- 
posed the  bill  declaring  forfeited  to  the  United  States 
certain  lands  granted  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  rail- 
roads in  the  States  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana 
and  Florida;  on  the  ground  that  those  roads  were  great 
public  thoroughfares,  and  that  the  companies  owning  them 
had  acquired  vested  rights  in  those  lands  and  without 
them  would  be  unable  to  push  to  completion  improve- 
ments that  were  absolutely  necessary  for  the  development 
of  the  resources  of  those  different  States. 

It  having  been  charged  while  Mr.  Taber  was  a member 
of  the  committee  on  public  expenditures  that  corrupt 
means  had  been  employed  to  secure  the  purchase  of 
Alaska,  and  there  being  evidence  tending  to  show  that 
the  Hon.  Robert  J.  Walker  had  received  a gratuity  of 
$20,000  from  the  Russian  government  to  aid  in  promot- 
ing this  transaction,  Mr.  Taber  presented  a minority  re- 
port strongly  condemning  the  practice  of  American  citi- 
zens, especially  those  who  had  held  high  official  positions 
under  the  government,  accepting  fees  from  foreign 
powers  for  the  use  of  their  influence  to  shape  the  action 
of  Congress  in  such  matters. 

Since  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  in  Con- 
gress Mr.  Taber  has  held  no  official  position,  although 
taking  such  active  interest  and  part  in  politics 
as  he  has  always  believed  it  to  be  the  duty  of 
every  intelligent  citizen  to  take.  He  has  uniformly  op- 
posed all  those  methods  so  popular  among  trading  poli- 
ticians, and,  in  true  consistency  with  the  principles  of 
square  dealing  which  he  has  ever  exhibited,  he  has  inva- 
riably set  his  face  against  all  organizations  of  a political 
character  the  object  of  which  was  to  control  or  forestall 
the  independent  action  of  the  people  in  their  primary 
capacity;  and  he  has  never  hesitated  to  openly  condemn 
such  organizations  as  tending  to  corrupt  and  unduly  bias 
many  who,  if  left  to  their  individual  judgment,  would  in 
general  act  honestly  as  well  as  intelligently.  No  one  has 
done  more  by  personal  effort  and  example  than  he  to 
maintain  the  purity  of  the  ballot  box  and  the  independ- 
ence of  the  voter. 

In  matters  of  local  public  improvement  he  has  borne 
his  full  share  of  the  burdens  of  contribution;  he  helped 
to  organize  the  Glen  Cove  Steamboat  Company,  which 
built  the  steamboat  “ Glen  Cove,”  a vessel  which  in  her 
day  was  known  as  the  fastest  and  best  boat  on  that  route. 
Succeeding  Mr.  Irving,  he  was  president  until  the  disso- 
lution of  the  company.  He  also  helped  to  organize  the 
Long  Island  North  Shore  Transportation  Company,  and 
served  as  its  president  for  the  first  three  or  "four  years  of 
its  existence.  He  also  served  as  a director  of  the  Long 
Island  Railroad  Company  during  the  construction  of  the 
Glen  Cove  branch  of  that  road.  While  acting  in  this 
capacity  he  was  able  to  secure  the  whole  right  of  way 
from  Mineola  to  Glen  Cove  at  a very  moderate  cost,  and 
that  too  without  in  a single  instance  having  to  apply  to 
any  court  for  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  award 


damages.  When  the  Roslyn  Savings  Bank  was  organized 
Mr.  Taber  was  selected  by  unanimous  vote  of  its  trustees 
to  act  as  its  first  president,  and  he  continued  in  that  of- 
fice three  years,  when  at  his  own  urgent  request  he  re- 
tired, to  assume  the  position  of  trustee,  which  he  still 
holds. 

Henry  W.  Eastman. 

Henry  W.  Eastman  was  born  in  Roslyn,  then  known 
as  Hempstead  Harbor,  on  the  8th  day  of  May  1826. 
While  still  a boy  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Pierpont 
Potter,  Esq.,  at  Jamaica.  His  certificates  of  clerkship 
show  that  he  began  his  studies  there  on  the  9th  of  May 
1840,  and  continued  until  May  10th  1841,  when  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  Henry  M.  Western  in  New  York  city. 
In  this  office  he  remained  until  May  25th  1842,  when  he 
passed  into  that  of  Horatio  G.  Onderdonk,  Esq.,  of 
Manhasset.  From  May  25th  1842  to  May  1st  1847  he 
continued  a student  in  this  office,  completing  in  this  way 
the  seven  years  of  study  for  the  bar  then  required  of 
those  who  had  not  received  a collegiate  education.  Mr. 
Western’s  certificate  states  a significant  fact  to  the  credit 
of  his  young  student  in  describing  his  clerkship  as  being 
“without  vacation,”  an  illustration  of  the  innate  energy 
with  which  he  began  his  life  labors  and  pursued  them 
unto  the  end. 

On  the  14th  day  of  May  1847  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  of  the  supreme  court  as  an  attorney,  under  the  rules 
creating  the  two  classes  of  attorneys  and  counsellors  at 
law.  On  the  24th  of  the  same  month  he  was  admitted 
to  the  court  of  chancery  as  a solicitor.  His  two  certifi- 
cates of  admission  bear  the  distinguished  names  of 
Greene  C.  Bronson  as  chief  justice  and  Reuben  H.  Wal- 
worth as  chancellor.  On  the  28th  of  June  1847  he  was 
licensed  by  Isaac  E.  Haviland,  first  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  of  Queens  county,  to  practice  in  that  court 
as  an  attorney  and  counsellor.  Having  thus  qualified 
himself  for  the  duties  of  his  profession  he  returned  to 
his  native  village,  where  he  opened  a law  office  in  what 
was  formerly  known  as  Roslyn  Hall. 

Pending  the  arrival  of  business  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  tutor  in  the  academy,  where  he  found 
opportunity  to  supplement  his  resources,  which  were 
then  quite  circumscribed.  Young  as  he  was  his  powers 
of  direction  and  organization  seemed  to  call  for  imme- 
diate employment,  and  we  find  him  taking  the  part  of  a 
leader  among  his  fellow  citizens  in  all  the  varied  public 
enterprises  of  that  day.  He  allied  himself  with  the 
great  temperance  movement  then  agitating  the  country, 
and  was  a constant  attendant  upon  meetings  held  in  its 
interest;  became  secretary  of  the  Queens  County  Tem- 
perance Society,  and  finally  a delegate,  when  only  21 
years  of  age,  to  a State  temperance  convention,  called  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a distinct  ticket  in  the  ensuing 
election.  In  the  same  spirit  of  public  activity  he  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  Manhasset  Lyceum,  acting  as 
chairman  of  its  lecture  committee,  and  undertaking  the 
onerous  duty  of  supplying  the  requisite  speakers  to  fill 
the  winter’s  programme. 


\ 


THE  LIFE  OF  H.  W.  EASTMAN. 


459 


Not  content  with  these  multifarious  duties,  with  the 
exactions  which  they  made  upon  his  time  when  super- 
added  to  his  professional  labors,  he  established  in  1850, 
in  conjunction  with  A.  W.  Leggett,  a weekly  paper  known 
as  the  Plaindealer . Fortune,  however,  did  not  smile 
upon  this  enterprise,  and  despite  his  best  efforts  and 
those  of  some  of  his  personal  friends  the  paper  died  in  its 
infancy.  It  was  perhaps  well  that  it  did,  for  the  law  is  a 
jealous  mistress,  not  willingly  dividing  her  favors,  either 
with  politics  or  general  literature.  He  who  would  live 
from  her  altar  must  serve  with  fidelity  and  undivided  al- 
legiance. Mr.  Eastman  soon  discovered  that  fact,  and 
from  this  time  forth  gave  himself  with  untiring  energy 
and  assiduity  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

He  had  no  forsenic  ambition,  being  content  to  organ- 
ize and  direct  movements  through  other  agencies  than 
speech.  This  seemed  singular  in  one  of  his  fulminatory 
temperament,  backed  as  it  was  by  great  moral  courage; 
and  yet  with  all  this  he  was  haunted  by  a retarding  self- 
distrust which  kept  him  off  his  feet  and  out  of  court. 
Even  in  general  meetings,  whether  political  or  otherwise, 
he  deferred  to  the  presence  of  others,  rarely  speaking, 
and  if  at  all,  briefly,  lucidly  and  with  great  emphasis. 

He  early  appears  to  have  turned  his  attention  to  real 
property  law  as  a source  of  profitable  practice,  more  par- 
ticularly to  that  branch  of  it  included  in  conveyancing, 
with  the  legal  incidents  of  leases,  incumbrances,  parti- 
tions and  foreclosures.  He  became  the  financial  adviser 
and  counsel  of  a large  number  of  capitalists,  who  relied 
upon  his  judgment  in  making  loans  for  permanent  in- 
vestment. In  this  way  his  reputation  grew  from  year  to 
year.  He  was  regarded  as  authority  upon  values,  both 
actual  and  prospective,  of  real  estate,  and  was  often  se- 
lected to  unravel  the  tangled  meshes  and  conflicting 
subtleties  of  real  property  law  with  which  some  unfor- 
tunate testator  had  tied  up  his  estate,  or  to  smooth  out 
the  wrinkles  from  the  assets  of  a bankrupt.  He  was  also 
trustee  and  guardian  of  many  estates,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  the  superintending  attorney  of  over 
$1,500,000  of  loans  on  real  property. 

In  August  1862  Mr.  Eastman  was  appointed  assessor 
of  internal  revenue  for  the  first  Congressional  district  of 
New  York.  This  field  was  an  entirely  new  one  in  our 
country.  There  were  no  precedents  by  which  to  guide 
these  new  revenue  officers.  Each  assessor  became  a law 
unto  himself  in  his  interpretation  of  the  federal  statute, 
and,  although  the  commissioner  of  internal  revenue  was 
empowered  to  adjudicate  questions  of  pending  differ- 
ences, yet  his  opinions  did  not  always  carry  conviction 
with  them.  They  were  looked  upon  as  only  interlocutory 
orders,  to  be  subsequently  reviewed.  It  is  a satisfaction 
to  know  that  from  the  first  Mr.  Eastman’s  rulings  in  his 
district  were  considered  in  Washington  as  unexception- 
able in  their  character,  exhibiting  as  they  did  a knowl- 
edge of  constitutional  law  which  enabled  him  to  estab- 
lish some  most  useful  precedents  for  the  benefit  of  the 
internal  revenue  bureau.  The  writer  had  occasion  to 
confer  with  E.  A.  Rollins,  the  commissioner,  on  this 
point,  and  was  gratified  to  learn  from  him  that  Mr.  East- 
man’s administration  of  his  office  was  conspicuous  for 
the  absence  of  errors  of  judgment,  either  in  construc- 
tion of  the  statute  or  in  enforcement  of  its  provisions. 


His  record  stood  pre-eminently  faultless  and  unimpeach- 
able, as  testified  to  by  a letter  from  Mr.  Rollins,  bearing 
date  December  12th  1866,  in  which  he  says-  “No  re- 
ports have  ever  reached  me  in  relation  to  your  services 
otherwise  than  such  as  were  satisfactory  to  myself,  and 
must  have  been  agreeable  to  you  had  you  been  made  ac- 
quainted with  them.” 

In  1876  Mr.  Eastman  was  one  of  those  who  helped 
organize  the  Queens  County  Bar  Association,  of  which 
he  was  the  first  treasurer,  and  president  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  direction  of  its  funds  was  such  that  it 
grew  to  be  a flourishing  institution,  with  a gradually  in- 
creasing library  and  a surplus  to  draw  upon.  In  like 
manner,  and  with  the  same  public  spirit  which  was  ever 
his  guiding  impulse,  he  interested  himself  in  organizing 
the  Bryant  Library  Association  in  Roslyn,  an  association 
founded  upon  the  bequest  of  a hall  by  the  late  William 
C.  Bryant  to  that  village. 

In  March  1878  Mr.  Eastman  organized  the  Roslyn 
Savings  Bank  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  a neighbor- 
hood want,  as  he  felt  it  to  be.  This  bank  was  wholly 
his  own  creation,  the  offspring  of  his  conscientious  de- 
sire to  help  the  poor  find  a place  of  safe  deposit  for  their 
little  earnings,  and  to  found  an  institution  of  recognized 
standing  in  the  community.  With  this  end  in  view  he 
accepted  the  position  of  treasurer,  a position  which  he 
filled  to  the  time  of  his  death,  giving  his  services  to  its 
administration  with  a fidelity  and  self-denial  which  com- 
manded the  admiration  of  his  colleagues  and  the  com- 
munity. All  knew  that  his  midnight  lamp  was  never  ex- 
tinguished while  anything  remained  to  be  done  in  the 
interest  of  the  bank.  However  arduous  might  have  been 
the  labors  of  the  day  he  was  never  too  tired  to  be  unable 
to  do  something  more  in  its  behalf. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  the  candidate  of  the  Republican 
party  for  county  judge  of  Queens  county  at  the  elec- 
tions held  in  1869  and  1873.  Though  his  party  was  in 
the  minority  he  polled  its  full  vote.  He  was  also  its 
candidate  for  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention 
of  1867,  but  failed  to  be  elected. 

His  last  illness,  which  was  brief,  told  too  plainly  the 
story  of  an  overworked  system,  whose  vitality  had  been 
consumed  in  advance  of  its  years.  As  his  ambition  to 
labor  knew  no  limits,  so  his  energy  knew  no  bounds,  and 
he  fell  a victim  to  that  fever  of  unrest  which  is  charac- 
teristic of  our  professional  life.  He  died  on  the  30th  of 
March  1882,  not  having  yet  reached  his  56th  year. 

At  a meeting  of  the  bar  of  the  county,  held  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  appropriate  resolutions  commemorative  of  his 
worth  were  adopted,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  April 
term  of  the  circuit  court,  held  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Queens  on  the  10th  day  of  the  month,  the  same  were 
duly  presented  and  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes 
of  the  court. 

The  trustees  of  the  Roslyn  Savings  Bank,  the  Queens 
County  Bar  Association  and  the  Bryant  Library  Associ- 
ation passed  similar  resolutions  expressive  of  their  respect 
and  appreciation  of  his  worth. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  married  on  the  16th  of  February 
1848  to  Miss  Lydia  Macy,  daughter  of  Frederick 
H.  Macy,  of  Williamsburgh.  He  left  seven  children,  of 
whom  three  are  sons  and  four  daughters. 


460 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


MINOR  VILLAGES  OF  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD. 

Great  Neck. 

The  settlement  of  this  neck  of  land  commenced  about 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  May  19th  1679 
Thomas  Rushmore  was  granted  permission  to  build  a 
grist  and  saw  mill  on  the  west  side  of  Great  Neck,  with 
privileges  similar  to  other  mills,  and  to  cut  timber  on  un- 
occupied land. 

The  village  of  Great  Neck  is  the  terminus  of  the  north 
side  railroad  and  is  mostly  of  modern  growth.  It  con- 
tains a number  of  business  establishments,  among  which 
are  the  hardware  store  of  Vincent  Barnes  and  the  two 
stores  occupied  by  the  Haydens.  There  are  two  churches 
and  a good  school  building  in  the  vicinity. 

HON.  SILVANUS  S.  SMITH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Herricks,  in 
North  Hempstead,  July  4th  1802.  His  father  was  Silva- 
nus  Smith,  a farmer  well  known  in  the  county  (having 
held  the  offices  of  county  treasurer  and  justice  of  the 
peace  for  several  years)  and  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed for  his  probity  in  all  of  his  business  transactions 
in  public  and  private.  His  mother  was  Mary  Toffey, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Phebe  Toffey,  of  Herricks.  She 
died  in  1812,  leaving  a family  of  three  daughters  and 
two  sons,  Silvanus  being  the  younger. 

Mr.  Smith  received  a common  school  education  and 
later  attended  Union  Hall  Academy,  at  Jamaica,  after 
which  he  accepted  a clerkship  in  the  house  of  Stephens 
& Underhill,  and  at  a later  date  he  entered  the  service  of 
Warring  & Kimberly,  wholesale  grocers,  of  New  York. 
In  1822,  at  the  request  of  his  father,  he  returned  home 
to  take  charge  of  the  farm,  of  which  he  became  owner 
upon  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1825. 

In  1830  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Louisa, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Altie  Tredwell,  of  Great  Neck. 
In  1835  he  purchased  a farm  at  Great  Neck  and  erected 
buildings  thereon  for  his  future  home,  having  disposed  of 
his  property  at  Herricks.  In  1839  his  wife  died  and  in 
1846  he  married  his  second  wife,  Helen  Livingston, 
daughter  of  Stephen  and  Margaret  Olivia  Mitchell,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Smith’s  official  career  began  in  1832,  when  he  was 
elected  town  assessor  and  commissioner  of  common 
schools,  in  which  capacities  he  served  several  years.  He 
was  elected  supervisor  of  his  town  in  1847,  and  served 
seven  years.  In  1851  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 
county  (then  entitled  to  but  one  member)  in  the  Assem- 
bly. On  the  organization  of  the  house  in  1852  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  committee  on  the  erection  and  di- 
vision of  towns  and  counties,  and  also  one  of  a select 
committee  of  five  appointed  by  the  speaker  on  the  license 
question,  to  report  to  the  house  the  result  of  their  delib- 


erations. Two  reports  were  made,  the  majority  opposing 
and  the  minority  favoring  licenses.  Upon  a vote  of  the 
house  the  minority  report,  presented  by  Mr.  Smith,  was 
adopted.  In  1853  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Assembly. 
The  house  was  organized  by  the  election  of  William  H. 
Ludlow,  of  Suffolk  county,  as  speaker.  Mr.  Smith  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture.  Both  houses 
adjourned  without  passing  the  supply  bill.  The  governor, 
Horatio  Seymour,  issued  a proclamation  calling  an  extra 
session.  A recess  was  had  for  only  one  month,  when 
both  houses  reassembled,  passed  the  supply  bill  and  dis- 
posed of  the  unfinished  business  of  the  regular  session, 
and  adjourned.  On  his  return  home  Mr.  Smith’s  friends 
urged  him  to  allow  them  to  present  his  name  to  the  Con- 
gressional convention  as  a candidate  for  member  of  Con- 
gress from  the  first  Congressional  district,  assuring  him 
that  he  could  have  the  nomination;  but,  though  a nom- 
ination was  equivalent  to  an  election,  the  district  being 
strongly  Democratic,  he  declined,  having  decided  to^etire 
to  private  life,  which  is  more  in  consonance  with  his  do- 
mestic taste  and  disposition.  Since  1854  he  has  enjoyed 
his  elegant  home,  “Forest  Hill,”  at  Great  Neck, 
untroubled  by  the  jar  and  conflict  of  political  strug- 
gles. 


Prom  Photograph  by  Bogardus. 


WILLIAM  MITCHELL  SMITH. 


William  Mitchell  Smith,  of  Great  Neck,  is  known  as 
one  of  the  most  genial,  hospitable  and  companionable 
gentlemen  of  Long  Island.  He  is  a direct  descendant, 
in  the  sixth  generation,  of  Richard  Smith,  the  original 
proprietor  of  Smithtown.  His  father  was  Daniel  E. 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  Smithtown  and  was  a merchant 
in  New  York  prior  to  1832,  after  which  he  lived  retired 
at  Great  Neck  until  his  death.  His  mother  was  Miss 
Susan  H.  Mitchell,  daughter  of  William  Mitchell,  in 
whose  honor  Mr.  Smith  was  named,  and  on  the  maternal 
side  Mr.  Smith  is  descended  from  and  related  to  the 
Hewlett  family,  which  is  numerous  and  prominent  on 
Long  Island. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  at  Great  Neck,  May  13th  1816. 
His  early  life  was  spent  there,  and  in  the  public  schools 
there  he  obtained  the  rudiments  of  his  education,  later 
attending  a private  school  in  New  York  for  a time. 
Though  not  a graduate  of  any  college,  Mr.  Smith  is  one  of 
the  best  informed  men  on  the  island.  Of  quick  observa- 


tion and  much  addicted  to  reading,  gifted  with  a remark- 
ably retentive  memory,  his  knowledge  of  men  and  events, 
and  especially  of  the  early  history  of  Long  Island,  is  ex- 
tensive and  varied.  He  began  his  business  life  in  New 
York,  and  about  1840  removed  to  Great  Neck,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Smith  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Joseph  L. 
Hewlett,  of  Great  Neck.  She  has  borne  him  three 
children.  Two  daughters,  Harriet  and  Susie  H.,  are 
living.  William  Mitchell  jr.,  a son,  died  soon  after  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  Inclined  to  domestic  life  and 
dearly  prizing  the  comforts  of  home,  Mr.  Smith  has 
never  been  tempted  to  relinquish  them  for  public  or 
political  honors,  though  he  takes  a thoughtful  and  intel- 
ligent interest  in  affairs  of  national  importance  and  has 
at  heart  the  welfare  and  progress  of  his  town,  county 
and  State.  He  and  his  family  are  communicants  in  the 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  is  an  earnest  and  liberal 
supporter. 


462 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


THOMAS  MESSENGER. 

Thomas  Messenger,  younger  son  of  John  Messenger, 
Esq.,  of  England,  was  born  in  the  year  1810,  in  the 
county  of  Surrey,  and  came  to  America  when  he  was  still 
very  young.  Settling  at  first  in  New  York  city,  much  of 
his  early  life  was  spent  on  Long  Island,  in  the  develop- 
ment of  which  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  he  always  took 
a lively  interest.  Although  he  retained  many  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  inhabitants  of  his  native  soil,  still 
his  love  for  his  adopted  home  was  entirely  unclouded  by 
those  prejudices  so  common  to  his  countrymen.  He  was 
thoroughly  imbued  with  whole-souled  and  disinterested 
devotion  to  America’s  free  institutions.  He  combined  in 
himself  the  tenacity  of  purpose,  high  sense  of  honor,  and 
impregnable  integrity  of  an  English  gentleman,  with  the 
enterprise,  public  spirit  and  sound  judgment  of  an 
American  merchant.  A long  and  successful  business 
career  in  New  York  city  never  dimmed  the  lustre  of  his 
integrity,  and  during  a well  earned  rest  toward  the  end 
of  his  life  his  spirit  of  enterprise  remained  undiminished. 

During  his  commercial  life  Mr.  Messenger  was  well 
known  through  the  many  offices  of  trust  in  financial  and 
charitable  institutions  which  he  filled  in  the  most  satis- 
factory manner.  While  conducting  a large  and  prosperous 
business  of  his  own,  he  was  for  25  years  president  of  the 
Brooklyn  Bank;  20  years  trustee  of  the  Brooklyn  Savings 
Bank;  at  the  time  of  his  death  senior  director  of  the 
Home  Insurance  Company  of  New  York;  treasurer  of 
the  Brooklyn  City  Hospital;  trustee  of  the  Aged  and  In- 
firm Clergy  fund  of  the  diocese  of  Long  Island,  the 
Brooklyn  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary  and  the  Industrial 
school;  besides  filling  other  offices  of  public  and  private 
trust,  in  all  of  which  he  displayed  untiring  activity,  in- 
trepid fidelity  and  rare  sagacity. 

But  to  Long  Islanders,  and  especially  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Queens  county,  he  was  best  known  by  his  spirited 
and  disinterested  devotion  to  the  advancement  of  eco- 
nomical and  profitable  agriculture.  Among  the  strongest 
instincts  which  he  carried  with  him  through  life  from  his 
English  cradle  was  an  innate  love  for  country  life  and 
agricultural  pursuits.  So  strong  was  this  feeling  that  it 
fell  little  short  of  being  a passion,  and  prompted  him 
during  the  busiest  years  of  a very  busy  life  to  purchase  a 
small  farm  at  Great  Neck,  Long  Island,  to  which  from 
the  very  first  he  gave  his  personal  attention.  As  oppor- 
tunity presented  itself  the  original  farm  was  gradually 
increased,  until  Mr.  Messenger  became  the  largest  land 
owner  on  Great  Neck.  He  devoted  his  attention  mainly 
to  the  introduction  and  breeding  of  the  finer  kinds  of 
foreign  cattle.  His  efforts  in  this  direction  were  recog- 
nized by  several  prizes  at  the  New  York  State  agricultu- 
ral shows.  He  was  also  one  of  the  largest  contributors 
of  articles  to  the  Queens  county  show  when  it  was  com- 
paratively in  its  infancy,  and  at  a time  when  such  contri- 
butions were  needed  to  give  interest  and  success  to  its 
annual  meetings.  Appreciation  of  his  valuable  services 
in  this  direction,  as  well  as  his  general  high  standing  in 
the  community,  and  his  well  known  executive  ability, 
secured  him  the  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  Queens 


County  Agricultural  Society  a few  years  ago.  To  the 
exercise  of  the  duties  of  this  office  he  brought  those  high 
qualities  of  geniality  and  tact  which  through  his  whole 
life  had  served  to  so  thoroughly  endear  him  to  those 
whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  be  brought  in  contact  with 
him  in  his  domestic  and  social  relations. 

Mr.  Messenger  was  also  identified  with  the  railroad 
development  of  Long  Island,  being  actuated  thereto  more 
by  his  zeal  for  its  best  interests  than  by  any  desire  of 
profit  for  himself.  He  was  the  original  promoter  and 
largest  bondholder  and  a stockholder  in  the  Great  Neck 
branch  of  the  Flushing  and  North  Shore  Railroad,  of 
which  he  was  also  receiver  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  his 
seventy  first  year. 

On  the  20th  of  October  1881  he  finally  succumbed  to 
the  disease  against  which  for  several  years  he  had  man- 
fully struggled.  By  Mr.  Messenger’s  death  Queens 
county  was  deprived  of  one  of  its  most  zealous  well- 
wishers  and  active  workers  for  its  prosperity. 


Manhasset.  * 

The  location  of  this  village  has  been  previously  de- 
scribed. It  now  contains  three  churches,  a Friends’ 
meeting-house,  a union  free  school,  a new  and  elegant 
town  house,  a hotel,  a blacksmith  shop  and  a well 
ordered  store.  Christ  Church  Academy  was  once  a 
prominent  seat  of  learning  here.  The  place  was  formerly 
known  as  “ Head  of  Cow  Neck,”  but  by  the  effort  of 
some  of  the  citizens  the  name  was  changed  to  Manhasset 
about  40  years  ago. 

Manhasset  Valley  (about  a mile  westward)  lies  at  the 
head  of  Cow  Bay.  The  old  grist-mill  here  was  built  by 
Dr.  Charles  Mitchell  about  the  year  1800,  at  the  east  end 
of  the  dam,  but  removed  afterward  to  its  present  site. 
The  village  contains  a hotel,  a wagon  shop,  two  black- 
smith shops,  a bakery,  a harness  shop,  hardware,  grocery 
and  shoe  stores,  and  the  old  store  recently  enlarged,  re- 
paired and  occupied  by  John  E.  Hicks.  George  K. 
Dodge  is  the  postmaster  and  keeps  the  office  in  his  bakery 
and  grocery  establishment. 


Port  Washington. 

This  place  was  formerly  called  Cow  Bay,  from  the 
water  on  which  it  is  situated,  and  derived  its  importance 
as  a village  from  two  tide-water  grist-mills,  built  here 
early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  These  mills  were  formerly 
supplied  with  wheat  from  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  and 
did  a thriving  business.  The  name  of  the  village  was 
changed  to  Port  Washington  when  the  post-office  was  es- 
tablished here  (about  1857).  Thomas  McKee,  merchant 
and  coroner,  was  the  first  postmaster  and  the  principal 
merchant  in  the  place.  Others  now  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits  are  A.  C.  Bayles,  T.  Velsor,  John  H.  Burtis 
and  Mrs.  E.  Pearce.  There  are  two  hotels,  and  other 
enterprises  necessary  to  a thriving  business.  There  are 
in  this  place  two  churches  and  a first-class  union  school 
building.  The  financial  prosperity  of  Port  Washington 


JfRfe 


462 


T 


VILLAGES  IN  NORTH  HEMPSTEAD— SAMUEL  WILLETS. 


465 


is  so  much  the  result  of  the  culture  of  oysters  near  by 
that  the  history  of  the  place  and  that  of  its  absorbing  in- 
dustry are  inextricably  interwoven. 

Hyde  Park. 

“Hyde  Park,  so  called,”  says  Thompson,  “is  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  town,  and  was  the  former  prop- 
erty and  residence  of  the  Hon.  George  Duncan  Ludlow, 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  colony,  as 
well  as  his  brother  Colonel  Gabriel  Ludlow,  who  com- 
manded a regiment  of  American  loyalists  during  the 
Revolutionary  war.  In  consequence  of  the  adherence 
of  these  gentlemen  to  the  cause  of  the  enemy,  and  their 
active  co-operation  in  the  measures  of  the  British  minis- 
try against  the  colonies,  their  estates  were  forfeited  to 
the  country.  The  mansion  which  had  been  erected  by 
Judge  Ludlow  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1817,  during  its 
occupation  by  the  celebrated  English  political  writer 
William  Cobbet.  The  open  grounds  south  of  Hyde  Park 
were  anciently  called  Salisbury  Plains.  A race-course 
was  established  here  by  Governor  Nicolls  in  1665,  and 
was  supported  by  public  authorities  many  years,  for  the 
purpose,  as  declared  by  his  excellency,  of  improving  the 
breed  of  horses,  an  argument  yet  made  use  of  to  justify 
the  practice  of  horse-racing.  His  successor,  Governor 
Lovelace,  also  appointed,  by  proclamation,  that  trials  of 
speed  should  take  place  in  the  month  of  May  of  each 
year,  and  that  subscriptions  be  taken  up  of  all  such  as 
were  disposed  ‘to  run  for  a crown  of  silver  or  the  value 
thereof  in  wheat.’  This  course  was  called  Newmarket, 
and  continued  to  be  patronized  for  the  sports  of  the  turf 
for  more  than  a hundred  years;  when  the  place  was 
abandoned  for  another,  considered  more  convenient.” 

The  village  of  New  Hyde  Park  lies  south  of  the  site 
of  the  old,  on  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  and  is  furnished 
with  a hotel,  several  stores,  blacksmith  shops,  etc. 

A.  Herkomer,  manufacturer  of  ladies’  and  gentlemen’s 
scarfs,  tubular  ties,  etc.,  has  his  factory  here. 

Westbury. 

Westbury  is  one  of  the  finest  farming  sections  on  Long 
Island.  The  substantial  buildings  and  well  kept  farms 
bear  witness  to  the  industrious  habits  of  the  people.  An 
examination  of  the  land  titles  convinces  us  of  their  in- 
clination to  cling  closely  to  the  acres  their  ancestors 
tilled;  and  a glance  at  the  educational  history  of  the  town 
shows  the  care  exercised  in  educating  their  children. 

Henry  Willis  and  Edmund  Titus  were  among  the  first 
(whose  families  are  now  represented)  to  settle  in  this 
immediate  vicinity.  Henry  Willis  was  born  at  Westbury 
in  Wiltshire,  England,  September  14th  1628.  He  was  a 
Quaker,  and,  suffering  persecution  on  this  account,  emi- 
grated to  America.  He  arrived  about  1670  and  bought 
land  at  this  place  which  he  called  Westbury  from  his 
native  place.  Some  of  the  other  older  families  here  are  the 
Hickses,  Posts,  Rushmores,  Seamans,  Townsends,  Tread- 
wells and  Willetses,  most  of  whom  are  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends. 


At  the  time  of  the  Revolution  there  were  several  stores 
and  taverns  near  here  on  the  Jericho  turnpike.  A post- 
office  near  this  place  was  formerly  called  North  Hemp- 
stead. At  present  the  old  store  occupied  by  J.  P.  Kelsey 
(who  has  branch  stores  at  Westbury  and  East  Williston 
stations),  two  wagon  shops  and  one  blacksmith  shop  carry 
on  the  business  in  their  line.  Stephen  R.  Hicks  has  a 
grist-mill  which  is  propelled  by  wind. 

The  Westbury  Nurseries. — These  nurseries,  the 
property  of  Isaac  Hicks  & Sons,  were  commenced  about 
25  years  since.  They  are  devoted  mainly  to  the  propa- 
gation of  hardy  trees,  shrubs,  vines  and  fruits.  The 
nursery  is  in  a thriving  condition,  its  effects  being  noticed 
largely  on  the  country  round  about. 

SAMUEL  WILLETS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Old  Westbury, 
June  15th  1795.  He  remained  at  home  on  the  farm  un- 
til he  was  18  years  old,  when  he  went  to  New  York  and 
engaged  as  clerk  in  a hardware  store.  After  two  or 
three  years’ clerkship  he  began  business  for  himself  while 
yet  a young  man,  in  company  with  his  brother,  under  the 
firm  name  of  A.  & S.  Willets.  At  294  and  296  Pearl 
street,  between  Peck  slip  and  Beekman  street,  a hardware 
house  was  established  that  proved  the  foundation  of  his 
fortune.  As  the  business  grew,  several  of  Mr.  Willets’s 
nephews  were  admitted  as  partners,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Willets  & Co. 

After  sevtral  successful  years  in  this  business  the  firm 
took  large  interests  in  whaling.  This  business  proved 
very  remunerative,  and  grew  in  magnitude  until  they  at 
one  time  had  an  interest  in  50  whaling  vessels.  The 
sales  of  their  oils  one  year  amounted  to  more  than  10  per 
cent,  of  the  entire  receipts  at  American  ports.  They 
also  did  a heavy  commission  business  for  others.  When 
the  California  trade  was  opened  very  large  consignments 
were  received  from  that  coast. 

In  1869  Samuel  Willets  withdrew  from  the  firm,  still 
retaining  an  office  in  the  building,  however,  for  his  private 
business.  He  has  had  official  connection  with  several 
financial,  educational  and  philanthropic  institutions.  He 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  American  Exchange 
Bank,  and  has  been  one  of  its  directors  since  1850.  He 
is  president  of  the  board  of  managers  of  Swarthmore 
College,  near  Philadelphia,  and  has  been  officially  con- 
nected with  it  since  its  foundation.  He  is  president  of 
the  Society  for  the  Relief  of  the  Ruptured  and  Crippled; 
president  of  the  New  York  Infirmary  and  vice-president 
of  the  New  York  Hospital. 

In  March  1816  Mr.  Willets  married  Sarah  Hicks,  of 
Westbury.  After  65  years  of  signally  harmonious  wedded 
life  his  estimable  wife  died  in  January  188  r,  beloved  and 
mourned  by  all  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  know  her. 

Mr.  Willets  has  always  taken  pleasure  in  assisting  his 
fellow  men  when  it  appeared  wise  for  him  to  do  so. 
Several  prominent  and  well-to-do  farmers  in  Queens 
county  owe  their  start  in  life  to  the  aid  received  from  him. 

Considering  the  amount  of  work  Mr.  Willets  has  done, 
he  is  wonderfully  well  preserved,  and  it  is  hoped  he  will 
retain  his  health  to  enjoy  for  many  years  the  fruits  of 
his  well  spent  life. 


466 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


ELIAS  HICKS. 

(By  Isaac  Hicks.) 

The  Hicks  family  of  Long  Island  descend  from  Pilgrim 
stock.  The  first  American  progenitor,  Robert  Hicks, 
landed  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  on  the  nth  of  November 
1621,  having  sailed  from  London  in  the  ship  “ Fortune,” 
which  followed  the  “ Mayflower,”  and  brought  over  those 
left  behind  the  previous  year  by  that  famous  vessel. 
Robert’s  family  were  natives  of  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land, and  traced  their  ancestry  in  unbroken  line  back  to 
Ellis  Hicks,  who  was  knighted  by  Edward  the  Black 
Prince  on  the  battle  field  of  Poitiers,  in  1356,  for  bravery 
in  capturing  a set  of  colors  from  the  French. 

Robert  Hicks  settled  at  Duxbury,  Mass.,  where  he 
lived,  and  died  at  a good  old  age;  but  his  sons.  John  and 
Stephen,  in  1642  joined  an  English  company  which  ac- 
quired, by  patent,  an  extensive  tract  of  land  about 
Hempstead  and  Flushing  on  Long  Island.  Stephen 
purchased  several  thousand  acres  at  Little  Neck  and 
erected  a large  mansion,  where  he  lived  until  an  ad- 
vanced age,  and  died  without  male  descendants. 

John  Hicks  settled  at  Hempstead,  and  it  is  from  him 
that  the  extensive  family  of  the  name  on  Long  Island 
and  in  New  York  are  descended.  Having  been  educated 
at  Oxford  University  he  was  a man  of  intelligence,  and 
his  natural  force  of  character  made  him  a leader  in  the 
youthful  colony.  He  took  an  active  part  in  public  af- 
fairs, and  his  name  appears  in  most  of  the  important 
transactions  of  the  time. 

John  Hicks  left  an  only  son,  Thomas,  who  seems  to 
have  inherited  his  father’s  intellectual  vigor  and  force  of 
character.  He  occupied  a prominent  position  in  public 
and  social  life,  and  filled  many  places  of  trust  and  honor, 
among  others  that  of  the  first  judge  appointed  for  the 
county  of  Queens,  an  office  which  he  held  for  many 
years. 

In  1666  he  obtained  from  Governor  Nicolls  a patent 
for  4,000  acres,  including  Great  Neck  and  lands  adja- 
cent. Here  he  erected  a fine  mansion  and  introduced 
the  English  manorial  style  of  living. 

He  was  a remarkable  man  in  many  respects,  retaining 
his  mental  and  physical  powers  unimpaired  to  extreme 
old  age.  A paragraph  in  the  New  York  Postboy  of  Janu- 
ary 26th  1749  states  that  “he  left  behind  him,  of  his  own 
offspring,  above  three  hundred  children,  grandchildren, 
great-grandchildren,  and  great-great-grandchildren.”  He 
died  in  his  one  hundredth  year,  and  left,  among  other 
children,  a son  Jacob,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Elias  Hicks  was  born  at  Rockaway,  Long  Island, 
March  19th  1748.  His  parents,  John  and  Martha  Hicks, 
were  in  moderate  circumstances,  but  owned  a good  farm 
and  comfortable  home,  where  their  children  had  excel- 
lent moral  training,  but  otherwise  received  only  a very 
limited  education. 

His  father  being  a Quaker,  although  not  a very  active 
member  of  that  society,  Elias  early  imbibed  the  princi- 
ples of  that  sect,  but  during  his  youth,  while  apprenticed 


to  a carpenter,  seemed  inclined  to  prefer  the  gay  society 
of  the  young  people  of  the  neighborhood.  As  he  grew 
older  he  developed  a vigorous  and  active' intellect,  and 
evinced  a steadfast  devotion  to  his  convictions  of  right 
and  duty  which  was  ever  one  of  the  most  marked  ele- 
ments in  his  character.  He  early  took  decided  ground 
against  the  iniquity  of  human  slavery,  and  later  in  life 
was  among  the  pioneers  in  the  cause  of  emancipation  in 
the  Society  of  Friends.  This  was  one  of  the  battles  that 
he  felt  called  upon  to  fight  in  the  cause  of  truth  and  jus- 
tice, and  he  devoted  the  energy  and  ability  of  a long  life 
to  the  faithful  championship  of  the  oppressed  negro. 
His  father  was  an  owner  of  slaves,  and  in  his  youth  Elias 
plead  long  and  earnestly  until  he  effected  their  emanci- 
pation. Later  in  life,  when  the  estate  of  his  father-in- 
law,  who  was  also  a slaveholder,  came  to  be  divided,  he 
resolutely  refused  to  accept  for  his  own  share  any  portion 
of  the  money  which  represented  the  value  of  the  slaves, 
but  used  it  to  purchase  their  freedom,  and  ever  after 
took  upon  himself  the  care  and  support  of  those  thus 
liberated;  even  leaving  a bequest  in  his  will  for  their 
maintenance  in  old  age. 

In  1775  he  became  a public  preacher  in  the  Quaker 
society,  and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  when  over  80 
years  of  age,  he  was  a faithful  and  tireless  worker  in 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness. He  was  especially  earnest  in  the  conviction  that 
service  in  the  ministry  should  be  free,  and  without  the 
selfish  stimulus  of  earthly  reward,  and  to  this  end  he  was 
scrupulously  careful  when  traveling  in  the  service  of  the 
society,  and  on  all  other  occasions,  to  defray  his  own  ex- 
penses. 

During  the  exciting  years  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he 
carefully  maintained  the  peaceful  principles  of  his  sect, 
and  such  was  the  confidence  reposed  in  his  high  charac- 
ter that  he  was  permitted,  in  the  exercise  of  his  religious 
duties,  to  pass  six  times  through  the  lines  of  the  contend- 
ing armies.  He  was  scrupulously  just  in  his  business  af- 
fairs, holding  in  all  cases  the  dictates  of  conscience  to  be 
superior  to  the  fallible  laws  of  man. 

In  his  dress,  the  furniture  of  his  house,  and  all  outward 
things,  he  carried  to  the  extreme  the  principle  of  plain- 
ness and  simplicity  advocated  by  his  society.  In  person 
he  was  erect,  of  commanding  stature,  and  possessed  in  a 
remarkable  degree  that  intangible  attribute  which  we  de- 
nominate “ presence.”  In  social  life  he  was  dignified  but 
kind,  a little  reserved  in  manner,  and  giving  the  impres- 
sion of  great  intellectual  force,  combined  with  a stern 
devotion  to  the  convictions  of  duty.  Affable  in  bearing, 
and  inheriting  the  courtly  politeness  of  the  old  school 
gentleman  of  the  last  century,  his  society  was  much 
sought  by  intelligent  people  of  all  classes,  who  were  at- 
tracted by  his  rare  and  varied  gifts  as  a conversa- 
tionist. 

His  public  addresses  were  not  adorned  with  flowers  of 
rhetoric,  nor  polished  by  scholastic  learning,  but  were 
plain,  logical  discourses,  delivered  with  a natural  earnest- 
ness and  eloquence  which  seemed  to  inspire  his  audience 
with  a measure  of  his  own  strong  faith,  and  to  carry 


RESIDENCE  OF  SAMUEL  WILLETS,  LITTLE  NECK, QUEENS  CO.,L.I 


THE  LIFE  OF  ELIAS  HICKS. 


467 


them  onward  to  conviction  in  the  principles  he  advo- 
cated with  such  force  and  sincerity. 

His  religious  views  were  somewhat  in  advance  of  those 
popular  in  his  day,  and  were  the  result  of  individual 
thought  and  experience,  uninfluenced  by  theological 
reading  or  metaphysical  study.  While  accepting,  in  its 
broadest  sense,  the  Quaker  doctrine  that  the  Almighty 
Spirit  directly  influences  the  hearts  of  all  mankind,  and 
that  a strict  adherence  to  the  manifestations  of  duty,  as 
revealed  to  each  individual  soul,  is  the  foundation  of  all 
true  religion,  he  was  disposed  to  assign  a less  exalted 
place  to  the  Bible,  as  God’s  specially  revealed  guide  to 
man,  and  to  maintain  the  Unitarian  view  of  Christ’s 
divinity.  He  took  strong  and  decided  ground  against 
the  old-time  belief  in  Satan’s  personal  existence  and 
active  work  in  the  world,  holding  that  the  weaknesses 
and  unbridled  passions  of  human  nature  were  the  actual 
and  only  evil  spirit  against  which  mankind  had  to  con- 
tend. In  his  view  God  was  all  love,  and  he  rejected 
every  doctrine  or  theory  that  impugned  the  absolute 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  Divine  Being,  or  His  uni- 
versal affection  for  all  the  human  family,  however  in- 
dorsed by  conclave  or  synod.  As  it  was  his  nature  to 
think  out  his  conclusions  for  himself,  and  then  to  take 
bold  and  fearless  ground  in  maintaining  his  convictions 
of  right,  his  advanced  views  naturally  met  with  the  dis- 
approval of  many  of  the  conservative  members  of  his 


society,  and  after  a few  years  of  excited  discussion  the 
Quakers  in  America  divided  into  two  separate  bodies, 
which  have  ever  since  remained  distinct.  Those  who 
united  with  the  sentiments  of  Elias  were  called  Hicksite, 
and  those  opposed  to  him  Orthodox,  Quakers.  The 
former  are  the  most  numerous  about  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia and  Baltimore,  while  the  latter  compose  the  bulk 
of  the  society  in  the  New  England  and  Western  States. 

Like  most  celebrated  men  of  strong  will  and  earnest 
convictions  of  duty,  Elias  Hicks  made  a decided  impres- 
sion upon  the  religious  thought  of  his  time,  although  the 
circumscribed  limits  within  which  the  customs  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Quaker  society  of  that  day  confined  his 
labors  prevented  his  working  in  connection  with  other 
associations;  thus  restricting  his  efforts  to  the  endeavor 
to  promote  a higher  standard  of  Christian  life  among  his 
own  religious  associates. 

During  his  long  and  active  career  he  was  constantly 
traveling  about  the  country,  addressing  the  meetings  of 
his  society,  and  wherever  he  went  large  and  deeply  in- 
terested audiences  gathered  to  greet  him.  His  noble 
presence  and  eloquent  words  made  lasting  impressions 
upon  his  hearers,  the  memory  of  which  was  ever  after- 
ward cherished  in  affectionate  hearts  and  has  been  hand- 
ed down  with  a feeling  of  reverence  to  a later  generation. 

Elias  Hicks  died  at  Jericho,  Long  Island,  on  the  27th 
of  February  1830. 


OYSTER  BAY. 


HE  Indians  who  were  the  first  known  inhabit- 
ants of  this  town  were  of  two  tribes — the 
Matinecocks,  who  occupied  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  and  the  Marsapeagues,  who 
occupied  the  south  part.  Their  division  line 
was  the  “middle  of  the  island.’’  The  principal 
occupation  of  the  males  was  hunting,  fowling  and 
fishing;  the  females  practiced  agriculture  to  some  extent. 
Corn  was  the  staple  product,  and  the  “old  planting 
fields  ” mentioned  in  the  early  records  are  supposed  to 
be  fields  previously  cultivated  by  the  Indians.  The 
large  piles  of  broken  shells  near  the  shores  indicate 
another  important  occupation — the  business  of  making 
Indian  money.  The  generic  name  of  this  shell  money, 
for  which  Long  Island  was  so  noted,  is  seawant.  There 
were  two  kinds,  viz.  wampum , or  white,  which  was 
made  from  the  stem  of  the  periwinkle  shell;  and  suckan- 
hock,  or  black,  made  from  the  heart  of  the  hard  clam 
shell.  The  black  was  rated  much  higher  than  the  white. 

The  arms  used  by  the  Indians  previous  to  the  coming 
of  the  Europeans  were  the  bow,  with  its  string  of  wild 
hemp  or  the  sinew  of  a deer;  the  arrow,  pointed  with  a 
sharp  stone  fastened  by  resin  or  with  rawhide  strings; 
the  war  club,  the  wooden  spear  and  a square  shield, 
which  was  worn  upon  the  left  arm.  Their  wigwams  con- 
sisted of  hickory  saplings  bent  in  the  form  of  an  arch 
and  covered  with  bark.  In  the  middle  was  the  fire;  a 
hole  at  the  top  permitted  the  egress  of  the  smoke.  They 
pounded  their  corn  with  stone  pestles;  their  mortars  were 
generally  of  wood,  sometimes  a hole  in  a large  stone.  The 
Indians  ate  their  food  from  wooden  bowls.  Their  knife 
was  a sharpened  shell,  their  axe  a sharpened  stone.  There 
are  a number  of  specimens  of  these  axes  preserved,  and 
some  of  them  show  that  their  manufacturer  had  con- 
siderable taste  in  carving.  The  head  of  the  axe  has  a 
deep  crease  on  each  side,  to  receive  a handle,  which  is 
formed  by  the  two  parts  of  a stick,  split  at  one  end,  being 
forced  into  these  creases  so  that  the  ends  project  a little 
beyond  the  axe,  and  then  firmly  bound  to  their  place  by 
thongs  of  rawhide. 

The  site  of  the  village  of  Brookville  is  often  mentioned 
as  Susco’s  Wigwam,  and  it  is  certain  that  most  of  the 
Matinecocks  inhabiting  the  town  resided  at  this  place 
and  Cedar  Swamp.  They  also  had  a small  village  at 
Mosquito  Cove.  It  is  stated  that  Susconaman  lived 
where  Mrs.  McKensie  now  resides.  The  principal 


settlement  of  the  Marsapeague  tribe  was  in  this 
town  at  Fort  Neck,  which  derived  its  name  from  the 
Indian  fort  at  that  place.  The  only  battle  of  any  con- 
sequence between  the  whites  and  Indians  on  Long 
Island  was  fought  here  with  this  tribe  early  in  the  year 
1644,  when  their  fort  was'  taken  and  demolished  by  a 
force  under  Captain  John  Underhill,  who  afterward 
aided  them  and  other  Indians  in  negotiating  a treaty  with 
the  whites,  and  was  rewarded  with  land  at  Matinecock. 
After  this  the  Indians  when  sober  and  well  treated  were 
peaceable,  quiet  and  kind.  The  only  trouble  of  which 
we  have  any  intimation,  except  from  “fire-water,”  was  on 
account  of  the  whites  neglecting  to  pay  them  for  their 
lands  as  agreed,  and  differences  in  boundary.  The  first 
was  adjusted  by  paying  them.  In  the  second  case  the 
Indians  also  maintained  their  claim,  which  was  adjusted 
by  the  settlers  buying  the  land  and  paying  for  it. 

The  first  experiment  mentioned  in  the  town  books  for 
the  prohibition  of  intemperance  was  tried  on  the  Indians, 
and  it  is  recorded  as  follows:  “Dec.  i3lh  1660. — It  is 
ordered  that  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  shall, 
doubly  or  individually,  sell  wine  or  strong  liquor  to  the 
Indians,  upon  the  forfeiture  of  five  shillings  for  the  first 
default  and  ten  shillings  for  the  second;  and  the  third 
time  to  forfeit  his  right  of  meadow  to  the  town.”  The 
Indians  when  selling  their  lands  reserved  their  right  of 
fowling  and  fishing.  These  rights  were  soon  cast  aside, 
and  instead  of  being  partial  owners  the  natives  became 
in  many  instances  slaves  to  the  purchasers.  Their  rec- 
ognized rights  dwindled  to  an  old  Indian  woman  coming 
to  the  farmers  once  a year  and  collecting  what  was  called 
quit  rent.  Her  coming  long  since  ceased. 

They  soon  ceased  to  exist  as  communities  here,  but 
they  have  left  their  marks  on  the  old  deeds,  and  their 
remembrancers  in  the  arrow-heads  and  axes  which  are 
occasionally  brought  to  the  surface  by  the  plowshare. 
Of  the  few  who  have  been  inhabitants  of  the  town  during 
the  last  century  one  after  another  has  passed  away,  until 
their  only  representative  is  an  Indian  girl  living  with  a 
family  in  the  south  part  of  the  town. 

Jurisdiction  and  Title. 

The  first  attempt  at  settlement  of  this  town  or  its 
vicinity  was  the  result  of  an  agreement  dated  17th  April 
1640,  in  which  James  Farret,  as  agent  of  the  Earl  of 
Stirling,  gave  permission  to  Daniel  Howe,  Job  Paine  and 


OYSTER  BAY  AND  THE  COLONIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


469 


others  to  purchase  lands  and  settle  on  Long  Island, 
“with  as  full  and  free  liberty  both  in  church  order  and 
civil  government  as  the  plantation  of  Massachusetts  en- 
joyed.” Clothed  with  this  authority  their  leader,  Daniel 
Howe,  soon  after  made  a purchase  from  the  Indians  on 
the  island  “which  extended  from  the  eastern  part  of 
Oyster  Bay  to  the  western  part  of  a bay  called,  after  him, 
Howe’s  bay,  and  to  the  middle  of  the  plains,  being  half 
the  breadth  of  the  island.”  About  the  10th  of  May  fol- 
lowing a settlement  was  commenced,  the  location  of  which 
is  thought  to  have  be^n  on  the  west  side  of  Cow  Neck, 
near  the  head  of  Manhasset  or  Cow  Bay,  which  was  for- 
merly known  as  Howe’s  or  Scout’s  Bay.  News  of  the 
settlement  having  been  carried  to  Governor  Kieft,  he 
sent  a force  which  broke  it  up. 

Five  years  later  the  English  attempted  another  settle- 
ment, advancing  as  far  as  Oyster  Bay,  within  the  tract 
purchased  by  Daniel  Howe,  and  were  again  frustrated  in 
their  design  by  Governor  Kieft,  who  seized  and  impris- 
oned some  of  the  settlers,  and  drove  the  others  away. 
These  settlers,  however,  could  have  remained  had  they 
acknowledged  their  subjection  to  the  authorities  of  New 
Amsterdam,  which  they  refused  to  do. 

The  Dutch  continued  many  years  to  claim  jurisdiction 
over  this  portion  of  the  island;  but  on  account  of  its 
local  advantages  and  adaptation  to  commercial  purposes 
it  was  as  persistently  claimed  by  the  English.  A treaty 
was  made  by  representatives  of  the  Dutch  and  English 
colonies  in  a convention  which  met  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
September  19th  1650.  The  agreement  was  “that  a line 
run  from  the  westermost  part  of  Oyster  Bay  and  so  a 
straight  and  direct  line  to  the  sea  shall  be  the  bounds 
betwixt  the  English  and  Dutch  there;  the  easterly  part 
to  belong  to  the  English,  and  the  westermost  to  the 
Dutch.”  By  this  arrangement,  giving  to  the  English  the 
whole  of  Long  Island  to  the  eastward  of  this  boundary 
line,  which  merely  included  the  site  of  the  Townsend 
mill  property  on  the  side  of  the  English,  it  was  hoped  the 
controversy  was  at  an  end;  but  this  hope  was  doomed 
to  disappointment.  The  Dutch  in  order  to  better  secure 
their  possession  of  the  lands  allotted  to  them  on  the  west 
of  said  boundary  line,  and  to  prevent  intrusions  thereon, 
immediately  planted  a small  colony  on  their  eastern 
border,  to  which  project  the  village  of  Brookville,  formerly 
called  Wolver  Hollow,  is  indebted  for  its  origin. 

When  Oyster  Bay  came  to  be  settled  by  the  English  a 
dispute  arose  between  them  and  the  Dutch  governor 
respecting  the  “westermost”  limits  of  Oyster  Bay;  and 
this,  with  the  delay  of  the  States  General  to  ratify 
the  treaty,  furnished  the  Dutch  governor  with  a pretext 
for  not  fulfilling  it.  Difficulties  continued,  for  in  1656 
we  find  that  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  of 
New  England  (Oyster  Bay  being  at  this  time  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  New  Haven),  in  answer  to  a communi- 
cation from  the  Dutch  governor,  reproached  him  for  still 
continuing  to  claim  Oyster  Bay,  in  violation  of  the  treaty 
of  Hartford;  for,  although  the  treaty  was  ratified  by  the 
States  General  February  22nd  1656,  yet  it  seems  that  the 
governor  never  wholly  relinquished  his  claim  of  juris- 


diction over  the  town,  or  a part  of  it.  We  find  also  that 
in  1659  the  directors  of  the  West  India  company  ordered 
the  Dutch  governor  to  erect  a fort  or  build  a block- 
house on  their  east  bay  (Hempstead  Harbor),  in  order 
the  more  effectually  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the 
English;  but  in  1661  the  governor  informed  them  that  he 
had  not  erected  the  fort  on  Long  Island,  near  Oyster 
Bay,  “because  our  neighbors  lay  the  boundaries  a mile 
and  a half  more  westerly  than  we  do,  and  the  more  as 
your  honors  are  not  inclined  to  stand  by  the  treaty  of  Hart- 
ford.” These  disputes  involved  the  people  of  Oyster 
Bay  in  much  difficulty  and  perplexity. 

To  avoid  giving  offense  to  one  power  or  the  other  and 
to  secure  peace  and  quietness  they  were  compelled  to 
observe  a kind  of  neutrality  between  the  contending 
parties.  December  13th  1660  they  resolved,  by  a vote  of 
the  people  in  the  town  meeting,  that  no  person  should 
intermeddle  to  put  the  town  either  under  the  Dutch  or 
English,  until  the  difference  between  them  should  be 
ended,  under  penalty  of  ^50.  It  is  presumed  that  the 
town  about  this  period  uniced  with  the  other  English 
towns  on  the  island  east  of  Hempstead  in  voluntary  sub- 
J mission  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut.  These  dis- 
putes were,  however,  brought  to  a close  by  a surrender 
of  New  Netherlands  to  the  Duke  of  York  in  1664.  This 
brought  the  whole  island  under  the  English  authority. 
By  decision  of  his  Majesty’s  commissioners,  given  No- 
vember 30th  1664,  it  was  decided  that  Oyster  Bay,  to- 
gether with  all  towns  to  the  east,  should  also  belong  to 
the  Duke  of  York.  This  town  then  remained  under  his 
control  except  during  the  reoccupation  ot  New  York  by 
the  Dutch,  when  in  October  1673  the  people,  upon  their 
demand,  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernment. The  close  of  the  war  between  the  two  gov- 
ernments again  brought  the  town  under  the  duke’s  control. 

As  we  have  seen,  individuals  located  in  different  parts 
of  the  town,  but  had  no  permanent  organization  as  a 
town  until  1653,  when  the  first  plantation  was  commenced 
on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Oyster  Bay.  The  first  in- 
strument of  conveyance  of  land  appears  to  be  a deed 
from  the  Matinecock  sachem,  and  is  as  follows: 

“Anno  Domini  1653. — This  writing  witnesseth  that  I, 
Assiapum,  alias  Moheness,  have  sold  unto  Peter  Wright, 
Samuel  Mayo,  and  William  Leveridge,  their  heirs,  ad- 
ministrators and  assigns,  all  the  land  lying  and  situate 
upon  Oyster  Bay  and  bounded  by  Oyster  Bay  River  to 
the  east  side  and  Papequtunck  on  the  west  side,  with  all 
ye  woods,  rivers,  marshes,  uplands,  ponds,  and  all  other 
the  appurtenances  lying  between  ye  bounds  afore  named, 
with  all  ye  islands  to  the  seaward,  excepting  one  island, 
commonly  called  Hog  Island,  and  bounded  near  south- 
erly by  a point  of  trees  called  Cantiaque;  in  considera- 
tion of  which  bargain  and  sale  he  is  to  receive,  as  full 
satisfaction,  six  Indian  coats,  six  kettles,  six  fathom  of 
wampum,  six  hoes,  six  hatchets,  three  pair  of  stockings, 
thirty  awl-blades  or  muxes,  twenty  knives,  three  shirts, 
and  as  much  peague  as  will  amount  to  four  pounds  ster- 
ling. In  witness  wheieof  he  hath  set  his  mark  in  the 
presence  of  William  Washborne,  Anthony  Wright,  Rob- 
ert Williams.  his 

“Assiapum  or  Moheness  X 

mark.” 


51 


470 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


♦ 


Upon  the  back  of  the  above  instrument  is  an  endorse- 
ment as  follows: 

“The  within  named  Peter  Wright,  Samuel  Mayo  and 
William  Leveridge  do  accept  of,  as  joynt  purchasers  with 
ourselves,  William  Washborne,  Thomas  Armitage,  Daniel 
Whitehead,  Anthony  Wright,  Robert  Williams,  John 
Washborne  and  Richard  Holdbrook  to  the  like  right  as 
we  have  ourselves  in  ye  land  purchased  of  Assiapum,  and 
particularly  mentioned  in  ye  writing  made  and  subscribed 
by  himself,  with  the  consent  of  other  Indians  respectively 
interested,  and  in  ye  names  of  such  as  were  absent,  acted 
by  him  and  them.  As  witness  our  hands — Peter  Wright, 
Samuel  Mayo,  William  Leverich.” 

A copy  of  this  deed  is  kept  in  the  town  records,  which 
differs  from  this  in  style  and  spelling.  This  is  from 
Thompson,  and  seems  to  be  more  in  accord  with  the 
style  of  those  days.  Some  corrections  have  been  made. 
A patent  was  granted  by  Governor  Andros  in  1677,  from 
a certified  copy  of  which,  kindly  furnished  by  John  N. 
Remsen,  town  clerk,  the  following  is  taken: 

“Edmond  Andros  Esqr.,  Seigneur  of  Sausmares,  Lieut, 
and  Governor  General  under  his  Royal  Highness  James 
Duke  of  York  and  Albany  &c.  of  all  his  Territories  in 
America,  To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come 
sendeth  greeting. 

“Whereas  there  is  a certain  Town  in  the  North  Riding 
of  Yorkshire  on  Long  Island  commonly  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Oyster  Bay,  situated,  lying  and 
being  on  the  north  side  of  the  Island,  towards  the  Sound, 
having  a certain  Tract  of  land  thereunto  belonging;  the 
East  bounds  whereof  begin  at  the  head  of  the  Cold 
Spring,  and  so  to  range  upon  a Southward  line  from  the 
Sound  or  North  Sea  to  the  South  Sea,  across  the  Island 
to  the  South  East  bounds  of  their  South  meadows  at  a 
certain  River  called  by  the  Indians  Narrasketuck;  thence 
running  along  the  said  coast  westerly  to  another  certain 
River  called  Arra:ouaung;  then  northerly  to  the  Easter- 
most  extent  of  the  Great  Plains  where  the  line  divides 
Hempstead  and  Robert  Williams’  bounds;  from  thence 
stretching  westerly  along  the  middle  of  the  said  Plains 
till  it  bears  South  from  the  said  Robert  Williams’  marked 
Tree  at  the  point  of  Trees  called  Cantiagge;  thence  on 
a north  line  to  the  said  marked  tree,  and  then  on  a north 
west  line  somewhat  westerly  to  the  head  of  Hempstead 
Harbor  on  the  East  side,  so  to  the  Sound;  and  from 
thence  Easterly  along  the  sound  to  the  aforementioned 
North  and  South  line  which  runs  across  the  Island  by 
the  Cold  Spring  aforesaid:  Bounded,  on  the  North  by 
the  Sound,  on  the  East  by  Huntington  litnmitts,  on  the 
South  part  by  the  Sea  and  part  by  Hempstead  limmitts, 
and  on  West  by  the  bounds  of  Hempstead  aforesaid, 
including  all  the  Necks  of  Land  and  Islands  within  the 
afore  described  bounds  and  limmits. 

“Know  ye  that  by  virtue  of  His  Majesty’s  Letters  Pat- 
tents  and  the  commission  and  authority  unto  me  given 
by  his  Royal  Highness  I have  Rattified,  Confirmed  and 
Granted,  and  by  these  presents  do  hereby  rattify,  Con- 
firm and  grant  unto  Henry  Townsend  senr.,  Nicholas 
Wright,  Thomas  Townsend,  Gideon  Wright,  Richard 
Harcker,  Joseph  Carpenter,  and  Josias  Latting,  as  Pa- 
tentees for  and  on  the  behalf  of  themselves  and  of  their 
associates  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  said 
Town,  their  Heirs,  Successors  and  Assigns,  all  the  afore 
mentioned  Tract  of  Land  within  the  said  bounds,  with 
the  Islands  and  Necks  of  Land  aforesaid,  together  with 
all  the  Wood  lands,  Plains,  Meadows,  Pastures,  Quarries, 
Marshes,  Waters,  Lakes,  Rivers,  Fishing,  Hawking,  Hunt- 
ing, and  Fowling,  and  all  of  the  profits,  commodities, 
emoluments,  Hereditments  to  the  said  Town  Tract  of 


Land  and  premises  within  the  limmitts  and  bounds  afore- 
mentioned described  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertain- 
ing; To  have  and  To  hold  all  and  singular  the  said  lands, 
Heriditments  and  premises,  with  their  and  every  of  their 
appurtenances  and  part  and  parcel  thereof,  to  the  said 
Pattentees  and  their  Associates,  their  Heirs,  Successors 
and  Assigns,  to  the  proper  use  and  behoof  of  them  the 
said  Pattentees  and  their  Associates,  their  Heirs,  Succes- 
sors and  Assigns  forever.  The  Tenure  of  the  said  lands 
and  premises  to  be  according  to  the  Custom  of  the  Man- 
nour  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  Countv  of  Kent  in  England, 
in  free  and  Common  Soccage  and  by  Fealty  only.  Provided 
allways  notwithstanding  that  the  extent  of  the  bounds 
afore  recited  in  no  way  prejudiced  or  infringed  the  particu- 
lar propriety  of  any  person  or  persons  who  have  right  by 
labour  or  other  lawfull  claim  to  any  part  or  parcell  of 
Land  or  Tenement  within  the  limmitts  aforesaid,  only 
that  all  the  lands  and  Plantations  within  the  said  limmitts 
or  bounds  shall  have  relation  to  the  Town  in  general  for 
the  well  Government  thereof;  and  if  it  shall  so  happen 
that  any  part  or  parcell  of  the  said  land  within  the 
bounds  and  limmitts  afore  described  be  not  all  ready 
purchased  of  the  Indians  it  may  be  purchased  (as  occa- 
sion) according  to  Law. 

“I  do  hereby  likewise  confirm  and  grant  unto  the  said 
Pattentees  and  their  associates,  their  Heirs,  successors 
and  assigns,  all  the  privilidges  and  immunities  belonging 
to  a Township  within  this  Government,  and  that  the 
place  of  their  present  habitation  and  abode  shall  con- 
tinue and  retain  the  name  of  Oyster  Bay,  by  which  name 
and  Stile  it  shall  be  distinguished  and  known  in  all  bar- 
gains and  Sales,  Deeds,  Records  and  writings;  they 
making  improvements  thereon  according  to  Law,  and 
yielding  and  paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  year  unto 
his  Royal  Highness’  use  as  a Quit  Rent  one  good  fat 
Lamb  on  the  25th  day  of  March  unto  such  Officer  or 
Officers  as  shall  be  empowered  to  receive  the  same. 

“ Given  under  my  hand  and  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the 
Province  in  New  York  this  29th  day  of  September  in  the 
29th  year  of  his  Majesty’s  Reign,  Anno  Domini  1677. 

“ Andross 

“Examined  by  me,  Mathew  Nichols,  Sec. 

“This  is  a true  Record  of  the  original  Pattent  of 
Oyster  Bay,  written  and  examined  by  me, 

“John  Newman,  Recorder.” 

On  the  back  side  of  the  before  written  patent  is  the 
following  endorsement: 

“New  York,  November  1st  1684. 

“Memorandum. — That  it  is  agreed  and  consented  unto 
by  us  whose  names  are  underwritten,  deputed  from  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay  to  adjust  and  ascertain  the  bounds 
and  limmits  between  the  towns  of  Oyster  Bay  and  Hemp- 
stead befure  the  governor  and  council  at  Fort  James  in 
New  York,  that  the  bounds  and  limmits  between  Oyster 
Bay  and  Hempstead  begin  at  the  Barrow  Beach,  ac- 
cording to  an  agreement  made  the  25th  day  of  October 
1677.  Witness  our  hands — Thos.  Townsend,  Nathaniel 
Coles,  John  Weeks,  Isaac  Horner.” 

“Signed  in  the  presence  of  John  Sprague,  George 
Farewell,  George  Brewerton.” 

The  town  continued  to  pay  quit-rent  till  the  year  1787, 
when  all  future  rents  were  commuted  by  the  town’s  paying 
its  rent  fourteen  years  in  advance,  as  the  following  copy 
of  a receipt  taken  from  the  town  records  will  show: 

“Received,  New  York.  April  7th  1788,  of  Mr.  William 
Cock,  per  the  hands  of  Jno.  Delafield,  Public  securities 
which,  with  the  interest  calculated  to  the  29th  Septr. 
1787,  amount  to  nine  pounds  & one  penny,  being  in  full 
for  Quit  & Commutation  on  the  above  Patent. 

“Peter  S.  Curtenius,  State  Aud’r.” 


THE  PIONEERS  OF  OYSTER  BAY 


47i 


Purchasers  and  Settlers. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  first  purchase  was  made  by  three 
men  who  associated  with  themselves  seven  others,  each 
and  all  having  equal  property  and  rights.  William 
Leveridge  (or  Leverich),  a minister  of  the  gospel,  was 
born  in  England,  graduated  at  Cambridge  in  1625,  and 
arrived  in  the  ship  “James”  at  Salem,  with  Captain  Wiggin 
and  company,  October  10th  1633.  He  was  the  first  pastor 
of  a Congregational  society  organized  in  1633  at  Dover, 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  probably  the  first  ordained 
minister  who  preached  the  gospel' in  that  province.  His 
support  being  quite  insufficient  he  left  his  charge  at 
Dover,  came  to  Boston  in  1635,  was  admitted  a member 
of  the  church  there,  and  afterward  assisted  Mr.  Part- 
ridge at  Duxbury  for  a short  time.  In  1638  he  became 
the  first  pastor  of  the  church  at  Sandwich,  on  Cape  Cod, 
and  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  instructing  the  In- 
dians in  that  quarter.  In  1647  he  was  employed  by  the 
commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  as  a missionary, 
and  resided  most  of  his  time  at  Plymouth.  In  April 
1653  he  visited  Long  Island,  in  company  with  some  of 
his  former  parishioners  at  Sandwich,  and  made  the  pur- 
chase recorded  above.  Samuel  Titus,  as  will  be  seen, 
certifies  that  Mr.  Leverich  received  from  the  planters 
here  ^15  per  year  for  his  services  as  clergyman.  It  has 
also  been  supposed  that  he  devoted  a part  of  his  time 
after  his  removal  to  Oyster  Bay  to  instructing  the  natives 
on  Long  Island  and  elsewhere.  It  appears  jhat  Mr. 
Leverich  was  allowed  small  sums  for  his  services  among 
the  Indians  from  1653  to  1658.  In  1657  they,  desired 
him  to  instruct  the  Corchaug  and  Montauk  tribes,  at  the 
east  end  of  the  island.  He  continued  in  the  ministry 
till  his  death,  in  1692;  having  been  the  first  settled  min- 
ister for  four  distinct  parishes — Dover,  Sandwich,  Hunt- 
ington and  Newtown. 

Samuel  Mayo,  who  owned  the  ship  “ Desire,”  of  Barn- 
stable, was  employed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leverich  to  trans- 
port his  goods  to  Oyster  Bay.  This  vessel,  which  was 
under  command  of  John  Dickerson,  was  captured  in 
Hempstead  Harbor  by  Thomas  Baxter,  under  pretense 
of  authority  from  Rhode  Island,  while  cruising  against 
the  Dutch;  that  province  having  taken  part  with  England 
in  the  war  against  Holland,  and  the  vessel  being,  as  was 
alleged,  within  Dutch  territory.  It  is  stated  that  Mr. 
Leverich  landed  at  Hempstead  harbor,  because  there 
was  no  house  at  Oyster  Bay  to  shelter  his  goods.  Thomp- 
son says:  “This  Baxter  was,  beyond  all  question,  a 
turbulent  and  unprincipled  fellow,  and  the  general  court 
at  Hartford,  in  April  1645,  were  compelled  to  notice  his 
vile  conduct,  and  to  censure  him  for  his  reproachful 
speeches  against  that  jurisdiction.  They  likewise  im- 
posed a fine  upon  him  of  £50,  requiring  him  to  execute 
a bond  in  £ 200  for  his  good  behaviour  for  one  year,  and 
to  be  further  responsible  to  New  Haven  and  Rhode 
Island  for  his  bad  actions  within  their  limits.”  Upon  the 
complaint  of  Mayo  for  seizing  his  vessel  under  false 
pretenses,  the  court  adjudged  Baxter  to  pay  the  owner 
^150,  but  that  the  sails,  ropes,  two  guns,  etc.,  if  returned 


with  the  vessel,  should  be  accounted  as  ^ji8  toward  that 
amount.  It  is  gleaned  from  various  records  that  Samuel 
Mayo  was  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  took  part  in  transacting  the 
business  of  the  colony  and  apportioning  out  the  different 
lots  to  those  whom  the  town  voted  freedom  to  settle;  and, 
although  larger  interests  were  claimed  by  his  heirs,  he 
appears  never  to  have  taken  more  than  his  equal  share  of 
land  with  other  freeholders  of  the  town.  He  died  at 
Oyster  Bay  in  1670. 

The  Wrights,  Peter,  Anthony,  and  Nicholas,  emigrated 
from  England  to  Massachusetts  as  early  as  1636.  They 
are  supposed  to  have  descended  from  Nicholas 
Wright  of  Norfolk,  England,  by  his  wife  Anne  Beaupre. 
They  are  found  first  residing  at  Lynn,  then  called 
Saugas,  in  Massachusetts,  but  shortly  afterward  removed 
to  Sandwich,  Cape  Cod,  in  the  settlement  of  which  place 
they  all  became  active  leaders,  acquiring  lands  and  hold- 
ing offices  of  military  as  well  as  civic  trust.  Here  several 
of  the  children  of  Peter  and  Nicholas  were  born.  In 
1653  they  joined  the  company  led  by  the  Rev.  William 
Leverich,  came  to  Long  Island,  and  united  in  the  first 
purchase  of  land  from  the  Indians  of  the  territory  in- 
cluding the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Oyster  Bay. 
They  all  became  large  landed  proprietors  at  that  place. 
Anthony  appears  to  have  lived  and  died  a bachelor;  but 
Peter  and  Nicholas  left  large  families.  Anthony  Wright 
died  in  Oyster  Bay,  on  the  8th  of  September  1680. 

Peter  Wright  may  be  called  the  founder  of  Oyster 
Bay.  He  was  the  only  one  of  the  original  three  pur- 
chasers who  settled  here;  and  of  those  whom  they  ad- 
mitted as  partners,  not  one  except  Anthony  continued 
longer  than  ten  years.  Thomas  Armitage  soon  emigrat- 
ed to  another  town  on  the  island. 

Daniel  Whitehead,  having  removed  to  Jamaica,  became 
a very  large  landholder  there,  and  afterward  purchased 
Dosoris,  which  he  gave  to  his  daughter,  the  wife  of  John 
Taylor.  Robert  Williams  was  of  Welsh  descent,  and  a 
near  relative  of  Roger  Williams.  He  afterward  bought 
from  the  Indians  a large  tract  on  the  south  boundary  of 
the  original  Oyster  Bay  purchase.  He  was  also  the  first 
purchaser  of  Dosoris.  John  Washburne  was  the  son  of 
William,  who,  with  his  brother  Daniel,  came  here  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Leverich.  They  or  their  family  are  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  annals  of  Hempstead.  Richard  Hol- 
brook built  the  first  house  in  Oyster  Bay.  He  afterward 
removed  to  Milford,  Conn.,  as  we  learn  from  his  will, 
dated  at  that  place  March  29th  1670.  Indeed  very  many 
of  the  first  inhabitants  were  of  the  Sandwich  colony,  who 
were  collected  there  from  different  places  in  1628. 

Boundary  Disputes. 

That  the  settlers  were  not  free  from  complications 
and  difficulties  appears  from  the  following  documents, 
which  are  copied  from  the  Townsend  Memorial: 

“Oyster  Bay,  20th  Dec’r.  1683.  I,  Nicholas  Simkins, 
now  an  inhabitant  of  Musketo  Cove,  aged  fifty-six  or 
thereabouts,  do  declare  that,  I being  at  the  first  settle- 
ment of  Oyster  Bay,  which  was  in  the  year  1653;  Peter 
Wright,  William  Leverich  and  Samuel  Mayo,  they  being 


472 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


the  three  first  purchasers  as  by  the  grand  deed  from  the 
Indian  sachem,  and  they  being  mentioned  in  the  deed  as 
purchasers,  condescended  to  the  others  to  make  a settle- 
ment of  the  said  purchase;  and  for Ldid  accept  of 

William  Washbourne  and  his  son  John  Washbourne, 
Thos.  Armitage,  Daniel  Whitehead,  Robert  Williams  and 
Richard  Holbrook,  as  equal  purchasers  with  them,  and 
forthwith  endorsed  the  same  upon  the  back  side  of  the 
bill  of  sale.  That  being  done,  and  agreed  upon,  they 
immediately  proceeded  to  the  laying  out  of  allotments; 
but  first  they  laid  out  all  the  highways  in  the  town  by 
joint  consent.  Secondly,  beginning  at  the  Mill  river,  from 
and  so  eastward  to  the  harbor  side,  they  laid  out  upwards 
of  twenty  lots,  granting  equal  privileges  to  every  lot;  and 
next  year  Will.  Smith  and  old  John  Titus,  with  several 
others,  were  accepted  of  as  inhabitants,  and  had  their 
allotments  laid  out  to  them  by  Peter  Wright,  by  the  con- 
sent of  the  purchasers.  But  so  it  happened  that,  the 
purchase  money  being  not  paid,  the  Indians  began  to  be 
very  unruly  and  dissatisfied;  whereupon  the  purchasers, 
with  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  then  settled,  desired 
William  Smith  and  John  Titus  to  prepay  for  the  goods  to 
pay  the  Indians,  which  they  did  to  Mr.  Briant,  of  Milford, 
and  paid  it  in  beef.  And  I killed  the  cattle  and  paid  the 
debt,  and  when  we  came  to  levy  the  rate  for  the  purchase 
it  came  to  eighteen  shillings  and  ten  pence;  and  to  my 
knowledge  Samuel  Mayo  was  at  two  town  meetings  at  the 
first  settlement  of  the  place,  and  was  always  forward  in 
joining  and  granting  of  allotments  to  each  one  that  was 
free  to  settle  amongst  them  as  far  forth  as  any  of  the  rest 
of  the  purchasers  or  people  settled,  and  this  I can  give 
upon  oath,  and  much  more  if  thereunto  called  or  required; 
as  witness  my  hand.  Richard  Holbrook  was  the  first  man 
as  a purchaser  that  got  up  his  house  in  Oyster  Bay.  To 
which  I subscribe  my  hand. 

“Nicholas  Simkins.” 

“I,  Samuel  Titus,  of  Huntington,  aged  forty-nine  or 
thereabouts,  doth  witness  and  declare  that  about  thirty 
•years  since,  at  the  first  settlement  of  Oyster  Bay,  being 
then  with  my  father  under  his  command,  Mr.  Leverich 
and  the  rest  of  the  first  purchasers,  living  in  said  town, 
who  admitted  freely  of  my  father  and  two  of  my  brothers 
as  inhabitants  and  townsmen  amongst  them,  who  paid 
before  his  death  his  purchase  money  with  the  rest  of  the 
purchasers;  and  I well  remember  my  father  had  an  ox, 
and  one  cow,  which  was  killed  and  sent  over  to  Milford 
to  Mr.  Briant,  excepting  one  quarter,  to  procure  the 
goods  to  pay  the  Indians  for  the  town  purchase,  which  I 
suppose  should  have  been  paid  before,  but  was  not, 
whereupon  the  Indians  began  to  be  very  surly  until  they 
had  their  pay  paid  them  as  aforesaid.  And  further  I 
well  remember  that  Mr.  Samuel  Mayo  was  here  at  Oyster 
Bay  several  times  after  this  payment  and  settlement  of 
the  town,  and  never  made  any  objection  against  any  of 
their  proceedings  in  the  settlement  thereof;  and  further 
I remember  that  the  said  purchasers  of  the  town  did 
condescend  to  each  other  to  have  no  more  in  the  pro- 
priety thereof,  but  to  be  equal  alike,  which  was,  every 
purchaser  a home  lot  containing  six  acres,  and  others 
that  were  to  be  taken  in  as  townsmen  to  have  but  five- 
acre  lots;  and  that  I never  all  the  time  we  lived  in  the 
town  did  hear  or  understand  that  said  Mayo  desired 
any  more  for  his  part  among  the  rest  of  the  town  at  the 
time  than  thejot  which  was  laid  out  unto  him,  lying  on 
the  north  side  of  Anthony  Wright’s  home  lot,  which  I 
was  informed  by  several  of  the  town  at  the  time  he  did 
intend  to  come  speedily  and  settle  upon  it.  And  further 
I well  remember  that  after  the  Indians  had  their  pay, 
now  quiet  and  well  contented,  and  then  the  inhabitants 
with  the  purchasers  now  agreed  and  was  to  give  Mr. 
Leverich  fifteen  pounds  per  year  as  minister  among  them. 


This  above  written  is  the  truth;  and  would  have  been 
present  before  the  arbitrators  at  Oyster  Bay  to  have  de- 
clared the  same,  but  was  prevented  by  reason  of  my  hay 

at  the  south,  lieth  upon 1 

As  witness  my  hand  in  Oyster  Bay,  24th  day  of  October 
1684.  Samuel  Titus. 

“ This  sworn  before  me  this  24th  day  of  October  1684. 

“Thos.  Townsend.” 

“ The  boundaries  of  the  Indian  deed  are  indefinite, 
and  controversies  very  soon  arose  about  the  western 
line;  the  Indians  claiming  the  right  to  the  lands  on  Ma- 
tinecock  and  at  Susco’s  Wigwam  (so  called  from  Susco- 
namon,  by  whom  the  greater  part  of  the  subsequent 
Indian  deeds  are  given),  now  Wolver  Hollow  and  Cedar 
Swamp,  the  whites  maintaining  Hempstead  harbor  to  be 
the  western  boundary.  Papaquatunk  River  is  never 
mentioned  except  in  this  deed,  and  the  terms  of  the 
grant  make  it  evident  that  the  Indians  were  right  in 
claiming  Beaver  Swamp  and  Shoo  Brook  as  the  western 
line.  For  once  they  maintained ‘their  rights,- and  sold 
lands  at  all  these  places.  Matinecock  included  Buck- 
ram, which  was  not  so  called  on  the  records  until  after 
1730.  Buckram  lot  had  been  mentioned  before,  but 
that  was  a small  parcel  of  land,  not  a district.  In  1685 
the  Indian  title  was  extinguished  by  the  new  purchase 
extending  to  what  is  now  the  western  boundary  of  the 
town.  There  was  also  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
the  intentions  of  the  Indians  in  selling,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Leverich,  who  had  then  left  here,  gives  his  under- 
standing of  the  matter  as  follows.  The  views  of  the 
Indians,  on  the  subject,  are  not  recorded. 

Protest  of  William  Leverich,  Old  Purchase,  March 
22nd  1663.  Whereas  I understand  that  there  is  some 
controversy  about  a sale  of  lands  made  by  Assiapum,  or 
Mohanes,  made  to  Samuel  Mayo,  Peter  Wright  and  Wil- 
liam Leverich,  for  want  of  sound  formalities  usual  in 
English  deeds;  and  being  desired  what  I understood 
about  the  points,  I do  therefore  testify  that  the  intention 
of  the  said  Assiapum  was  to  convey  not  only  his  right 
but  the  right  of  his  heirs  and  extrs.,  which,  though  not 
expressed,  is  easily  understood.  1st.  For  the  Indians,  so 
far  as  I can  understand,  have  never  made  any  sales  for 
lives,  but  of  custom — which  is  their  law — passed  the 
right  of  their  heirs  present,  with  their  own,  unless  they 
made  any  express  exceptions;  2nd,  and  there  is  enough 
in  the  writing  to  prove  this  to  have  been  his  intention, 
in  the  words  interlined,  Heirs  ami  Executors,  and  which 
if  it  may  help  such  [as]  are  on  difference  to  a better  in- 
telligence I shall  be  glad.  If  otherwise,  I shall  be  sorry 
that  such  as  profess  themselves  Christians  shall  teach 
heathens  less  honesty  under  pretence  of  teaching  them 
more  law. 

“‘William  Leverich'.’ 

“ These  misunderstandings  seemed  to  have  occasioned 
no  hostile  feelings  between  the  whites  and  the  Indians.” 

Besides  the  difficulties  with  the  Indians  about  the 
western  boundary,  there  were  controversies  with  the  town 
of  Huntington  on  the  east  and  Robert  Williams  on  the 
south.  We  copy  the  following  remonstrance  to  the 
people  of  Huntington  from  the  record: 

“ Oyster  Bay,  this  3d  day  of  the  7th  month,  1663. — 
Neighbors:  We  are  informed  by  one  of  your  townsmen 
that  some  of  your  townsmen  have  mowed  some  of  our 
meadows  at  the  south.  If  it  be  a mistake  we  shall  not 
regard  it;  but  if  appointed  by  you  we  desire  to  know 
your  grounds,  for  we  desire  to  be  at  peace  with  you,  and 
to  have  our  rights  also,  which  we  judge  is  your  right  de- 
sire also;  and  therefore,  if  you  see  cause  to  appoint  a 
man,  or  more,  and  let  him,  or  them,  have  your  deeds, 


THE  DIVISION  OF  LAND  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


473 


that  fully  show  your  title  to  the  said  land,  then  shall  we 
do  the  like;  but  we  request  you  to  send  us  a line  or 
two,  that  we  may  know  your  minds,  and  appoint  the  time 
and  place,  and  we  will  meet  you  and  end  the  difference 
if  we  can;  but  if  you  refuse  our  proposition  herein  to 
you,  then  we  do  by  this  request  you  to  forbear  mowing 
our  meadow,  which  begins  at  the  River  Passasqueung,  or 
east  bounds.  For  peace  and  quietness  we  have  done 
this,  knowing  that  the  best  title  must  carry  it,  and  that 
cannot  be  known  but  they  must  be  compared,  and  we 
hope  that  is  the  readiest  way  for  any  that  desire  peace. 

“In  behalf  of  the  town,  a true  copy  of  what  was  sent 
by  me.  Henry  Townsend.” 

This  letter  does  not  appear  to  have  brought  about  the 
desired  results,  for  on  the  5th  of  July  1669  we  find 
another  “ letter  to  the  people  of  Huntington,”  as  follows: 

“ Friends  and  neighbors  of  the  town  of  Huntington: 
We  once  more  desire  you  in  a lori/ig,  friendly  way  to  for- 
bear mowing  our  neck  of  meadow,  which  you  have  pre- 
sumptuously mowed  these  several  years;  and  if,  after  so 
many  friendly  warnings , you  will  not  forbear,  you  will 
force  us,  friends  and'  neighbors,  to  seek  our  remedy  in 
law,  not  else;  but  resting  your  friends  and  neighbors. 
By  me  in  behalf  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay. 

“Mathias  Harvey,  Town  Clerk.” 

We  quote  from  the  Townsend  Memorial: 

“ To  settle  this  line,  Thomas  Townsend,  Nathaniel 
Coles,  and  John  Weeks  were  appointed  by  Oyster  Bay, 
and  Thomas  Powell  and  Abiel  Titus  by  Huntington; 
and  on  the  7th  of  August  1684  they  ran  the  line  of  divis- 
ion. Several  attempts  were  made  to  settle  the  difficulty 
with  Williams,  and,  as  appears  from  the  following  order, 
there  was  a settlement  made;  but  long  afterwards  the 
affair  seems  to  have  given  a great  deal  of  trouble,  and 
there  are  allusions  to  a suit  between  the  town  and  Wil- 
liams’s widow  and  heirs.  This  order  is  interesting,  as  it 
gives  evidence  of  the  industrious  habits  of  the  people: 

“ ‘Oyster  Bay,  June  13th  1684.  At  a Town  Meeting 
then  ordered  that  every  freeholder  of  this  Town,  or  that 
possesses  any  lands  within  this  Town  purchase,  are  to 
attend  at  the  Town  House  on'  Monday  next,  being  the 
5th  day  of  July  ensuing,  at  sunrise  at  furthest  in  the 
morning,  in  order  to  run  the  line  or  bound  between  this 
Town’s  lands  and  Robert  Williams’s  lands;  and  that  per- 
son interested  in  the  Town  that  shall  prove  defective 
herein  shall  forfeit  five  shillings  to  them  that  run  the 
same,  according  to  this  order,  and  to  be  taken  forthwith, 
by  distress,  by  the  Constable.  Provided  that  those  that 
cannot  go  do  cut  brush  in  the  town,  where  they  shall  be 
appointed  by  those  persons  appointed  for  that  purpose 
this  year.’ 

“ The  line  between  Oyster  Bay  and  Hempstead  was 
also  the  subject  of  negotiation,  and  was  finally  adjusted 
by  Henry  and  Thomas  Townsend,  on  the  part  of  Oyster 
Bay;  although  late  in  the  ensuing  century  there  was  still 
some  disagreement  between  the  towns  respecting  their 
boundaries.” 

Private  Land  Ownership  and  Exchanges. 

The  key  to  the  regulations  which  governed  the  manage- 
ment and  distribution  of  the  common  property  is  gained 
from  the  deposition  of  Samuel  Titus,  already  cited.  We 
believe,  from  this  and  many  other  indications,  that  the 
first  intention  was  that  there  should^be  no  private  prop- 
erty but  the  home  lots,  the  first  of  which,  as  he  says,  con- 
tained six  acres;  but  the  practice  by  which  subsequent 
purchasers  were  uniformly  allotted  five  acres,  as  Titus 


states,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  followed  out,  as  the 
apportionment  to  some  was  no  more  than  half  an  acre. 
The  meadows  were  the  property  of  the  town.  Each 
holder  of  a home  lot  was  entitled  to  an  equal  right  or 
share  in  their  production.  This  plan  was  early  departed 
from.  We  fin.d  from  the  records  that  for  years  certain 
days  were  appointed  whereon  to  cut  the  grass,  and  for 
some  few  years  past  the  practice  of  selling  the  hay  by 
auction  has  been  resorted  to;  but  this  was  not  found  to 
pay,  and  they  have  fallen  back  upon  the  old  regulation. 

The  town  records,  as  well  as  the  townspeople’s  prac- 
tice, show  that  no  definite  scheme  was  followed  as  to  the 
division  of  property.  This  indefiniteness  in  their  plans 
led  to  many  difficulties  and  misunderstandings.  Early 
in  the  history  of  the  town  it  is  found  in  trouble.  The 
heirs  of  Peter  Wright,  Mayo  and  Leverich  claimed  rights 
which  the  town  disputed.  In  an  arbitration  between  the 
town  and  Mayo’s  representatives  the  depositions  already 
cited  were  taken  to  prove  that  Mayo  never  claimed  more 
than  a townsman’s  rights.  The  town  finally  compromised 
with  the  heirs  of  Wright  and  Mayo,  by  giving  them  large 
tracts  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  town.  Many 
years  afterward,  in  1720,  Nicholas  Lang  and  others,  en- 
couraged by  these  results,  brought  a suit  against  the  town 
for  the  rights  in  the  old  purchase  under  the  title  of  Wil- 
liam Leverich  and  Robert  Williams;  the  suit  was  decided 
in  favor  of  the  town. 

From  the  labyrinth  of  theories  and  practices,  although 
vague  and  variable,  there  are  some  matters  of  fact  gleaned 
which  may  be  interesting:  Each  home  lot  was  entitled 
to  certain  privileges,  such  as  shares  in  the  common 
meadows,  pastures  and  woodlands.  These  priffi’ege* 
were  not  inseparable  from  a home  lot;  for  example,  at  a 
sale  they  were  sometimes  reserved  by  the  seller,  and 
sometimes  divided  into  hilt  rights.  Being  in  possession 
of  land  did  not  necessarily  constitute  a freeholder.  For 
particular  reasons  home  lots  were  frequently  given  by 
the  town  to  persons  having  no  rights,  upon  condition  of 
their  building  upon  the  lot  within  a year  and  a day. 
These  gifts  were  frequently  forfeited.  The  lots  varied 
in  size,  and  carried  with  them  privileges  designated  and 
approved  of  by  the  donors,  the  townsmen.  Many  who 
obtained  lots  in  this  way  or  by  purchase  were  at  different 
times  accepted  as  equal  townsmen,  whether  by  purchase 
or  favor  does  not  appear. 

The  freeholders  in  Oyster  Bay,  in  common  with  other 
English  towns  on  the  island,  claimed  the  right  to  prevent 
the  transfer  of  property  to  strangers  without  their  con- 
sent. The  following  is  copied  from  the  town  records: 

“ Dec.  13th  1660. — It  is  this  day  ordered  and  agreed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  that  no  person  whatsoever 
shall  sell  any  land,  lying  or  being  within  the  bound  of 
Oyster  Bay,  unto  any  until  the  town  or  a major  part  of 
the  town  do  admit  first  of  the  said  purchaser  for  an  in- 
habitant.” 

That  the  town  did  not  enforce  this  resolution,  although 
it  attempted  to  do  so,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  John 
Richbell,  the  only  large  landholder  in  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement,  sold  his  interest  to  Latamore  Sampson, 


474 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and,  notwithstanding  the  town’s  entering  a protest, 
Sampson  retained  the  property,  and  transferred  it  to 
others.  Evidently  it  was  the  first  intention  to  hold  all 
but  home  lots  as  common  property,  but  the  intention  was 
not  very  long  carried  out.  At  first  shares  of  meadow 
were  laid  out  to  each,  and  then  from  time  to  time  divis- 
ions of  other  common  lands  were  made;  generally  to 
freeholders,  but  sometimes  landholders  not  freeholders 
shared  in  the  distribution.  Frequently,  if  not  generally, 
when  the  land  was  divided  and  distributed  the  purchaser 
was  authorized  to  lake  his  “where  he  shall  see  cause.” 
Sometimes  the  shares  designated  were  distributed  by  lot. 

“A  town  meeting  held  the  ist  of  May  1677  there 
confirmed,  by  name,  every  freeholder  which  hath  a free 
vote  for  giving  and  granting  of  common  rights,  and  not 
otherwise;  and  that  from  henceforward  no  grant  of  town- 
ship or  common  rights  shall  be  confirmed,  or  held  legal 
grants,  without  every  freeholder  hath  legal  warning  that 
such  a meeting  is  to  be  appointed,  or  that  there  are  lands 
to  be  given  out;  and,  after  legal  warning  given  them  by 
the  officer  appointed,  it  shall  be  held  legal,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  all  gifts  or  grants  of  common  rights  to 
either  man  or  men,  given  by  the  majority  of  freeholders 
that  doth  appear  at  the  time  and  place  appointed.  And 
it  is  further  agreed  that  for  every  town  right  that  any 
freeholder  doth  possess  he  shall  have  so  many  votes  in 
the  giving  and  granting  land  and  common  rights,  and  not 
otherwise  to  be  understood,  but  to  grant  and  divide,  as 
they  shall  see  cause.” 

The  freeholders  named  were  as  follows,  each  being  en- 
titled to  one  vote  where  not  otherwise  indicated:  Henry 
Townsend,  Joseph  Dickinson,  Edmund  Wright,  Anthony 
Wright,  Joseph  Ludlum  (2),  Samuel  Weeks,  Nicholas 
Simpkins,  Jchn  Jones,  Francis  Weeks  (i/4),  William 
Frost,  John  Rogers,  John  Dickinson,  William  Buckler, 
Nicholas  Wright,  Job  Wright,  Elizabeth  Townsend  (2), 
John  Townsend,  Josiah  Latting  (2),  Nathaniel  Coles 
(ij^),  Richard  Harcott,  Adam  Wright,  Latamore  Samp- 
son, alias  Simon  Cooper  (4),  Daniel  Coles,  John  Wright, 
John  Townsend,  Caleb  Wright,  Isaac  Doutty,  James 
Townsend,  John  W eeks,  Samuel  Andrews  (2),  Matthias 
Harvey  Fyde  Samuel  Furman  (j£),  Alice  Crabb, 

Henry  Townsend  jr.,  Gideon  Wright,  Richard  Crabb, 
George  Dennis,  Thomas  Townsend  (2),  Joseph  Weeks, 
John' Weeks,  of  Warwick,  Thomas  Weeks,  Moses  Furman 
(J4),  James  Weeks. 

Only  freeholders  were  eligible  to  office.  Wood,  in  his 
history  of  Long  Island,  says  that  there  were  41  free- 
holders who  shared  in  the  second  division  of  land  in  this 
town,  in  1680. 

The  practice  of  apportioning  to  every  man  numerous 
small  detached  plots  of  land  led  to  a system  of  exchanges 
and  frequent  sales,  which  make  the  records  a very  com- 
plete history  of  family  relations  for  every  owner;  for  the 
deed  seldom  fails  to  tell  how  the  owner  came  by  the 
land,  and  what  degree  of  relationship  existed  between 
him  and  the  purchaser,  as  well  as  the  former  owner. 
These  plots  of  land  sometimes  contained  no  more  than 
five  acres,  and  very  seldom,  if  ever,  more  than  thirty 
acres. 

Excepting  the  farm  of  Simon  Cooper,  containing  400 


acres  at  Cove  Neck  Point  (now  called  Cooper’s  Bluff), 
which  he,  with  his  right,  purchased  from  Sampson,  every 
farm  formed  from  the  Old  Purchase  and  many  of  the 
New  were  formed  by  this  system  of  exchange  and  pur- 
chase. Land  was  generally  exchanged  for  other  com- 
modities; hence  the  number  of  acres  and  the  price 
are  seldom  given.  In  a few  instances,  which  we  copy 
from  the  Townsend  Memorial,  the  prices  of  different 
pieces  of  land  and  articles  are  given. 

“Thomas  Townsend  and  Richard  Harcut,  appraisers 
of  the  property  of  Samuel  Mayo,  consisting  of  a home  lot 
and  a share  of  meadow  containing  two  acres  and  a quar- 
ter, valued  the  whole  at  twenty-five  pounds.  The  home 
lot  was  the  place  lately  owned  by  Hamilton,  containing 
six  acres,  one  of  the  best  in  the  village.  This  was  in  1671; 
and  about  the  same  time,  at  the  division  of  John  Towns- 
end’s estate,  a bed  and  furniture  were  valued  at  ten 
pounds,  and  two  cows  at  the  same.  Not  long  afterward 
Thomas  Townsend  bought  the  Fort  Neck  estate  from 
the  Indians  (Dr.  Peter  S.  Townsend  says,  nearly  four 
miles  square)  for  fifteen  pounds,  and  Joseph  Ludlam  paid 
one  hundred  pounds  for  a homestead  containing  seven- 
teen acres  (Mrs.  Miner’s  place),  with  the  buildings  and 
privileges  belonging  to  it.  Indeed  this  homestead,  with 
the  privileges  attached,  bore  about  the  same  relative 
value  to  the  Fort  Neck  property  that  a fine  house  on 
Fifth  avenue  bears  to  a township  in  Oregon ; and  the  home 
meadows,  as  they  called  those  near  the  village,  were  held 
at  a higher  value  than  even  the  home  lots.” 

Domestic  Affairs. 

Each  of  the  early  settlers  had  made  several  homes; 
some  of  them  as  many  as  four.  Their  movables,  com- 
prising their  household  furniture,  farming  utensils,  and 
livestock,  had  become  scattered  and  lost;  all  their  new 
goods  were  transported  from  England  at  large  expense. 
Hence  it  is  obvious  that  an  article  once  lost  was  replaced 
only  at  an  enormous  cost  compared  with  its  intrinsic  value. 
Everywhere  in  this  country  these  things  were  scarce,  and, 
when  it  is  considered  that  Oyster  Bay  and  vicinity  figured 
prominently  as  an  asylum  for  those  escaping  from  the 
sufferings  of  religious  persecution,  and  leaving  in  their 
hurried  emigration  their  stock  and  other  movables,  we 
can  but  look  with  great  allowance  upon  their  sometimes 
seeming  parsimonious  conduct.  Cattle,  we  learn  from 
many  sources,  soon  became  very  plenty,  as  the  country 
was  then  peculiarly  well  adapted  to  their  increase.  The 
high  value  of  goods  continued  for  many  years.  \Ve  copy 
from  the  Townsend  Memorial  an  amusing  illustration  of 
this,  which  happened  as  late  as  the  year  1720.  It  is  part 
of  the  decision  of  arbitrators  in  a dispute  between  Robert 
Coles  and  his  step-son,  Robert  Shadbolt,  after  deciding 
the  ownership  of  the  house  and  lands: 

“Robert  Shadbolt  shall  have  the  meanest  of  them  two 
feather  beds  which  was  in  the  house  where  he  now  lives, 
which  was  his  mother’s,  as  also  a bolster,  and  two  pil- 
lows, and  a checkered  coverlet,  and  one  of  the  straw 
beds,  and  a set  of  blue  curtains,  and  all  his  mother’s 
wearing  clothes  that  are  in  the  house  now,  and  the  high 
candlesticks,  and  one  of  the  looking  glasses,  and  all  the 
window  curtains  in  the  house,  and  one  iron  pot  that  was 
his  mother’s,  being  at  Joseph  Woolsey’s.” 

The  prominent  mention  of  curtains  seems  to  indicate 


OLD  TIMES  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


475 


that  they  were  considered  necessaries.  We  can  infer  this 
necessity  came  from  lack  of  partition  walls  in  their 
primitive  dwellings.  Wearing  apparel  does  not  seem  to 
be  scarce,  as  we  have  reason  to  think  from  the  numerous 
weavers  and  fulling-mills  mentioned.  It  is  easy  to  de- 
cide, from  the  older  wills,  that  sons  generally  received 
the  lands;  the  youngest  the  homestead,  and  the  older 
ones  other  parts  of  the  father’s  farm  previously  given 
them.  The  extra  gifts  granted  to  the  youngest  were  in 
consideration  of  some  provision  which  he  makes  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  parents  during  their  lifetime,  but 
the  wife  generally  had  the  homestead,  or  a part  of  it, 
during  her  life  or  widowhood. 

In  a society  where  the  manner  of  living  was  so  simple  it 
was  easy  to  start  in  life  and  maintain  a family;  hence  they 
generally  married  young.  History  shows  that  new  coun- 
tries having  special  attractions  generally  have  a preponder- 
ance of  men;  and  here  they  seem  quite  ready  to  marry 
widows  having  families  of  children,  especially  where 
they  could  bring  their  full  proportion  of  common  stock, 
notwithstanding  the  proportion  would  to-day  be  con- 
sidered a rather  small  dower.  During  those  early  days 
land  was  of  little  value  unless  there  was  some  one  in  the 
family  to  till  it.  Hired  help  could  not  be  obtained.  We 
are  not  surprised  to  find,  during  the  first  fifty  years  of 
the  settlement,  the  names  of  only  two  widows,  both 
Elizabeths,  widows  respectively  of  John  Townsend  and 
John  Dickinson.  These  had  each  nine  children,  several 
of  them  married  when  their  mothers  became  widows. 
Every  other  widow  deemed  it  prudent  and  desirable  to 
accept  a second  husband,  to  cultivate  her  land,  and  ren- 
der it  available  for  the  support  of  herself  and  children. 
Unless  a wife  originally  owned  the  title  to  land  she  very 
rarely,  if  ever,  joined  in  a deed  with  her  husbund.  It  is 
clear  what  title  or  right  the  wife  was  considered  to  have 
to  her  husband’s  property;  this  was  not  the  troublesome 
side  of  the  question:  what  right  the  husband  had  in  the 
wife’s  property  seemed  to  be  very  much  in  doubt,  as  the 
following  copy  of  the  assignment  of  a deed  shows: 

“ I,  Alice  Crabb,  of  Oyster  Bay,  do  by  these  presents 
assign  and  make  over  all  my  right,  title  and  interest  in 
this  above  written  deed  unto  my  son  Adam  Wright  and 
his  heirs  forever;  only  I do  reserve  to  myself  the  use  of 
the  share  of  meadow  mentioned  in  this  deed,  during  my 
life,  and  after  my  decease  it  is  to  redown  to  my  son  Adam 
and  his  heirs  forever,  as  witness  my  hand  in  Oyster  Bay 
this  26th  day  of  June  1675. 

“ It  is  to  be  understood  that,  although  Richard  Crabb 
be  not  mentioned  in  the  above  written  deed,  yet,  not- 
withstanding, he  being  considered  head  or  chief,  do  by 
these  presents  confirm  that  his  said  wife,  Alice  Crabb, 
hath  done  by  this  assignment;  only  the  said  Richard 
Crabb  reserves  the  above  said  shear  of  meadow  to  his  own 
disposal." 

The  above  is  a copy  from  the  Townsend  Memorial. 

Mary  Willets,  widow  of  Richard  Willets  of  Jericho, 
and  sister  of  the  wife  of  Robert  Williams,  was  assessed 

220  in  the  year  1683.  This  assessment  was  the  highest 
on  the  list.  She  became  possessed  of  a large  tract  of 
land  through  her  father  and  her  brother  William,  and 
Hope  Washbourne,  it  being  a part  of  that  held  by  Wil- 


liams. All  the  Willetses  in  the  town  are  descendants  of 
this  family.  Her  son  Richard  left  a memorandum, 
preserved  by  the  clerk  of  the  meeting,  which  gives  his 
birth  (October  25th  1660),  marriage  (January  25th  1686  to 
Abigail  Bowne),  the  birth  of  his  daughter  Hannah  (Novem- 
ber 1 ith  1686),  and  the  death  of  his  wife  (April  1 6 1 h 1689). 

Governmental  Relations. 

It  has  been  before  stated,  in  a general  way,  that  the 
early  settlers  were  not  free  from  embarrassments  and 
trouble  by  their  Dutch  neighbors.  “ April  2nd  1655 
William  Leverich  and  other  English  settlers  at  Oyster 
Bay  are  warned  off  the  Dutch  territories,”  thus  showing 
that  the  Dutch  were  not  satisfied  with  the  so-called 
treaty.  It  is  doubtful  whether  the  English  were,  either. 
The  planters,  in  order  to  strengthen  their  hands  against 
these  intruders,  on  the  28th  of  May  following,  through 
Mr.  Leverich,  desired  to  be  annexed  to  New  Haven  col- 
ony. This  petition  was  granted,  and  in  lime  they,  with 
New  Haven,  became  a part  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut. 
Their  affairs  were  managed,  to  some  extent,  by  Connecti- 
cut, for  that  colony  ordered  on  July  22nd  1662  that  John 
Rigebell  be  chosen  constable  of  Oyster  Bay.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  the  people  did  not  like  this  foreordaining 
whom  they  should  elect  to  office,  as  we  learn  that  on 
January  4th  1664  Oyster  Bay,  Hempstead,  Newtown, 
Jamaica  and  Flushing  combined  to  govern  their  own  af- 
fairs, irrespective  of  Connecticut.  The  court  of  that 
colony  on  the  12th  of  May  following  appointed  two  com- 
missioners for  each  of  these  five  towns,  thus  showing  un- 
willingness to  lose  its  newly  acquired  jurisdiction  over 
this  territory.  John  Rigebell  (also  written  Rickbell  and 
Richbill)  and  Robert  Ferman  (or  Furman)  were  the  ap- 
pointees. Rigebell  seems  to  have  been  a favorite  with 
the  Connecticut  government.  The  matter  was  ended  by 
the  town  becoming  a part  of  New  York,  by  a decision 
given  November  30th  of  the  same  year.  The  early  rec- 
ords and  papers  were  kept  in  exceptionally  good  and 
handsome  writing.  The  style  was  quite  different  from 
that  of  the  penman  of  to-day,  yet  with  a little  practice 
one  is  able  to  read  quite  rapidly.  Sometimes  men  made 
their  “ marks  ” on  documents  when  it  is  quite  certain 
from  other  written  papers  that  they  could  write.  Some 
of  these  men  occupied  positions  such  as  that  of  surveyor, 
which  would  require  them  to  be  ready  writers. 

First  Professional  Men. 

Little  is  known  about  provision  for  education.  The 
only  mention  of  a schoolmaster  is  in  1677,  when  “Thomas 
Webb,  schoolmaster,”  was  appointed  town  clerk,  with  a 
salary  of  forty  shillings.  No  clergyman,  except  Mr. 
Leverich,  is  mentioned. 

“ Feb.  19th  1693. — This  day  the  town  met  together,  in 
order  to  a late  act  of  assembly  for  settling  two  ministers 
in  the  county,  but  nothing  done  about  it;  but  made  re- 
turn that  it  was  against  their  judgment,  therefore  could 
act  nothing  about  it.”  This  seems  to  indicate  the  feel- 
ings of  the  people  at  that  time.  Too  strong  inclination 
toward  the  Friends’  belief  is  the  probable  reason. 


476 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  frequent  sales  and  exchanges  in  land,  and 
the  laying  out  for  new  townsmen  home  lots  together 
with  meadow  and  pasture,  caused  the  surveyor 
to  take  his  position  in  the  front  rank  of  the  officers  of 
the  town.  John  Townsend,  “at  the  mill,”  was  elected  to 
this  office  in  1686,  and  served  until  his  death,  1705,  when 
his  nephew,  Henr.y  Townsend,  succeeded  him.  Thomas 
Weeks,  who  was  elected  in  1686  to  serve  with  Townsend, 
was  succeeded  in  nine  or  ten  years  by  Rhode  Island 
John  Townsend.  These  surveyors,  dying  in  1709,  were 
after  a short  interval  succeeded  by  George  Townsend  of 
Oyster  Bay,  and  James  Townsend  of  Jericho,  each  of 
whom  continued  to  be  elected  for  twenty  years.  The 
main  inducement  to  hold  this  office  was  to  know  all  the 
land  in  the  town  so  thoroughly  as  to  enable  one  to  pur- 
chase and  exchange  to  advantage.  The  fee  was  at  first 
six  pence  per  acre,  and  in  r 686  was  reduced  to  three 
pence. 

Substitutes  for  Money. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  money  was  received  as 
payment  for  such  work,  or  for  anything  else.  Money 
was  rarely  used  to  extinguish  a debt.  The  Townsend 
Memorial  says: 

“If  movables  were  scarce,  money  was  more  so,  and 
there  are  constant  allusions  to  payment  in  produce,  at 
stipulated  prices.  We  will  copy  a specimen  of  these 
transactions.  In  1692  Henry  Townsend  sold  several 
parcels  of  land  at  the  Planting  Fields  to  John  Dowsbury, 
for  sixty  pounds  of  silver  money,  current  in  the  colony, 
to  be  paid  by  annual  installments  of  five  pounds;  but  ‘it 
is  to  be  understood  that  these  several  payments  before 
expressed  are  to  be  paid,  the  one  half  in  money,  the 
other  half  in  goods,  at  money  price.’  The  following  is 
the  receipt  for  the  first  payment:  ‘Received,  this  Hast 
day  of  October  1693.  Then  received  of  John  Dows- 
bury, in  this  within-mentioned  bill,  one  cow,  one  calf, 
and  two-years  old  heifer,  at  the  sum  of  five  pounds,  be- 
ing in  full  of  the  first  year’s  payment,  according  to  the 
within- written  obligation.  I say  received  by  me.’ 

“ ‘ Henry  Townsend.’  ” 

The  mode  of  paying  debts  of  all  kinds  seemed  to  be 
very  much  like  that  of  paying  the  minister  of  the  gospel 
at  a donation  gathering — part  money,  and  part  produce. 
The  people,  having  little  money  and  little  to  sell,  were 
obliged  to  make  exchanges  among  themselves  as  best 
they  could. 

The  Blacksmith  and  the  Miller. 

It  is  certain  that'  the  pioneers  raised  wool  and  flax 
Linen  and  woolen  clothes  were  quite  plenty.  Shoe- 
makers and  weavers  were  in  abundance.  No  black- 
smith was  found  fit  to  mend  their  utensils  and  wares. 
They  no  doubt  required  an  accomplished  artisan,  one 
who  could  make  their  old  articles  as  good  as  new,  and 
thus  greatly  extend  their  term  of  usefulness.  John 
Thomson,  whom  the  town  receives  as  blacksmith  and 
grants  a home  lot,  is  the  first  one  mentioned.  The  lot  if 
Thomson  died  in  the  town  was  to  belong  to  his  heirs,  but 
if  he  left  was  to  return  to  the  town,  it  paying  for  his  im- 
provements. Thomson  appeared  to  fill  their  require- 


ments as  blacksmith  very  well  for  a time,  and  was  in  high 
favor.  Frequent  allotments  of  land  were  made  to  him 
here  and  there.  A dark  cloud  suddenly  appeared  in  his 
horizon:  The  town  meeting  in  1677  ordered  the  con- 
stable, Thomas  Townsend,  to  give  Thomson  notice  to 
•give  up  the  land  allotted  to  him  by  the  town,  the  town 
authorities  claiming  a breach  of  covenant  and  threatening 
to  bring  him  before  the  next  session  of  court  at  Jamaica  if 
be  refused.  Thomson  did  not  give  up  the  land,  but 
employed  two  attorneys  to  contest  the  matter.  The 
town  ordered  the  constable  to  take  possession,  but  soon 
saw  fit  to  make  a compromise  with  the  attorneys,  agree- 
ing that  Thomson  should  have  liberty  to  sell  his  house 
and  lands  to  any  one  that  the  town  approved,  “ but  not 
to  come  and  live  in  it  himself.”  The  house  was  sold  to 
Joseph  Ludlam,  and  Thomson,  not  enjoying  the  popular 
attitude  toward  him,  left  the  town.  Abraham  Ailing,  or 
Allen,  was  soon  after  accepted  as  smith.  His  lot  was 
granted  to  him  on  the  same  conditions  that  lots  had  been 
granted  to  others  without  special  trade  or  profession — 
that  is,  to  be  built  upon  in  a year  and  a day,  or  forfeited. 
Allen  seems  to  have  given  entire  satisfaction  as  long  as 
he  exercised  his  trade,  which  was  not  however  many 
years.  He  took  up  land  on  Mill  Neck,  and  continued  to 
add  to  it  until  he  owned  the  tract  on  the  east  side  of  the 
neck,  now  divided  into  four  farms,  one  of  which  is  still 
owned  in  the  family  and  situated  at  the  point  formerly 
called  Cedar  Point.  The  records  show  that  for  many 
years  the  settlement  of  a blacksmith  in  the  village  was 
considered  a public  concern. 

The  first  grist-mill  in  the  town  was  built  by  Henry 
Townsend.  We  copy  from  the  Townsend  Memorial  the 
following: 

“In  1661  the  grant  of  the  mill  stream  was  made  to 
Henry  Townsend.  Dr.  Peter  Townsend  says  that  before 
he  built  the  mill  the  people  were  obliged  to  carry  their 
grain  across  to  Norwalk  to  be  ground,  and  that  he  was 
invited  here  to  build  the  mill  by  the  Wrights  and  John 
Dickinson.  This  is  tradition,  but  is  no  doubt  true.  The 
original  grant  and  the  property  conveyed  by  it  are  now 
in  the  possession  of  George  Townsend,  great-great-great- 
great-grandson  of  Henry:  ‘Oyster  Bay,  September  1 6th 
1661.  • Be  it  known  unto  all  men  by  these  presents  that 
we,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  on  Long 
Island,  in  America,  whose  names  are  underwritten — we 
do  by  these  presents  firmly  covenant  and  engage  unto 
Henry  Townsend,  now  in  the  said  town,  upon  condition 
the  said  Henry  Townsend  build  such  a mill  as  at  Nor- 
walk, on  the  main,  or  an  English  mill  on  our  stream 
called  by  us  the  Mill  River,  at  the  west  end  of  our  town, 
then  we  do  give  and  confirm  such  lands  to  him,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  without  molestation  or  condition,  as, 
namely,  all  the  mill  lot,  bounded  with  Henry  Disbrow’s 
lot  on  the  east  side,  the  salt  meadow  on  the  north  end, 
Anthony  Wright’s  meadow  lot  on  the  west,  and  the  high- 
way on  the  south;  and  the  said  Anthony  Wright’s  lot  is 
given  also  to  the  said  Henry  Townsend,  that  adjoin  to  the 
aforesaid  mill  lot  on  the  east,  and  Latting’s  salt  meadow 
on  the  north  end,  and  a highway  on  the  west  side,  two 
poles  broad,  between  the  said  stream  and  mill  lot,  and  the 
highway  on  the  south;  and  we  give  him  also  the  salt 
meadow  and  upland  on  the  west  side  the  mill  stream,  to 
a little  stream  of  water  on  the  west  side  of  it,  and  the  sea 
is  the  north  bounds;  on  the  south  a highway  of  six  poles 


MILLING  AND  COMMERCE  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


477 


broad  adjoining  unto  the  swamp.  And  we  do  hereby 
give  unto  Henry  Townsend  the  said  mill  stream  to  build 
a mill  or  mills  on  it,  as  he  shall  see  cause,  and  so  to  re- 
main firm  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  so  long  as  he  or 
they  do  keep  a mill  on  it,  as  aforesaid.  But  if  the  mill 
cease  to  be  [run?]  for  half  a year  after  it  is  built,  and  no 
preparation  is  made  to  repair  the  mill  again,  that  then 
the  town  may  lawfully  enter  on  the  river  again  as  their 
own,  and  improve  it  as  the  town  shall  see  necessary. 
But  if  the  said  Henry  Townsend’s  heirs  or  assigns  do 
make  preparation  to  repair  the  mill,  so  that  it  be  finished 
for  service  after  a year’s  decay,  that  the  said  stream  shall 
continue  his  or  theirs  on  condition  a mill  be  kept  up, 
or  else  the  stream  to  return  to  the  town,  as  aforesaid;  and 
therefore  we  give  him  by  this  full  power  to  trench  and 
dam,  and  to  take  what  timber  he  hath  need  of  for  his 
use,  and  to  have  commoning  for  his  cattle,  and  on  our 
charges  we  engage  to  trench  and  make  a dam  for  the 
mill,  as  he  shall  give  direction,  when  he  calls  to  have  it 
done.  And  we  allow  him  the  the  tenth  part  for  grinding; 
but  if,  in  process  of  time,  the  toll  do  so  increase  that 
less  may  be  sufficient  to  uphold  the  mill,  so  that  the 
miller  be  not  discouraged,  he  shall  have  less,  as  under- 
standing men  in  the  case,  chosen  by  him  and  us,  shall 
judge.  His  toll  dish  to  be  made  true,  and  to  be  struck 

in  taking  the  toll,  and  we  engage  no  other than 

what  is  before  mentioned  shall  be  made  join  to  the  fore- 
mentioned  lands  we  have  given  to  said  Henry  Townsend, 

and  we  are  content  that  the  mill  do app 

in  a week to  grind  our  corn,  and  that  when  the 

said  Henry  Townsend  do  fence  in  the  above  said  land, 
that  such  as  have  upland  or  meadow  joining  to  the  above 
said  shall  join  in  fencing  with  him  their  half,  according 
to  English  custom;  and  is  to  have  it  all  rates  and  taxes 
free  forever,  and  to  enter  in  present  possession  on  the 
stream  and  lands.  And  so  to  the  true  and  due  and 
faithful  performance  of  all  and  every  of  the  above  men- 
tioned engagements  and  promises  we  bind  us,  our  heirs 
and  assigns,  to  perform  unto  the  said  Henry  Townsend, 
his  heirs  and  assigns;  as  witness  our  hand,  the  day  and 
year  above  written;  upon  condition  he  build  a mill  as 
aforesaid,  serviceable  to  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  in  the 
condition  the  town  now  is  in,  as  the  mill  at  Norwalk  is 
serviceable  to  their  town. 

“ ‘ Nicholas  Simkins,  Robert  Furman,  Benjamin  Hub- 
bard, Richard  Latting,  Anthony  Wright,  Francis  Weeks, 
Henry  Disbrow,  Richard  Harcut,  John  Richbill,  Nicho- 
las Wright,  Matthew  Bridgman  (town  clerk),  John  Finch, 
John  Dickinson,  Jonas  Halstead,  John  Bates,  John 
Townsend  sen.,  John  Townsend  j r. , Thomas  Armitage.’” 

There  was  some  dissatisfaction  at  one  time  with  the 
miller.  It  is  said  that  Richard  Harcut  served  for  a time 
as  miller,  and  he  was  probably  there  at  the  time  men- 
tioned. The  action  of  the  town  meeting  in  reference  to 
it  throws  light  on  the  simplicity  of  habits  and  ideas 
among  the  early  settlers.  We  furnish  a copy: 

“30th  of  7th  month  1672.  At  a town  meeting,  ordered 
by  reason  of  aspersions  cast  upon  the  miller,  the  town 
have  taken  it  into  serious  consideration,  and  have  ordered, 
with  the  consent  and  agreement  of  HenryTownsend,  owner 
of  the  mill,  that  if  any  person  or  persons  do  not  like 
their  usage  at  the  mill  they  are  to  give  notice  of  it  to  the 
miller,  and  attend  himself,  or  his  wife  if  he  have  one,  and 
see  their  corn  ground  if  they  will;  but  if  they  will  not 
attend  the  grinding,  and  do  cast  blemishes  notwithstand- 
ing on  the  miller,  they  are  at  liberty  to  grind  in  another 
place,  and  the  miller  at  his  liberty  whether  he  will  grind 
again  for  any  such  person  or  persons  until  him  or  them 
do  tender  such  reasonable  satisfaction  as  may  be  adjudged 
just  by  the  town.” 


This  last  action  of  the  town  would  seem  to  savor 
strongly  of  the  miller’s  influence.  Henry  Townsend 
built  a saw-mill  in  1673,  and  the  town  granted  him  and 
his  heirs  forever,  in  consideration  of  his  building,  the  right 
to  cut  and  use  timber  from  any  part  of  the  town  he 
should  choose.  He  also  had  the  right  granted  to  sell 
such  timber,  either  in  the  town  or  out  of  it. 

In  1678  a grant  was  made  to  Isaac  Horner  of  the  mill 
privileges  at  Shoo  Brook,  for  a fulling-mill.  Horner  did 
not  build  the  mill,  and  in  1684  the  grant  was  given  to 
John  Dowsbury,  who  built  and  improved  the  place,  but 
afterward  was  sold  out  by  the  sheriff.  The  property 
finally,  by  sale  and  inheritance,  came  into  the  Hewlett 
family,  of  which  Samuel  J.  Hewlett  is  the  present  rep- 
resentative. A saw-mill  was  built  in  1694  at  Mill 
Neck,  by  the  two  Birdsalls  and  two  of  the  Townsends. 

Commerce. 

A grant  of  land  was  made  in  1668  to  build  a wharf 
into  the  sea  at  the  place  now  called  Ship  Point.  The 
grant  was  forfeited,  and  the  foot  of  South  street  was 
called  the  dock.  The  first  merchant  mentioned  is  John 
Richbill.  He  sold  his  property  to  Lattamore  Sampson, 
and  disappeared.  It  may  be  he  was  unpopular  here,  as 
he  was  an  official  of  Connecticut,  appointed  after  the 
town  had  sought  independence  from  that  colony.  The 
next  merchant  was  George  Dennis,  who  after  a few  years 
of  trade  was  obliged  to  make  an  assignment  in  favor  of 
his  creditors.  William  Bradford,  the  first  printer  and 
publisher  in  New  York,  was  a merchant  here  for  a time. 
He  is  styled  in  his  deeds  for  several  years  before  1703 
“merchant  of  Oyster  Bay;”  then,  and  after  that,  “printer 
of  New  York.”  He,  like  modern  merchants,  appeared 
to  live  here  some  time  after  he  commenced  business  in 
New  York.  Inscriptions  in  some  of  the  old  books  of 
records  show  that  the  books  were  bought  of  him. 

Very  few  wills  or  records  make  mention  of  boats,  ship- 
building or  navigation,  though  their  papers  are  so 
minute  in  particulars  that  it  would  seem  as  if  they 
would.  Ship  Point  had  received  its  name  in  the  early 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  perhaps  before.  In 
1699  a third  part  of  the  goods  imported  into  the 
colony  of  New  York  were  run  into  the  Long  Island 
ports  of  Setauket,  Oyster  Bay,  Musquito  Cove  and  South- 
old.  John  Townsend,  of  Oyster  Bay,  was  appointed  by 
the  governor  surveyor  of  the  customs,  with  a salary  of 
^30  per  year  and  one-third  of  the  seizures;  but,  being 
abused  by  the  inhabitants,  he  soon  resigned  his  office 
“through  fear  of  being  knocked  on  the  head  ” by  some 
of  the  smugglers.  By  the  middle  of  the  century  follow- 
ing, shipping  business  had  become  better  regulated,  and 
was  carried  on  extensively.  Samuel  Townsend  built 
several  ships  of  different  kinds,  and  carried  on  an  ex- 
tensive trade  with  England  and  the  West  Indies,  until 
the  close  of  the  Revolution,  when  he  moved  to  New 
York.  William  and  Benjamin  Hawxhurst  owned  a store 
at  Cold  Spring,  and  probably  one  at  Oyster  Bay,  doing  a 
large  business,  and  importing  their  goods  from  England. 
They  also  owned  fulling  and  grist-mills  at  Cold  Spring. 


52 


478 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Oyster  Bay  During  the  Revolution. 

As  the  war  for  independence  approached,  the  question 
whether  the  town  should  espouse  the  cause  of  the  col- 
onies or  remain  loyal  to  the  crown  became  a subject  of 
controversy  among  the  people,  even  to  the  rending 
asunder  of  families,  whose  members  in  many  cases  ranged 
themselves  on  opposing  sides.  To  chronicle  all  the  acts 
of  the  people  of  this  town  during  the  Revolution  would 
furnish  to  their  descendants  some  pleasant  history,  and 
much  not  as  pleasant.  Most  that  follows  in  this  article 
is  gleaned  from  the  notes  of  Henry  Onderdonk  jr. 

Oyster  Bay  was  among  the  first  towns  in  the  county  to 
protest  against  the  Stamp  Act.  The  following  is  taken 
from  Holt's  Journal  under  date  of  March  6th  1766: 

“ To  the  Committee  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York. 

“Gentlemen:  By  order  of  a committee  of  the  Sons 
of  Liberty  in  Oyster  Bay  we  are  to  acquaint  you  that  at 
a meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  on  Saturday  February  22nd 
1766,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  and  resolved: 

“I.  That  the  person,  crown,  and  dignity  of  our  right- 
ful sovereign  King  George  III.,  with  all  his  just  and 
legal  rights  of  government,  we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our 
power  support,  maintain,  and  defend. 

“II.  That  the  liberties  and  privileges  which  we  as 
Englishmen  have  still  enjoyed,  particularly  those  of 
being  taxed  by  representatives  of  our  own  choosing  and 
being  tried  by  our  own  juries,  we  will  also  support, 
maintain,  and  defend. 

“ III.  That  the  late  Stamp  Act  is  destructive  of  these 
our  liberties,  and  is  by  us  deemed  to  be  arbitrary  and 
unconstitutional;  that  as  such  we  will  to  the  utmost  of 
our  power  endeavor  to  oppose  and  suppress  the  same. 

“IV.  That  the  measures  which  you  have  taken  and 
the  several  noble  efforts  you  have  made  in  vindication  of 
the  general  cause  of  liberty  we  do  heartily  approve  of, 
and  that  with  our  lives  and  fortunes  we  stand  ready  to 
assist  you  in  the  same. 

“V.  That  the  committee  now  chosen  do  signify  these 
our  resolutions  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  at  New  York,  and 
elsewhere  as  they  may  think  proper;  that  the  said  com- 
mittee do  for  the  future  keep  up  appointed  meetings,  as 
may  be  thought  necessary,  at  the  house  of  George  Weeks, 
in  Oyster  Bay,  and  maintain  a correspondence  with  your 
committee,  in  which  we  expect  your  concurrence.” 

The  Stamp  Act  being  repealed,  no  more  meetings  were 
held  at  the  time.  The  town  records  as  set  forth  by  Mr. 
Onderdonk  furnish  the  next  mention  of  them,  as  follows: 

“In  December  1774  there  was  a notification  signed  by 
several  of  the  principal  freeholders,  and  set  up  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  Oyster  Bay,  requesting  the  freeholders  to 
meet  at  George  Weeks’s  on  the  30th,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress.  On 
that  day,  a number  of  freeholders  appearing,  they  made 
choice  of  Samuel  Townsend,  town  clerk,  for  moderator. 
A motion  was  then  made  for  taking  into  consideration 
the  resolves  of  the  Continental  Congress;  and,  there  be- 
ing present  but  a small  part  of  the  freeholders,  the  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  to  the  annual  town  meeting.” 

A person  signing  himself  Spectator  gives  a report  of 
the  same  meeting,  from  his  standpoint: 

“ At  a meeting  for  choosing  a committee  for  Oyster 
Bay,  December  30th  1774,  about  ninety  freeholders  as- 
sembled to  take  into  consideration  the  present  unhappy 
dispute  between  the  mother  country  and  her  colonies; 
when  there  appeared  such  a number  of  friends  to  our 


happy,  regular-established  government,  under  the  crown 
and  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  as  to  deem  that  meet- 
ing illegal  and  void,  and  that  no  business  could  with 
propriety  be  done;  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  till  a 
future  time,  when  it  is  hoped  it  will  be  so  conducted  as 
to  convince  the  world  that  his  Majesty  is  not  without 
friends  here  who  will  support  his  government.  The  res- 
olutions of  the  Congress  were  publicly  read;  after  which 

Justice exerted  himself  with  that  prudence  and 

firmness  becoming  a magistrate,  by  arguing  the  impro- 
priety and  illegality  of  such  meetings  in  so  masterly  a 
manner  as  to  have  the  desired  effect  of  preventing  any 
business  being  done  till  the  legal  day  of  calling  town 
meeting,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April.” 

March  27th  1775  Samuel  Townsend,  town  clerk,  pub- 
lished the  following  advertisement: 

“ I have  received  a letter  from  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  New  York,  recommending  it  to  the  free- 
holders of  Oyster  Bay  to  choose  their  deputies  so  soon 
as  that  they  may  be  at  New  York  by  April  20th,  the  day 
proposed  for  the  meeting  of  the  convention;  and  as  our 
annual  town  meeting  is  so  near  at  hand  I thought  it 
best,  previous  to  said  meeting,  to  acquaint  the  freehold- 
ers that  I should  lay  said  letter  before  the  meeting,  that 
in  the  interim  they  might  have  an  opportunity  of  think- 
ing whether  it  will  be  proper  or  not  to  choose  a deputy 
on  that  day.” 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  Thomas  Smith  was  chosen 
moderator;  and,  after  going  through  the  business  of  the 
town,  Samuel  Townsend  read  the  above-cited  letter,  and 
offered  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  freeholders  and  in- 
habitants. Many  objected  to  having  anything  to  do  with 
deputies  or  congresses,  and  some  insisted  on  choosing  a 
deputy.  The  moderator  proposed  to  go  out  and  sepa- 
rate, but  it  was  objected  to,  and  a poll  demanded.  The 
town  clerk  wrote  down  the  votes,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
poll  there  appeared  on  the  list — for  deputy,  42;  against, 
205.  The  minority  of  this  meeting  did  not  give  up  their 
intention,  but  voted  the  following  address: 

“ To  the  Provincial  Convention. 

“ Whereas  the  unhappy  disputes  between  the  mother 
country  and  the  American  colonies,  we  humbly  conceive, 
has  arisen  from  assumed  power  claimed  by  the  British 
Parliament  to  pass  laws  binding  on  us  in  all  cases  whatso- 
ever, hath  given  us  great  uneasiness;  and,  as  we  conceive, 
unanimity  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies  is  the 
only  means  under  Providence  to  secure  the  essential 
rights  and  liberties  of  Englishmen;  and,  in  order  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  different  colonies  should  know  each 
others’  sentiments,  and  form  general  plans  for  the  union 
and  regulation  of  the  whole,  it  is  necessary  there  should 
be  delegates  appointed  to  meet  in  general  Congress. 
And  whereas  the  committee  of  correspondence  of  New 
York  did  request  the  people  of  Queens  county  to  choose 
deputies,  in  consequence  thereof  there  was  a town  meet- 
ing at  Oyster  Bay  on  April  4th,  for  the  appointing  of  one 
deputy;  but  there  appearing  at  said  meeting  a majority 
against  it,  yet  nevertheless  we  the  subscribers,  freeholders 
of  Oyster  Bay,  being  determined  to  do  all  in  our  power 
to  keep  in  unity  with  you  and  the  colonies  on  the  conti- 
nent, and  desirous  of  being  in  some  measure  represented 
at  the  general  Congress,  do  hereby  appoint  Zebulon 
Williams  as  our  deputy,  giving  unto  him  full  power  to  act 
in  our  behalf  in  the  premises  aforesaid.  In  confirmation 
whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  respectively: 

“George  Townsend,  Micajah  Townsend,  William  Sea- 
man, David  Layton,  George  Bennet,  Joseph  Carpenter, 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


479 


John  Schenck,  Peter  Hegeman,  James  Townsend  j r. , John 
Wright,  Gilbert  Wright,  Richard  Weeks,  James  Townsend, 
Wm.  Townsend,  Prior  Townsend, Win.  Latting,  B.  Latting, 
Joseph  Thorney  Craft,  William  Hopkins,  Joseph  Coles, 
Albert  Albertson,  John  Luister,  Rem  Hegeman,  Samson 
Crooker,  Jacobus  Luister,  Albert  Van  Nostrand,  Jotham 
Townsend,  William  Laton  jr.,  William  Laton,  Peter 
Muttv  (x  mark),  Benjamin  Rushmore,  William  Wrignt, 
John  Carpenter,  James  Farley  (captain),  Samuel  Harejr., 
Benjamin  Birdsall,  Joseph  Doty,  Isaac  Bogart,  Samuel 
Townsend,  Gideon  Wright,  Gilbert  Hare,  Benjamin 
Townsend,  Josiah  Lattin.” 

The  justices  of  Oyster  Bay — Thomas  Smith,  John 
Hewlett  and  John  Townsend — who  were  appointed  by 
the  crown,  were  leaders  against  carrying  out  the  resolves 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  entered  their  protest  on 
the  town  records,  under  date  May  19th  1775,  and  they, 
with  Captain  George  Weeks  and  Dr.  David  Brooks,  were 
among  the  26  principal  disaffected  persons  from 
Queens  county  who  were  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  New  York,  December  19th  1775, 
and  give  satisfaction  in  the  premises.  June  5th  1776 
these  same  men,  substituting  Thomas  Jones  for  George 
Weeks,  all  of  them  office-holders,  were  among  the  38  men 
ordered  to  be  brought  before  a committee  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  to  show  cause  why  they  should  be 
considered  friends  to  the  American  cause.  A letter 
dated  Oyster  Bay  South,  July  27th  1776,  directed  by 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Benjamin  Birdsall  to  Colonel  John 
Sands,  states  that  there  are  30  or  40  tories  in  Massapequa 
(Marsapeague)  swamp,  and  proposes  to  ferret  them  out 
with  400  men.  He  did  not  succeed  in  arresting  all,  for 
it  is  said  that  after  the  defeat  at  Brooklyn  these  loyalists 
came  out  and  huzzaed  for  King  George.  August  12th  it 
is  stated  that  Dr.  David  Brooks  and  Thomas  Jones,  with 
20  others,  were  arrested  in  the  county  by  order  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  and  taken  to  Connecticut,  where  they 
were  paroled  December  9th  following.  July  29th  1776 
Jotham  Townsend,  first  lieutenant  of  Richard  Manee’s 
company,  received  rules  and  orders  as  follows: 

“1.  You  are  to  take  command  of  the  recruits,  and  march 
them  down  to  Matinecock  Point,  where  you  are  to.  place 
sentinels  in  the  most  advantageous  places  to  discover  the 
enemy;  likewise  to  be  very  careful  there  is  no  communica- 
tion to  the  ships  of  war.  Should  you  discover  any  persons 
attempting  it,  you  are  to  put  them  under  guard. 

“2.  You  are  to  build  a shelter  if  there  be  none  con- 
venient. Should  you  want  any  materials,  take  such  as 
will  answer  your  purpose  best. 

“ 3.  Charge  your  men  that  they  insult  nor  abuse  any 
of  the  inhabitants,  or  destroy  their  effects. 

“ 4.  Should  you  discover  the  enemy  attempting  to  land, 
you  are  to  send  off  express  to  me,  and  order  the  owners 
of  stock  to  drive  them  off  with  all  expedition  on  the 
Great  Plains. 

“ 5.  Should  any  of  your  men  disobey  orders,  steal,  or 
abuse  the  inhabitants,  you  are  to  put  them  under  guard. 

“ 6.  Minute  down  daily  what  happens,  and  make  a re- 
turn Saturday  next  by  10  o’clock,  at  my  house. 

. “Jno.  Sands,  Col. 

“Westbury,  July  29th  1776.” 

Additional  orders,  August  3d: 

“Should  you  discover  the  enemy  in  sight  you  are  to 
immediately  hoist  your  signal,  then  send  off  your  express. 


“ You  are  not  to  suffer  your  men  to  play  at  cards,  dice, 
or  any  unlawful  game,  nor  intoxicate  themselves  with 
strong  drink.  You  are  to  observe  that  no  small  craft 
passes  and  repasses  having  any  transient  persons  or  ne- 
groes on  board.  Should  you  discover  any  you  are  to 
take  them  up.  If,  upon  examination,  you  find  them  clear, 
discharge  them;  if  guilty,  put  them  under  guard  till  dis- 
charged by  the  town  committee.  You  are  not  to  let 
your  men  waste  their  cartridges  by  firing  wantonly  at 
game.  You  are  to  exercise  your  men  four  hours  every 
day.” 

The  Oyster  Bay  committeemen  were  in  session  at 
Daniel  Cock’s,  Matinecock,  when  news  was  brought  of 
the  defeat  at  Brooklyn.  They  at  once  broke  up  and 
hastened  home,  there  to  await  their  fate;  except  Joost 
Monfort  and  Isaac  Bogart,  who  took  leave  of  their  fami- 
lies, mounted  horses,  and  rode  off  to  Huntington  ferry, 
where  they  crossed,  the  same  night,  in  company  with 
Major  Thorne  and  others,  and  proceeded  to  Fishkill. 
Joost  Monfort,  after  a few  months’  absence,  returned 
home  in  the  night,  and  before  day  hurried  off  to  General 
Robertson,  New  York,  to  give  up,  before  his  loyal  neigh- 
bors should  molest  him.  Esquire  A.  V.  W , hearing 

of  his  return,  hastened  to  New  York  to  prevent  his  get- 
ting a pardon.  He  was  so  abusive  when  he  found  he 
could  not  succeed  that  Robertson  ordered  him  out  of 
his  office,  and  gave  Monfort  a certificate. 

When  the  Kings  county  light  horse  were  driving  the 
cattle  from  Hog  Island  they,  hearing  of  the  defeat  at 
Brooklyn,  left  the  cattle  at  Matinecock  and  crossed  the 
sound  at  Huntington,  August  29th,  leaving  their  horses. 

A British  sergeant  and  three  light  horse  came  to  Cedar 
Swamp  in  September,  and  continued  there  some  time, 
hunting  Whigs,  and  impressing  wagons.  On  the  7th  of 
the  month  one  Harrison,  from  Long  Island,  reported  to 
Congress  “ that  the  ministerial  troops  have  been  to  Oys- 
ter Bay  and  Hempstead;  that  the  disaffected  have  joined 
the  enemy,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Setauket;  that  Wil- 
liam Smith  of  — administers  oaths  of  allegiance, 

and  Thomas  Smith,  of  Hog  Island,  receives  submis- 
sions.” 

A week  after  the  Kings  county  light  horse  had  driven 
the  cattle  off  Hog  Island  to  Matinecock  a detachment  of 
the  17th  light  dragoons  appeared  at  Norwich,  and  appre- 
hended George  Townsend,  chairman  of  the  Queens 
county  committee,  and  John  Kirk,  also  a committeeman. 
They  conducted  them  to  the  house  of  Samuel  Town- 
send, member  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  who  was  also 
apprehended,  but  was  allowed  to  remain  at  home  on  one 
Buchanan’s  promising  that  he  should  be  forthcoming  at 
New  York  whenever  summoned.  Far  different  was  the 
fate  of  the  other  two.  George  Townsend,  having  been 
chairman  of  the  committee,  and  a bold,  blunt,  talented 
man,  had  exasperated  his  loyal  neighbors  past  endurance, 
and  could  find  no  intercessor  in  his  hour  of  peril.  He 
and  Kirk  were  taken  to  the  provost  and  thrown  among 
the  offscouring  of  the  earth.  After  nine  weeks  of  im- 
prisonment they  were  allowed  to  return  home.  Kirk  had 
contracted  the  smallpox;  his  wife  and  infant  daughter 
took  it  and  died.  Samuel  Townsend  was  a prisoner  in 
the  provost  in  the  summer  of  1782. 


480 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Brigadier  General  Oliver  de  Lancey  took  up  his  head- 
quarters at  Oyster  Bay  in  the  latter  part  of  1776,  and  in  a 
notice  dated  November  14th  announced  that  many  drivers 
of  wagons,  from  different  counties  of  Long  Island,  who 
had  been  impressed  from  time  to  time  into  his  Majesty’s 
service,  had  deserted  their  teams  and  wagons,  which 
occasioned  the  loss  and  neglect  of  many  of  the  horses. 
He  also  informed  the  masters  and  drivers  of  such  teams 
that  if  they  did  not  immediately  return  and  take  care  of 
them,  and  attend  to  their  duties  as  drivers,  the  quarter- 
master general  would  not  be  answerable  for  their  loss. 

“Tunis  Bogart  and  Andrew  Hegeman  were  impressed 
to  cart  ammunition  for  the  British  army,  and  were  present 
at  White  Plains  and  Fort  Washington.  They  also  saw 
the  execution  of  Captain  Hale  (September  26th)  on  an 
apple  tree  near  Colonel  Rutgers’s.’’ 

The  impressing  of  teams  was  very  annoying.  No 
matter  how  urgent  their  business,  whether  plowing,  going 
to  mill,  on  a visit,  at  church,  or  at  a funeral,  the  team 
must  go.  A body  of  British  troops  were  moving  from  the 
south  side  with  cavalry  in  advance  impressing  teams.  On 
their  approach  Charles  Collyer,  a boy  of  12  years,  took 
his  mother’s  two  horses  and  fled.  He  was  fired  at,  but 
succeeded  in  evading  his  pursuers  and  hid  the  horses  in 
a hollow  east  of  Manetto  Hill,  just  over  the  Huntington 
line,  where  he  kept  them  a week,  carrying  hay  to  them  at 
night. 

When  forage  was  carried  off  a certificate  was  generally 
given,  on  presenting  which  at  the  forage  office,  New 
York,  the  holder  received  his  pay  at  proclamation 
prices.  Doubtless  a great  deal  was  taken  (especially  from 
Whigs)  which  was  never  paid  for. 

More  perfect  arrangements  seem  to  have  been  made 
after  a time,  and  residents  were  appointed  to  collect  the 
forage,  leaving  only  so  much  with  the  farmers  as  was 
needed  for  their  stock.  The  persons  appointed  in  this 
town  were:  Justice  Hewlett  and  Captain  Thomas  Van 
Wyck,  at  East  Woods,  now  Syosset;  Captain  Abraham 
Van  Wyck,  at  Wolver  Hollow:  Thomas  Cock,  at  Buck- 
ram; John  Underhill,  at  Musketo  Cove;  Thomas  Jack- 
son,  at  Jericho;  Judge  Jones,  at  Fort  Neck;  and  Cap- 
tain Israel  Youngs,  at  Cold  Spring.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Emerick,  wishing  to  raise  six  companies  of  foot  and  two 
troops  of  light  dragoons,  states-that  his  soldiers  live  like 
gentlemen,  and  all  who  behave  themselves  are  treated 
like  brothers.  As  an  inducement  to  enlist  he  offers  $5 
above  the  regular  bounty,  together  with  clothing  and 
provisions  regularly,  agreeable  to  the  king’s  allowance, 
without  clipping  or  deduction.  Refugees  are  promised 
pay  for  their  horses.  All  who  wish  to  enlist  are  to  apply 
to  Captain  Henry  Seton,  at  Huntington,  Oyster  Bay,  and 
Jericho.  This  proposal  was  issued  in  March  1778.  In 
June  “all  gentlemen  volunteers”  were  invited  to  enlist  in 
the  regiment  called  the  Prince  of  Wales’s  Royal  Ameri- 
can Volunteers,  commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Brown. 
By  applying  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pattinson,  at  his  camp 
on  Lloyd’s  Neck,  they  were  to  receive  complete  suits  of 
new  clothes,  arms,  and  accoutrements,  and  one  guinea 
more  than  the  king’s  greatest  bounty.  In  December  “all 


gentlemen  volunteers”  and  others  emulous  of  serving  the 
king  and  willing  to  share  the  laurels  of  the  Queen’s 
Rangers  were  desired  to  repair  to  the  headquarters  of 
the  regiment  at  Oyster  Bay,  where  many  advantages  were 
offered.  Any  person  bringing  an  approved  recruit  was 
to  receive  one  dollar.  The  following,  taken  from  Sim- 
coe's  Journal , pages  93-99,  is  furnished  by  Onderdonk: 

“Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe  arrived  at  Oyster  Bay  Nov.  19th 
1778.  As  it  was  understood  the  village  was  to  be  the 
winter  cantonment  of  the  corps  no  time  was  lost  in 
the  fortifying  of  it.  The  very  next  day  the  whole  corps 
was  employed  in  cutting  fascines.  There  was  a centrical 
hill  which  totally  commanded  the  village  and  seemed 
well  adapted  for  a place  of  arms.  The  outer  circuit  of 
this  hill,  in  the  most  accessible  places,  was  to  be  fortified 
by  sunken  fleches,  joined  by  abattis,  and  would  have  con- 
tained the  whole  corps;  the  summit  was  covered  by  a 
square  redoubt,  and  was  capable  of  holding  70  men;  plat- 
forms were  erected  in  each  angle  for  the  field  pieces,  and 
the  guard-house  in  the  center,  cased  and  filled  with 
sand,  was  rendered  musket-proof,  and  looped  so  as  to 
command  the  platforms  and  surface  of  the  parapets;  the 
ordinary  guard  of  20  was  sufficient  for  its  defense. 
Some  of  the  militia  assisted  in  working  one  day  when 
Sir  Wm.  Etskine  came  to  Oyster  Bay  intentionally  to 
remove  the  corps  to  Jericho,  a quarter  the  legion  was  to 
quit  in  order  to  accompany  him  to  the  east  end  of  the 
island.  Lieut.  Col.  Simcoe  represented  to  him  that  in 
case  of  the  enemy’s  passing  the  sound  both  Oyster  Bay 
and  Jericho  were  at  too  great  a distance  for  any  post  to 
expect  succour,  but  that  Jericho  was  equally  liable  to 
surprise  as  Oyster  Bay;  that  its  being  farther  from  the 
coast  was  no  advantage,  as  the  enemy,  acquainted  with 
the  country  and  in  league  with  the  disaffected  inhabitants 
of  it,  could  have  full  time  to  penetrate  undiscovered 
through  the  woods,  and  that  the  vicinity  of  Oyster  Bay 
to  the  seacoast  would  enable  him  to  have  a more  watch- 
ful eye  over  the  landing  places,  and  to  acquire  a knowl- 
edge of  the  principles  ol  the  inhabitants  in  these  inport- 
ant  situations;  and  that  provisions  from  New  York 
might  be  received  by  water.  Sir.  \V.  Erskine  was  pleased 
to  agree  with  Lieutenant  Colonel  Simcoe;  and  expressed 
himself  highly  satisfied  with  the  means  that  had  been 
taken  to  ensure  the  post;  and  on  his  representation  the 
corps  was  permitted  to  remain  in  its  present  canton- 
ments. There  was  a small  garrison  at  Lloyd’s  Neck, 
within  twelve  miles  of  Oyster  Bay;  a feint  in  case  of  at- 
tack would  serve  to  have  kept  this  post  within  its  re- 
doubts. The  nearest  cantonment  was  at  Jamaica,  where 
the  British  grenadiers  lay;  this  was  almost  thirty  miles 
from  Oyster  Bay.  The  New  England  shore  was  not 
more  than  twelve,  and  in  many  places  but  seven  or  eight 
miles  over;  and  there  were  many  favorable  landing 
places  within  a mile  or  two  of  Oyster  Bay.  The  enemy 
could  raise  any  number  of  men  for  such  an  expedition. 
General  Parsons  lay  with  some  regular  troops  in  the 
vicinity,  and  there  were  whaleboats  sufficient  to  carry 
2,000  men,  who  in  three  hours  might  attack  the  canton- 
ment. The  situation  was  an  anxious  one,  and  required 
all  the  vigilance  and  system  of  discipline  to  prevent  an 
active  enemy  from  taking  advantage  of  it.  Every  sepa- 
rate quarter  was  loop-holed  and  surrounded  with  abattis 
in  such  a manner  that  it  could  not  be  forced.  A house 
(the  ‘ New  Light’  meeting-house)  was  moved  bodily  to 
the  rear,  near  to  the  beach,  where  the  highland  and 
grenadier  companies  were  quartered.  A general  plan  of 
defense  was  calculated  for  the  whole;  and  proper  orders 
were  given  in  case  of  attack.  * * * The  situation  of 

Oyster  Bay  was  extremely  well  calculated  to  secure  the 


THE  BRITISH  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


health  of  the  soldiery:  the  water  was  excellent;  there 
was  plenty  of  vegetables  and  oysters  to  join  with  their 
salt  provisions;  and  bathing  did  not  a little  contribute, 
with  the  attentions  of  the  officers  to  cleanliness,  to  render 
them  in  high  order  for  the  field.  Nor  were  they  without 
sufficient  exercise;  the  garrison  in  New  York  being  in 
great  want  of  forage,  Oyster  Bay  became  a central  and 
safe  deposit  for  it,  and  frequent  expeditions  towards  the 
eastern  and  interior  parts  of  the  island  were  made  to 
enforce  the  orders  of  the  commander-in-chief  in  this 
respect.” 

A report  from  American  sources,  dated  February  1 6th 
1779,  states  that  Simcoe’s  Rangers  numbered  250,  and 
Ludlow’s  battalion  at  Lloyd’s  Neck  150.  A report  from 
British  sources  says,  “The  Queen’s  Rangers,  numbering 
360,  left  their  cantonments  May  18th  1779,  for  King’s 
Bridge.” 

Simcoe' s Journal,  page  no,  tells  us  that  Captain  San- 
ford’s company  of  Bucks  county  dragoons,  Captain  Die- 
mar’s  hussars,  and  the  Queen’s  Rangers,  all  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Simcoe,  marched  from 
King’s  Bridge  for  Oyster  Bay  August  13th  1779— the 
cavalry  and  cannon  by  the  route  of  Hell  Gate,  and  the 
infantry  by  Throg’s  Neck — and  arrived  in  Oyster  Bay 
the  17th.  Simcoe  left  Oyster  Bay  October  19th.  His 
cavalry  marched  to  Jericho,  where  they  remained  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarleton;  and  the  infantry  to  Jamaica, 
thence  to  Yellow  Hook,  and  embarked  on  the  24th. 
Shortly  afterward  the  hussars  of  the  Queen’s  Rangers  and 
Captain  Sandford’s  troop  went  from  Jericho  to  Staten 
Island.  Page  150  of  the  same  journal  states  that  Sim- 
coe returned  from  the  east  end  of  the  island  to  Oyster 
Bay,  where  he  saw  Major  Andre;  and  remained  there 
and  in  its  vicinity  till  September  22nd,  when  he  marched 
to  Jamaica,  and  crossed  to  Staten  Island  October  8th. 
This  entry  is  dated  August  23d  ’80.  Simcoe  had  his 
headquarters  at  the  residence  of  the  late  Solomon  Town- 
send. The  colonel  was  of  a large  frame,  heavy  built, 
and  fine  looking,  but  of  feeble  health.  The  forage  mas- 
ter here  was  Captain  Wickham,  of  the  Queen’s  Rangers. 
He  had  a long  stack  of  hay  north  of  Townsend’s. 
During  the  holidays  the  British  forage  fleet  was  frozen  in. 

As  there  were  many  loyalists  and  refugees  unwilling  to 
enlist  as  soldiers,  to  organize  and  employ  these  the 
“ Honorable  Board  of  Associated  Loyalists  ” was  estab- 
lished December  28th  1780,  with  William  Franklin,  son 
of  Dr.  Franklin,  and  a former  governor  of  New  Jersey, 
as  president,  and  commissioned  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
with  a view  to  annoy  the  seacoast  of  the  revolted  prov- 
inces and  distress  their  trade.  The  post  of  Lloyd’s  Neck 
was  put  under  their  direction,  and  they  were  furnished 
with  suitable  armed  vessels,  provisions,  arms  and  ammu- 
nition to  defend  the  post  and  carry  on  enterprises  against 
the  rebels.  The  conditions  on  which  the  association  was 
formed  were  as  follows:  1.  Each  associator  was  to  re- 
ceive 200  acres  of  land  in  North  America.  2.  All  cap- 
tures made  by  them  to  be  their  own  property.  3.  Pris- 
oners taken  by  them  to  be  exchanged  for  such  loyalists 
as  the  board  might  name.  4.  The  sick  and  wounded  to 
have  the  benefit  of  the  king’s  hospital.  A skillful  sur- 


481 


geon,  with  a complete  medical  chest,  to  reside  at  Lloyd’s 
Neck,  and  accompany  the  associators  in  their  excur- 
sions. 5.  “ It  will  be  their  care  to  stop  those  distinguished 
cruelties  with  which  colonial  loyalists  are  treated,  when 
in  the  hands  of  rebels,  under  the  distinction  of  prisoners 
of  war  and  prisoners  of  stale  The  directors  will  omit 
nothing  to  make  the  rebels  feel  the  just  vengeance  due 
such  enormities.” 

In  April  1781  there  were  800  men,  chiefly  refugees  and 
deserters  from  the  American  army,  at  Lloyd’s  Neck; 
about  500  of  whom  were  properly  armed.  Their  naval 
guard  consisted  of  one  vessel  of  sixteen  guns,  two  small 
privateers  and  one  galley. 

Just  before  the  war  the  Lloyds  had  cut  off  the  timber 
on  100  acres  of  land  around  where  Fort  Franklin  was 
built  in  1778,  so  that  half  a mile  east  of  the  fort  was 
clear.  Here  was  the  parade.  South  were  the  huts  and 
gardens,  on  a declivity.  The  vegetables  were  left  in 
good  condition  when  the  place  was  evacuated.  The 
wood  had  mostly  been  cut  off.  The  fort  had  a well,  130 
feet  deep,  which  Huntington  was  assessed  ^176  to  pay 
for  digging. 

Henry  and  Jarhes  Lloyd’s  farms  were  protected  by 
Howe,  but  the  rest,  owned  by  John,  who  lived  at  Stam- 
ford, and  Joseph,  of  Hartford,  were  confiscated,  and  the 
wood  was  cut  off  for  fuel  for  the  king’s  troops.  The  wood 
was  exceedingly  large,  some  trees  growing  to  a height  of 
forty  or  fifty  feet  before  putting  out  a branch.  All  this 
was  cut  down  in  a most  wasteful  manner.  The  amount 
was  estimated  at  2,000  cords. 

Count  de  Barras  detached  three  frigates  and  250  land 
troops  to  drive  the  loyalists  from  Fort  Franklin,  on 
Lloyd’s  Neck.  The  expedition  was  joined  in  the  sound 
by  several  boats  with  American  volunteers  and  pilots 
from  Fairfield.  They  landed  on  the  morning  of  July 
12th,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  place  was  stronger 
than  was  supposed  and  not  to  be  carried  without  cannon, 
which  had  not  been  provided.  Two  or  three  men  were 
wounded  by  a cannon  shot,  when  the  party  re-embarked. 
The  British  vessels  fell  back  west,  into  an  arm  of  Hunt- 
ington Harbor,  under  protection  of  a battery  of  guns  re- 
cently mounted  from  a British  armed  schooner.  The 
guide  of  the  assailants,  Heathcoat  Muirson,  of  Setauket, 
had  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  position  of  the 
enemy.  Their  fort  was  picketed  with  trunks  of  trees  set 
in  the  sides,  with  their  branches  sharpened;  there  were 
only  two  guns  mounted  when  Muirson  viewed  the  fort, 
and  those  on  the  west  side,  but  on  the  very  night  before 
the  attack  the  British  finished  mounting  two  more,  twelve- 
pound  guns,  on  the  east  side.  It  was  this  that  frustrated 
the  attack.  Muirson  was  examining  the  works  with  a 
glass,  when  a shot  from  the  fort  took  off  his  arm,  from 
which  wound  he  died.  He  described  the  place  so  closely 
that  his  sister  afterward  found  his  glass  in  a bunch  of 
briers,  where  he  had  thrown  it. 

The  British  account  of  the  affair  reads  thus: 

“Three  large  ships,  five  armed  brigs  and  other  vessels 
appeared  in  Huntington  Harbor  and  landed  450  men, 
mostly  French,  on  the  back  of  Lloyd’s  Neck,  two  miles 


482 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


from  the  fort.  At  n o’clock  they  formed  in  front  of  the 
fort,  at  a distance  of  400  yards,  in  open  view.  The  fort 
fired  grape  shot  from  two  1 2-pounders,  when  the  French 
suddenly  retreated,  leaving  on  the  ground  a number  of 
surgeons’  implements,  lint,  bandages,  etc.  The  grass  was 
besmeared  with  blood.” 

William  Ludlam,  residing  on  Hog  Island,  in  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Henry  Ludlam,  saw  the  skirmish  and 
gave  the  foregoing  recital  of  it  to  Henry  Onderdonk  jr., 
who  accompanied  it  in  his  “Annals  of  the  Revolution  ” 
(page  222)  with  a plan,  which  he  permits  us  to  reproduce 
herewith. 


LONG  ISLAND  SOUND. 


Explanation  of  the  Map  and  Plan. 

a.  Position  of  William  Ludlam  when  he  saw  the  attack. 

b.  Fort  Franklin,  designed  to  protect  the  wood-cutters. 

c.  Place  where  thp  French  landed. 

d.  A long  narrow  beach  over  which  Ludlam  saw  the  action  bet  ween  the 

vessels  at  h. 

e.  A brig  of  8 or  10  guns  under  protection  of  the  fort. 

/.  A large  sloop  attacking  the  fort  on  the  west  side,  the  fort  bringing 
one  gun  to  bear  on  her. 

y.  Place  where  the  British  armed  schooner  landed  her  guns,  and  mount- 
ed them  in  battery  on  shore,  and  so  beat  off  a 40-gun  ship  that  came 
to  the  attack. 

li.  A 40-gun  ship  attacking  the  British  vessels,  whch  are  trying  to  keep 
out  of  her  way. 

In  July  1782  another  call  for  recruits  to  the  king’s 
American  dragoons  was  made,  offering  ten  guineas  to 
volunteers,  five  to  any  one  who  brought  a recruit,  and 
five  to  the  recruit.  For  convenience  of  those  who  might 
come  from  the  continent  via  Lloyd’s  Neck,  an  officer  was 
to  be  kept  constantly  stationed  at  that  post. 

Prince  William  Henry,  afterward  King  William  IV., 
then  aged  18,  visited  Lloyd’s  Neck.  One  Sunday  night 
early  in  October  1782  Lloyd’s  Neck  was  left  without  a 
garrison.  The  British  demolished  their  works,  and  re- 
moved the  stores  and  garrison  to  New  York. 

Onderdonk  says  a great  variety  of  troops  lay  at 
Oyster  Bay  village  during  the  war.  De  Lancy’s  corps  was 
the  first.  Fanning’s  corps,  in  charge  of  Major  Grant, 
lay  here  one  summer.  They  were  rude  and  ill-behaved. 
An  old  bake-house,  now  Storrs’s  store,  was  used  as  a 
guard-house.  The  streets  were  garnished  with  sentry- 
boxes,  to  shelter  the  patrol,  who  paraded  the  streets  after 
9 o’clock  at  night,  when  no  one  was  allowed  to  pass  with- 
out the  countersign.  One  evening  a respectable  young 
man,  John  Weeks,  when  challenged  by  the  sentinel,  in- 


stead of  giving  the  countersign  left  the  road  and  ran  off 
across  the  fields.  He  was  seized,  tried,  and  sentenced  to 
be  whipped.  He  was  accordingly  tied  to  a locust  tree  in 
front  of  Townsend’s,  but  before  he  received  the  full 
measure  of  his  punishment  the  cries  of  the  youth  and 
the  frantic  appeals  of  his  mother  and  sister  so  wrought 
on  the  people  that  by  their  interference  he  was  set  at 
liberty.  Tarleton’s  British  legion,  under  Major  Cochran, 
also  lay  here  and  at  Jericho,  and  were  not  distinguished 
for  good  conduct.  The  3d  battalion,  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Hewlett,  lay  at  Oyster  Bay  village  from  June  to 
August  after  the  peace.  They  left  one  Sunday  morning, 
before  day,  to  escape  observation.  It  seemed  quite  a 
fixed  custom  for  the  British  to  move  on  Sunday. 

The  soldiers  were  not  billeted  on  the  inhabitants, 
but  took  an  entire  building  instead  to  themselves. 
They  occupied  the  old  Baptist  meeting-house,  and  also 
the  “New  Light”  meeting-house,  which  was  removed  by 
Simcoe  from  the  back  road.  The  Friends’  meeting- 
house was  used  as  a commissary’s  store,  and  had  a guard 
constantly  at  the  door.  British  troops  were  stationed  in 
the  woods,  where  the  Reformed  church  now  stands,  at 
Locust  Valley.  The  officers  boarded  at  Townsend’s,  at 
Matinecock,  and  when  leaving  presented  Mrs.  Letitia 
Townsend  with  a castor,  candlesticks,  and  snuffers, 
which  are  still  in  use  in  Isaac  Townsend’s  residence 
The  Hessian  troops  lay  around  Norwich,  Jericho,  and 
Cedar  Swamp,  coming  there  about  the  first  of  December 
1778.  Walter  Franklin,  of  East  Norwich,  says  he  has 
been  told  that  Letitia  Wright,  who  married  his  grand- 
father Walter  Franklin,  in  1796,  used  to  furnish  amuse- 
ment to  the  Hessians  who  were  quartered  in  her  father’s 
house  by  their  rolling  her  down  the  Bennett  hill,  on  the 
land  now  owned  by  Charles  Downing.  Onderdonk  says: 
“ They  lay  in  Wolver  Hollow  two  or  three  summers  and 
one  winter,  and  had  tents  under  the  hill  by  Andris 
Bogart’s,  and  took  the  sacrament  in  the  Dutch  church.” 

The  free  battalion  of  Hesse  Hannau,  raised  in  Janu- 
ary 1781,  Colonel  N.  Von  Janecke,  lay  at  Oyster  Bay  one 
winter.  Major  Scheele  died  while  here.  They  left  May 
28th  1783.  They  were  an  ill-favored  set  of  little  men; 
the  gleanings  of  German  recruits.  They  ripped  the 
boards  off  the  Episcopal  church,  to  make  berths  and 
barracks.  On  one  occasion  a noisy  crowd  had  gathered 
in  the  street,  when  the  Hessians  wantonly  shot  and  killed 
Stephen  Lobden,  who  came  to  the  door  to  know  what 
was  the  matter.  A petition  for  redress  was  sent  to  New 
York,  and  an  officer  was  sent  to  hear  the  complaint;  but, 
fearing  to  incur  the  hatred  of  the  Hessians,  no  one  came 
forward.  So  nothing  was  done.  During  the  day  officers 
in  groups  were  seen  talking  in  an  excited  manner,  and 
that  night  the  glass  in  the  windows  of  S.  Wooden,  one  of 
the  petitioners,  was  broken.  On  one  occasion  the  Hes- 
sians were  reported  shooting  among  the  sheep  of  John 
Kirk.  Jonathan  Haire  loaded  his  gun  and  hastened  to 
the  field.  Six  sheep  lay  dead.  He  fired  on  the  Hes- 
sians, when  they  left  their  booty.  Haire  was  taken  be- 
fore Colonel  Wurmb  to  answer  for  the  offense;  but  he 
would  make  no  excuse  or  apology,  and  not  even  agree 


WHALEBOAT  RAIDS  UPON  OYSTER  BAY. 


483 


not  to  repeat  his  conduct.  He  was  dismissed  with  a 
slight  reprimand.  Wurmb’s  headquarters  were  for  a 
time  at  Wheatley. 

Onderdonk  says:  “Jacobus  Monfort,  hearing  a noise 
in  his  cow-yard,  fired  in  the  dark,  and  wounded  a Hes- 
sian baker  in  the  neck.  He  was  seized  and  carried  be- 
fore an  officer,  who  at  once  dismissed  him,  saying,  ‘ If 
you  had  killed  him  I’d  have  given  you  a guinea.’  ” 

Silas  Downing’s  store,  at  B.  Rushmore’s,  Cedar  Swamp, 
was  forcibly  entered  by  five  soldiers  from  Jericho,  with 
their  faces  painted.  Fortunately  he  had  recently  carried 
all  his  money  to  New  York,  so  they  went  off  with  very 
little  of  value. 

Governor  Tryon  was  not  willing  to  use  British  troops 
to  protect  inhabitants  from  depredations  from  the  main 
shore,  and  directed,  through  Major  Kissam,  on  March 
9th  1779,  that  the  inhabitants  bear  their  share  of  the 
expense,  and  muster  all  their  militia  for  the  purpose  of 
protection. 

An  order  to  muster  all  the  militia  the  first  week  in 
April  following,  for  a general  review,  was  directed — to 
Captain  Israel  Youngs,  Cold  Spring;  Jarvis  Coles,  Mos- 
quito Cove;  Daniel  Youngs,  Oyster  Bay;  Thomas  Van 
Wyck,  East  Woods,  and  Abraham  Van  Wyck,  Wolver 
Hollow.  These  companies  of  militia  did  quite  efficient 
service,  protecting  the  communities  from  whaleboatmen ; 
yet  the  people  suffered  many  robberies  from  the  Hes- 
sians and  Bfitish  soldiers  in  disguise. 

To  some  hearts  there  were  bright  sides  to  the  British 
occupation:  Miss  Sarah  Townsend  received  a soul-stir- 
ring poetical  valentine  on  Valentine  day  1779,  written 
and  delivered  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  G.  Simcoe.  Han- 
nah Townsend,  Sarah  Luyster,  Patty  Remsen  and  widow 
Vashti  Carr,  or  Kerr,  all  acquired  husbands  among  the 
invaders. 

The  Whaleboat  Warfare 
forms  an  interesting  portion  of  the  Revolutionary  history 
of  this  town.  The  design  of  the  United  States  in  com- 
missioning these  boats  was  honorable.  They  were  to 
cruise  on  the  sound  and  along  the  shores  of  the  island  to 
capture  small  craft  plying  to  and  from  New  York,  thus 
cutting  off  a considerable  source  of  supply  to  the  British 
there;  to  harass  and  capture  those  persons  actually  en- 
gaged in  the  service  of  the  enemy,  and  to  carry  off  im- 
portant men  from  the  island,  who  were  to  be  exchanged 
for  Americans  who  had  been  taken  prisoners.  Washing- 
ton’s strict  orders  were  that  no  kind  of  property  should 
be  taken  from  any  person  under  pretense  of  its  belonging 
to  tories;  but,  through  the  greed  of  gain  of  the  crews, 
this  warfare  degenerated  in  many  cases  to  plundering 
expeditions  against  both  friend  and  foe.  Yet  it  must  be 
conceded  that  these  brave  men  rendered  their  country 
most  valuable  aid  in  the  service  for  which  they  were 
commissioned.  The  accounts  of  their  captures  are  nu- 
merous and  fragmentary,  but  are  necessary  in  order  to 
furnish  a full  history  of  this  town’s  connection  with  that 
branch  of  warfare. 

One  of  the  first  reports  of  the  capture  of  a boat  plying 
between  the  ports  of  this  town  and  New  York  was  pub- 


lished in  New  Haven,  December  14th  1778: — “ ‘ Peggy  ’ 
and  cargo,  Darby  Doyle  master,  navigated  with  forty 
men,  under  a commission  of  Val.  Jones,  to  supply  New 
York  with  fuel,  forage,  and  provisions,  was  taken  by 
Peter  Griffing,  captain  of  a company  of  rangers.” 

December  22nd  1 777  Gaine  says:  “Sunday  night,  14th, 
the  rebels  landed  at  Cold  Spring,  and  carried  off  two 
market  boats  loaded  with  flaxseed,  wood,  cider,  & c.,  &c.” 
About  the  same  time  the  sloop  “ Dove,”  with  cargo,  was 
taken  in  Cold  Spring  Harbor  by  Thomas  Sellew,  in  the 
armed  sloop  “Lucy.”  The  “Flying  Fish,”  of  Rye, 
captured  the  “ Industry,”  Captain  Abraham  Selleck, 
from  Oyster  Bay  to  New  York,  loaded  with  fifteen  cords 
of  wood,  seventeen  half-barrels  of  cider  and  vinegar, 
seven  or  eight  bags  of  meal,  and  rigging  and  sails  for 
another  vessel. 

About  12  o’clock  March  3d  1778  seven  men,  with 
arms,  were  discovered  crossing  Lloyd’s  Neck,  bending 
their  course  for  the  narrow  beach  that  leads  off  the 
Neck.  They  were  pursued  and  taken  by  a party  of 
loyal  refugees.  They  were  the  noted  William  S.  Scud- 
der  and  his  gang,  as  appears  from  his  confession.  He 
says  he  quit  Long  Island  in  September  of  1776. 
After  going  with  several  expeditions  he  went  to  Hog 
Island  with  a party  to  take  Squire  Smith,  but  misssed  of 
him  and  took  a Quaker,  and  plundered  the  house  of  con- 
siderable value.  He  had  been  with  all  the  expeditions 
which  had  come  to  the  island,  and  was  the  man  who 
took  Mr.  Ireland.  He  had  been  on  the  east  end  of  the 
island  in  the  interest  of  General  Parsons,  and  some  time 
afterward  was  of  the  party  who  took  two  sloops  out  of 
Cold  Spring  Harbor.  He  was  of  the  party  that  had 
lately  come  over  to  Long  Island  and  burnt  the 
three  vessels  cast  away  while  coming  from  Rhode 
Island,  and  it  was  his  design  in  coming  over  at 
present  to  collect  what  he  could  from  the  wrecks 
then  burnt.  They  robbed  Samuel  Skidmore’s  cider- 
mill-house,  and  then  attempted  to  go  over  to  the 
other  shore;  but,  the  wind  being  contrary,  and  the 
day  becoming  extremely  cold,  freezing  their  fingers 
and  feet,  they  had  to  make  for  the  first  land, 
which  proved  to  be  Lloyd’s  Neck.  The  confession  is 
dated  March  3d  1778,  and  signed  by  William  Smith 
Scudder,  with  Tyler  Dibble,  a refugee,  and  William 
Quarme,  captain  of  the  guard  ship  “ Halifax,”  in  Oyster 
Bay,  as  witnesses.  The  prisoners  on  Saturday  afternoon 
March  7th  were  brought  to  New  York  in  the  boat  of  the 
“ Halifax,”  and  secured. 

General  Putnam  on  the  22nd  of  December  following 
wrote  a letter  to  Governor  Clinton  concerning  Scudder, 
in  which  he  mentions  that  Scudder  had  a commission 
from  Governor  Clinton  to  cruise  the  sound  in  an  armed 
boat  against  the  enemies  of  the  United  States;  but  com- 
plained that  he  had  violated  the  orders  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  by  seizing  private  property  on  Long  Island. 
General  Putnam  adds  that  he  knows  nothing,  personally, 
against  Scudder,  but  has  heard  that  he  is  a brave  man, 
has  suffered  much,  and  done  considerable  service  in  the 
cause  of  his  country. 


484 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


On  a Monday  evening  in  the  latter  part  of  April  a 
party  of  loyal  refugees  were  cutting  wood  on  Lloyd’s 
Neck  when  they  were  attacked  by  two  row  galleys  and 
an  armed  vessel,  and  carried  prisoners,  18  in  number,  to 
Connecticut.  A little  later  in  the  same  month  Tyler 
Dibble  and  15  wood-cutters  were  carried  from  Lloyd’s 
Neck  by  a galley  carrying  a 12-pounder,  and  four  whale- 
boats. The  alarm  reaching  the  man-of-war  on  that 
station,  the  boats  were  pursued,  but  without  success.  On 
the  5th  of  May  a small  boat,  commanded  by  Captain 
Adamson,  with  six  men  and  ten  swivels,  went  into  Oyster 
Bay  and  fell  in  with  the  tender  of  the  British  ship 
“Raven,”  which  mounted  eight  swivels  and  had  nine 
men  armed.  The  boat,  after  discharging  her  swivels 
and  small  arms,  boarded  the  tender,  and  carried  her  the 
next  morning  into  Stamford.  She  had  on  board  three 
hogsheads  of  rum,  several  casks  of  bread,  beef  and  other 
articles  for  the  ship,  and  some  dry  goods. 

Early  in  June  the  schooner  “Wild  Cat,”  of  14  swivels 
and  40  men,  came  from  Connecticut  to  Oyster  Bay  and 
landed  14  of  the  crew,  who  shot  some  sheep  at  Oak 
Neck.  This  vessel  is  described  as  having  a large  number 
of  oars,  which  enabled  it  at  every  calm  to  cross  over  and 
pillage  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  A few  days  after 
this  the  “Wild  Cat”  and  the  “Raven’s”  tender,  with  four 
whaleboats  well  manned,  came  to  Lloyd’s  Neck  to  harass 
the  wood-cutters,  when  a number  of  boats  from  the 
British  ship  pursued  them,  capturing  the  “ Wild  Cat,” 
and  recapturing  the  “ Raven’s  ” tender  and  a wood  boat 
which  had  been  taken  when  comingoutof  the  harbor,  to- 
gether with  some  of  the  whaleboats,  and  thirty  prisoners, 
killing  two  men,  with  no  loss  to  the  pursuers. 

About  the  first  of  September  the  scale  of  success  was 
changed  again,  and  Major  Grey,  of  Colonel  Meigs’s  reg- 
iment, killed  three  tories  on  Lloyd’s  Neck,  and  carried 
off  fifteen.  A privateer  also  carried  off  a sloop  loaded 
with  wood  and  provisions.  A party  consisting  of  James 
Ferris,  a refugee  from  the  island,  Benjamin  Howell, 
Nathaniel  Sacket,  of  Bedford,  Obadiah  Valentine,  and 
Patrick  Stout,  came  over  from  Connecticut  on  Thursday 
evening,  a week  after  this,  and  plundered  the  house  of 
William  Cock  of  goods  to  the  amount  of  ^140,  obliging 
him  and  his  family  to  carry  the  goods  nearly  two  miles 
to  the  whaleboats.  On  Saturday  following  another 
party  came  over,  in  two  boats,  to  Red  Springs,  near  Mos- 
quito Cove,  and  robbed  the  houses  of  Jacob  Carpenter 
and  John  Weeks  of  a quanity  of  valuable  effects,  and 
then  made  off,  but  returned  that  evening  and  robbed 
two  unfortunate  weavers  at  Oak  Neck.  On  the  9th  of 
June  following,  Clark  Cock,  at  Oyster  Bay,  was  robbed  of 
considerable  cash,  and  goods  to  the  value  of  over  ^400, 
by  another  band  from  over  the  sound.  The  “ True 
Blue,”  Captain  Elderkin,  captured  the  “ Five  Brothers,” 
a schooner  of  24  tons,  with  Abraham  Cock  master,  nine 
miles  west  of  Huntington  Harbor,  on  the  3d  of  February 
1779.  A sloop  of  45  tons,  going  to  New  York,  the  prop- 
erty of  one  Youngs,  was  captured  on  the  15th,  four  miles 
west  of  Oyster  Bay,  on  the  high  seas. 

Simcoe's  Journal  dated  April  18th  1779  relates  that  a 


party  of  refugees,  led  by  Captain  Bonnel,  with  Captain 
Glover  and  Lieutenant  Hubbell,  furnished  with  arms, 
agreeable  to  orders  from  headquarters  went  from  Oyster 
Bay  to  take  the  generals  Parsons  and  Silliman  from  the 
opposite  shore.  They  did  not  risk  an  attack  on  General 
Parsons,  but  brought  Brigadier-General  Silliman  to  Oys- 
ter Bay.  He  was  sent  next  day  to  New  York.  About 
the  first  of  September  following,  Captain  Glover,  who 
headed  this  party,  was  himself,  with  twelve  others,  with 
some  plunder,  carried  off  from  Lloyd’s  Neck  by  a whale- 
boat from  Connecticut.  On  the  nth  of  the  next  month 
a continental  armed  schooner,  commanded  by  T.  White, 
captured  the  “ Charming  Sally  ” and  cargo  in  Oyster 
Bay.  Justice  Hewlett  and  Captain  Israel  Youngs  were 
carried  off  in  J une  by  a party  from  Connecticut.  A num- 
ber of  refugees  soon  after  went  over  to  Connecticut  and 
returned  with  thirteen  prisoners,  four  horses,  and  forty- 
eight  cattle. 

Rivington  s Gazette  tells  us  that  on  Monday  night  July 
3d  a party  of  rebels,  supposed  to  be  from  Horse  Neck, 
headed  by  one  Benjamin  Kirby,  attacked  the  house  of 
Abraham  Walton,  at  Pembroke,  Mosquito  Cove,  and 
took  him,  together  with  his  silver  plate,  and  Mrs.  Wal- 
ton’s money.  They  then  proceeded  to  the  neighbors, 
and  took  Dr.  Brooks,  Albert  Coles  and  eight  more  loyal- 
ists, and  carried  all  to  Connecticut.  In  the  latter  part  of 
July,  at  2 o’clock  on  a Tuesday  morning,  John  Town- 
send of  Oyster  Bay  was  carried  off  by  a company  of 
rebels,  led  by ’one  Jonas  Youngs.  They  also  carried 
away  most  of  the  valuable  articles  in  his  house,  besides 
partly  demolishing  the  house  itself.  Arnold  Fleet,  a 
millwright,  was  carried  off  at  the  same  time.  The  men, 
fearing  the  militia,  several  companies  of  whom  were  sta- 
tioned near,  hastened  away,  carrying  their  boats  over  the 
beach,  and  left  their  sentinel,  a young  man,  on  Mill  Neck. 
He  wandered  about  the  neck  until  compelled  by  starva- 
tion to  give  himself  up. 

On  a Monday  in  October  five  vessels  came  into  Oyster 
Bay  and  captured  a guard  brig  pierced  for  14  guns,  with 
10  mounted;  also  a sloop  of  six  guns,  commanded  by 
Samuel  Rogers,  who  had  been  taken  and  carried  to  Con- 
necticut three  times  since  the  first  of  March  preceding. 
Three  other  sloops,  also  a schooner  from  under  the  bat- 
tery at  Lloyd’s  Neck,  were  taken  and  all  safely  conveyed 
into  port  on  the  Connecticut  shore. 

Hon.  Thomas  Jones,  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of 
New  York,  a noted  and  active  loyalist  previously  no- 
ticed in  this  article,  was  much  coveted  by  the  Americans 
as  an  offset  for  General  Silliman,  whose  capture  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  An  attempt  was  made  for  his 
capture  and  conveyance  to  Connecticut;  the  mode  and 
results  are  recorded  as  follows: 

“Fishkill,  December  9th  ’79. — On  the  evening  of  No- 
vember 4th  about  25  volunteers,  under  Captains  Hawley, 
Lockwood  and  Jones,  and  Lieutenants  Jackson  and 
Bishop,  crossed  the  sound  from  Newfield  [since  Bridge- 
port] to  Stony  Brook,  near  Smithtown,  and  marched  to 
the  house  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Jones,  justice  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  New  York,  at  Fort  Neck,  where  they  ar- 
rived about  9 o’clock  on  the  evening  of  the  6th,  hiding 


REVOLUTIONARY  EVENTS  IN  OYSTER  BAY. 


485 


in  the  woods  by  day.  The  whole  distance  was  52  miles. 
There  was  a ball  in  the  house,  and  the  noise  of  music 
and  dancing  prevented  the  approach  of  the  adventurers 
being  heard.  Captain  Hawley  knocked  at  the  door,  and, 
receiving  no  answer,  forced  it,  and  found  Judge  Jones 
standing  in  the  entry.  He  told  him  he  was  his  prisoner, 
and  immediately  conducted  him  off,  and  a young  man 
named  Hewlett.  A guard  of  soldiers  was  posted  at  a 
small  distance  from  the  road.  When  they  came  near 
the  spot  the  judge  hemmed  very  loud,  but  was  forbidden 
to  repeat  it.  He  did,  however,  but  on  being  further 
threatened  desisted.  An  alarm  arose,  which  obliged  the 
men  to  retreat  rapidly,  traveling  30  miles  the  same  even- 
ing, and  to  secrete  themselves  the  next  day,  by  which 
time  the  British  light  horse  were  near.  The  next  even- 
ing they  reached  their  boats,  having  taken  two  prisoners 
more,  and  arrived  safe  at  Black  Rock,  Fairfield  county,  on 
the  8th,  except  six  men  in  the  rear,  who  were  overtaken  and 
captured  by  the  light  horse.  Judge  Jones  was  taken  to 
Middletown,  and  in  May  1780  was  exchanged  for  Gene- 
ral Sullivan,  a prisoner  at  "Flatbush.  Mr.  Hewlett  was 
exchanged  for  the  general’s  son,  one  Washburn  being 
thrown  in  as  a make- weight.  After  the  exchange  the 
judge  and  general  dined  together.” 

Judge  Jones  had  been  paroled  in  Connecticut  as  a 
prisoner  of  the  United  States  just  three  years,  to  a day, 
before  the  date  of  the  above  article. 

“ New  Haven,  Nov.  24  ’79.- — Monday  sen’nit  two  small 
privateers,  of  4 guns  each,  commanded  by  Captains 
Lockwood  and  Johnson,  ran  into  Oyster  Bay  under 
British  colors,  where  were  four  wood  vessels  under  pro- 
tection of  a large  8-gun  brig,  who  asked  the  privateers, 
’Where  from?’  and  on  being  answered,  ‘From  New 
York,’  they  were  permitted  to  run  alongside  the  brig  un- 
suspected, and,  boarding  her,  the  crew  were  surprised 
into  immediate  surrender,  without  firing  a gun,  though 
manned  with  20  stout  fellows;  on  which  the  other  vessels 
also  submitted,  and  were  brought  out  of  port,  destined 
for  Norwalk  or  Stamford;  but,  on  being  pursued  by  some 
armed  vessels  from  Huntington  Harbor,  the  brig  un- 
luckily ran  on  a reef  of  rocks  near  Norwalk  Harbor,  and 
fell  again  into  the  enemy’s  hands,  who  got  her  off  and 
took  her  away.  The  other  prizes  got  safe  into  port.” 

This  brig  was  a guardship  in  the  mouth  of  Oyster  Bay. 
The  first  ship,  the  “ Halifax,”  under  Captain  Quarme, 
was  after  two  years  condemned;  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Captain  Ryley,  who  became  superannuated.  Then 
came  Captain  Townsend,  who  had  been  for  some  time 
ashore  sick  at  William  Ludlam’s,  in  the  house  now  occu- 
pied by  Henry  Ludlam  on  Hog  Island.  One  day  after 
he  had  begun  to  be  able  to  walk  about  he  invited  Mr. 
Ludlam  to  walk  to  the  other  side  of  the  island  to  look 
at  his  vessel,  when,  to  their  surprise  and  chagrin,  they 
saw  the  privateers  run  alongside  and  capture  the  craft, 
which  was  the  above  mentioned  brig.  The  British  had 
been  expecting  their  own  fleet  of  privateers,  so  did  not 
suspect  the  trick.  Mr.  Ludlam  was  always  sorry  for  his 
friend. 

The  “ Lively,”  of  70  tons,  was  taken  in  Oyster  Bay 
December  7th,  with  a cargo  of  salt.  Rivington' s Gazette , 
July  25th,  says  that  two  whaleboats,  the  “Association” 
and  “Henry  Clinton,”  crossed  from  Fort  Franklin,  on 
Lloyd’s  Neck,  to  Norwalk,  landed  38  men,  and  returned 
to  the  island  to  escape  observation,  but  were  to  be  back 
at  a given  hour.  The  party  marched  five  miles  from  the 


shore,  and  remained  hidden  in  the  woods  till  2 o’clock. 
Captain  Frost  surrounded  the  sanctuary  where  the  people 
of  Middlesex  (now  Darien)  had  assembled  for  prayer, 
and  took  fifty  “notorious  rebels,  their  reverend  teacher 
at  their  head.  Forty  horses  ready  saddled  were  taken 
care  of  at  the  same  time,  and  all  safely  brought  to  Long 
Island.”  Onderdonk  adds:  “ They  were  all  ironed,  two 
and  two,  on  the  green  in  front  of  Wooden’s,  Oyster  Bay, 
and  so  marched  to  the  provost.” 

On  the  evening  of  November  24th  1781  Lieutenant  J. 
Hull,  of  Colonel  Fitch’s  corps,  came  over  the  sound  in  a 
whaleboat,  navigated  by  eight  men,  and  landed  near 
Hempstead  Harbor,  the  entrance  to  which  was  guarded 
by  an  armed  vessel.  He  left  his  boat  with  two  men,  and 
with  the  others  marched  to  Mosquito  Cove.  Finding  a 
canoe,  and  embarking,  they  boarded  nine  vessels  which 
lay  in  the  cove  and  made  prisoners  of  sixteen  men;  not 
deeming  it  safe  to  try  to  take  the  vessels  away,  they  were 
ransomed  and  the  prisoners  paroled.  The  whole  party 
returned  without  the  loss  of  a man.  About  the  first  of 
December  a number  of  whaleboats  came  into  Oyster  Bay 
and  unrigged  Captain  Sheddan’s  boat  at  Ship  Point, 
and  carried  off  another,  which  was  ransomed  for 
£200. 

Rivington  s Gazette , under  date  of  September  1 8th  1782, 
says: 

“ As  Captain  Thomas,  of  the  ‘ Association,’  carrying 
ten  4-pounders  and  30  men,  was  convoying  a fleet  of  wood 
boats  down  the  sound,  they  were  attacked  off  Tinnicock 
by  two  gunboats  and  n whaleboats  manned  with  200 
men,  the  largest  boat  having  a brass  six-pounder  in  her 
bow.  Captain  T.  hid  his  men,  housed  his  guns,  and  thus 
decoyed  the  boats  within  musket  shot,  when  his  men 
suddenly  discharged  their  muskets,  and  canister  shot 
from  the  four-pounders.  A number  fell,  but  they  did 
not  desist  from  their  attack,  but  towed  off  detached  ves- 
sels, as  it  was  a calm.  They  were,  however,  all  retaken 
after  a combat  of  six  hours.  These  pickaroon  gentry 
greatly  infest  our  coast.” 

In  the  latter  part  of  December  the  schooner  “ Peggy,” 
John  Envidito  master,  and  her  cargo  of  broadcloths,  coat- 
ing, linen  and  other  goods  were  taken. 

On  one  occasion  the  whaleboat  men  found  a vessel 
aground  at  Cold  Spring.  They  attempted  to  get  her  off, 
but  failed.  Threats  of  burning  caused  the  vessel  to  be 
ransomed.  The  whaleboat  men  robbed  the  store  of  one 
Youngs  at  East  Woods,  and  hid  the  plunder  in  the 
bushes  near  the  shore,  in  order  to  remove  it  at  a more 
suitable  time;  but,  the  goods  being  discovered,  they  were 
prevented.  Nicholas  Wright’s  store  was  robbed.  Justice 
Smith,  of  Hog  Island,  was  robbed  of  silks,  etc.,  and  Wil- 
liam Ludlam,  a tailor  who  lived  with  him,  was  robbed  of 
a great  many  suits  of  clothes  which  he  was  making  up  for 
his  customers.  Sarah  Wright,  at  Cove  Neck,  was  robbed, 
among  other  things,  of  a silver  milk  pot,  which 
was  carried  to  Stamford.  Seth  Wood’s  store  at  East 
Woods  was  also  robbed.  The  house  of  John  Willets, 
at  Cedar  Swamps,  was  broken  open,  his  hands 
were  tied,  every  threat  was  used,  and  his  house  was 
even  set  on  fire,  to  make  him  give  up  his  money,  but 
in  vain. 


53 


486 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Oysters  and  Clams. 

Oyster  Bay,  as  its  name  implies,  has  long  been  famed 
for  the  quantity  and  excellence  of  its  oysters.  Long  be- 
fore the  advent  of  the  first  white  settlers  the  Indians,  as 
would  be  inferred  from  the  mounds  of  clam  and  oyster 
shells  still  to  be  found,  depended  upon  these  two  bivalves 
for  a great  part  of  their  subsistence,  and  also  to  furnish 
material  for  making  Indian  money  for  themselves  and 
the  tribes  round  about.  The  oyster  beds  were  natural 
to  the  harbor;  and  it  was  not  until  the  commencement 
of  the  nineteenth  century  that  the  townspeople  began  to 
plant  artificial  beds;  it  is  to  these,  with  hard  and  soft 
clams,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  Bay  village  and  its 
vicinity  owe  much  of  their  financial  prosperity.  At  first 
there  were  attempts  made  by  the  town  to  prevent  the 
planters  from  claiming  their  beds  as  individual  property. 
This  the  planters  resisted;  and,  after  several  suits,  estab- 
lished their  rights  to  such  beds  as  private  property.  No 
planter,  however,  can  plant  oysters  either  on  natural  beds 
or  within  wading  distance  of  the  shore. 

The  following,  copied  from  the  town  records,  shows 
that  the  beds  were  held  as  common  town  property: 

“Whereas  many  people,  not  inhabitants  of  the  town, 
have  frequently  come  into  the  town  and  taken  and  car- 
ried away  the  oysters  from  off  the  oyster  beds  lying  with- 
in the  township,  to  the  damage  of  the  inhabitants  thereof, 
at  a special  town  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Benjamin 
Cheshire,  the  12th  day  of  October  1784,  called  at  the 
request  of  the  respectable  inhabitants  of  said  town  in 
order  to  prevent  the  taking  and  carrying  away  the  oysters 
by  strangers  and  to  preserve  them  for  the  use  of  the  in- 
habitants, it  was  ordered:  1st.  That  no  person  not  an 
inhabitant  of  this  town  shall  be  allowed  to  take  or  carry 
away  any  of  the  oysters  from  off  the  oyster  beds  lying  in 
the  town,  on  penalty  of  five  pounds,  to  be  recovered  by 
the  persons  hereafter  named  and  to  be  paid  to  the  over- 
seers of  the  poor,  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  said 
town,  on  conviction  of  the  aforesaid  offense.  2nd.  That 
no  person  an  inhabitant  of  this  town  shall  be  allowed  to 
take  and  sell  any  of  the  oysters  from  off  the  oyster  beds 
lying  in  this  town,  to  any  person  not  an  inhabitant  of  this 
town,  on  the  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  on  being  con- 
victed thereof,  and  to  be  applied  as  aforesaid.  3d.  That 
Samuel  Youngs,  Esq.,  James  Farley  and  Amaziah  Wheel- 
er, or  the  majority  of  them,  be  authorized  to  prosecute 
any  of  the  offenders  of  the  aforesaid  order,  and,  it  req- 
uisite, to  take  counsel  therein  at  the  expense  of  the 
town.” 

These  resolutions  did  not  give  satisfaction,  for  after 
the  next  town  meeting,  in  1785,  appears  the  following: 
“It  was  voted  that  the  town  order  of  a special  town  meet- 
ing held  in  Oyster  Bay  Octr.  12th  1784,  respecting  the 
oysters,  be  no  longer  in  force.” 

In  1801  we  find  the  following: 

“Voted  that  no  oysters  be  caught  in  the  harbor  of 
Oyster  Bay  with  rakes  or  tongs  from  the  1st  day  of 
May  next  to  the  1st  day  of  September  following,  under 
the  penalty  of  five  pounds  for  each  and  every  offense,  to 
be  recovered  by  the  supervisor,  according  to  law;  and 
that  William  Townsend,  miller,  Joshua  Hammond  and 
Thos.  Smith  be  appointed  to  inspect  in  the  aforesaid 
regulations,  and  report  the  transgressors  to  the  super- 
visors, whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  proceed  against  the 
same.” 


The  oyster  beds  appear  to  have  been  considered  town 
property  till  1807,  when  the  first  permission  was  granted 
to  private  individuals  to  plant  oysters  and  own  the  beds 
as  private  property,  as  follows:  “Robert  Feeks  to  have 
liberty,  and  the  town  to  grant  him  the  space  of  ten  square 
rods  under  water,  in  some  convenient  place  in  the  Gutt, 
for  the  purpose  of  making  an  oyster  bed  where  no  valu- 
able bed  has  been  known.” 

After  this  date  the  inhabitants  commenced  to  plant 
oyster  beds  and  claim  them  as  private  property.  The 
town  attempted  to  dispute  the  ownership;  but  in  a test 
suit  the  town  was  defeated,  and  since  then  any  inhabitant 
exercises  the  right  to  plant  oysters  in  any  part  of  the 
harbor  not  previously  planted.  Among  those  first  to 
plant  were  James  Callwell,  Ezra  Miner,  Isaac  Smith  and 
Alexander  Sammis.  The  regulations  for  some  years  as 
to  the  disposal  or  sale  of  oysters,  clams,  eels,  etc.,  were 
very  stringent,  as  is  seen  from  the  following: 

“Voted  that  no  person  whatever,  during  the  present 
year,  sell  or  convey  out  this  town,  to  be  carried  out  by 
boats  employed  for  that  purpose,  any  oysters,  clams  or 
eels,  under  the  penalty  of  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents 
for  every  offense;  to  be  recovered  as  the  other  forfei:- 
ures  are  recovered,  the  one  equal  half  to  the  complainer 
and  the  other  half  to  the  overseer  of  the  poor.” 

There  seems  not  to  have  been  any  set  time  of  the  year 
appointed  for  taking  oysters  out  of  their  beds  till  1813, 
as  the  following  shows:  “Ordered  that  no  person  rake 
any  oysters  in  the  harbor  of  Oyster  Bay  from  the  6th 
day  of  April  to  the  first  day  of  November,  under  the 
penalty  of  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents.”  The  follow- 
ing extracts  from  the  town  records,  from  1816  to  1880, 
show  the  resolutions  passed  for  the  regulation  of  the 
oyster  production  during  those  years: 

1816:  “ Voted  that  no  person  not  an  inhabitant  of  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay  shall  be  allowed  to  take,  or  employ 
another  to  take,  oysters  in  the  creeks  or  harbor  of  Oyster 
Bay,  under  the  penalty  of  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
2nd.  That  no  persons  be  allowed  to  rake  oysters  in  the 
creeks  or  harbor  of  Oyster  Bay  but  in  the  months  of  De- 
cember, January  and  February,  under  the  penalty  above 
mentioned.” 

These  two  resolutions  were  confirmed  at  a meeting 
held  later  in  the  year,  and  were  again  passed  in  1819  and 
1820;  but,  in  addition,  included  the  same  penalty  for  car- 
rying away  clams  or  selling  them.  In  1825,  at  a special 
town  meeting,  regulation  oyster  papers  were  issued,  to 
allow  only  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  Oyster 
Bay  to  oyster  on  the  east  side  of  a straight  line  from 
Plum  Point  to  Cooper’s  Bluff.  This  took  in  all  Cold 
Spring  Harbor. 

1833:  “Resolved,  that  no  person  from  any  other  town 
shall  be  permitted  to  dig  clams  or  take  oysters  out  of  the 
town.” 

1836:  “ Voted  that  no  person  be  permitted  to  plant 
oysters  in  the  waters  of  Oyster  Bay  Harbor.  Voted  that 
license  for  planting  oysters  be  put  at  thirty  dollars. 

1839:  “Voted  that  the  people  of  the  town  shall  enjoy 
the  privilege  of  clamming,  fishing  and  oystering  below 
high  water  mark  on  all  the  shores  and  waters  of  the  town, 


AGRICULTURE  IN  OYSTER  RAY— THE  OYSTER  BUSINESS. 


487 


and  defend  the  same.”  This  is  signed  by  John  D.  Feeks, 
William  H.  Jones  and  Thomas  D.  Montfort,  justices,  and 
A.  Eogart,  town  clerk. 

1843:  “ Resolved  that  we  will  defend  the  rights  of 
the  town  to  the  exclusive  ownership  of  the  oysters  in 
Oyster  Bay.” 

1847:  “ That  the  oysters  in  the  bay  or  waters  of  the 
town  be  free  to  all  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town 
the  ensuing  year.”  This  order  was  bitterly  opposed  by 
those  who  had  planted  oyster  beds.  This  opposition  led 
to  a lawsuit,  in  which  the  town  was  again  defeated. 
From  1847  to  1870  the  rules  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
changed.  In  the  latter  year  it  was  “ resolved  that  no 
person  be  allowed  to  plant  or  bed  oysters  in  any  of  the 
waters  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  or  any  of  the  shores 
of  said  town  where  oysters  and  clams  grow  naturally,  and 
where  persons  can  wade  in  the  water  and  clam  and  oys- 
ter at  low  tide,  under  a penalty  of  twelve  dollars  and 
fifty  cents  for  each  and  every  offense  of  twenty- four 
hours  so  tresspassing.”  This  resolution  was  again  passed 
in  1880,  excluding  the  waters  of  South  Oyster  Bay.  The 
town  at  different  times  voted  to  permit  dredging  with 
-sailboats  in  the  waters  of  the  bay,  but  these  permits  have 
been  withdrawn  on  several  occasions.  In  1875  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  passed,  and  it  was  repeated 
each  year  thereafter:  “ Resolved  that,  for  the  purpose  of 
killing  the  sea  stars  which  infest  and  injure  the  oysters, 
all  persons  are  allowed  to  dredge  oysters  with  sailboats 
or  otherwise;  and  that  any  resolution  heretofore  passed 
prohibiting  the  dredging  of  oysters  under  sail  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  repealed.” 

Within  late  years  the  oyster  trade  has  grown  to  large 
proportions,  employing  many  sloops.  A market  is  found 
principally  in  New  York.  Some  of  the  oystermen, 
among  them  Daniel  Smith,  of  Cove  Neck,  have  as  many 
as  four  or  six  sloops  in  the  trade.  Mr.  Smith  has  ship- 
ped from  $15,000  to  $30,000  worth  of  oysters  per  year, 
and  in  1880  planted  6,700  bushels  of  them.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  there  could  not  have  been  far  short  of  200,000 
bushels  planted  in  the  bay  the  same  year.  Most  of  the 
seed  is  obtained  from  the  Connecticut  shore.  There  is 
a growing  shipping  business  to  England;  the  buyers 
coming  direct  from  there  to  the  Bay  to  purchase, 
choosing  the  second  class  or  smaller  oysters  for  that 
purpose. 

Agriculture. 

Prominent  mention  is  made  of  apple  trees  and  nurse- 
ries as  early  as  1669  and  1670.  Several  leases  of  land 
are  found.  The  following,  seventeen  years  after  settle- 
ment, is  perhaps  the  most  suggestive: 

“Oyster  Bay,  the  first  month,  the  20th  day,  1670. 

“This  is  an  agreement  made  between  me  and  Thomas 
Youngs  jr.  and  Richard  Youngs,  his  brother.  First  they 
are  to  have  the  free  use  of  my  team,  cart  and  plow,  with 
the  iron  chains,  with  all  things  thereto  belonging;  and 
they  are  to  stub  and  break  up  and  manure  all  the  land 
now  within  fence  that  is  fit  for  it;  and  they  are  to  look 
well  and  carefully  after  all  my  creatures;  and  they  are 
to  have  for  their  team  and  plow  two  thirds  of  the  in- 


crease of  all  the  land  manured  that  I own  there.  And 
they  are  to  have  two  thirds  of  the  fruit,  and  I reserve  one 
or  two  barrels  for  John  Youngs;  and  so  every  year 
following  as  they  enjoy  it.  Then  for  the  sheep:  there 
are  thirty,  and  they  are  to  deliver  thirty  pounds  of  wool 
per  year,  that  is  one  pound  for  one  sheep;  and  there  are 
nine  lambs,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  and  a half  they 
are  to  deliver  me  thirty  sheep  and  nine  lambs.  Now  for 
the  cattle:  we  are  to  have  half  the  milk  and  one  third  of 
the  increase,  and  they  two  thirds,  and  they  are  to  find  or 
provide  me  a beast  to  ride  on  when  I please;  and  they  are 
to  provide  me  wood  to  burn,  what  is  needful.  Four  cows, 
one  two-year-old  heifer,  one  two-year-old  bull,  four  year- 
lings. And  the  principals  engage  to  me  to  make  good  at 
the  term  and  time  of  three  years  and  a half  of  all  these 
creatures;  they  do  also  engage  to  sow  so  many  acres  of 
wheat  and  rye  on  the  ground  as  there  is  now,  at  the  end 
of  three  years  and  a half,  and  to  leave  all  my  goods  and 
carts  and  plows,  and  them  with  all  things  else  that  they 
receive  of  me,  as  good  as  they  are  now  (two  broad 
chisels,  two  narrow  chisels,  one  saw,  two  adze,  compasses, 
one  inch-and-a-half  auger,  three  lesser  augers  and  bung- 
borer,  one  pruner  bit,  one  mattock,  two  forks,  three  pair 
of  new  traces  and  one  old  pair,  two  new  collars,  two  old 
collars,  one  pair  of  cart  traces  with  iron  hooks,  with  a 
new  collar,  one  cross-cut  saw,  one  new  file,  a beetle,  three 
wedges,  one  saw-set,  two  great  clevises  with  the  bolts, 
two  lesser  clevises  with  the  bolts).  And  they  are  to  tan 
my  hides  for  one  third.  And  they  are  to  leave  all  my 
farm  and  tools  in  as  good  order  and  repair  as  they  are 
now,  with  all  things  else,  with  six  bushels  of  oats,  two 
bushels  and  half  peas,  two  bushels  of  barley,  one  bushel 
and  half  of  flaxseed. 

“As  witness  our  hand  and  seal  the  manner  as  within. 

“Thomas  Youngs  senior.” 

The  following  from  Gaine’s  Mercury  throws  light  on 
the  state  of  agriculture:  “December  18th  1768  the  New 
York  Society  for  Promoting  Arts  adjudged  a premium  of 
^10  to  Thomas  Youngs,  of  Oyster  Bay,  for  the  largest 
nursery  of  apple  trees.  It  contains  twenty-seven  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  twenty-three  trees.” 

In  tracing  the  agricultural  history  of  Oyster  Bay  the 
important  fact  must  be  admitted  that  the  virgin  soil  on 
which  the  pioneers  by  their  crude  endeavors  first  experi- 
mented was  by  no  means  rich,  in  comparison  with  cen- 
tral New  York,  or  even  the  river  counties,  not  to  mention 
the  rich  western  prairies  which  the  present  century  has 
brought  so  prominently  to  the  notice  of  the  world.  The 
newly  cleared  lands  gave  only  a medium  return.  The 
natural  accumulation  of  vegetable  deposit,  unsupple- 
mented by  other  necessary  ingredients  requisite  to  a rich 
soil,  soon  became  exhausted  by  repeated  cropping  of  po- 
tatoes, rye,  wheat,  flax,  buckwheat  and  corn,  the  first 
staples  grown  for  present  food  necessities  and  articles  of 
barter  for  imported  products. 

The  soil,  a sandy  loam  with  sand  predominating,  in- 
ducing quick  and  rapid  growth,  plant  roots  readily  pen- 
etrating surface  and  sub-soil  soon  absorbed  the  store  of 
plant-food.  Thus  manure  was  quickly  brought  into 
prominent  notice.  The  natural  growth  of  coarse,  unnu- 
tritious  grass  on  the  woodless  plain  composing  the  center 
of  the  town  and  on  the  salt  meadows  of  the  South  Bay 
furnished  forage  for  the  stock  of  the  first  settlers.  After 
clearings  were  made,  fields  in  proximity  to  the  homestead 
were  mulched  and  manured  by  cattle  feeding  in  winter, 


488 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and  made  to  produce  a luxuriant  growth  of  the  short 
natural  grasses — blue  grass  (not  Kentucky),  secretary, 
red-top  and  many  others,  which  were  mown  for  the 
winter  supply  of  hay. 

As  a consequence  of  increased  feed  the  stock  of  cattle 
and  swine  was  increased,  as  through  these,  in  the  form  of 
beef  and  pork,  the  only  available  market  could  be 
reached.  For  all  purposes  incident  to  clearing  new  land 
horses  were  in  demand,  and  an  increase  in  the  stock  was 
early  manifested,  and  has  continued,  a legitimate  and 
lucrative  business,  intelligently  pursued,  as  the  present 
race  of  roadsters  and  track  horses,  descended  from  the 
famous  sires  “Messenger”  and  “ Duroc,”  owned  and 
stabled  in  this  town,  will  abundantly  prove.  Horses  for 
heavy  draught  were  not  required  here.  The  easily 
worked  soil  required  agility  rather  than  muscular  force, 
and  in  this  stock  it  was  well  supplied. 

Cattle  for  beef  and  the  yoke,  horses,  hogs,  sheep,  flax, 
rye,  corn  and  wood  were  the  main  articles  of  trade  and 
sale  to  near  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Orcharding  received  early  attention.  The  apple  prod- 
uct of  cider  and  whiskey  found  a ready  sale.  A whiskey 
still  owned  by  a pioneer  settler  of  Oyster  Bay  remains 
intact,  having  been  transmitted  through  six  generations, 
though  unused  through  five  of  them.  In  the  article  of 
refined  cider  the  town  now  holds  a deservedly  high  rep- 
utation. 

As  the  nineteenth  century  dawned  and  progressed,  hay, 
straw,  wheat,  corn  and  fruits  of  choice  quality  found 
near  and  ready  markets  and  their  production  rapidly  in- 
creased. These,  sold  off  the  land,  at  once  rendered  it 
imperative  to  replenish  the  exhausted  soil,  and  the  im- 
portation of  manures  was  made  obligatory.  Long  Island 
appropriates  to  its  use  a large  portion  of  the  manures 
collected  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  Oyster  Bay  its 
proportionate  quantity,  insomuch  that  few  sections  vie 
with  it  in  the  yield  per  acre  of  corn,  wheat,  hay  and  veg- 
etables. The  cost  of  fertilizers  would  buy  the  land  at 
a hundred  dollars  an  acre  every  seven  years.  The 
question  is  often  asked,  will  this  pay?  Farmers  as  a 
rule  keep  no  accounts.  The  result  can  answer.  Farms 
have  been  divided  and  subdivided.  The  son  is  no  poorer 
than  his  sire,  and  the  net  product  of  his  portion  fully 
equals — in  many  instances  far  exceeds — that  of  the  for- 
mer undivided  heritage.  With  a six-fold  salable  value 
he  is  rich  if  he  wishes  to  realize  in  cash,  wherewith  wide- 
spread acres  the  sire  was  poor  indeed. 

The  regular  farm  routine  has  varied  but  little  since  the 
first  settlement,  viz.:  corn  on  the  inverted  sod,  oats  and 
potatoes  next,  followed  by  wheat  and  seeding  to  grass, 
mowing  three  or  four  years,  with  as  many  following  in 
pasturage,  when  the  rotation  begins  anew. 

In  some  localities,  notably  between  Oyster  Bay  and 
Glen  Cove,  asparagus,  onions  and  rhubarb  have  been 
successfully  cultivated,  the  former  having  a reputation 
not  equaled  elsewhere.  An  experiment  about  1835  with 
half  an  acre  of  this  esculent  by  the  late  Captain  John 
Underhill,  a descendant  of  the  historic  Captain  John, 
and  on  his  old  homestead,  followed  by  Isaac  Townsend 


in  1841,  has  induced  the  cultivation  of  five  hundred  acres 
in  the  immediate  vicinity,  and  brought  thousands  of  dol- 
lars to  farmers  who  wisely  followed  the  experiment.  The 
value  of  the  present  annual  product  is  $150,000. 

The  forests  form  a peculiar  feature  of  the  town,  as  they 
do  of  all  Long  Island.  On  the  north  the  rough  gravelly 
hillsides,  not  inviting  to  tillage,  and  the  wet  and  sandy 
land  on  the  south,  were  wisely  left  uncleared  and  have 
proved  a continual  source  of  income  for  fuel  before  the 
era  of  coal,  and  always  for  building  material  and  fencing,, 
for  which  latter,  perhaps,  no  locality  is  so  favored  in 
cheapness  and  durability  of  timber  as  this  region  in  the 
possession  of  the  yellow  locust  and  chestnut.  As  the  de- 
mand for  fuel  has  decreased  the  increasing  necessity  for 
railroad  ties  and  the  like  more  than  compensates. 

Milk  production  for  the  city  markets  is  a growing  new 
business  and  is  fairly  remunerative.  But  few  stock  cattle 
are  kept,  and  their  produce,  except  choice  or  fancy- 
varieties,  is  invariably  sold  to  the  butchers.  The  stock 
is  mainly  kept  up  by  calves  brought  from  the  large  dairy 
districts  elsewhere;  these  are  profitably  grown  to  supply 
the  demand  for  milch  cows.  Working  oxen,  once 
generally  used  for  farm  work,  have  become  almost  obso- 
lete. 

Hay,  vegetables,  fruit  and  timber  are  the  principal 
articles  sold,  and  although  this  is  a purely  agricultural 
town  it  falls  largely  short  of  furnishing  a home  supply  of 
grain.  Much  of  this  deficiency  for  stock  is  supplied  by 
“corn  feed”  from  the  Messrs.  Duryea’s  starch  factory  at 
Glen  Cove — about  the  only  manufacturing  establishment 
in  the  town. 

Bony  fish,  once  a prolific  source  of  manure,  are  now 
monopolized  by  oil  factories,  in  which  fishery  Oyster  Bay 
is  little  interested.  Commercial  manures  are  receiving 
much  careful  attention,  but  the  old  and  well-tried  stable- 
product  still  has  the  preference  as  furnishing  the  requi- 
sites for  plant  growth  in  greater  proportion  than  anything 
yet  tried. 

Charities. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  April  18th  1838 
Andrew  C.  Hegeman,  Ebenezcr  Seely  and  James  C^ 
Townsend,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Oyster  Bay,  and  Benjamin  Albertson  and  Singleton 
Mitchell,  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
North  Hempstead,  were  appointed  trustees  of  the  Jones 
fund  for  the  support  of  the  poor  in  said  towns,  to  hold  their 
office  two  years  from  the  first  Tuesday  in  April  1838,  and 
until  their  successors  were  appointed.  The  trustees  of 
this  fund  were  always  to  be  three  freeholders  and  inhab- 
itants of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  and  two  freeholders 
and  inhabitants  of  North  Hempstead,  who  were  to  be 
elected  every  second  year  thereafter,  at  their  respective 
towns’  annual  meetings.  The  trustees  and  their  succes- 
sors were  granted  all  the  rights  and  powers  of  a corpo- 
rate body,  to  take,  hold,  and  manage  the  fund,  or  any 
part  of  it,  as  directed  by  the  will  of  Samuel  Jones,  of 
the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  for  the  support  of  the  poor  in 
Oyster  Bay  and  North  Hempstead.  The  amount  be- 


CHARITIES  OF  OYSTER  BAY— TOWN  OFFICERS— CEMETERIES. 


489 


queathed  by  Mr.  Jones  was  $30,000.  Some  years  subse- 
quently Walter  R.  Jones,  of  Cold  Spring,  bequeathed 
$5,000  to  the  fund,  for  the  sole  benefit  of  the  town  of 
Oyster  Bay.  The  expenses  of  purchasing  the  farm,  erect- 
ing buildings,  etc.,  have  been  paid  by  the  two  towns, 
thus  keeping  the  original  bequest  intact,  using  the  in- 
come only. 

“An  institution  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  poor 
among  the  black  people”  was  established  to  help  the 
needy  colored  people  of  the  towns  of  North  Hempstead 
and  Oyster  Bay  and  vicinities — especially  in  the  educa- 
tion of  their  children.  The  membership  of  the  society 
was  limited  to  thirty  persons,  all  ot  whom  must  be  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Nine  members  consti- 
tuted a quorum.  Should  the  field  for  benevolence  be 
increased  the  institution  had  the  right  to  receive  addi- 
tional members  from  the  new  field.  The  money  was 
raised  by  subscriptions  from  such  persons  as  were  in- 
clined to  give,  and  constituted  a permanent  fund,  only 
the  interest  being  used.  By  giving  proper  securities  the 
subscriber  might  hold  the  principal,  payable  on  demand, 
by  paying  5 per  cent,  annual  interest. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  association  was  held  June 
7th  1794,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
Thomas  Willis,  clerk;  Samuel  Seaman,  treasurer;  Samuel 
Willis,  Edmund  Willis  and  Adam  Mott,  trustees.  The 
original  members  were  Elias  Hicks,  Fry  Willis,  Joseph 
Cooper,  Thomas  Willis,  James  Carhartt,  Isaac  Sherman, 
Royal  Aldrich,  Jacob  Smith,  John  Carle,  Jacob  Willetts, 
John  Whitehouse,  William  Willis  Wheatley,  Jacob  Wil- 
letts j r.,  Israel  Pearsall,  Gideon  Seaman,  Joshua  Powell, 
Edmund  Willis,  Refined  Weeks,  William  Jones,  Jacob 
Seaman,  Samuel  Willis,  Adam  Mott,  Richard  Townsend, 
Solomon  ETnderhill,  Stephen  Mott,  Samuel  W.  Mott, 
Richard  Powell,  Adonijah  Underhill,  David  Seaman  and 
Silas  Titus.  The  institution  continued  to  fulfill  its  pur- 
pose of  ameliorating  the  condition  of  that  oppressed 
race  for  many  years;  but  as  the  fund  is  not  now  required 
for  the  education  of  the  colored  children  here,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  excellent  system  of  free  education,  it  is 
now  employed  for  the  education  of  the  children  of  the 
freedmen  in  the  south. 

Supervisors  and  Clerks — Statistics. 

The  following  are  lists  of  the  supervisors  and  clerks  of 
the  town,  so  far  as  the  record  shows  them: 

Supervisors. — John  Townsend,  1707,  1708;  Thomas 
Jones,  1712,  1713;  Samuel  Dickinson,  1714-25;  Benja- 
min Carpenter,  1726-29;  David  Jones,  1730-35;  Thomas 
Jones,  1736-41;  David  Seaman,  1742-46;  Benjamin 
Woolsey,  1747;  Micijah  Townsend,  1750-59;  Thomas 
Smith,  1760-66,  1777-82;  Benjamin  Townsend,  1767; 
William  Townsend,  1868-75;  James  Townsend,  1776; 
George  Townsend,  1783;  George  Townsend  and  James 
Townsend,  1784  (James  must  have  been  appointed  to 
succeed  George);  Dr.  James  Townsend,  1785-89;  Isaac 
Smith,  1790-97;  Coles  Wortman,  1798,  1804;  Hewlett 
Townsend,  1799;  Isaac  Smith,  1800-3,  1810-13;  William 
Townsend,  1805-9;  Samuel  Youngs,  1814-17;  Ebenezer 
Seely,  1818-22;  William  H.  Jones,  1823-28;  Andrew  C. 
Hegeman,  1829-36;  Samuel  Youngs  jr.,  1837-42,  1847, 


1848;  William  Harrold  sen.,  1843,  1844;  Peter  H.  Layton, 
1845;  James  Luyster,  1846,  1855,  1856;  David  R.  Floyd- 
Jones,  1857,  1858;  George  S.  Downing,  1859-66;  Town- 
send D.  Cock,  1867-71;  Walter  Franklin,  1872-74; 
George  S.  Downing,  1875-80;  Scudder  V.  Whitney,  1881. 

Town  Clerks. — John  Townsend,  1707,  1708;  George 
Townsend,  1712-22;  Samuel  Underhill,  1723-47;  Penn 
Townsend,  1750-55;  Jacob  Townsend,  1756,  1757;  Samuel 
Townsend,  1758-76,  1 783-89;  John  Cock,  1777-82;  Samuel 
Youngs,  1790,  1793;  Jacobus  Monfoort,  1794-1823;  John 
Monfoort,  1824-29;  Charles  H.  Peters,  1830-32;  Andrew 
Bogart,  1833-41;  Albert  G.  Carll,  1842-45;  James  M. 
Monfoort,  1846;  Andris  Bogart,  1847;  George  S.  Down- 
ing, 1848-52;  John  Vernon,  1853;  Jonah  S.  Hegeman, 

1854,  1855;  John  N.  Remsen,  1856-81. 

The  valuation  of  Oyster  Bay  in  1823  was  $1,575,55°, 
the  largest  town  valuation  in  the  county. 

The  steady  and  rapid  increase  of  the  population  of 
the  town  during  the  present  generation  may  be  traced  in 
the  following  census  returns:  1845,6,361;  1850,6,900; 

1855,  8,047;  i860,  9,168;  1865,  9,417;  i87o,  10,595; 
1875,  11,461;  1880,  11,923. 

Burial  Places. 

The  Woolsey  family  has  two  burial  places  in  Dosoris, 
each  containing  a quarter  of  an  acre  of  land,  where 
many  of  the  family  and  near  relatives  are  buried.  These 
plots  were  reserved  forever  for  burial  places  in  the  deeds 
conveying  the  two  Woolsey  estates  to  John  Butler  and 
Nathaniel  Coles  respectively. 

The  Frost  family  burial  ground  is  situated  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Valentine  Frost,  and  originally  purchased 
by  William  Frost,  who  was  buried  here  in  1718,  this  be- 
ing the  first  interment. 

The  Weeks  burial  ground,  on  the  farm  of  John  Weeks 
at  Matinecock,  has  many  slabs  which  cannot  be  read. 
The  earliest  date  legible  is  1761. 

The  Latting  burial  ground  is  on  the  farm  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  Latting,  Lattingtown.  Josiah  Latting  was  born  at 
Concord,  Mass.,  February  20th  1641;  came  with  his 
father  to  Hempstead  in  1653,  then  to  Oyster  Bay  and 
Huntington;  married  Sarah  Wright,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Wright,  about  1667;  resided  in  Oyster  Bay  until  1680, 
when  he  removed  to  the  place  afterward  called  Latting- 
town, where  he  or  some  of  his  descendants  have  ever 
since  resided. 

The  cemetery  adjoimng  the  Reformed  church  at  Lo- 
cust Valley  was  purchased  and  laid  out  in  1868-9.  The 
first  person  laid  there  was  Mrs.  Fanny  Craft  Morrell. 

Soldiers  of  the  Union. 

The  following  residents  of  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  service  during  the  late  civil 
war: 

Second  N.  V.  Cavalry  (called  Harris  Light  Cavalry; 
enlisted  in  the  latter  part  of  August  or  early  in  Septem- 
ber 1862). — T.  FI.  Appleford;  died  in  the  service.  Edward 
Bailey,  Henry  C.  Baker,  James  W.  Baker,  Albert  S. 
Barto,  Samuel  Bedell,  Edward  H.  Bennett,  John  T. 
Boyd,  Charles  Bromley,  Josiah  C.  Brownell,  James 
Butler,  John  W.  Campbell  jr.,  William  H.  Carpenter, 
Tredwell  Cheshire,  Alfred  Cock,  Butler  Coles,  Wellington 


54 


49° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


S.  Conklin,  John  A.  Conklin,  William  Craft,  John  Demp- 
sey, Isaac  Devoe,  Amos  Dickinson,  George  W.  Dick- 
inson. William  H.  Dodge;  killed.  Daniel  L.  Down- 
ing; killed.  Michael  Durkin,  Henry  T.  Duryea, 
Thomas  Fogarty,  Francis  Frost,  Joseph  Gibbens,  Ephraim 
P.  Golding,  George  Hadley.  John  P.  Hall;  killed.  James 
Harold,  William  Hawthorn,  Elbert  Hegeman,  Harry  M. 
Hoogland,  Joseph  Johnson,  George  Johnson,  Elbert  H. 
Jones,  William  Kramer.  Charles  A.  Layton;  died  in  ser- 
vice. Jordon  Layton,  Thomas  Lockard,  David  Lovel, 
George  W.  Lutherman,  James  V.  Luyster,  John  P.  McKey, 
John  Merritt,  Jacob  S.  Maybee,  C.  McMana,  John  Mul- 
ler, Thomas  Neat,  John  H.  Parlement,  William  H.  Pren- 
tiss, James  B.  Remsen.  Cornelius  H.  Remsen;  died  in 
service.  Henry  W.  Sammis,  Sylvester  W.  Sammis,  Stephen 
Seaman,  James  Sheridan,  Jacob  B.  Sprague,  William  H. 
Springer,  James  S.  Stilwell,  Jeremiah  Stil well,  John  B. 
Tappen,  John  G.  Taylor,  Vernon  J.  Tiebout,  Dolphus 
Torry,  Oliver  A.  Turrell,  Daniel  J.  Underhill.  Charles 
W.  Valentine;  died  in  service.  Peter  L.  Van  Wicklen. 
James  Vernon;  killed.  Samuel  Vernon,  died  in  service. 
Albert  Vernon,  David  Wansor,  John  Wansor,  Samuel  M. 
Weeks,  James  M.  Westervelt,  William  A.  Westervelt, 
Edwin  R.  Whitney,  Andrew  Wilson. 

Fifth  N.  Y.  Heavy  Artillery  (enlisted  in  August,  Sep- 
tember and  October  1862). — W.  H.  H.  Beatty,  James 
Clark,  Stephen  Cox,  D.  B.  Demilt,  William  H.  Frost, 
Alfred,  Augustus  and  Uriah  Hall,  J.  J.  Mack,  Edward 
Malone,  George  Miller,  James  Mott,  John  O’Brien, 
Robert  Potter,  Charles  V.  Powell,  Cornelius  Powell, 
Leonard  Rhodes,  Andrew  J.  Riddell,  Charles  Van 
'Wicklen. 

Stanton  Legion  (enlisted  August  21st  1862). — Philip 
Darby,  Silas  C.  Haff,  John  W.  and  Zachariah  J.  Hen- 
drickson, William  McVeigh,  Harlan  G.  Newcomb,  An- 
drew and  John  Powell,  Theodore  G.  Smith,  Alfred  S. 
and  Cornelius  B.  Walters,  William  W.  Wood. 

Regiment  organizing  in  the  first  seven  Senatorial  Dis- 
tricts of  New  York  (enlisted  August  21st  1862). — Charles 
A.  Helmes,  Andrew  J.,  James  N.  and  John  McGreger, 
George  Rverson,  David  S.  Shotwell,  Andrew  Stilwell. 

Fifth  Regiment  Excelsior  Brigade  (with  dates. of  enlist- 
ment).— William  H.  Bennett,  Aug.  16  ’62;  Anthony  Parks, 
Aug.  16  ’62;  Isaac  T.  Southard,  Aug.  26  ’62;  Oliver  Val- 
entine, Aug.  26  ’62. 

Navy — Henry  Fleet,  Junius  Hewlett,  Frederick 
Meyers,  Henry  A.  Townsend,  Benjamin  Van  Wicklen, 
Charles  Caleb  Wright. 

Miscellaneous. — James  W.  Eldridge  and  John  C.  Hew- 
lett, 1st  regiment  national  volunteers;  enlisted  August 
1 2th  1862.  Benjamin  Hall,  3d  regiment  Excelsior  brig- 
ade; enlisted  August  20th  1862;  killed.  Zachary  Bern- 
hard,  1st  regiment  Excelsior  brigade;  enlisted  August 
20th  1862.  Thomas  A.  Ford,  15th  New  York  volunteers; 
enlisted  August  29th  1862.  James  P.  Cox,  6th  New 
York  cavalry;  enlisted  August  19th  1862.  David  Bald- 
win, Van  Rensselaer  Brush  and  Morgan  Murphy,  102nd 
New  York;  enlisted  August  29th  1862.  John  E.  Francis, 
3d  metropolitan  guards;  enlisted  September  1 6th  1862. 
Christopher  Branch,  George  W.  Hatfield,  Sherman  Hart 
and  Frederick  Zeigler,  159th  New  York;  enlisted  in  Sep- 
tember 1862.  Charles  Powell,  4th  metropolitan  volun- 
teers; enlisted  September  30th  1862.  John  Cost  and 
Edward  W.  Sprague,  1st  regiment  metropolitan  guards. 
Charles  P.  Simonson,  second  senatorial  district  regiment; 
enlisted  September  1st  1862.  Thomas  Gillen.  119th 
New  York.  Emil  Gauderdt,  musician.  Timothy  Mc- 
Mann,  Corcoran  brigade.  Henry  Cost,  105th  New  York. 
Henry  Lempke,  Sickles  brigade.  Abraham  Van  Wick- 
len, Spinola’s  brigade.  Andrew  C.  and  R.  V.  B.  Hege- 


man, 14th  regiment  (Brooklyn).  Jackson  Valentine  j r., 
John  J.  Tappen,  Silas  Bender. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

The  Townsend  Family. 

The  three  brothers  John,  Henry  and  Richard  Town- 
send came  from  Norwich,  county  of  Norfolk,  England. 
The  time  of  their  emigration  cannot  be  precisely  fixed. 
It  was,  however,  several  years  before  1645,  as  in  that 
year  Governor  Kieft  granted  a patent  of  the  town  of 
Flushing  to  John  Townsend  and  others;  and  from  a pe- 
tition of  his  widow  to  Governor  Andros  we  learn  that  he 
had  previously  taken  up  land  near  New  York,  and 
“peaceably  enjoyed  the  same  divers  years.”  Alarms 
from  the  Indians,  and  difficulties  which  she  does 
not  specify,  caused  him  to  leave  his  improvements 
and  commence  the  settlement  of  Flushing,  where  he 
was  joined  by  Henry.  The  Townsends  were  Friends, 
and  were  soon  at  variance  with  the  Dutch  authorities, 
both  as  to  religion  and  politics.  On  account  of  these 
difficulties  with  the  government  the  Townsends  left 
Flushing  and  went  to  Warwick,  R.  I.,  where  they  were 
all  three  members  of  the  Provincial  Assembly,  besides 
holding  municipal  offices.  In  1656  they  determined  once 
more  to  attempt  a settlement  on  Long  Island,  and  in 
that  year,  with  others,  obtained  a patent  of  Jamaica,  then 
called  Rusdorp.  Their  religious  and  political  zeal  soon 
brought  them  into  trouble  again. 

In  1657  Henry  was  sentenced  to  pay  jf  8 Flanders  or 
leave  the  province  in  six  weeks,  for  having  “ called  to- 
gether conventicles.”  The  people  of  Flushing  addressed 
a remonstrance  to  the  governor,  written  by  the  town 
clerk,  and  signed,  among  others,  by  Tobias  Feake, 
sheriff,  and  Noble  Farington,  both  magistrates,  and  pre- 
sented by  the  sheriff.  The  clerk  and  magistrates  were 
arrested,  and  John  Townsend  with  them,  upon  charge  of 
having  induced  the  magistrates  to  sign,  and  he  was 
ordered  to  find  bail  in  ^12  to  appear  when  summoned. 
Henry  was  brought  before  the  council  January  15th 
1658,  and  condemned-to  pay  Jh,\oo  Flanders,  and  to  re- 
remain arrested  until  it  was  paid.  How  these  matters 
were  settled  is  not  stated,  but  Henry’s  signature,  as  wit- 
ness, on  an  Indian  deed  proves  that  he  was  in  Oyster 
Bay  the  same  year.  He  was  again  imprisoned,  seeming 
to  be  much  more  involved  in  troubles  coming  from 
“countenancing  Quakers”  than  his  brother  John;  yet  in 
January  1661  two  of  the  magistrates  furnished  the  names 
of  12  persons,  including  John  and  Henry  Townsend  and 
their  wives,  “who  countenanced  Quakers.”  John  Towns- 
end settled  in  Oyster  Bay  between  the  middle  of  January 
and  the  16th  of  September  1661,  as  he  was  living  at 
Jamaica  at  the  first  date,  and  his  name  being  on  the  mill 
grant  is  proof  that  he  was  admitted  as  a townsman  before 
the  last  date.  Henry  Townsend  must  have  settled  in 
Oyster  Bay  previous  to  September  16th  1661,  the  date  of 
the  mill  grant  made  to  him;  but  he  was  not  admitted  as 
a townsman  until  the  4th  of  November. 


•®  Uj*Tm  _i.£/Ufc7lie 


THE  TOWNSEND  FAMILY. 


491 


Nothing  is  known  of  Richard  Townsend,  the  youngest 
of  the  three  brothers,  until  he  appears  in  Jamaica  in 
1656.  He  first  appears  on  Oyster  Bay  records  in  1668, 
when  he  bought  land  of  Robert  Williams  at  Lusum. 
His  first  wife  was  a sister  of  Henry’s  wife  and  a daughter 
of  Robert  Coles. 

The  descendants  of  these  three  brothers  have  since 
been  very  numerous  in  the  town,  and  have  occupied  many 
posts  of  honor  and  trust. 

James  C.  Townsend  and  his  wife,  who  compiled  the 
Townsend  Memorial,  are  especially  deserving  of  our 
gratitude  for  the  aid  we  have  derived,  with  their  per- 
mission, from  their  work,  both  in  gleanings  and  copies 
from  it. 

SOI.OMON  TOWNSEND. 

Solomon  Townsend  was  born  at  Oyster  Bay,  Queens 
county  (Long  Island),  on  the  8th  of  October  1805.  He 
was  the  grandson  of  Samuel  Townsend,  who  was  a great- 
grandson  of  the  first  John  Townsend,  who  settled  in 
Oyster  Bay  between  the  middle  of  January  and  the  16th 
of  September  1661 — the  direct  line  being  John,  John 
James,  Jacob,  Samuel,  Solomon,  Solomon. 

Samuel  Townsend,  who  was  born  at  Oyster  Bay  in 
1 7 17,  was  the  head  of  the  great  shipping  house  of  “Sam- 
uel and  Jacob  Townsend,”  who  carried  on  an  extensive 
trade  with  England  and  the  West  Indies  before  the  Rev- 
olution. The  offices  of  the  house  were  at  New  York  and 
Oyster  Bay.  The  wharves  were  between  the  present 
steamboat  dock  and  White’s  Creek,  at  a place  which  still 
bears  the  name  of  “Ship  Point.”  He  took  an  active  in- 
terest in  affairs  of  State,  being  a member  of  the  first 
Provincial  Congress  and  a delegate  from  Long  Island  to 
New  York  State’s  first  constitutional  convention  (1777). 
In  the  last  he  was  one  of  the  committee  of  thirteen  ap- 
pointed to  draft  the  constitution  which  was  adopted  by 
the  convention  as  the  constitution  of  the  State.  He  was 
also  a State  senator,  and  a member  of  the  first  council 
of  appointment  under  the  constitution  of  1777.  Before 
the  Revolution  he  had  been  for  thirty  years  a justice  of 
the  peace  of  Queens  county.  He  died  November  24th 
1790,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  on  the  south 
side  of  Fort  Hill  at  Oyster  Bay.  Mr.  Townsend  was  a 
zealous  patriot,  and  did  not  hesitate  in  the  part  he  was 
to  act  in  the  great  struggle  between  the  mother  country 
and  his  own. 

Solomon  Townsend,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Oyster  Bay,  in 
1746.  He  early  engaged  in  navigation,  for  which  almost 
from  infancy  he  evinced  a strong  predilection,  and  in  his 
twentieth  year  was  put  in  charge  of  a brig  belong- 
ing to  his  father.  When  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion broke  out  he  was  in  command  of  the  ship  “Glasgow,” 
belonging  to  Thomas  Buchanan;  but,  owing  to  the  in- 
terruption of  trade  between  the  colonies  and  England, 
she  was  left  by  direction  of  the  owner  in  London. 
Obtaining  permission  to  leave  England  Captain  Towns- 
end went  over  to  France,  and  while  at  Paris  made  the  ac- 


quaintance of  his  celebrated  countryman  Dr.  Franklin,  to 
whom  he  found  means  of  making  himself  agreeable,  and 
by  whom  he  was  introduced  at  court;  he  also  received 
other  tokens  of  his  friendship  and  regard.  He  obtained 
the  following  certificate  of  protection  from  his  friend 
when  he  left  France  for  his  native  country: 

“Passey,  near  Paris,  June  27th  1778. 

“I  certify  to  whom  it  may  concern  that  Captain 
Solomon  Townsend,  of  New  York,  mariner,  hath  this  day 
appeared  voluntarily  before  me  and  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States  of  America,  according  to 
the  resolution  of  Congress,  thereby  acknowledging  him- 
self a subject  of  the  United  States. 

“B.  Franklin.” 

The  original  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  family  at 
Oyster  Bay.  Captain  Townsend  was  also  commissioned 
by  Dr.  Franklin  as  a volunteer  midshipman  in  the  Conti- 
nental navy,  and  for  this  purpose  he  obtained  his  neces- 
sary equipments  in  Paris.  He  sailed  soon  after  in  the 
frigate  “Providence”  for  Boston,  with  Commodore  Abra- 
ham Whipple.  Captain  Townsend  followed  the  sea  until 
he  was  34  years  old,  crossing  the  Atlantic  thirty-six  times 
without  accident.  He  often  remarked  that  three-quarters 
of  the  accidents  at  sea  occurred  either  through  ignorance 
or  carelessness.  After  leaving  the  sea  he  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  the  manufacture  of  iron,  his  works  being  at 
Augusta,  Orange  county,  Riverhead,  Suffolk  county,  and 
a large  anchor  forge  in  New  York  city.  He  was  married 
on  the  first  of  February  1782  to  Annie,  daughter  of  his 
cousin  Peter  Townsend,  son  of  the  fourth  Henry  Town- 
send, who  resided  at  Chester,  Orange  county.  Peter 
Townsend  was  also  largely  interested  in  iron,  his  works 
being  at  Stirling,  a few  miles  off.  At  his  works  was  made 
the  celebrated  chain  which  was  drawn  across  the  Hudson 
River  to  prevent  the  British  ships  of  war  from  going 
above  the  Highlands.  The  contract  for  the  chain  was 
made  between  the  government  and  Mr.  Townsend  by 
Timothy  Pickering,  Washington’s  secretary  of  war;  he 
and  Mr.  Townsend  driving  down  to  the  works,  of  a 
stormy  night,  to  see  the  first  link  made,  so  that  Pickering 
could  report  to  General  Washington.  Owing  to  the 
great  size  of  the  chain  only  three  links  could  be  carted 
at  a time  by  the  double  ox  carts.  Captain  Townsend 
was  a member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1801, 
and  represented  New  York  city  in  the  Assembly  of  the 
State  for  six  years.  He  died  of  apoplexy,  March  27th 
1811,  while  a member. 

The  children  of  Solomon  Townsend  were  Hannah, 
Anne,  Mary,  Phebe,  Samuel,  Jacob,  Peter  and  Solomon. 
Hannah  married  Isaiah  Townsend,  of  Albany,  and  left  a 
large  and  distinguished  family.  Anne  married  Judge 
Effingham  Lawrence.  Mary  married  Edward  H.  Nicoll, 
ofie  of  New  York’s  most  distinguished  traders  and  ship- 
pers. Phebe  married  James  Thorne.  Peter  Townsend 
was  educated  as  a physician,  and  rose  to  prominence 
in  his  profession.  He  assisted  Valentine  Mott  in  his 
translation  of  Velpeau’s  Surgery;  and  Dr.  Townsend’s 
work  upon  the  yellow  fever,  written  fifty  years  ago,  is  an 
authority  at  this  day.  He  was  also  the  founder  of  the 


492 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Seaman’s  Retreat.  Jacob  Townsend  was  a lawyer,  and 
Samuel  a merchant. 

It  was  with  his  brother-in-law,  Edward  H.  Nicoll, 
that  Solomon  Townsend,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
began  his  business  life  at  the  age  of  15  years. 
In  1820  the  firm  of  Smith  & Nicoll  conducted  the 
most  extensive  grocery  and  importing  business  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  their  yearly  transactions  amounting  to 
$3,000,000,  about  one-tenth  of  the  annual  sales  of  the 
Claflins  and  Stewarts  of  to-day.  Here  for  four  years 
Solomon  Townsend  was  taught  thoroughly  all  that  per- 
tained to  a commercial  life,  and  when  19  years  old  he 
was  sent  as  supercargo  on  the  largest  American  ship  of 
the  day,  the  “Washington,”  741  tons,  to  Canton,  China, 
where  he  aided  in  the  purchase  and  shipment  of  the 
largest  cargo  up  to  that  time  imported  from  China, 
amounting  to  1,400  (measurement)  tons  and  valued  at 
$700,000.  The  customs  duties  on  this  shipment  amounted 
to  $600,000.  In  1828  Mr.  Townsend  embarked  on  his 
own  account  in  a commission  and  distributing  grocery 
trade,  and  soon  made  himself  thoroughly  familiar  with 
its  minutest  details. 

In  relating  the  life  work  of  this  distinguished  gentle- 
man we  should  not  fail  to  record  an  heroic  act.  When  a 
young  merchant,  at  the  age  of  30  years,  he  risked  his  life 
in  the  rescue  of  a lad  who  had  fallen  one  December  day 
from  the  steamboat  wharf  in  his  native  village.  It  was 
only  one  of  the  many  unselfish  acts  of  a well  rounded, 
noble  career. 

The  financial  disasters  of  1836  and  1837  came,  and  a 
large  portion  of  Mr.  Townsend’s  accumulations  was 
swept  away;  but  his  care  and  economy  of  enterprise,  as 
it  might  be  termed,  now  stood  him  in  good  stead,  for  his 
credit  remained  unimpaired  and  his  aptitude  for  unravel- 
ing the  twisted  and  tangled  affairs  of  finance  not  only 
made  him  successful  in  later  days  in  his  headship  of  the 
old  house,  to  which  his  earliest  services  were  given,  but 
also  pointed  him  out  to  the  community  as  a man  well 
qualified  to  represent  the  rapidly  increasing  interests  of 
the  metropolis  in  the  State  Legislature.  After  the  good 
old  method — seldom  put  in  operation  to-day — the  office 
sought  the  man,  and  without  solicitation  or  expectation, 
on  the  part  of  even  his  most  intimate  friends,  he  was 
placed  in  nomination  for  the  Assembly  in  1838  by  the 
almost  unanimous  vote  of  the  Democratic  convention. 
At  that  time  the  county  of  New  York  was  entitled  to 
thirteen  members  of  Assembly,  who  were  chosen  at  large 
by  the  voters  of  the  county.  The  intrusion  of  the  400 
Philadelphia  “ pipe-layers,”  and  their  unchecked  “ repeat- 
ing” at  the  polls  of  the  several  wards,  during  the  three 
days  of  election  then  provided  by  law,  defeated  the  en- 
tire ticket.  Mr.  Townsend’s  name,  however,  stood  first 
in  the  vote  polled  by  his  party,  and  in  1840,  his  popular- 
ity having  grown  meanwhile  by  reason  of  his  sound 
articles  on  legislative  matters  in  the  public  press,  he  was 
elected  by  a very  flattering  vote.  He  served  during  the 
sessions  of  1841,  1842  and  1843,  and  held  a leading  posi- 
tion on  the  banking  and  insurance  committee,  then,  as 
now,  one  of  the  most  important  committees  of  the  Legis- 


lature. His  reports  upon  the  questions  of  currency  had 
much  weight  with  the  Assembly.  The  members  had 
learned  to  appreciate  his  thoroughness  in  the  subject,  his 
earnestness  in  the  reforms  proposed,  his  sterling  integ- 
rity of  purpose;  so  that  in  1842  he  was  enabled  to  in- 
duce measures  which  settled  the  principles  of  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Free  Banking  law,  the  leading  features 
of  which  were  incorporated  in  the  banking  law  of  Great 
Britain  in  1844,  and  in  1863  in  our  national  bank  system. 

In  1846  Mr.  Townsend  was  chosen  a member  of  the 
convention  for  the  revision  of  the  constitution  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  The  manner  of  his  election  showed 
the  general  confidence  he  had  gained;  for,  although  nomi- 
nated as  a Democrat,  his  large  majority  was  made  up  in 
no  small  part  by  voters  of  an  opposing  political 
faith.  The  journal  and  the  debates  show  that  he  took  a 
very  active  part  in  the  deliberations  of  a body  distin- 
guished by  the  membership  of  such  men  as  John  A.  Dix, 
Charles  O’Connor  and  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  He  was  an 
earnest  advocate  of  free  public  education,  free  home- 
steads, free  banking;  of  the  full  completion  of  the  Erie, 
Champlain  and  Oswego  canals  and  the  giving  up  of  the 
lateral  canals  when  they  should  be  no  longer  needed;  of 
courts  of  conciliation  and  arbitration,  of  an  elective  ju- 
diciary, and  of  the  abolition  of  inspection  laws  and  un- 
necessary offices;  and  his  views  received  endorsement 
either  in  the  constitution  itself  or  by  subsequent  enact- 
ments of  the  Legislature.  In  his  opposition  to  special 
legislation  he  was  always  alert  and  pronounced.  The 
State  should  legislate  for  the  general  welfare,  and,  except 
when  the  whole  sovereignty  was  of  necessity  concerned, 
not  for  localities  or  for  individual  or  class  interests.  On 
this  principle  he  favored  the  increase  of  the  power  of 
county  boards  of  supervisors.  To  preserve  an  organized 
system  of  defense  he  advocated  the  one-day  muster  and 
parade  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  militia,  and  an  organi- 
zation of  the  officers  as  a corps  for  prompt  service.  The 
National  Guard  ot  the  State  is  an  outgrowth  of  this  latter 
scheme. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  regarded  among  his  colleagues  in 
public  life  of  thirty-five  years  ago  as  a “radical,”  so  that 
in  his  vigorous  advocacy  of  strong  innovations  upon  the 
old-time  practices  and  usages  of  legislation  he  encountered 
determined  opposition  even  among  his  closest  personal 
and  political  friends;  but  in  the  going  and  the  coming  of 
the  years  public  sentiment  has  steadily  found  its  way  to 
a pronounced  approval  of  the  measures  and  policies 
which  were  so  slightly  encouraged  when  first  advanced 
by  him  either  through  the  press  or  at  the  forum. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  twice  elected  a commissioner  of 
education  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  finance  committee  of  the  board.  It  was  he  who  ne- 
gotiated the  purchase  of  the  site  for  the  erection  of  the 
New  York  Free  Academy,  which  has  since  become  the 
College  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Many  other  school 
sites  were  purchased  and  school  buildings  erected  during 
his  connection  with  the  board  and  under  his  advice. 
The  prices  paid  for  these  purchases  thirty  years  ago, 
compared  with  the  present  cost  of  similar  sites,  show  how 


HON.  SOLOMON  TOWNSEND. 


493 


marvelously  rapid  has  been  the  increase  meanwhile  in 
the  value  of  property  in  New  York. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  great  Rebellion  in  1861  Mr. 
Townsend  changed  his  residence  to  his  native  village, 
while  continuing  his  business  connection  in  the  city. 
He  was  at  once  called  upon  to  assist  in  organizing  the 
succor  which  New  York  State  was  called  upon  to  furnish 
to  the  national  government.  He  had  freely  used  his  for- 
cible pen  in  the  endeavor  to  arrest  the  calamity  of  civil 
strife,  but  when  it  came  he  bent  every  energy  to  meet  it, 
and  in  season  and  out  of  season  worked  strenuously  to 
restore  the  supremacy  of  law  and  order.  Among  the 
mementos  of  this  stirring  period  most  prized  and  cher- 
ished by  his  family  is  the  rough  draft  of  a resolution  pre- 
pared by  him  and  adopted  by  his  townsmen  at  a meeting 
held  in  the  village  of  East  Norwich,  in  which  those  pres- 
ent pledged  their  individual  properties  and  fortunes  to 
sustain  the  county  supervisors  in  any  measures  taken  in 
advance  of  necessary  legislation  to  raise  means  to  fur- 
nish the  county’s  quota  for  the  patriot  army.  This  pro- 
cedure was  quickly  followed  elsewhere  in  the  State,  and, 
indeed,  the  language  of  the  resolution  was  adopted 
almost  in  terms  in  many  places,  in  response  to  the  presi- 
dent’s call  for  troops.  To  the  very  close  of  the  terrible 
struggle  Mr.  Townsend  devoted  his  large  experience,  his 
intelligent  judgment  and  his  great  force  of  character  to 
the  public  service,  as  a member  of  committees  of  safety, 
of  vigilance  and  of  relief,  taxing  his  physical  strength 
and  endurance  to  the  utmost  in  the  work.  Searching 
out  and  pursuing  to  their  correction  the  frauds  of  the 
bounty  jumpers,  at  the  hazard  of  threatened  violence 
he  urged  upon  reluctant  if  not  conniving  public  officials 
the  condign  punishment  of  those  miserable  wretches 
whose  peculations  and  depredations  were  sapping  the 
vitality  of  the  measures  for  the  reinforcement  of  the 
decimated  ranks  of  the  nation’s  defenders. 

In  1867  Mr.  Townsend  was  again  chosen  a member  of 
a convention  called,  in  pursuance  of  the  requirements  of 
the  organic  law  of  1846,  which  he  had  helped  to  frame, 
to  revise  the  constitution  of  the  State.  His  election  by 
a handsome  majority  over  such  a popular  and  distin- 
guished opponent  as  Governor  John  A.  King  attested  the 
appreciation  of  the  people  for  his  unwavering  fidelity  to 
their  welfare,  and  their  confidence  in  his  abilities  and  his 
moral  worth.  In  this  convention  Mr.  Townsend  was  as 
active  as  in  the  years  of  earlier  vigor,  when  he  had  forced 
his  “ radical  ” ideas  upon  the  attention  of  the  leaders  of 
public  affairs  in  the  State.  With  natural  force  unabated, 
with  experiences  ripened  and  matured,  with  an  intellect 
quick,  clear  and  suggestive,  he  proposed  or  urged  meas- 
ures of  moment  which  were  adopted  by  the  conven- 
tion or  afterward  found  their  way  into  the  organic  law  in- 
directly, by  means  of  a commission  whose  function  it  was  to 
propose  amendments  through  the  Legislature  to  the  people. 

Mr.  Townsend  was  the  first  to  organize  and  put  in 
practical  operation  the  workings  of  the  free  school  sys- 
tem in  his  native  village,  and  was  the  first  president  of 
the  board  of  education — a position  he  filled  many  years. 

In  1872  Mr.  Townsend  retired  from  active  business, 


and  in  the  old  home  which  from  time  to  time  he  had 
beautified  and  enlarged,  and  beneath  the  shade  of  the 
ancestral  trees,  he  sought  the  well  earned  quietude  and 
the  gentle  passing  down  into  the  twilight  which  they  only 
can  truly  delight  in  who  with  senses  keen,  with  faculties 
nerved  and  knit  for  action,  and  with  manly  ardor  have 
fought  the  good  fight  throughout  life’s  bustling  day. 
He  died  suddenly,  of  apoplexy,  on  the  2nd  of  April  1880. 

It  is  not  required  in  a brief  sketch  like  this  that  one 
should  attempt  to  present  more  than  an  outline  of  the 
characteristics  which  distinctively  marked  the  man.  The 
point  of  departure  and  return  in  any  fair  description  of 
Mr.  Townsend  must  be  his  unswerving  integrity  of  pur- 
pose. Honesty  with  him  meant  more  than  fair  dealing 
with  his  fellow-men ; it  was  the  mainspring  of  his  business 
life,  of  his  public  acts  and  of  his  home  polity.  To  give 
to  every  man  his  just  due,  without  distinction,  was  a pre- 
cept to  which  he  faithfully  adhered.  Large  hearted, 
generous  and  charitable  to  the  foibles  of  others,  looking 
always  rather  for  the  good  than  the  evil  in  the  world,  he 
held  himself  to  strict  account  at  the  bar  of  conscience. 
His  was  a name  that  had  been  honored  for  generations, 
and  there  seemed  to  be  ever  abiding  with  him  a sort  of 
“ noblesse  oblige  ” which  made  him  reverence  the  home 
traditions  and  with  chivalrous  devotion  maintain  and  per- 
petuate what  he  held  to  be  his  family’s  honor  and  fame, 
arising  not  from  station  or  condition  but  from  well  acting 
their  part  in  the  earlier  time;  so  that  he  treasured  with 
warm  filial  devotion  the  relics  of  his  father’s  and  grand- 
father’s day,  and  carefully  preserved  the  evidences  of 
their  honorable  connection  with  events  which  are  part  of 
the  history  of  the  country.  So  far  did  he  carry  this  re- 
spect for  ancestry  that  it  was  playfully  said  of  him  that 
“he  built  a house  to  preserve  a door,’’  and  the  saying  was 
not  without  a fragment  of  truth.  Indeed  he  had  that  tact 
to  combine  the  practical  with  the  aesthetic,  either  in  form 
or  ideal,  which  is  very  rare.  The  old  homestead,  for  in- 
stance, is  a study  in  this  respect.  It  presents  nothing 
very  peculiar  at  first  glance,  but  one  finds  it  on  examina- 
tion to  be  a well  harmonized  structure  of  five  different 
frames,  each  representing  some  period  in  the  family  his- 
tory. The  subject  of  water  power,  to  which  Mr.  Towns- 
end gave  much  time  and  attention,  suggested  to  him  to 
lead  from  springs,  at  some  distance  from  the  house,  a 
supply  of  water,  which  is  forced  by  hydraulic  rams  to  a 
reservoir  in  one  of  the  gables,  and  furnishes  a convenient 
supply  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  conduits  were  so 
constructed  through  the  grounds  as  to  refresh  the 
vitality  of  certain  old  pear  trees  which  Mr.  Townsend 
cared  for,  not  only  because  they  added  beauty  to  the 
lawn,  but  because  they  were  planted  by  those  he  revered 
of  a past  generation. 

The  swiftly  passing  months  have  filled  out  the  period 
of  mourning,  but  those  who  learned  life’s  best  lessons 
from  his  words  and  his  noble  example  will,  with  his 
widowed  wife  and  her  children — all  of  whom  still  gather 
about  the  family  fireside — lovingly  and  reverently  cherish 
a remembrance  of  Solomon  Townsend  that  will  not  soon 
fade  away  behind  the  misty  curtains  which  the  years 
drop  between  the  past  and  the  future. 


55 


494 


Scudder  V.  Whitney. 

Henry  Whitney,  the  earliest  of  the  Whitney  family 
who  can  be  traced  in  America,  was  born  in  England, 
probably  about  the  year  1620.  The  first  mention  of  him 
on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  is  found  in  the  records  of 
the  town  of  Southold,  Long  Island,  where  on  the  8th  of 
October  1649  he  joined  with  three  others  in  buying  lands 
at  Hashamonock,  in  that  town. 

In  1658  he  is  found  in  the  town  of  Huntington,  where 
he  seems  to  have  been  an  influential  citizen  until  1663, 
when  he  removed  to  Jamaica  in  Queens  county. 

Darling  Whitney,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  and  belonging  to  the  fifth  generation  of 
the  Whitney  family  in  America,  was  born  in  Stamford, 
Conn.,  September  25th  1758.  He  married  Sarah  Valen- 
tine and  settled  in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  at  what  was 
then  known  as  East  Woods,  now  Woodbury;  and  here,  at 
his  death,  he  left  a family  consisting  of  six  children,  viz.: 
Daniel;  John,  the  father  of  Hon.  D.  B.  Whitney,  M.  D., 
who  now  resides  at  East  Norwich,  L.  I.;  Israel  C., 
Naomi,  Esther  and  Sarah.  Daniel,  the  oldest  of  these 
children,  was  born  July  2nd  1781.  He  married  Nancy 
Valentine  of  Suffolk  county,  and  succeeded  his  father 


on  the  homestead  at  Woodbury.  His  children  were: 
Amelia  A.,  who  married  Charles  A.  Van  Sise;  John  C., 
who  married  in  New  York,  was  a merchant  in  Brooklyn, 
and  died  there  in  1877;  Daniel  D.,  who  has  served  six 
years  as  alderman  and  one  term  as  register  of  arrears  in 
the  city  of  Brooklyn  and  is  now  president  of  the  Hamil- 
ton Fire  Insurance  Company;  and  Scudder  V.  Whitney, 
the  gentleman  whose  portrait  and  autograph  appear  at 
the  head  of  this  page. 

This  youngest  son  was  born  at  the  homestead  where 
he  now  resides,  at  Woodbury  (a  part  of  the  East  Woods 
tract)  on  the  nth  of  March  1821,  and  here  on  his  fa- 
ther’s farm  his  early  days  were  spent.  The  foundation 
of  his  education  was  laid  in  the  common  schools,  but  in 
a seat  of  learning  by  the  family  fireside,  with  Scudder  V. 
Whitney  as  his  tutor,  he  acquired  most  of  that  mental 
discipline  which  fitted  him  for  the  place  he  was  destined 
to  fill.  Nor  was  his  education  all  that  he  began  in  the 
old  country  school-house;  for  here  as  a pupil  he  won  the 
confidence  of  the  people  so  far  that  in  the  winter  when 
he  was  but  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  invited  to  be- 
come the  teacher  in  the  school  where  he  had  hitherto 
been  a pupil.  He  taught  here  two  terms,  and  his  success 
in  this  his  first  school  was  high  proof  of  his  executive 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  OYSTER  BAY. 


495 


ability  and  good  judgment.  Subsequently  he  attended 
the  Oyster  Bay  Academy,  under  the  Rev.  Marmaduke 
Earle,  where  he  learned  surveying,  a science  which  he 
has  since  quite  extensively  practiced  as  an  art.  In  this 
capacity  he  has  frequently  served  the  highway  commis- 
sioners, and  in  1873  the  board  of  supervisors  appointed 
him  to  act  in  behalf  of  Queens  county  to  settle  with 
Suffolk  county  the  division  line  between  the  two.  Mr. 
Whitney  in  politics  is  one  of  those  Democrats  who,  like 
poets,  are  born,  not  made;  for  he  inherits  his  views  and 
principles  from  at  least  two  generations  of  his  ancestors. 
He  was  elected  superintendent  of  common  schools  in 
1845  by  this  party,  and  has  since  been  repeatedly  elected 
to  positions  of  trust  in  his  native  town,  having  served 
six  years  as  trustee  of  the  Jones  fund,  fifteen  years  as 
assessor,  and  finally  at  the  town  election  in  1881  he  was 
chosen  supervisor  of  Oyster  Bay  by  a majority  of  413 
votes  in  a total  of  1,843,  and  had  a majority  in  each 
election  district  in  the  town. 

Although  this  is  his  first  year  in  the  board  of  supervi- 
sors his  well  known  ability  and  experience  in  other  pub- 
lic duties  secured  his  appointment  on  some  of  the  prin- 
cipal committees,  where  he  is  ably  vindicating  the  judg- 
ment of  his  townsmen  who  have  called  him  to  adminis- 
ter this  important  trust. 

Mr.  Whitney  has  for  twenty  years  been  a director  in 
the  Glen  Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  and  had 
served  as  trustee  in  his  school  district  for  a like  period 
when  he  resigned  the  latter  position  to  qualify  as  super- 
visor. 

As  peacemaker  among  men  he  has  rendered  valuable 
service  to  his  friends  and  neighbors  in  a large  number  of 
cases  in  the  community.  It  has  frequently  fallen  in  the 
line  of  his  duty  to  administer  upon  the  estates  of  his 
deceased  neighbors  or  to  execute  their  last  wills,  and, 
although  not  an  attorney,  he  has  been  very  frequently 
called  upon  as  a careful  conveyancer  to  write  deeds, 
draft  wills  and  prepare  similar  legal  papers  for  his 
friends. 

His  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Titus,  youngest  daughter  of 
Henry  Titus  and  sister  of  Daniel  D.  Whitney’s  wife,  took 
place  April  9th  1849.  They  have  reared  a family  of 
three  promising  children — Phoebe  T.,  born  January  26th 
1852:  Daniel  S.,  born  November  4th  1855;  and  Henry 
C.,  born  May  31st  1867.  These  children  are  all  living, 
and  in  the  old  homestead  with  their  parents  form  a happy 
circle,  respected  socially  by  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of 
their  acquaintance. 


Richard  Smith. 

The  branch  of  the  Smith  family  to  be  considered  here 
has  descended  from  Jacob  Smith  of  Hempstead,  who 
married  Freelove  Jones  of  South  Oyster  Bay.  Their 
children  were  two  sons,  Thomas  and  Isaac,  and  a 
daughter.  Thomas  married  Phoebe  Allen  of  Great  Neck, 
and  raised  a family  of  ten  children.  The  sixth,  named 


Thomas,  was  born  in  1755  and  married  Deborah  Butler, 
a sister  of  William  and  John  Butler  of  Dosoris.  He  died 
December  3d  1807,  leaving  five  children,  viz.,  Thomas, 
Richard,  Abram,  Isaac  and  Sarah.  None  of  these  were 
married  except  Richard,  who  left  two  sons,  Daniel  W. 
and  Thomas. 

Richard  Smith  mentioned  above,  whose  portrait  ap- 
pears in  connection  with  this  sketch,  was  born  August 
5th  1791,  on  Center  Island,  where  his  family  had  resided 
for  two  or  more  generations.  His  wife  was  Phoebe,  the 
daughter  of  Joseph  White  the  old  ship-builder. 

Richard  spent  some  part  of  his  time  working  a farm  at 
Oyster  Bay.  He  was  also  engaged  in  driving  a stage  for 
a time  between  that  place  and  Hicksville.  In  later  life 
he  parted  with  his  interests  on  Center  Island  and  bought 
land  on  Cove  Neck,  where  he  afterward  resided.  He 
had  strong  faith  in  the  final  triumph  of  the  Union  armies 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  accordingly  in- 
vested in  government  securities  at  that  time.  These  se- 
curities inured  greatly  to  his  benefit  in  after  years.  He 
lived  a life  of  usefulness,  and  came  down  to  his  death  in 
a good  old  age,  departing  this  life  March  12th  1868. 
His  two  sons  reside  on  the  property  on  Cove  Neck 
owned  by  their  father.  Daniel  W.  is  a large  oyster 
producer,  who  has  sold  for  cash  in  one  year  oysters  to  the 
amount  of  $40,000,  besides  those  sold  on  running  ac- 
counts. He  owns  several  sloops  engaged  in  the  trade. 
His  residence  is  finely  situated  on  Oyster  Bay  Harbor, 
and  his  home  though  plain  is  a home  of  industry,  comfort 
and  hospitality. 


496 


Daniel  K.  Youngs. 

Beautifully  located  on  Oyster  Bay  Harbor,  and  nest- 
ling among  the  hillsides  which  slope  to  the  very  edge  of 
that  picturesque  sheet  of  water,  is  the  Youngs  home- 
stead. Here  eight  generations  of  the  family  have  been 
born,  and  here  the  family  still  reside,  in  a house  a por- 
tion of  which  more  than  two  centuries  ago  sheltered 
their  ancestors. 

The  Rev.  John  Youngs,  the  first  of  the  family  who 
came  to  America,  set  out  from  Hingham,  England,  and 
arrived  at  New  Haven  in  1638.  From  thence  he  migra- 
ted to  Southold,  Suffolk  county,  where  many  of  his  de- 
scendants still  reside.  He  was  known  as  a very  devout 
man,  but  one  fully  alive  and  active  in  secular  as  well  as 
religious  affairs.  His  second  son,  Thomas,  removed  from 
Southold  to  Oyster  Bay  Cove  in  1655,  and  was  admitted 
into  the  original  purchase,  the  share  “ set  off  ” to  him 
being  what  was  usually  known  as  a half  right.  The  evi- 
dence of  ownership  was  surveyor’s  certificates,  some  of 
which  are  yet  extant.  Among  the  old  documents  of  the 
family,  recently  compiled  by  Hon.  William  J.  Youngs,  is 
a lease  made  by  Thomas  Youngs  to  his  two  sons,  bearing 
date  1670.  It  only  historical  value  consists  in  showing 
how  much  had  been  done  in  fifteen  years  toward  subdu- 
ing a comparative  wilderness. 

The  family  increased,  and  settled  in  and  about  the 
Cove  until  the  Revolutionary  war,  when,  owing  to  political 


differences,  one  branch  migrated  to  Connecticut.  At 
this  time  Daniel  Youngs  2nd  was  in  possession  of  the 
homestead.  He  was  a captain  of  militia,  and  his  accou- 
trements, muster  roll,  and  military  order-book  are  still 
preserved.  One  would  suppose  that  the  “captain”  was 
not  at  heart  very  loyal  to  “ His  Majesty,”  for  when  Wash- 
ington made  his  tour  of  Long  Island  he  remained  at  the 
Youngs  homestead  while  in  Oyster  Bay.  The  family 
still  preserve  many  relics  of  this  visit.  Daniel  Youngs 
3d  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  homestead.  He 
also  seems  to  have  had  a liking  for  the  military,  for  we 
find  he  was  a “trooper”  in  1812,  although  not  in  active 
service.  He  was  afterward  a justice  of  the  peace  of  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay,  and  was  noted  for  settling  almost 
every  suit  brought  before  him.  His  highest  emolument 
in  any  one  year  during  his  term  of  office  was  five  dollars. 
An  honest  and  upright  man,  of  modest  and  retiring  dis- 
position, he  was  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
died  in  1874,  at  the  ripe  age  of  91  years. 

Daniel  K.  Youngs  was  born  in  1817.  At  the  age  of  16 
he  succeeded  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm. 
A lad  of  studious  habits,  a finished  education  and  a pro- 
fession were  intended  for  him  by  his  parents;  but,  pre- 
ferring the  life  of  an  agriculturist,  he  was  permitted  to 
remain  on  the  farm.  Much  of  his  leisure  time  was  now 
devoted  to  the  study  of  standard  works  on  agriculture 
and  political  economy,  while  literature  and  the  classics 
were  not  neglected. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  OYSTER  BAY. 


497 


In  1850  he  married  Sarah  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Smith,  Esq.,  a lady  of  exemplary  character  and  a lineal 
descendant  of  Sir  John  (usually  known  as  “ Captain  ” 
John)  Underhill.  The  newly  married  people  removed 
from  the  Cove  to  Center  Island,  where  they  remained 
several  years,  and  from  whence  they  removed  to  the  old 
Underhill  homestead  (then  owned  by  Daniel  Smith,  Esq.), 
at  Matinecock.  Mr.  Youngs  was  at  this  time  president 
of  the  Queens  County  Agricultural  Society  and  one  of 
the  prominent  farmers  of  the  State. 

In  1865  he  repaired  to  Huntington,  Suffolk  county,  to 
obtain  for  his  son  the  advantages  of  the  academy  there. 
Here  he  remained  until  1875,  when  he  returned  to  the 
homestead  at  the  Cove. 

Although  he  desires  to  be  known  only  as  a practical 
farmer,  the  fact  remains  that  he  is  in  the  broadest  sense 
an  “agriculturist,”  being  an  authority  on  nearly  all  agri- 
cultural and  horticultural  topics. 

Mr.  Youngs,  his  unmarried  sister  Susan  M.  Youngs, 
and  brother  Thomas  are  now  the  owners  of  the  home- 
stead. Our  subject  has  one  son,  William  J.,  who  is  a 
lawyer  by  profession  and  has  twice  represented  Queens 
county  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  married  Eleanor 
Smith,  daughter  of  David  J.  Youngs,  in  1879,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  Fanny,  who  is  the  sole  repre- 
sentative of  the  ninth  generation  of  this  branch  of  the 
Youngs  family. 

Overlooking  the  homestead  and  the  bay  is  the  family 
cemetery.  Laid  out  with  paths,  and  with  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees,  it  lies  the  peaceful  resting  place  of  those  of 
the  family  who  have  gone  to  their  last  sleep.  In  the  center 
a large  marble  shaft  has  been  erected  to  the  memory  of 
the  original  progenitor  of  the  family  at  the  Cove.  It  is  a 
beautiful  spot,  fitly  chosen,  and  the  honorable  names 
borne  by  those  who  now  rest  there  will  ever  act  as  an 
incentive  to  honorable  deeds  to  those  of  the  family  living 
and  yet  to  live. 


Charles  Colyer. 

It  is  understood  that  Theodorus  Colyer  was  one  of 
three  brothers  (the  others  Abraham  and  Jacobus)  sup- 
posed to  have  emigrated  from  Holland,  and  that  he  had 
one  son,  named  John.  No  record  can  be  found  of  any 
other  children  of  said  Theodorus  Colyer. 

John  Colyer  was  born  March  29th  1729.  He  had  five 
children — Mary,  Charles,  Phebe,  Amy  and  Charles  2nd, 
the  last  born  March  27th  1769  and  the  only  one  that 
arrived  at  maturity. 

Charles  2nd  married  Martha  Whitson.  Their  children 
were  John  (died  in  infancy),  Stephen,  Sarah,  Richard,  John, 
Zebulon  W.  (died  in  infancy),  Charles,  Abraham,  Phebe, 
Jacob,  Israel,  Martha,  Ruth  W.,  and  Rachel.  Ten  of 
these  lived  to  be  heads  of  families.  It  is  related  of  Charles 
Colyer  (son  of  John,  that  one  day,  when  about  twelve 
years  old,  on  taking  his  horses  to  water  he  caught  sight 
of  some  British  officers  who  were  “pressing”  horses  to 
move  their  artillery.  They  espied  him  at  the  same  time, 


and  ordered  him  to  stop.  On  his  refusal  they  pursued, 
and  even  fired  at  him;  but  the  undaunted  young  hero, 
relying  on  the  speed  of  his  horses,  put  the  whip  to  them 
and  took  a “wood  road”  which  led  to  a thicket  in  a gully 
nearly  a mile  from  his  home.  There  he  hid  the  horses 
for  more  than  a week,  carrying  food  and  water  to  them 
at  night.  After  they  were  secured  he  crept  back  to  the 
brow  of  a hill  a few  rods  from  his  home,  and  heard  the 
officers  threatening  his  widowed  mother  on  his  account 
and  telling  her  that  if  they  found  her  son  they  would  kill 
him.  They  soon  left,  but  a few  days  after,  while  at  the 
house  of  a neighbor,  the  young  lad  recognized  his  former 
pursuers  there.  The  recognition  was  mutual,  and  they 
inquired  why  he  ran  away,  advised  him  not  do  the  like 
again  as  he  exposed  himself  to  the  danger  of  being  shot, 
gave  him  a piece  of  silver  and  called  him  a brave  little 
fellow.  Farewells  were  exchanged  and  they  saw  no  more 
of  each  other.  His  were  the  only  horses  of  the  neighbor- 
hood that  escaped  the  pressgang.  At  the  present  time 
the  people  of  the  vicinity  will  point  out  their  hiding- 
place.  Although  he  owned  several  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  what  is  now  known  as  Melville  and  Half  Hollow 
Hills,  and  on  the  south  shore  of  Long  Island,  he  decided 
to  become  a teacher.  Some  of  his  pupils  had  been  his 
schoolmates  (for  he  was  but  16  years  old),  and  in  order 
to  keep  in  advance  of  them  he  studied  diligently.  He 
also  became  one  of  the  first  surveyors  of  western  Suffolk 
county.  While  still  very  young  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  held  contin- 
uously until  his  death,  at  the  age  of  46. 

His  son  Charles  Colyer,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 


498 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


born  December  23d  1799,  in  what  is  known  as  Round 
Swamp  (town  of  Huntington,  Suffolk  county),  which  was 
a part  of  the  “ Bethpage  purchase  ” — a tract  of  land 
bought  by  Thomas  Powell  sen.  from  four  Indians  (Maw- 
mee,  alias  Serewanos,  William  Chepy,  Sewrushung,  and 
Wamussum)  August  18th  1695,  a “division”  of  which 
his  great-grandfather  Theodorus  Colyer  bought  in 
1755. 

On  March  5th  1822  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Richard  Van  Wyck  and  granddaughter  of  Theodorus  Van 
Wyck,  a lineal  descendant  of  Cornelius  Barentse  Van 
Wyck,  a member  of  an  old  and  noble  family  of  Holland, 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  1660  and  was  the  progeni- 
tor of  numerous  Van  Wycks,  as  mentioned  in  the  history 
of  the  Van  Wyck  family,  page  206  of  this  volume.  A few 
days  after  his  marriage  he  purchased  a farm  in  Woodbury, 
town  of  Oyster  Bay,  which  he  occupied  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  and  here  children  and  grandchildren 
crowded  around  for  many  happy  years  before  the  family 
circle  was  broken  by  Death,  the  relentless,  who  claimed 
some  as  his  own.  The  eldest  child,  Martha,  was  born 
June  8th  1823;  Charles  W.,  born  February  15th  1825, 
died  December  8th  1868;  Mary  E.,  born  July  8th  1827, 
died  December  7th  1862;  Mariam  was  born  July  25th 
1834;  Sarah  J.  June  17th  1843;  and  the  youngest, 
Richard  C.  Colyer,  April  4th  1845. 

This  son  now  occupies  the  homestead  farm;  and, 
although  but  a young  man,  has  been  called  by  his  towns- 
men to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  Though  hav- 
ing reached  only  the  second  year  of  his  term  he  has  been 
highly  complimented  by  the  people  for  his  ability  and 
fitness  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Martha  Colyer,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  Colyer, 
married,  first,  John  Nelson  Monfort,  a man  of  sterling 
character,  who  is  remembered  with  respect  by  all  who 
knew  him,  and  by  none  more  kindly  than  by  her  who 
became  his  wife  August  10th  1842.  Several  years  after 
the  death  of  Mr.  Monfort  his  widow  married  Francis 
M.  A.  Wicks,  well  known  as  a justice  in  Suffolk 
county. 

Charles  W.  Colyer  married  Mary  Duryea.  Mary  E. 
Colyer  married  Francis  Sammis,  of  Hempstead,  May  23d 
1844.  Mariam  married  Ezra  Smith  in  1850.  Sarah  J. 
married  Ketcham  Buffet,  March  1863.  Richard  married 
Alice  O.,  daughter  of  Francis  M.  A.  Wicks,  September 
28th  1870. 

Captain  Colyer,  whose  portrait  appears  in  connection 
with  this  article,  brought  his  title  of  “Captain”  from  the 
training-field  of  the  State  militia,  where  he  commanded 
a company  eleven  years.  During  his  life  it  frequently 
became  his  duty  to  administer  some  of  the  minor  offices 
in  his  adopted  town.  In  politics  Mr.  Colyer  was  a 
staunch  Republican,  and  in  his  religious  views  partook 
somewhat  of  the  Quaker  ideas  of  his  ancestors.  His 
wife,  who  survives  to  cherish  the  memory  of  him  as  a 
loving  husband,  comes  from  one  of  the  old  families, 
whose  Presbyterianism  she  inherits.  Mr.  Colyer  was  a 
person  of  a peculiarly  happy  disposition  and  sweet 
temper,  and  the  twinkle  of  his  eye  when  telling  or  hear- 


ing an  amusing  story  showed  how  keen  a sense  of  humor 
he  possessed. 

After  a life  of  nearly  four-score  years  he  died  April 
9th  1878,  peacefully,  as  he  had  lived.  He  was  honored 
when  living  by  those  who  knew  him,  and  when  dead 
held  in  kindly  remembrance. 

M.  L.  H.  B. 


The  White  Family. 

Edward  White,  the  first  of  the  White  family  that  set- 
tled in  the  village  of  Oyster  Bay,  was  a Quaker,  and  came 
from  England  about  the  year  1660.  He  afterward  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Simon  Cooper,  and  settled  on  the 
property  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  great-great- 
grandson  Joseph  White.  Their  children  were  Simon, 
Mary,  Robert,  Joseph  Abigail,  Martha,  Judith,  Edward 
and  Ann.  Simon  married  Phebe  Wright;  they  lived  on 
the  old  family  homestead  and  had  two  children,  Judith 
and  Joseph.  Judith  married  Wright  Craft,  of  Duck 
Pond,  and  had  two  children,  Simon  and  Oliver. 

Joseph,  who  when  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out 
was  a young  man,  left  his  native  village  and  entered  the 
service  of  his  country.  While  he  was  on  an  American 
privateer  the  vessel  was  captured  off  Long  Island  by  an 
English  frigate,  and  all  hands  were  carried  prisoners  to 
Antigua  in  the  West  Indies,  where  Mr.  White  was  con- 
fined in  prison  two  years,  when  he  was  released  and  re- 
turned home.  He  then  went  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  a ship  carpenter,  for  which  in  his  old 
age  he  received  a pension  from  the  government.  After 
the  war  was  over  Mr.  White  returned  to  his  old  home- 
stead in  the  village  to  see  his  mother  (his  father,  Simon 
White,  having  died  when  Joseph  was  a young  child), 
which  he  had  not  dared  to  do  before,  as  the  village  of 
Oyster  Bay  was  in  possession  of  a regiment  of  British 
troops,  commanded  by  Colonel  Simcoe,  who  built  a fort 
on  the  high  ground  overlooking  the  village.  He  then 
married  Ann  Alsop,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  named 
Daniel,  Thomas,  Alsop,  Phebe  and  Philena.  Phebe  died 
young;  the  rest  of  the  children  all  grew  up,  married  and 
had  families.  Daniel  married  Mary  Kemp  and  had  two 
children,  Daniel  and  Isabella.  Thomas  married  Amelia 
Velsor  and  had  three  children,  Thomas,  Phebe  and 
George.  Alsop  married  Rhoda  Wortman  and  had  six 
children,  Coles,  Joseph,  Jacob,  Annie,  Fannie  and  Rhoda. 
Philena  married  Richard  Smith  and  had  children  Daniel, 
Thomas,  and  others  that  died  very  young. 

The  remains  of  Edward  White  and  Mary  his  wife  and 
of  most  of  their  descendants  lie  in  the  White  family 
burial  plot,  containing  about  half  an  acre,  situated  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  village,  on  the  north  side  of  the  main 
road  leading  to  Oyster  Bay  Cove. 

The  daughters  of  Edward  White  married  into  the 
Colwell,  Chadyne  and  Larrabee  families,  and  their  re- 
mains and  those  of  their  descendants  lie  in  the  White 
family  burial  plot,  as  the  many  tombstones  there  will 
show. 


THE  VILLAGE  OF  OYSTER  BAY. 


499 


OYSTER  BAY  VILLAGE. 

This  village  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  south  side  of 
the  excellent  harbor  from  which  it  and  the  town  take 
their  name.  The  place  is  abundantly  supplied  with  per- 
ennial springs  and  has  long  been  noted  as  a healthy  lo- 
cality. This  place  and  Roslyn  are  considered  to  be 
better  supplied  with  spring  water  than  any  other  places 
on  Long  Island. 

The  railroad  is  reached  by  two  lines  of  stages,  running 
respectively  to  Locust  Valley  and  Syosset,  each  of  which 
stations  is  about  four  miles  distant.  Efforts  are  being 
made  toward  the  construction  of  a “ north  side  ” railroad 
from  New  York  through  this  place  to  Huntington.  Many 
important  business  men  of  the  metropolis  reside  here, 
some  of  them  having  retired.  Vice-Chancellor  William 
T.  McCoun  spent  his  last  days  here. 

Much  of  the  early  history  of  the  place  is  embodied  in 
the  general  history  of  the  town.  The  original  village  site 
extended  from  the  foot  of  Mill  Hill  to  Cove  Hill,  and  as 
far  south  as  the  head  of  South  street,  and  included  the 
village  and  the  two  small  settlements  on  the  east  and 
west  known  as  the  Cove  and  Oyster  Bay  Harbor.  South 
street  is  mentioned  in  deeds  under  the  name  of  Main 
street  as  late  as  1848. 

Oyster  Bay  Academy  for  many  years  flourished  as  a 
useful  school  under  the  principalship  of  Rev.  Marmaduke 
Earle.  The  present  advantages  for  obtaining  an  educa- 
tion are  furnished  by  a union  free  school. 

There  is  an  extensive  library  and  reading  room  in  the 
village,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Christ 
Church.  A number  of  the  residents  of  the  village  and 
vicinity  have  contributed  liberally  by  donating  books. 

The  growth  of  the  place  has  been  slow.  The  chief 
industry  is  the  taking  of  oysters  and  clams  from  the  har- 
bor. There  are  several  stores  dealing  in  general  mer- 
chandise, also  hardware,  grocery,  shoe,  millinery,  clothing 
and  other  stores,  a coal  and  lumber  yard  and  two  fair 
sized  hotels. 

James  M.  Ludlam. 

One  of  the  principal  business  men  of  this  village  is 
James  M.  Ludlam,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  in  Southampton,  Suffolk  county,  L.  I., 
where  they  owned  a mill  in  1665.  The  first  will  on  rec- 
ord in  the  city  of  New  York,  dated  April  27th  1665,  is 
that  made  by  William  Ludlam  of  Southampton.  It 
showed  that  he  had  three  daughters,  and  three  sons, 
Henry,  Joseph  and  Anthony.  Joseph  removed  to  Hog 
Island  (now  Center  Island)  in  1680,  where  he  died  and 
was  buried.  One  branch  of  the  family  still  resides  there. 
Thomas  Ludlam,  the  grandfather  of  James  M.  Ludlam, 
removed  from  that  island  in  1740.  He  was  one  of  those 
who  during  the  Revolution  were  compelled  to  render  aid 
and  comfort  to  the  British,  and  at  one  time  was  made  to 
draw  wood  across  the  East  River  on  the  ice.  One  branch 
of  this  family  is  the  subject  of  a special  mention  in  the 
article  on  Center  Island. 

James  M.  Ludlam,  the  gentleman  first  mentioned  in 


this  sketch,  is  a son  of  Joseph  Ludlam.  He  was  born  at 
Mill  Neck,  on  Oyster  Bay  Harbor,  November  3d  1809, 
and  lived  here,  giving  his  attention  to  agriculture,  until 
1836,  when  he  removed  to  Oyster  Bay  village  and  com- 
menced business  in  a country  store.  The  building  then 
occupied,  a frame  structure,  was  destroyed  in  1848  by  a 
fire  which  originated  in  an  adjacent  building.  Mr.  Lud- 
lam immediately  replaced  his  store  by  a substantial  brick 
one,  which  is  still  owned  by  him  and  occupied  by  the 
firm  of  Frederick  Ludlam  & Co.  Mr.  Ludlam  carried 
on  this  business  alone  about  twenty-five  years;  at  first  in 
a small  way,  but  with  a gradually  increasing  prosperity. 
In  i86r  his  son  James  H.  became  a partner  with  him. 
After  about  forty  years  of  activity  in  this  business  the 
senior  Mr.  Ludlam  retired,  leaving  the  business  to  his 
two  sons,  James  H.  and  Frederick,  and  now  the  business 
has  passed  into  the  hands  of  Frederick  Ludlam  & Co. 
During  the  years  he  was  engaged  in  this  business  many 
changes  occurred,  with  general  prosperity,  though  during 
the  financial  disasters  of  1857  he  suffered  loss  with  others 
by  bank  failures.  Most  of  his  time  has  been  devoted  to 
his  private  affairs,  to  the  exclusion  of  politics  and  public 
business,  except  as  he  has  ever  been  deeply  interested  in 
the  public  schools.  In  the  school  board  he  has  served 
ten  years  as  trustee,  and  in  local  improvements  he  has 
been  largely  interested.  He  purchased  ground  and  erect- 
ed a large  number  of  dwellings  as  a means  of  developing 
that  part  of  the  village  in  which  he  lived.  To  further 
the  interests  of  the  town  he  recently  offered  to  build  at 
his  own  expense  a mile  of  the  proposed  north  shore  rail- 


5oo 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


road.  He  was  also  largely  interested  in  securing  for  the 
village  a steamboat  connection  with  New  York. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ludlam  is  a Republican,  and  although 
frequently  solicited  by  that  party  to  be  its  candidate  he 
has  persistently  refused  to  accept  any  such  honors,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  time  to  building  up  his  business  and 
advancing  the  interests  of  his  native  town.  Here,  in 
his  comfortable  home  in  the  village  where  the  active 
years  of  his  life  have  been  spent,  this  gentleman  is  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  a successful  career,  and  is  surrounded  by 
a family  consisting  of  his  estimable  wife,  two  promising 
daughters,  and  two  sons  who  have  already  taken  and 
maintained  a prominent  place  as  young  men  of  business. 
Mrs.  Ludlam  was  formerly  Sarah  H.  Carhart,  of  Pough- 
keepsie; they  were  married  in  June  1844. 

Society  of  Friends,  Oyster  Bay. 

The  origin  and  early  growth  of  this  society  are  not 
recorded.  John  Taylor,  a traveling  minister,  says  a 
meeting  was  settled  here  in  1659.  In  1661  Richard 
Harker,  Samuel  Andrews,  Richard  Chasmore,  Nathaniel 
Coles  and  Henry  and  John  Townsend,  in  order  to  escape 
persecution,  removed  from  Jamaica  to  Oyster  Bay.  The 
earliest  written  document  is  the  certificate  of  the  marriage 
of  Samuel  Andrews  and  Mary  Wright  (August  8th  1663), 
which  took  place  at  the  usual  place  of  meeting,  at  Anthony 
Wright’s.  George  Fox  was  here  in  1672,  and  preached 
from  a massive  rock  in  the  woods  to  a multitude  too 
large  for  any  house  to  hold.  The  “ Ranters  ” had  made 
themselves  quite  prominent,  but  Fox  and  others  did  much 
to  put  down  their  doctrine. 

In  1672  Anthony  Wright  gave  the  Friends  a lot  six 
poles  square  on  the  northeast  corner  of  his  home  lot,  for 
a burial  place,  and  also  forty  feet  square  at  the  south- 
east corner  to  build  a meeting-house  on.  Samuel 
Andrews  and  John  Feake  built  the  house,  thirty-six  by 
twenty-four  feet,  and  twelve  feet  in  the  studs,  for 
^£20,  to  be  paid  for  in  wheat  at  4s.  4d.  per  bushel, 
peas  at  3s.  6d.,  corn  at  3s.  6d.,  and  pork  at  4d.  per 
pound.  The  building  had  eight  windows  fitted  for 
glass,  two  on  each  side  and  end,  with  shutters.  It 
also  had  two  windows  in  the  gable  end,  fitted  with  shut- 
ters. There  were  two  double  doors,  one  on  each  of  the 
two  sides.  The  carpenters  were  to  have  the  building  up 
for  further  finishing  by  the  30th  of  January  1673. 

In  1680  John  Vokins  came  here  and  preached.  He 
speaks  of  the  Friends  as  the  Lord’s  “tender  people;” 
but  grieves  that  the  “ Ranters  ” oppress  them.  In  1691 
the  Oyster  Bay  meeting,  which  included  all  the  Friends 
on  Long  Island  and  in  New  York,  was  represented  in 
the  general  meeting  at  Newport,  R.  I.  The  first  meet- 
ing-house was  taken  down  and  sold  in  1693.  From  this 
time  until  1721  dissensions  seem  to  have  reigned  and 
weakened  the  sect. 

It  seems  that  up  to  this  time  meetings  had  been  held 
in  connection  with  the  Friends  at  Matinecock. 

The  coming  of  John  Fothergill  in  1722  and  Thomas 
Chalkley  in  1725,  each  of  whom  held  large  meetings, 
seemed  to  revive  the  society;  but  no  movement  to  build 


again  was  made  until  1749.  William  Reckitt  in  1758 
visited  Oyster  Bay,  where  there  had  been  a large  meeting 
“ but  now  much  declined.” 

During  the  Revolution  the  British  soldiers  destroyed 
the  seats  and  galleries  and  otherwise  damaged  the  meet- 
ing-house and  encroached  on  the  burying  ground.  Re- 
pairs to  the  building,  fencing  and  the  setting  of  monu 
ments  on  the  bounds  cost  ^58  4s.  Richard  Jordan  held 
a meeting  here  in  1797,  but  did  not  find  many  Friends. 
The  meeting-house  is  still  standing  and  is  occasionally 
visited  by  traveling  preachers. 

Christ  Church  (Episcopal),  Oyster  Bay. 

As  early  as  1693  a law  was  passed,  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Governor  Fletcher,  by  which  Hempstead  and 
Oyster  Bay  were  made  one  precinct  or  parish  for  settling 
and  maintaining  a minister.  By  an  act  of  the  same  As- 
sembly each  parish  was  required  to  raise  ^(60  by  a gen- 
eral tax  on  all  the  freeholders  for  the  support  of  the  min- 
istry of  this  establishment.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the 
society,  in  the  library  of  Arch  Tennison,  in  1701,  a com- 
munication was  received  from  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  in 
which  he  says:  “The  places  where  the  Quakers  have  the 
greatest  meetings  on  Long  Island  are  Cushing  [Flushing] 
and  Oyster  Bay,  in  both  which  places  I have  been  several 
times  at  their  meetings.”  In  a report  to  the  society  em- 
bracing an  account  of  his  labors  from  June  1702  to  June 
1704  Mr.  Keith  speaks  of  having  traveled  “ on  Long 
Island  as  far  as  Oyster  Bay,”  and  again  he  says:  “We 
[meaning  the  Rev.  John  Talbot  and  himself]  had  very 
good  success,  most  specially  in  Pennsylvania,  the  two 
Jerseys  and  Oyster  Bay  on  Long  Island,  and  New  York, 
where  we  most  labored  and  continued  the  longest  time 
with  them.”  A minister,  under  the  auspices  of  the  So- 
ciety for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
was  sent  out  from  England  to  the  parish  of  Hempstead 
and  Oyster  Bay.  This  first  missionary  was  the  Rev.  John 
Thomas,  who  settled  at  Hempstead  in  the  spring  of  1705, 
also  having  the  care  of  Oyster  Bay,  thirteen  miles  distant. 
During  the  year  1707,  or  shortly  before,  the  first  church 
edifice  must  have  been  built,  although  it  is  probable  that 
it  remained  for  many  years  in  an  unfinished  state. 

From  a genealogical  record  in  Thompson’s  History  of 
Long  Island  it  appears  that  a great-grandson  of  the  Rev. 
John  Youngs  “was  a leading  man  in  the  Episcopal  church 
and  did  much  toward  the  erection  of  a place  of  worship 
for  that  denomination  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  present 
Oyster  Bay  academy,  which  land  is  still  known  as  the 
church  lot.”  This  Mr.  Youngs  was  born  in  1716,  and  his 
exertions  must  have  been  directed  toward  the  comple- 
tion of  the  church. 

In  1754  an  act  passed  the  colonial  Assembly  of  New 
York  “empowering  the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  Bay,  of  the 
congregation  of  the  Church  of  England  by  law  estab- 
lished, to  raise  by  way  of  lottery  a sum  not  exceeding 
jQ 500  for  furnishing  the  church  and  purchasing  a bell  for 
the  same.”  Whether  the  lottery  was  ever  drawn  and  the 
money  so  applied  we  cannot  now  determine.  The  bell, 
however,  was  never  purchased. 


CHRIST  CHURCH,  OYSTER  BAY. 


The  question  of  the  actual  date  ot  the  erection  of  the 
first  church  is  now  definitively  settled  by  a letter  from  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  which  he  speaks  of  a church 
having  been  erected  in  Oyster  Bay.  The  date  of  the 
letter  is  April  22nd  1707.  This  first  church  was  a plain 
building  with  shingled  sides,  standing  high  out  of  the 
ground,  and  its  actual  site  could  be  traced  as  late  as 
1843.  The  present  church  covers  most  of  it.  It  stood 
east  and  west,  with  a turret  and  tall  spire  at  its  western 
end.  The  spire  was  blown  down  some  time  previous  to 
1780,  and  the  turret  was  roofed  over.  It  had  two  arched 
windows  on  the  northern  and  two  on  the  southern 
side,  and  a large  single  arched  window  on  the  east.  The 
entrances  were  two — one  on  the  west,  through  the  tower, 
and  the  principal  entrance,  on  the  south.  The  pulpit, 
standing  high  in  the  air,  was  on  the  north  and  the  chan- 
cel on  the  east  end.  The  following  clergymen,  who  re- 
sided at  Hempstead,  furnished  the  church  at  Oyster  Bay 
with  stated  services,  but  we  are  unable  to  give  any  par- 
ticulars: 

1.  Rev.  John  Thomas,  missionary  from  1705  to  1724; 
died  at  Hempstead. 

2.  Rev.  Thomas  Young,  the  first  rector,  1725-42;  had 
been  missionary  at  Rye  and  chaplain  to  the  fort  and 
forces  of  New  York;  removed  to  Philadelphia  and  died 
in  1758. 

3.  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury  (the  father  of  the  bishop), 
1743-64;  died  at  Hempstead. 

4.  Rev.  Leonard  Cutting,  1766-84. 

The  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  up  this  arrangement. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cutting,  who  was  a violent  tory  partisan, 
was  compelled  to  leave  his  parish.  The  church  became 
neglected  and  was  injured  by  the  various  troops 
stationed  here,  and  it  is  difficult  now  to  ascertain  which 
did  the  more  harm,  the  king’s  American  regiment  or  a 
detachment  from  it  known  as  Fanning’s  corps,  under 
Major  Grant,  which  is  still  remembered  here  as  exceed- 
ingly riotous  and  injurious.  There  is  a strong  prob- 
ability, however,  that  the  church  received  little  injury 
during  their  stay,  because  the  chaplain  of  the  regiment 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Seabury,  who  had  for- 
merly officiated  as  rector.  This  Seabury  had  commended 
himself  to  the  higher  powers  by  a sermon  entitled  “ St. 
Peter’s  Exhortation  to  Fear  God  and  Honor  the  King,” 
preached  before  his  Majesty’s  provincial  troops  Septem- 
ber 28th  1777,  and  published  by  order  of  Governor 
Tryon. 

Among  the  numerous  hired  legions  of  England  was 
the  free  battalion  of  Hesse  Hanau,  commanded  by  Colo- 
nel Von  Janecke.  It  was  stationed  one  winter  at  Oyster 
Bay,  leaving  May  28th  1783.  These  were  an  ill-favored 
race  of  little  men,  the  gleanings  of  the  German  recruits. 
They  ripped  boards  out  of  the  Episcopal  church  to  make 
barracks  and  berths.  Others,  following  their  example, 
took  away  piece  after  piece  for  firewood.  The  church 
finally  blew  down,  and  the  materials  were  sold  at  auction  in 
1804.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale,  amounting  to  $67,  were 
reluctantly  paid  over  to  the  vestry  of  the  church  in  1845. 


5or 


The  stones  of  the  foundation  were  sold  to  William 
Townsend  and  are  under  the  house  now  occupied  by 
W.  T.  McCoun.  Isaac  Smith  of  Buckram  bought  part 
of  the  timber,  which  he  employed  for  building  his  out- 
houses, and  Divine  Hewlett,  of  Cold  Spring,  bought  the 
remainder.  In  the  New  York  convention  of  1786  it  was 
“resolved  that  Mr.  Fowler  have  the  consent  and  appro- 
bation of  this  convention  to  officiate  as  a reader  in  the 
Episcopal  congregations  at  Islip,  Brookhaven  and  Oyster 
Bay,  and  that  the  secretary  give  him  a copy  of  the  same.” 
In  the  convention  of  1787  among  the  lay  delegates  was, 
“ from  Christ  Church,  Oyster  Bay,  Mr.  Philip  Youngs.”  In 
the  convention  of  November  1788  among  the  lay  dele- 
gates were  David  Jones  and  Philip  Youngs,  Oyster  Bay. 
In  the  same  journal  is  the  following  minute:  “A  request 
was  made  by  the  representatives  of  the  congregations  at 
Brookhaven,  Huntington  and  Oyster  Bay  that  this  con- 
vention would  recommend  Mr.  Fowler  to  the  bishop  for 
holy  orders;  and  the  same  being  taken  into  considera- 
tion it  was  resolved  that  Mr.  Fowler  be  accordingly 
recommended  to  the  bishop,”  etc.  In  1789  ChristChurch 
was  represented  in  convention  by  John  Hewlett.  In 
1790  among  the  clergymen  composing  the  convention 
was  the  “Rev.  Mr.  Fowler,  rector  of  Christ  Church, 
Oyster  Bay,”  and  the  lay  delegates  from  the  same  parish 
were  John  Hewlett  and  John  Jones.  In  the  register  of 
the  clergy  appended  to  the  journal  for  1791  is  the  follow- 
ing record:  “Rev.  Andrew  Fowler,  of  Christ  Church  at 
Oyster  Bay,  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Provoost  in  the 
month  of  June  1789,  and  priest  on  the  nth  day  of  the 
same  month  1790.”  About  this  time  Mr.  Fowler  re- 
moved to  Peekskill. 

The  last  vestige  of  the  church  having  disappeared,  and 
there  being  in  all  probability  no  Episcopalian  in  the 
parish,  the  church  ground  was  taken  for  the  location  of 
an  academy.  One  or  more  of  the  persons  having  charge 
of  this  new  institution  set  out  trees  in  the  yard,  took  up 
tombstones  and  leveled  graves,  which  at  one  time  were 
numerous  in  all  parts  of  the  yard. 

Of  the  condition  of  the  church  at  Oyster  Bay  between 
the  years  1805  and  1835  but  little  is  known  save  that  for 
nearly  a year  previous  to  the  summer  of  1823  Edward  K. 
Fowler  officiated  occasionally  as  lay  reader  in  the  acad- 
emy. Flaving  been  ordained  in  1823  Mr.  Fowler  re- 
mained at  Huntington  until  June  1826,  officiating  in  the 
academy  at  Oyster  Bay  every  other  Sunday  afternoon 
with  but  few  intermissions.  “ On  every  occasion  of  pub- 
lic worship,”  he  writes,  “ in  which  I was  engaged  in  the 
academy  the  congregation  was  respectable,  and  often- 
times as  large  as  the  building  would  comfortably  con- 
tain.” Between  November  1826  and  May  1827  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Seabury,  of  Huntington,  officiated  in  Oyster  Bay. 
He  was  not  immediately  succeeded  by  any  clergyman. 
From  1832  to  1835  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips  used  to  officiate  oc- 
casionally at  Oyster  Bay.  He  was  rector  of  Christ’s 
Church  in  North  Hempstead,  and  was  not  stationed  at 
Oyster  Bay.  In  1835  this  place  was  once  more  made  a 
missionary  station,  and  the  Rev.  Isaac  Sherwood  offici- 
ated in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  academy.  This  arrange- 


56 


C02 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


merit  lasted  till  1836,  when  Mr.  Sherwood  was  appointed 
missionary  to  the  united  parishes  of  Cold  Spring  and 
Huntington,  and  the  parish  of  Oyster  Bay  ceased  to  be  a 
missionary  station.  Efforts  were  made  to  establish  a church 
independent  of  missionary  aid,  but  the  various  parties 
interested  could  not  agree  upon  the  site  for  the  proposed 
edifice.  Some  wished  it  to  be  placed  upon  Cove  Hill, 
where  Daniel  Youngs  offered  gratuitously  one  or  more 
acres  of  land,  while  others  wanted  it  on  the  site  of  the 
old  church,  where  it  now  stands.  In  1843,  the  church 
at  Huntington  having  become  independent  of  the  mis- 
sionary fund,  the  parishes  of  Cold  Spring  and  Oyster 
Bay  were  again  united  as  missionary  stations  under  Mr- 
Sherwood.  In  1844,  both  parties  having  agreed  upon 
the  proper  site,  the  parish  declared  itself  independent  of 
missionary  aid.  A church  edifice,  36  by  50,  was  there- 


committee  for  the  erection  of  a new  edifice  upon  the  site 
of  the  old  one  consisted  of  David  J.  Youngs,  senior 
warden,  and  Edward  M.  Townsend  and  William  Trotter 
jr.,  vestrymen.  The  architects  were  Potter  & Robertson, 
of  New  York,  and  the  contractors  Lyons  & Bunn,  of  the 
same  city.  Work  on  the  new  church  was  begun  March 
25th  1878.  In  excavating  for  the  cellar  skulls  and 
other  bones  were  found,  supposed  to  be  those  of  Hessian 
soldiers  placed  there  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
The  corner  stone  was  laid  May  1st  1878,  by  Mr.  Van 
DeWater,  the  rector.  The  first  service  was  held  in  the 
new  church  September  8th  1878.  The  consecration 
took  place  on  St.  Barnabas  day,  June  nth,  1879.  The 
accompanying  cut  represents  this  handsome  structure. 

Rev. William  Montague  Geer,  the  present  rector,  entered 
on  his  duties  on  Palm  Sunday,  March  2 1st,  1880.  The  ves- 


Christ  Church,  Oyster  Bay,  Erected  in  1878. 


upon  built,  at  a cost  of  $2,800,  and  the  Rev.  Edwin 
Harwood,  of  Philadelphia,  was  invited  as  the  first  rector. 
Mr.  Harwood  resigned  this  charge  May  1st  1846.  Rev. 
John  Stearns  was  rector  from  the  2nd  of  August  1846  to 
July  4th  1849;  Rev.  Edmund  Richards  from  December 
1st  1849  to  October  21st  1851;  Rev.  Joseph  Ransom 
from  1851  to  the  spring  of  1861;  Rev.  Richard  Graham 
Hutton  from  October  9th  1861  to  April  29th  1874;  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Ward  from  October  18th  1874  to  May  2nd 
1875;  Rev.  James  Byron  Murray,  D.  D.,  six  months  in 
i^75-76;  Rev.  George  R.  Van  De  Water  from  October 
1st  1876  to  February  1st  1880. 

The  last  service  in  the  old  church  building  erected  in 
the  year  1844  was  held  March  17th  1878.  The  building 


try  was  constituted  as  follows  in  t 88  r , the  senior  warden, 
David  Jones  Youngs,  having  died  during  that  year: 
Thomas  F.  Youngs,  warden;  John  H.  Weekes,  Charles  J. 
Chipp,  Edward  M.  Townsend,  William  Trotter  jr.,  Daniel 
K.  Youngs,  William  R.  Webster,  James  A.  Roosevelt, 
Frederick  Ludlam,  vestrymen. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Oyster  Bay. 

As  early  as  1700  William  Rhodes,  originally  from  Chi- 
chester, England,  who  had  emigrated  to  Rhode  Island  to 
escape  persecution,  and  who  at  the  above  date  was  a li- 
centiate of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  at  Newport,  came 
to  Oyster  Bay  and  preached  with  a view  to  the  formation 
of  a Baptist  church.  He  collected  a small  number  of 


CHURCHES  OF  OYSTER  BAY  VILLAGE. 


5°3 


hearers,  and  probably  a church  was  constituted  before 
1724,  for  at  that  time  the  first  Baptist  meeting-house  in 
the  place  was  completed.  In  the  same  year  Mr.  Rhodes 
died,  and  Robert  Feakes,  one  of  his  converts,  who  had 
acted  as  his  assistant  for  several  years,  was  ordained  to 
the  ministry  by  elders  from  Rhode  Island,  and  entered 
upon  the  pastorate.  Under  his  preaching  many  joined 
the  church;  but  Mr.  Feakes,  like  his  predecessor 
was  a Free-will  Baptist,  so  that  when  Rev.  Thomas 
Davis,  a Calvinistic  Baptist  from  New  Jersey,  was  sum- 
moned as  his  colleague  in  1745  a schism  was  soon  de- 
veloped in  the  church,  which  did  not  disappear  until  the 
close  of  the  century.  Mr.  Davis  remained  on  the  field 
only  about  three  years,  and  then  retired  to  Pennsylvania. 
Contentions  followed.  These  might  have  been  allayed 
by  the  appointment  to  the  pastorate  of  Caleb  Wright,  a 
grandson  of  Elder  Rhodes,  a member  of  this  church  and 
a young  man  of  great  promise.  But  the  day  appointed 
for  his  ordination  (in  November  1752)  proved  to  be  the 
day  of  his  burial.  After  this  sad  occurrence  the  church 
was  visited  again  by  Elder  Davis  and  other  ministers,  but 
all  endeavors  to  restore  peace  were  vain.  At  one  time 
party  spirit  ran  so  high  that  the  two  factions,  one  headed 
by  Elder  Feeks,  the  other  by  Elder  Davis,  contended  for 
possession  of  the  house.  In  1759  David  Sutton,  a 
young  licentiate  from  New  Jersey,  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate, and  for  a time  the  breach  seemed  to  be  healed. 
For  a time  only,  however,  for  some  who  had  been  ex- 
cluded from  the  church,  joined  by  other  disaffected  mem- 
bers, soon  formed  a new  and  distinct  society,  which  as- 
sumed the  name  of  the  New  Light  Church.  The  ruling 
spirit  of  this  new  organization  was  a woman  of  unusual 
ability,  Mrs.  John  Townsend,  who,  having  been  a school- 
teacher, went  by  the  name  of  Madam  Townsend.  Her 
son-in-law,  Peter  Underhill  (grandson  of  Captain  John 
Underhill,  of  New  England  fame),  acted  as  pastor.  At 
first  the  new  church  seemed  to  be  prosperous  and  great 
numbers  joined  it.  But  eventually  the  members  became 
tired  of  their  own  irregularities,  and  in  1789  they  united 
with  the  old  organization  in  the  formation  of  a regular 
Baptist  church.  • 

Meanwhile  the  old  church  had  become  well  nigh  ex- 
tinct. For  thirty  years  it  maintained  worship,  favored 
only  occasionally  with  preaching.  William  Roe,  Elijah 
Wheeler  and  Benjamin  Coles  occasionally  ministered. 
In  1788  the  membership  had  been  reduced  to  nine. 
When  the  reunion  was  formed  in  the  following  year 
Peter  Underhill  and  Benjamin  Coles  (of  Glen  Cove) 
acted  as  co-pastors.  Harmony  was  restored,  and  from 
1790  to  1795  thirty-six  joined  the  church  by  baptism. 

In  1801  the  trustees  of  the  Oyster  Bay  Academy,  which 
was  then  being  built,  invited  Rev.  Marmaduke  Earle,  of 
Stamford,  Conn.,  to  assume  charge  of  that  institution. 
The  invitation  was  accepted,  as  was  also  an  invitation  to 
supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  commenced 
his  ministrations  April  5th  1802,  and  the  new  union  was 
so  highly  blessed  that  from  December  1804  to  September 
1809  there  were  96  acquisitions  to  the  church  by 
conversion — the  largest  ingathering  of  which  the  church 


has  any  record.  Mr.  Earle’s  pastorate  thus  auspiciously 
begun  continued  through  a period  of  54  years,  dur- 
ing which  there  were  occasional  additions,  especially 
in  the  years  1822,  1833  and  1853.  He  acted  as  principal 
of  the  academy  during  most  of  this  period.  He  died 
July  13th  1856,  in  his  88th  year,  beloved  and  universally 
esteemed.  During  the  last  thirteen  years  of  his  life  he 
was  assisted  from  time  to  time  in  his  pulpit  ministrations 
by  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Earle  (his  son),  Rev.  William  G. 
Baker,  Rev.  William  B.  Harris,  Rev.  John  Cook  and 
Rev.  Aaron  Jackson,  the  last  of  whom  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  a time  after  Mr.  Earle’s  death.  The  present 
pastor  of  the  church,  Rev.  Charles  S.  Wightman,  was  or- 
dained in  the  church,  November  23d  1868. 

M.  E.  Church,  Oyster  Bay. 

This  society  was  started  in  1833.  Revs.  A.  Hulin  and 
R.  Wymond,  of  the  Huntington  circuit,  preached  here 
in  the  academy  during  the  summer.  For  a list  of  the 
preachers  who  afterward  ministered  here  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  history  of  the  Roslyn  M.  E.  church, 
page  422.  In  the  autumn  of  1833  the  presiding  elder 
held  a quarterly  conference  here,  and  continued  evening 
meetings  in  the  old  parish  house,  the  result  of  which  was 
the  formation  of  a class  of  nineteen,  with  Joseph  Latting 
as  leader.  Services  were  held  in  the  academy  for  several 
years,  but  the  members  were  notified  to  desist.  After 
this  they  held  their  meetings  in  various  places. 

In  August  1856  a meeting  was  called  at  the  house  of 
Joseph  Latting,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  buy  a lot  and 
build  a house  of  worship,  and  a committee  was  appointed 
to  solicit  subscriptions.  A sufficient  amount  having  been 
subscribed,  G.  E.  Dickinson,  Richard  B.  Smith,  George 
Gildersleeve,  William  Ludlam  and  Joseph  Latting  were 
in  September  1858  chosen  trustees  for  the  proposed 
building.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  the  same  year  by 
Rev.  J.  P.  Kennedy,  D.D.  The  building  was  completed 
and  dedicated  in  the  following  summer,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Millburn.  A collection  was  taken  up  at  the  time  suffi- 
cient to  leave  the  church  free  of  debt.  The  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  preaching  in  connection  with  East  Norwich, 
having  only  afternoon  services  until  1870,  when  the 
charge  was  divided  and  Rev.  Abraham  S.  Emmons  be- 
came the  pastor.  The  congregation  was  small,  with  but 
slight  increase  in  membership.  Mr.  Emmons’s  pastorate 
was  successful  and  satisfactory;  but  failing  health  caused 
him  to  resign  in  January  1871.  Arthur  M.  Burns,  M. 
D.,  was  here  a few  months  as  pastor,  but  removed  to 
Port  Jefferson.  Rev.  John  E.  Perine,  who  had  preached 
here  in  1854,  became  the  pastor  in  January  1872.  He 
was  succeeded  in  1873  by  Rev.  John  T.  Langlois,  under 
whose  charge  the  society  became  better  organized  and 
the  Sunday-school  received  especial  attention.  Rev. 
Calvin  S.  Brower  became  pastor  in  1875.  A revival  at- 
tended his  labors  and  extended  to  the  other  churches  of 
the  village.  Owing  to  financial  depression  and  with- 
drawals the  church  became  pastorless;  but,  learning  that 
the  Rev.  S.  F.  Johnson  was  about  to  settle  at  East  Nor- 
wich for  a period  of  rest,  the  stewards  applied  to  him, 


5°4 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


and  he  was  appointed  pastor  and  served  during  1877  and 
1878.  In  May  1879  Rev.  William  W.  Gillis  was  sent 
here,  and  he  has  labored  to  the  date  of  this  writ- 
ing with  evident  success  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
congregation. 

The  Sunday-school  was  organized  the  next  Sunday 
after  the  dedication  of  the  church.  William  Ludlam 
was  elected  superintendent,  and  he  has  acted  in  that 
capacity  or  as  assistant  every  year  since.  The  school  at 
present  numbers  60. 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  Oyster  Bay. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oyster  Bay  was  or- 
ganized December  18th  1845,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Long 
Island,  with  the  following  persons  as  members:  Amanda 
Gerard,  George  W.  Gerard,  Alfred  Sammis,  Mary  Sam- 
mis,  Pamelia  Snedecor,  Lydia  Stratton,  Mary  Ann  Thurs- 
ton, William  Thurston,  Louise  Townsend  and  Samuel  H. 
Townsend.  Of  these  George  W.  Gerard  and  Samuel  H. 
Townsend  were  chosen  elders,  and  held  their  first  meet- 
ing as  a church  session  January  31st  1846,  when  a cove- 
nant and  rules  for  the  government  of  the  church  were 
adopted. 

In  the  absence  of  a regular  pastor  the  church  was  for 
some  time  supplied  by  such  clergymen  as  could  conven- 
iently be  obtained;  prominent  among  whom  was  Rev. 
Sylvester  Woodbridge  jr.,  of  Hempstead. 

The  following  list  gives  the  names  of  those  who  have 
been  pastors  of  the  church,  with  the  dates  of  their  re- 
spective installations,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained:  John 
T.  Clark,  1846;  Winthrop  Bailey,  1847;  Horace  G.  Hins- 
dale, 1855;  Edward  J.  Hamilton,  1858;  E.  S.  Fairchild) 
1863;  Benjamin  L.  Swan,  1866;  Alexander  G.  Russell, 
1876. 

The  first  member  received  after  the  organization  of 
the  church  was  Mrs.  Lucy  Hildreth,  August  9th  1846; 
the  first  dismissals  were  those  of  George  Hudson  and 
wife,  December  22nd  1846. 

The  growth  of  the  church  has  been  gradual  and  slow, 
but  there  have  been  a few  instances  of  considerable  ac- 
cessions to  its  membership.  The  earliest  of  these  oc- 
curred in  February  1848,  when  13  persons  were  received, 
and  the  latest  in  April  1876,  when  34  names  were  added 
to  the  roll.  Deaths  and  removals — the  latter  chiefly  due 
to  the  comparatively  stagnant  condition  of  the  village  in- 
dustries— have  contributed  to  reduce  the  present  mem- 
bership to  about  100. 

A Sunday-school  was  established  in  connection  with 
the  church  at  a very  early  date,  and  it  has  continued  in 
successful  operation  to  the  present  time.  It  has  over 
100  teachers  and  scholars  and  a library  of  450  volumes. 

Meetings  of  the  congregation  were  first  held  in  the  old 
academy  building  (now  the  rectory  of  Christ  Church), 
and  subsequently  in  the  Baptist  church.  The  first  church 
edifice  was  completed  in  1848,  at  a cost  of  $3,000.  It 
still  stands  on  its  original  site  in  the  center  of  the  village. 
The  lower  part  is  used  as  a tinsmith’s  shop,  and  the  up- 
per part  as  a tenement.  The  present  church  building 
was  erected  in  1873.  L *s  beautifully  situated  on  a hill 


near  the  center  of  the  village,  and  presents  a fine  appear- 
ance, its  gables,  porches,  transept,  apse,  tower  and  spire 
grouping  effectively  from  every  point  of  view.  The  in- 
terior is  finished  in  the  “ natural  woods,”  chestnut  and 
oak  prevailing:  the  walls  are  delicately  tinted,  and  the 
ceiling  is  of  the  open-timbered  style,  showing  the  con- 
struction. The  windows  are  filled  with  stained  glass  of 
elaborate  designs  specially  prepared  for  them.  At  vari- 
ous points  suitable  texts  of  Scripture  appear  in  the 
stained  glass  and  on  the  walls.  In  the  rear  of 
the  pulpit,  beneath  a large  arch  appropriately  in- 
scribed, is  a fine  Roosevelt  organ,  with  the  choir-screen 
and  seats.  The  building  is  completely  and  tastefully 
furnished  in  harmony  with  the  general  architectural 
effect.  The  cost  of  building  and  fittings  was  about 
$16,000  and  the  entire  property,  including  the  land,  is 
free  from  debt.  The  well  known  architect,  J.  C.  Cady, 
of  New  York,  furnished  the  plans. 


LLOYD’S  NECK. 

Lloyd’s  Neck  (formerly  called  Horse  Neck)  contains 
about  3,000  acres  of  land  projecting  into  the  sound  be- 
tween Cold  Spring  and  Huntington  harbors.  It  is  con- 
nected with  the  town  of  Huntington  by  a low  sandy 
beach  or  causeway,  which  is  entirely  covered  with  water 
at  high  tides,  making  the  neck  on  such  occasions  an 
island.  The  soil  is  of  excellent  quality  and  part  of  it  is 
cultivated.  The  fame  of  the  timber  grown  on  this  neck 
extends  back  through  the  Revolutionary  war.  Although 
nearly  a hundred  thousand  cords  of  wood  were  taken  off 
during  the  British  occupation  the  neck  was  soon  after 
producing  more  than  a thousand  cords  annually  for  the 
New  York  market.  The  business  of  shipping  wood  is 
still  continued.  Not  only  can  the  neck  boast  of  its  highly 
productive  soil,  but  there  is  an  inexhaustible  mine  of 
white  clay  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  pottery  of  a 
fine  quality.  Some  years  past  a valuable  deposit  of 
yellow  clay  was  found,  which  answers  all  the  purposes  for 
which  yellow  ochre  is  used. 

The  neck  was  made  an  independent  plantation  or 
manor,  called  Queens  Village,  in  1685,  during  the  admin- 
istration of  Governor  Dongan,  this  then  being  the  only 
manorial  estate  in  America.  In  1790  an  application  was 
made  by  the  owners  to  the  Legislature  for  a renewal  of 
the  privileges  of  the  estate,  but  they  were  refused. 

The  neck  (called  by  the  Indians  Caumsett)  was  bought 
September  20th  1654  from  Ratiocan,  sagamore  of  Cow 
Harbor,  by  Samuel  Mayo,  Daniel  Whitehead  and  Peter 
Wright,  some  of  the  first  settlers  of  Oyster  Bay,  for  three 
coats,  three  shirts,  two  cuttoes,  three  hatchets,  three  hoes, 
two  fathoms  of  wampum,  six  knives,  two  pairs  of  stock- 
ings and  two  pairs  of  shoes.  The  buyers  sold  out  to 
Samuel  Andrews  on  the  6th  of  May  1658  for  ^100,  and 
the  sale  was  confirmed  by  Wyandanch,  the  Long  Island 
grand  sachem,  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month.  On  the 
death  of  Andrews  the  neck  was  conveyed  to  John  Rich- 
bill,  September  5th  1660,  who  obtained  a confirmation 


LLOYD’S  NECK  AND  MATINECOCK. 


5°5 


patent  from  Governor  Nicolls  December  18th  1665. 
Richbill  sold  to  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  Thomas  Hart  and 
Latimore  Sampson  October  18th  1666,  for  ^450.  Syl- 
vester released  to  his  cotenants  October  17th  1668,  hav- 
ing first  procured  an  additional  patent  from  Governor 
Nicolls  November  20th  1667.  James  Lloyd,  of  Boston, 
who  through  his  wife  Grizzle  Sylvester  (by  a will 
of  said  Sampson)  became  entitled  to  part  of  the  neck, 
obtained  a confirmation  of  the  patent  from  Governor 
Andros  September  29th  1677,  and  in  October  1679 
bought  from  the  executors  of  Hart  his  part  of  the  neck 
for  ^200.  Through  this  purchase  he  became  sole  owner, 
and  the  neck  has  since  that  time  been  called  after  his 
name.  Mr.  Lloyd  died  at  an  early  age,  August  1 6th 
1698,  leaving  three  children — Henry,  Joseph  and  Grizzle. 
He  devised  the  neck  to  his  children  in  equal  parts. 
Henry  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother  and  sister, 
became  sole  proprietor,  and  settled  here  in  1711. 

The  town  of  Huntington  laid  claim  to  Mr.  Lloyd’s 
purchase  on  the  ground  that  it  was  included  within  the 
general  bounds  of  that  town,  but  on  appeal  to  the  court 
of  assize  Mr.  Lloyd  got  a verdict  in  his  favor;  and  to 
prevent  a like  occurrence  he  got  most  if  not  all  the  free- 
holders of  the  town  to  sign  a release  of  all  their  interest 
in  the  neck,  whatever  it  might  be.  The  dividing  line 
was  some  time  afterward  ascertained  and  established  by 
David  Jones,  Richard  Woodhull  and  William  Willis,  who 
were  mutually  selected  by  the  parties  in  1734.  Henry 
Lloyd  was  born  November  28th  1685,  and  died  March 
r8th  1763.  His  remains,  with  those  of  many  of  his  an- 
cestors, rest  in  the  old  family  burial  ground  on  the  neck. 
There  is  a tablet  erected  over  the  remains,  in  a remark- 
able state  of  preservation.  Part  of  the  neck  has  since 
continued  in  the  possession  of  the  Lloyd  family,  although 
there  are  none  now  bearing  the  name  who  hold  posses- 
sions there.  This  family  has  become  related  by  inter- 
marriage to  many  of  the  first  families  of  New  England, 
New  York  city  and  Long  Island.  A number  of  the 
Lloyds  have  occupied  with  honor  responsible  positions 
of  public  trust.  They  have  always  been  and  still  are 
noted  for  their  gentlemanly  and  courteous  manners. 

The  annual  produce  of  this  valuable  peninsula  has 
been  very  large,  consisting  of  wheat,  corn,  oats,  hay,  and 
salt  grass.  There  may  still  be  seen  the  fort  erected 
during  the  Revolution  on  the  west  side  of  the  neck. 
Within  recent  years  several  stock  farms  have  been  started 
upon  the  neck  on  a large  scale;  some  have  been  failures, 
some  of  them  successful.  The  neck  is  now  divided  into 
numerous  farms,  some  of  which  have  come  into  the  pos- 
session of  their  present  owners  by  marriage,  etc.,  some 
by  purchase. 


MATINECOCK. 

Matinecock  in  early  days  embraced  far  more  territory 
than  the  Matinecock  of  to-day.  In  1697  it  appears  to 
have  been  bounded  west  by  Hempstead  Harbor,  south 
by  Hempstead  Plains,  east  by  Papequatunck  River,  and 
north  by  the  sound  or  north  sea;  including  “ Musceato 


Coufe”  and  “ Cillingworth”  or  the  Matinecock  of  to-day. 
These  two  places  are  the  only  ones  named,  though  the 
bounds  include  Glenwood,  Greenvale,  Locust  Valley, 
Dosoris,  Lattingtown  and  Mill  Neck. 

The  question  to  whom  did  Matinecock  belong  was  a 
vexing  one  for  some  time.  Hempstead  under  its  grant 
of  1644  claimed  a portion  of  it.  Oyster  Bay  claimed  to 
have  bought  part  of  it  from  the  Indians  in  1653.  Por- 
tions of  it  were  also  claimed  by  some  parties  from  grants 
through  Farrett,  the  agent  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling. 

The  town  of  Hempstead  granted  Thomas  Terry  and 
Samuel  Deering,  under  date  of  July  4th  1661,  the  right 
to  settle  on  Matinecock  land  and  hold  the  same  as  their 
own,  with  the  same  privileges  enjoyed  by  other  towns- 
men of  Hempstead.  One  of  the  conditions  of  this  grant 
was  as  follows: 

“Not  to  trespass  against  the  town  of  Hempstead  by 
letting  of  any  of  their  calff  trespass  on  any  great  playne 
and  spoil  thire  corn  or  dooe  like  harm;  and  if  they  shall, 
to  make  satisfaction  to  ani  person  or  persons  see  ronged; 
also  the  above  sayd  planters  dooe  ingage  themselves  or 
ani  that  they  shall  bring  or  thire  successors  not  to  bring 
in  any  Quakers  or  such  like  opinions.  * * * Sayd 

planters  shall  or  ought  to  be  such  as  the  inhabitants  of 
the  towne  of  Hempstead  shall  approve  of;  that  is  to  be 
soe  understood  that  these  shall  be  admitted  as  inhabit- 
ants of  the  aforesaid  place  shall  have  letters  of  recom- 
mendation and  approbation  from  the  magistrate  or  towns- 
men of  the  place  from  which  they  came,  that  they  have 
been  and  are  like  to  be  good  members.” 

A memorandum  states  that  they  are  to  settle  on  the 
land  within  two  years.  Another  memorandum  requires 
that  Terry  shall  settle  seven  families  on  the  land,  and  the 
town  reserves  the  right  to  make  the  number  ten. 

It  would  seem  from  the  last  memorandum  and  later 
writers  that  Deering  had  withdrawn. 

Terry  did  not  occupy  and  improve  the  land  as  con- 
tracted, but  sent  a petition  “To  the  Noble,  Great  and 
Respectful  Director  General  and  High  Council  in  New 
Netherlands”  asking  that  the  limit  of  his  time  for  im- 
provement be  extended  one  year.  The  petition  was 
granted,  and  the  seven  families  were  settled  on  the  land. 

In  the  petition  Terry  mentions  one  Mr.  Nichol,  a resi- 
dent of  Oyster  Bay,  who  claimed  that  the  Matinecock 
land  was  covered  by  his  patent;  but  this  is  not  recorded 
in  the  Oyster  Bay  records,  as  deeds  were  not  given  by 
the  town  until  some  years  afterward.  The  earliest  men- 
tion of  Matinecock  lands  found  on  the  Oyster  Bay  rec- 
ords is  the  appointment  on  March  2nd  1664  of  Francis 
Weeks,  Jacob  Youngs  and  John  Coles  “to  use  their  en- 
deavor to  bie  Matinecock  land  of  the  indians.”  What 
success  attended  this  “endeavor”  does  not  appear. 

Among  the  first  permanent  settlers  of  Matinecock  was 
Captain  John  Underhill,  who  settled  on  a piece  of  land 
(150  acres)  granted  him  by  the  Indians  for  services  ren- 
dered them. 

The  Hempstead  people  continued  up  to  1666  to  claim 
Matinecock  lands  by  virtue  of  their  purchase  from  the 
Marsapeague  Indians;  but  they  were  defeated  in  their 
claims  by  the  Indians  acknowledging  that  they  never 
claimed  to  own  any  part  of  the  Matinecock  lands. 


5°6 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


The  Matinecock  Indians  also  complained  to  Governor 
Nicolls  of  the  people  of  Hempstead  for  intruding  upon 
their  lands  without  paying  for  them.  The  Indians  how- 
ever agreed,  by  request  of  the  governor,  to  allow  the 
seven  families  to  remain  in  peaceable  possession  of  the 
lands  occupied  by  them.  This  lengthy  dispute  was  set- 
tled soon  after,  we  know  not  how.  The  territory  came 
into  peaceable  possession  of  the  people  of  Oyster  Bay, 
who  had  been  and  were  from  time  to  time  purchasing  it 
from  the  Indians. 

On  the  26th  of  May  1663  the  Indians  sold  a part  of 
Matinecock  to  Captain  John  Underhill,  John  Frost  and 
William  Frost;  another  part  on  the  20th  of  April  1669 
to  Richard  Latting;  another  on  the  1st  of  December 
1683  to  Thomas  Townsend;  and  on  the  9th  of  January 
1685  the  chiefs — namely,  Susconaman  alias  Runasuck, 
Chechagen  alias  Quaropin,  and  Samose,  son  of  Tacka- 
pousha — being  empowered  thereto  by  the  rest  of  the  In- 
dians, conveyed  the  residue  of  Matinecock,  with  some 
other  lands,  for  the  price  of  sixty  pounds  current  mer- 
chantable pay,  to  James  Cock,  Joseph  Dickerson,  Rob- 
ert Townsend,  Samuel  Dickerson,  Stephen  Birdsall, 
James  Townsend,  Daniel  Weeks,  Isaac  Doughty,  John 
Wood,  Edmund  Wright,  Caleb  Wright,  John  Wright, 
William  Frost  and  John  Newman,  and  thereupon  the 
grantees  agreed  to  accept  as  joint  purchasers  with  them 
the  following  inhabitants  and  freeholders  of  the  town — 
comprising  the  most  complete  list  of  names  which  the 
records  present  at  that  period:  George  Downing,  John 
Townsend  sen.,  Richard  Harcutt,  Daniel  Townsend,  Na- 
thaniel Coles  jr.,  John  Dewsbury,  John  Cock,  William 
Crooker,  John  Weeks,  John  Applegate,  Henry  Franklin, 
Thomas  Youngs,  John  Townsend  jr.,  John  Rogers  of 
Lusum,  Hannah  Forman  for  her  son  Moses,  Henry  Bell, 
Richard  Willett,  John  Robbins,  Meriam  Harker,  Thomas 
Townsend,  Hope  Williams  of  Lusum,  Samuel  Birdsall, 
josias  Carpenter,  Lawrence  Mott,  Sampson  Hawxhurst, 
William  Buckler,  Adam  Wright,  Josias  Latting,  Thomas 
Weeks,  Thomas  Cock,  John  Pratt,  William  Hawxhurst, 
Thomas  Willets,  Elizabeth  Dickson,  Samuel  Weeks, 
James  Bleven,  Joseph  Weeks,  Daniel  Whitehead,  Peter 
Wright,  Samuel  Tiller. 

We  give  here  a portion  of  an  original  deed  from  the 
Indians,  now  in  the  possession  of  Valentine  Frost,  con- 
veying Matinecock  lands: 

“ This  instrument  of  writing  or  deed  of  sale  witnesseth 
to  all  Christian  people  to  whom  it  may  come  or  any  ways 
concern.  Know  ye  that  for  us  we  underwritten,  Suscona- 
man alias  Runasuck,  Samouse  And  Querripin,  all  three 
Indians,  being  empowered  by  ye  rest  of  ye  Indians  and 
proprietors  of  Cheaf  ye  lands  called  by.ye  English  Matin- 
ecock, situate,  lying  and  being  within  ye  patent  of  Oyster 
Bay  wth’n  Queens  county  upon  Long  Island,  And  by 
Virtue  whereof  And  for  ye  ffull  of  twenty  pounds  silver 
or  equivalent  to  silver  money  in  goods,  to  us  paid  before 
ye  signing  and  sealing  thereof,  have  bargained  and  sold 
and  by  present  possession  deliver  unto  John  Underhill, 
John  Ffeexes,  and  William  Ffrost,  all  three  inhabitants 
of  Matinecock,  all  that  our  Comons,  or  individual  lands 
unsold,  lying  and  being  to  ye  northward  of  ye  now  high- 
way between  ye  Beaver  Swamp  so  called  and  Mosquito 


Cove,  lands  being  to  be  understood  ye  the  highway  from 
Oyster  Bay  to  Mosquito  Cove  to  ye  sound  or  North  Sea, 
be  it  more  or  less;  excepting  twenty  acres  to  be  laid  out 
to  John  Pryor  at  ye  rere  of  his  lands  bought  of  Joseph 
Eastland  fforman,  by  grantal.  * * * It  is  to  be  un- 

derstood that  every  inhabitant  below  the  path  settled  are 
to  have  equal  privileges,  provided  they  pay  ye  above  three 
persons  nominated  their  equal  proportions  in  money  ac- 
cording to  agreement.” 

Captain  John  Underhill. 

It  is  now  time  to  give  a sketch  of  some  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Matinecock.  Captain  John  Underhill  came 
from  England  to  Massachusetts  soon  after  the  first  settle- 
ment of  that  colony.  He  had  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
British  forces  in  the  Netherlands,  in  Ireland  and  at 
Cadiz,  and  had  a command  in  the  war  with  the  Pequots 
during  the  year  1637.  After  the  termination  of  the 
Pequot  war  he  removed  to  Connecticut  and  settled  at 
Stamford.  He  was  a delegate  from  that  town  to  the 
general  court  at  New  Haven  in  1643,  and  was  appointed 
an  assistant  justice  there.  t)uring  that  year  he  was  sent 
for  by  the  Dutch  governor  at  New  York  to  take  a com- 
mand in  the  war  in  which  the  Dutch  were  then  engaged 
or  were  about  to  engage  with  the  Indians  north  of  the 
sound  and  west  of  the  Connecticut  settlements.  This 
war  lasted  till  the  summer  of  1646,  and  was  terminated 
by  a great  battle  at  Strickland’s  Plain,  Horse  Neck,  in 
which  the  Dutch  with  difficulty  obtained  the  victory.  It 
is  supposed  that  Captain  Underhill  had  the  chief  com- 
mand under  the  Dutch  governor  in  this  war,  and  it  is 
stated  by  Trumbull  in  his  history  of  Connecticut  that  he 
destroyed  300  Indians  north  of  the  sound,  and  i20*upon 
Long  Island  who  had  crossed  the  sound  in  order  to  rav- 
age and  destroy  the  Dutch  plantations  there.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  war  he  settled  at  Flushing.  He  dis- 
covered and  disclosed  the  intrigues  of  the  Dutch  fiscal 
with  the  Indians  to  detach  them  from  the  English  and  to 
excite  them  to  hostilities  against  them  in  1653.  On  the 
refusal  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  to 
embark  in  the  war  then  in  progress  between  England  and 
Holland  he  applied  to  Rhode  Island,  which  colony 
had  taken  part  with  the  mother  country,  for  assistance. 
He  received  a commission  from  that  colony,  with  the  aid 
of  a small  number  of  volunteers,  authorizing  him  to  act 
in  defense  of  the  English  towns  against  any  attack  of  the 
Dutch  or  Indians,  and  with  regard  to  further  hostilities 
to  act  in  conformity  with  such  orders  as  the  colony 
should  prescribe.  Under  this  commission  he  made  the 
attack  on  the  Indians  at  or  near  Fort  Neck  and  took 
their  fort,  and  thus  contributed  to  arrest  the  defection  of 
the  Indians,  to  defeat  the  hostile  designs  of  the  Dutch 
against  the  English  settlements,  and  to  preserve  the  peace 
of  the  island. 

In  1665  he  was  a delegate  from  the  town  of  Oyster 
Bay  to  the  assembly  held  at  Hempstead  by  Governor 
Nicolls,  and  was  appointed  by  him  under  sheriff  of  the 
“ north  riding  of  Yorkshire,”  or  Queens  county.  In 
1667  the  Matinecock  Indians  gave  him  a deed  for  150 
acres  of  land,  which  has  remained  in  the  family  ever 


OLD  FAMILIES  OF  MATINECOCK. 


507 


since  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Anne  Elizabeth 
Underhill,  wife  of  George  R.  Underhill  and  a direct 
descendant  through  eight  generations  from  the  old 
pioneer,  her  father  being  Robert  F.  Underhill. 

This  land  consigned  by  the  Indians  to  Captain  Under- 
derhill  he  named  Cillingworth  or  Kenilworth.  On  the 
old  farm  mentioned  above  is  the  grave  of  this  remark- 
able man,  of  whose  singular  career  so  much  is  said  in 
the  histories  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecti- 
cut and  New  York.  He  was  the  trusted  companion  of 
distinguished  men  and  held  many  important  and  respon- 
sible trusts.  Few  individuals  were  more  conspicuous  or 
rendered  more  important  services  to  the  colonists  than 
Captain  John  Underhill. 

John  Feakes 

mentioned  in  the  above  deed  was  the  son  of  Henry,  who 
came  from  England  about  the  year  1630  and  settled  in 
Lynn,  Mass.  John  removed  with  Captain  Underhill  to 
Matinecock,  where  they  purchased  land  of  the  Indians 
and  built  their  houses  in  fields  contiguous  to  each  other, 
now  known  in  each  family  as  the  “old  orchard,”  although 
the  trees  have  entirely  disappeared  in  the  one  and  almost 
in  the  other.  They  established  a burying  place  common 
to  the  two  families  on  a beautiful  elevation  overlooking 
the  sound,  the  creek  and  much  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. A tradition  in  the  family  makes  John  Feakes  and 
Captain  Underhill  brothers-in-law.  John  Feakes  was  a 
preacher  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  was  buried  by 
them  in  their  burying  ground  at  Westbury.  He  died  in 
March  1724.  His  wife,  who  was  Deborah  Pryor,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  daughter  of  Matthew  Pryor. 
John  Feakes  left  one  son,  afterward  the  Rev.  Robert 
Feakes,  a Baptist  minister  at  Oyster  Bay,  and  several 
daughters. 

Rev.  Robert  Feakes  inherited  the  estate  of  his  father, 
to  which  he  greatly  added  by  his  marriage  with  Clemence 
Ludlam,  of  Hog  Island.  He  owned  in  addition  to  the 
homestead  a large  tract  of  land  on  Mill  Neck,  all  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Stephen  C.  Underhill,  a part  of  John 
Van  Cott’s  farm  on  the  east  side  of  the  neck,  and  a farm 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  to  Oyster  Bay.  He 
built  the  mill  now  owned  by  Abraham  Underhill  and  pre- 
viously by  Henry  Demilt,  Thomas  Covert  and  Thomas 
Cock.  He  built  his  house  on  the  site  of  the  residence 
called  “ Meadow  Side.”  Shortly  before  his  death  the 
house  burned,  together  with  all  its  contents,  consisting  of 
the  furniture,  title  deeds  and  a valuable  collection  of 
paintings  by  his  son  Robert.  The  house  was  rebuilt  im- 
mediately, and  remained  until  it  was  torn  down  to  make 
way  for  the  present  one,  built  on -the  old  foundation  by 
his  great-great-great-grandsons  in  1849.  Rev.  Robert 
Feakes  died  April  1st  1773,  aged  89,  leaving  a large  fam- 
ily. Henry,  the  eldest  child,  inherited  the  homestead, 
but  sold  it  to  his  brother  Charles,  from  whom  the 
present  family  is  descended.  John  Feakes,  another  son, 
inherited  a farm  on  Mill  Neck  and  left  one  child,  who 
was  the  grandmother  of  the  present  Henry  Ludlam, 
of  Center  Island.  Robert  Feakes,  another  son,  was 


one  of  the  most  eminent  painters  of  his  time  in  this 
country. 

The  Frosts  and  Valentines. 

Next  comes  the  Frost  family,  but  from  want  of  data 
which  have  failed  to  reach  us  we  are  unable  to  give  a 
history  of  it.  We  know  it  was  one  of  the  first  and  prin- 
cipal ones,  and  has  done  much  toward  making  Matine- 
cock what  it  is  to-day. 

The  Valentines  were  another  family  which  came  into 
the  town  about  1716.  Daniel  Valentine  is  the  first  men- 
tioned. He  was  born  about  1689  and  married  Charity, 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Rachel  Coles,  of  Mosquito  Cove, 
now  Glen  Cove.  On  the  nth  of  March  1719-20 
he  bought  of  his  father-in-law  property  costing  him 
^£500.  This  place  has  never  passed  out  of  the  family, 
being  now  in  possession  of  the  daughter  of  the  late  El- 
wood  Valentine.  We  pass  down  through  a long  list  of 
descendants  till  we  reach  Mary  Valentine,  daughter  of 
David,  who  married  Lot  Cornelius,  their  issue  being 
Valentine  M.  and  Amanda,  who  married  Jarvis  Under- 
hill. Catherine,  daughter  of  David,  married  Isaac  B. 
Lewis.  She  was  the  mother  of  Mary  Anna,  who  married 
Daniel  Vail  and  has  issue  Louis  Herbert  and  Clara  Irving. 

Others  of  the  Valentine  family  were  Thomas  and  Rob- 
ert Valentine,  who  were  brothers  and  resided  on  their 
father’s  old  farm  near  West  Hills.  This  farm  was  divided 
between  them,  and  was  supposed  to  contain  1,000  acres. 
Thomas  married  Elizabeth  Hewlett  and  resided  upon  his 
part  of  the  farm.  Of  Robert’s  farm  there  is  a tradition 
that  a brook  ran  through  it  which  emptied  into  Cold 
Spring  mill  pond,  and  which  was  never  dry  or  frozen 
over.  This  Valentine  farm  is  now  owned  by  Benjamin 
Brush.  There  is  an  old  burial  ground  upon  it  which  is 
thought  to  contain  the  remains  of  some  of  the  ancestors 
of  the  two  brothers.  It  was  once  owned  and  occupied 
by  Hewlett,  father  of  James  W.  Valentine,  now  of  Green 
Point. 

Society  of  Friends,  Matinecock. 

Probably  some  of  the  residents  of  Matinecock,  partic- 
ularly of  Cillingworth,  became  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  as  early  as  1659,  and  attended  the  Oyster 
Bay  meeting  or  held  meetings  in  private  houses.  It  was 
agreed  in  1671  that  First-day  meetings  should  be  held 
alternately  at  this  place  and  Oyster  Bay. 

The  Friends  here  soon  began  to  suffer  from  the  law; 
many  of  them  having  their  property  sold  to  pay  fines 
imposed  for  refusing  to  train  and  to  work  on  a fort. 

In  1725  it  was  decided  to  build  a meeting-house. 
Thomas  Pearsall  and  Samuel  Underhill  were  the  builders. 
In  1751  some  gravestones  were  set  up  in  the  burying 
ground,  with  superfluous  inscriptions  engraved  thereon 
contrary  to  the  practice  of  Friends.  The  relatives  of  the 
deceased  were  requested  to  remove  them.  Repairs 
on  the  house  were  made  from  time  to  time.  The 
building  is  now  in  good  condition  and  the  society 
prosperous. 


5°8 


Hon.  Townsend  D.  Cock. 

Townsend  D.  Cock  was  born  at  Locust  Valley,  on  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  on  the  3d  day  of  Decem- 
ber 1838.  His  father  was  Alfred  Cock,  and  his  mother 
was  Phebe  Ann  Townsend,  a daughter  of  Jackson  S. 
Townsend.  The  author  of  the  “ Townsend  Memorial,” 
in  speaking  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  says:  “ This 
gentleman  is  most  appropriately  named,  being  descended 
in  ten  different  ways  from  the  three  Townsend  brothers.” 

The  foundation  of  Mr.  Cock’s  education  was  laid  at 
the  district  school,  and  later  he  was  a student  at  the  pri- 
vate school  founded  and  maintained  for  so  many  years 
by  that  successful  educator  Lot  Cornelius. 

In  1867  Mr.  Cock  was  chosen  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Oyster  Bay,  in  which  position  he  was  continued  by  the 
people  until  April  1872. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  the  Democratic  party  of  the  district 
selected  him  as  its  candidate  for  State  senator.  After  an 
active  and  exciting  canvass  Mr.  Cock  was  successful,  re- 
ceiving a majority  of  868.  He  had  the  support  of  many 
of  the  intelligent  and  independent  Republicans  of  the 
district,  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  nominee  of  their 
own  party.  The  sessions  of  the  Senate  of  which  Mr. 
Cock  was  a member  were  memorable  ones.  The  down 
fall  of  the  Tweed  ring  in  New  York  and  the  develop- 


ments that  led  up  the  dethronement  of  this  remarkable 
combination  suggested  the  necessity  of  measures  looking 
to  the  purification,  of  the  judiciary  of  the  State.  The 
bar  association  of  the  city  of  New  York  preferred  charges 
against  some  of  the  judges  then  upon  the  bench,  and  the 
Senate  was  called  upon  to  examine  into  the  truth  of  those 
charges.  John  H.  McCunn,  a judge  of  the  superior 
court  of  New  York  city,  was  the  first  one  against  whose 
official  conduct  charges  were  preferred.  The  governor 
transmitted  these  charges  to  the  Senate,  with  a recom- 
mendation to  that  body  to  inquire  into  their  truth.  The 
result  was  that  the  Senate  after  an  exhaustive  examina- 
tion found  them  sustained,  and  Judge  McCunn  was  re- 
moved. George  G.  Barnard,  a judge  of  the  supreme 
court,  was  impeached  by  the  Assembly,  and  the  Senate, 
associated  with  the  court  of  appeals,  was  called  upon  to 
try  the  charges.  The  hearing  was  had  at  Saratoga;  by  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  court  Judge  Barnard  was  found 
guilty,  and  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote  he  was  debarred 
from  ever  after  holding  any  position  of  honor  or  trust  in 
the  State.  This  was  the  first  and  only  court  of  impeachment 
ever  held  in  this  State.  H.  G.  Prindle,  judge  of  Chenango 
county,  and  George  M.  Curtis,  a judge  of  the  marine 
court  of  New  York,  were  afterward  tried  by  the  Senate, 
but  a majority  of  that  body  voted  against  their  removal. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  senatorial  term  Mr.  Cock 


Zn/j  <*■  by  Ka.Sall  i.  Sons  13  Barclay  St  NT 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  OYSTER  BAY. 


5n 


remained  in  private  life  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when,  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  leaders  of  the  political 
party  of  which  he  is  a member,  he  accepted  a nomination 
for  the  Assembly,  and  was  successful.  In  1881  he  was 
urged  to  accept  the  nomination  for  the  same  position, 
and  reluctantly  consented.  He  was  again  honored  with 
the  public  confidence,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  body  that 
secured  for  itself  historic  prominence  in  consequence  of 
the  senatorial  deadlock  occasioned  by  the  feud  in  the 
Republican  party,  growing  out  of  the  course  pursued  by 
Senators  Conkling  and  Platt  in  their  disagreement  with 
the  action  of  President  Garfield  in  the  appointment  of 
W.  H.  Robertson  as  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Cock  was  also  elected  to  the  Assembly  of  1882,  and 
served  during  the  session  as  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  commerce  and  navigation,  and  a member  of  the  ways 
and  means  committee. 

Mr.  Cock  was  chosen  a vice-president  of  the  Queens 
County  Agricultural  Society  in  1863,  and  re-elected  in 
1864  and  1878;  in  1879  he  was  chosen  president  of  the 
society,  and  served  three  consecutive  years.  He  has  been 
an  industrious  contributor  to  the  journals  of  the  day,  and 
has  occasionally  delivered  addresses  upon  topics  perti- 
nent to  the  times. 

William  Townsend  Cock. 

The  subject  of  the  present  memoir  was  born  the  26th 
day  of  November  1803,  in  the  village  then  called  Buck- 
ram, in  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay.  (The  village  is  now 
called  Locust  Valley,  but  was  originally  called — and 
more  properly — Matinecock,  that  being  the  name  of  much 
of  the  surrounding  country.)  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  Cock,  reared  a family  of  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  married  and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood; 
one  died  in  early  life,  and  William  T.,  being  the  youngest, 
remained  with  his  parents,  expecting  that  to  be  his  per- 
manent home. 

His  grandparents  on  the  paternal  side  were  Clark  Cock 
and  Elizabeth  Pierce,  she  of  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.; 
they  died  in  the  same  house,  he  at  the  ripe  age  of  83  and 
she  at  91.  His  parents  succeeded  to  that  house,  and  re- 
sided therein  nearly  seventy  years,  dying  at  the  advanced 
age  of  about  90  years. 

His  grandparents  on  the  maternal  side  were  Daniel 
Cock  and  Rosanna  Townsend,  who  lived  and  died  at  the 
old  family  mansion  near  the  Friends’  meeting-house  at 
Matinecock.  The  same  place  is  now  occupied  by  the 
subject  of  this  memoir,  and  from  the  best  information 
that  can  be  obtained  it  is  believed  that  the  family  has 
maintained  a continuous  ownership  of  it  since  the  title 
was  granted  by  the  native  Indians.  The  ancestors  of 
our  subject  have  for  the  most  part  been  connected  with 
the  Society  of  Friends  since  their  establishment  in  this 
country. 

We  find  Mr.  Cock  early  introduced  into  active  life. 
During  the  war  with  England  lasting  from  1812  to  1815 
he  was  placed  in  a large  country  store,  the  owners  of 
which  were  much  of  the  time  absent — one  in  the  army, 
the  other  attending  to  outside  business;  consequently  he 


was  frequently  at  that  early  age  left  alone  in  the  respon- 
sible position  of  having  sole  charge  of  the  concern.  He 
continued  in  this  place  a number  of  years,  spending  a 
few  days  at  a time,  when  he  could  be  spared  from  the 
store,  attending  a select  school  near  by.  After  leaving 
this  occupation  he  had  the  opportunity  of  attending  the 
district  school  for  a brief  period.  He  was  then 
placed  in  his  father’s  mill  to  learn  the  trade  of  a 
miller.  He  often  speaks  of  this  apprenticeship  a 
little  boastingly,  as  he  accomplished  the  task  in  one 
day  so  far  as  to  take  charge  of  the  mill  on  his  own 
responsibility. 

After  a short  service  at  the  old  mill  he  returned  to  his 
father’s  farm,  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  spending  his 
days  there,  pursuing  the  honorable  occupation  of  an  ag- 
riculturist. He  remained  in  this  position  until  about  the 
28th  year  of  his  age,  when  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
H.  Seaman,  the  widow  of  Dr.  William  Seaman  and  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  Hicks,  of  Westbury,  Long 
Island,  at  which  place  she  resided  with  her  widowed 
mother.  It  was  the  understanding  before  their  marriage 
that  he  should  reside  with  his  wife  at  the  home  of  her 
mother,  which  he  accordingly  did,  remaining  there  more 
than  thirty  years.  They  had  two  children,  Mary  H.  and 
Isaac  H.  The  former  died  in  her  20th  year  and  the 
latter,  a highly  esteemed  citizen,  now  occupies  the  old 
Hicks  mansion. 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  year  1865  Mrs.  Cock  died. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1867  Mr.  Cock  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Hannah  F.  Burling,  of  New  Rochelle, 
Westchester  county.  Two  years  later  they  removed  to 
the  old  family  residence  of  his  maternal  ancestors,  before 
mentioned  as  his  present  home,  where  he  is  quietly  pur- 
suing his  favorite  occupation  of  cultivating  the  soil.  By 
his  present  wife  he  has  one  child,  William  Burling 
Cock. 

While  a very  industrious  and  successful  man  in  busi- 
ness affairs,  Mr.  Cock  has  never  been  negligent  in  the 
really  more  weighty  matters  of  life.  He  has  long  been  a 
regular  attendant  of  the  meetings  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  has  frequently  been  appointed  to  responsi- 
ble services  in  its  administration.  Not  only  has  he  trav- 
eled many  miles  with  its  ministers  in  their  labor  of  love, 
but  at  his  home  he  has  been  a laborer  in  imparting  re- 
ligious instruction. 

For  a few  years  past  his  interest  has  been  largely  cen- 
tered in  the  affairs  of  the  Friends’  College  of  Long  Isl- 
and, founded  by  his  late  friend  Gideon  Frost.  They 
conferred  much  together  as  to  its  location  and  adminis- 
tration. The  site  was  decided  upon  and  purchased  for  a 
moderate  compensation  from  Mr.  Cock,  who  was  named 
as  executor,  trustee  and  president  of  the  board  by  the 
founder  during  his  life.  The  two  latter  appointments  "he 
holds  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Cock  still  remains  among  the  scenes  and  friends 
of  his  childhood.  His  long  life  of  usefulness  and  de- 
votion to  the  elevation  of  his  fellow  men  has  won  for 
him  the  respect,  esteem  and  affection  of  all  who  know 
him. 


57 


512 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Friends’  College,  Matinecock. 

This  school  was  established  by  the  late  Gideon  Frost, 
in  1876,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  to  the  children  of 
Friends  and  others  an  opportunity  to  gain  a thorough 
education,  with  a guarded  moral  training,  to  be  conducted 
in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  buildings  are  new  and  the  school  is  sur- 
rounded by  no  bad  influences.  The  course  of  study  is 
designed  to  prepare  for  the  freshman  class  of  any  col- 
lege. 

The  officers  are:  William  T.  Cock,  president;  Stephen 
Rushmore,  vice-president;  James  Willets,  treasurer; 
Frederick  E.  Willets,  secretary;  Leonard  F.  Coles, 
J.  Augustus  Prior  and  Frederick  E.  Willets,  executive 
committee. 


Locust  Valley, 

formerly  called  Buckram,  is  the  terminus  in  this  section 
of  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  and  has  a post-office  and 
several  stores. 

Here  live  the  descendants  of  some  of  the  oldest  families 
of  the  town,  including  the  Cocks,  Underhills,  Townsends, 
Weekses  and  Tillys. 

The  first  store  was  opened  about  1815  by  Ambrose 
Cock,  where  Mrs.  Lot  Cornelius  now  lives.  Benjamin 
Hawhurst  also  started  a store  about  that  time.  Michael 
Weeks  opened  a store  about  1820  where  E.  Weeks  now 
keeps  one.  Edwin  Weeks  succeeded  Michael  Weeks  in 
1836;  the  firm  name  was  S.  C.  & E.  Weeks.  Isaac  Cock 
kept  a store  about  seventy-five  years  ago  on  the  site  of 
the  house  now  occupied  by  Edwin  Weeks.  This  was 
carried  on  till  1832,  when  Mr.  Cock  was  succeeded  by 
Samuel  C.  Weeks,  who  in  turn  was  followed  by  the  pres- 
ent proprietor,  Albert  Weeks.  Among  other  early  mer- 
chants were  Richard  Cock  and  Underhill  & Downing. 

The  first  hotel  was  kept  by  Michael  Weeks,  where 
the  store  of  Albert  Weeks  now  stands.  Abraham  Hall 
succeeded  Michael  Weeks.  After  him  there  was  no 
regular  hotel  until  Mr.  Fleming  opened  his  well  kept 
house. 

The  principal  merchants  now  are  S.  W.  Thurston, 
dealer  in  pure  drugs,  medicines,  perfumery,  etc.;  A. 
Weeks,  dealer  in  family  groceries,  foreign  and  domestic 
wines,  ales,  etc.;  Mr.  Davis,  dealer  in  all  kinds  of  gro- 
ceries, dry  goods  and  hardware,  and  C.  Weeks,  dealer 
in  family  groceries,  flour,  dry  goods,  provisions,  etc. 

On  the  advent  of  William  E.  Kirk,  the  veteran  black- 
smith of  the  place,  who  came  here  when  19  years  of  age, 
there  were  only  two  buildings  where  the  depot  now  is — 
those  of  Lot  Cornelius  and  Uncle  John  Whalley.  There 
are  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  depot  two  stores,  a 
meat  market  and  numerous  private  dwellings. 

In  early  days  the  mails  were  brought  here  on  horse- 
back from  New  York. 

LOCUST  VALLEY  SCHOOLS. 

Locust  Valley’s  inhabitants  appear  to  have  been  ener- 
getic in  the  cause  of  education.  To  their  district  school, 


established  at  an  early  date,  they  paid  particular  atten- 
tion. It  was  taught  by  Lot  Cornelius  for  thirteen  years 
before  he  established  his  boarding  school,  which  con- 
tinued twenty  years.  This  boarding  school  consisted  of 
some  forty  pupils,  and  during  its  whole  existence  there 
was  no  sickness  of  any  account  among  them,  which 
speaks  well  for  the  salubriousness  of  Locust  Valley.  Pre- 
vious to  the  establishment  of  his  boarding  school  this 
veteran  educator  had  been  teaching  in  the  vicinity  many 
years,  and  he  was  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  the 
town  of  Oyster  Bay  a number  of  years.  Some  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  town  received  their  education  at  his 
hands. 

In  the  school  district  the  facilities  for  education  during 
some  years  were  meagre.  The  school  was  held  in  a build- 
ing which  partook  of  the  nature  of  a dwelling  and  a 
school-house.  The  inhabitants,  becoming  alive  to  the 
necessity  of  better  accommodations,  built  the  present 
school-house,  which  is  thought  to  be  the  first  one 
with  all.  modern  improvements  in  the  township.  A 
member  of  the  Cock  family  gave  $5,000  toward  its 
erection.  The  land  was  bought  of  Isaac  Townsend,  who 
offered  it  at  a nominal  price.  The  building  is  two  stories 
high  and  large  enough  to  afford  room  for  all  the  children 
in  the  district;  its  builders  having  in  view  the  probability 
that  the  district  might  be  enlarged.  Mr.  Chamberlain 
succeeded  Mr.  Cornelius  as  principal  of  the  school;  then 
came  Messrs.  Bell,  Skidmore,  Keller,  Mathews,  Down- 
ing, Green,  Bellows,  Valentine,  Robinson  and  McDon- 
alds. The  present  principal  is  Mr.  Surdam,  under  whose 
care  and  teaching  the  pupils  are  very  proficient. 

THE  REFORMED  CHURCH  OF  LOCUST  VALLEY. 

The  first  evangelical  organization  in  the  vicinity  of 
Locust  Valley  was  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  and  was  established  about  1838.  For  many 
years  it  continued  to  afford  the  only  regular  preaching 
that  was  enjoyed  by  the  people  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  was  supported,  regardless  of  denominational 
preferences,  by  all  interested  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
Christian  church.  During  a vacancy  in  the  pastorate  of 
this  church,  which  occurred  in  1864  and  which  resulted 
in  a partial  suspension  of  its  services,  a proposal  was 
made  and  agreed  to  by  the  officers  of  the  Methodist 
church,  that  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Fairchild,  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Oyster  Bay,  should  be  invited  to  supply  this 
pulpit  every  alternate  Sabbath;  and  somewhat  later  the 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Searle,  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Oyster 
Bay  (situated  at  Brookville),  was  requested  to  preach 
regularly  upon  the  unoccupied  Sunday.  These  arrange- 
ments, proving  satisfactory  to  all  concerned,  were  con- 
tinued until  the  resignation  of  their  respective  charges 
by  these  ministers  interrupted  the  services  held  at  Locust 
Valley.  In  1866  the  Rev.  John  H.  Smock  became  the 
pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Brookville,  and,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  desire  of  the  people  of  Locust  Valley, 
preached  for  them  every  other  Sabbath,  alternating  with 
the  supplies  by  the  Methodist  conference  with  which  the 
Locust  Valley  church  was  connected,  and  continued  his 


DOSORIS— LOCUST  VALLEY  REFORMED  CHURCH. 


5 1 3 


services  until  1867,  when,  a settled  pastor  being  obtained 
by  the  Methodist  church,  it  was  deemed  undesirable  to 
continue  the  union  services,  which  had  hitherto  been 
carried  on  with  great  unanimity  and  profit.  Many  of  the 
people,  however,  had  become  attached  to  the  forms  of 
worship  and  government  of  the  Reformed  and  Presbyte- 
rian churches,  and,  desiring  a continuance  of  them,  they 
retained  the  services  of  Rev.  Mr.  Smock;  and,  securing 
the  use  of  the  district  school  building,  held  their  first 
service  therein  August  25th  1867.  The  interest  in  the 
movement  continuing,  it  was  soon  thought  advisable  to 
proceed  to  the  erection  of  a church  building.  A plot  of 
ground  containing  about  half  an  acre,  adjoining  the  dis- 
trict school-house,  was  donated  to  the  enterprise  by  D. 
V.  Smith,  of  Lattingtown,  and  a neat  frame  building! 
with  a seating  capacity  of  nearly  250,  was  erected  thereon 
at  an  expense  of  about  $5,000.  This  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated July  4th  1869,  and  the  congregation  worshiping 
therein  was  considered  to  be  under  the  care  of  the  con- 
sistory of  the  Reformed  church  at  Brookville.  Upon 
the  resignation  of  the  pastorate  of  the  Brookville  church 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Smock  it  was  decided  by  the  congregation 
at  Locust  Valley  to  request  a separate  organization,  which 
was  accordingly  effected  May  30th  1871,  at  which  time 
the  following  named  persons,  sixteen  in  number,  were 
received  from  the  Reformed  church  at  Brookville,  and 
were  constituted  the  original  membership  of  the  Re- 
formed Church  of  Locust  Valley:  Mrs.  Angeline  Bayles, 
Thomas  A.  Cock,  Mrs.  Anna  Hall,  Mrs.  Ann  A.  Lawson, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Mallison,  Benjamin  C.  Nevins,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Thurston,  Mrs.  Frances  S.  Townsend,  Mrs.  Anna  Valen- 
tine, Miss  Matilda  Valentine,  Joseph  W.  Valentine,  Mrs. 
Ann  E.  Weeks,  Miss  Mary  E.  Weeks,  Daniel  V.  Weeks. 
Mrs.  Cornelia  Wright,  Daniel  Wright. 

From  these  sixteen  the  membership  of  the  church  has 
grown  to  sixty,  while  many  more  are  regular  attendants 
upon  its  services.  The  first  consistory  of  the  church  was 
composed  of  Daniel  V.  Weeks  and  Daniel  Wright,  elders, 
and  Benjamin  C.  Nevins  and  Thomas  A.  Cock,  deacons. 
Of  these  gentlemen  Mr.  Weeks  alone  still  serves  among 
the  officers  of  the  church  as  an  elder;  his  present  asso- 
ciates being,  in  the  eldership  Charles  H.  Williams  and  in 
the  diaconate  John  Bayles  and  Henry  Bond. 

The  first  pastor  of  this  church  was  the  Rev.  John  Hart, 
who  was  ordained  and  installed  July  2nd  1872  and  served 
the  church  nearly  three  years,  resigning  his  charge  in 
March  1875.  His  successors  in  the  pastorate  have  been 
the  Rev.  Horace  P.  Craig,  installed  June  16th  1875,  re- 
signed April  18th  1880;  and  the  Rev.  A.  De  W.  Mason, 
who  was  installed  October  7th  1880  and  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

The  Sabbath-school  of  the  church  was  organized  Au- 
gust 25th  1867,  under  the  superintendency  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Smock.  Since  that  time  its  sessions  have  been  reg- 
ularly held  throughout  the  entire  year.  Its  present  of- 
ficers are:  Joseph  W.  Valentine,  superintendent;  C.  F. 
Williams,  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  school  numbers 
upon  its  roll  eleven  officers  and  teachers  and  nearly  one 
hundred  scholars. 


Dosoris. 

Dosoris  is  situated  on  the  sound,  two  miles  north  of 
Glen  Cove.  The  original  tract,  nearly  1,000  acres,  was 
purchased  November  24th  1668  by  Robert  Williams  from 
several  chiefs  of  the  Matinecock  Indians.  A patent 
of  confirmation  was  issued  the  same  year  by  Governor 
Nicolls.  This  patent  included  “ West  Island  ” and  “East 
Island.”  Williams  sold  the  premises  September  24th 
1670  to  Lewis  Morris,  of  Barbadoes,  brother  of  Richard 
Morris,  first  proprietor  of  Morrisania.  May  1 6th  1686 
Governor  Dongan  gave  Morris  a patent,  reserving  a quit- 
rent  of  one  bushel  of  wheat  yearly.  Morris  conveyed 
the  premises,  August  10th  1693,  for  ^390,  to  Daniel 
Whitehead,  who  for  the  same  consideration  conveyed 
them  to  his  son-in-law  John  Taylor.  Taylor  dying  in- 
testate, the  property  descended  to  his  daughter  Abigail, 
afterward  the  wife  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Woolsey.  This 
gentleman  resided  on  the  premises  from  1736  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  August  16th  1756. 

The  name  Dosoris  is  supposed  to  be  a contraction  of 
dos  and  uxoris — a wife’s  dower — the  property  having 
come  to  Mr.  Woolsey  by  his  wife.  By  forms  of  lease 
and  release  the  title  was  vested  in  the  husband,  who  de- 
vised three-fifths  to  his  son  Melancthon  Taylor  Woolsey 
and  the  remaining  two-fifths  to  his  son  Benjamin  Wool- 
sey. In  1760  the  executors  of  the  former  conveyed  his 
part  of  the  estate,  about  416  acres,  including  East 
Island  (sometimes  known  since  as  Mutlear  Island, 
Presque  Isle  and  Butler’s  Island),  for  ^4,000,  to  John 
Butler.  Butler  built  the  first  flouring-mill  here,  on  the 
dam  between  the  mainland  and  West  Island.  Na- 
thaniel Coles  (son-in-law  of  Butler)  came  here  to  reside 
and  bought  the  remainder  of  the  Woolsey  estate,  con- 
taining about  300  acres;  and  also  West  Island,  sometimes 
called  Cavalier  Island,  for  $3,600. 

The  two  sons  of  Nathaniel  Coles,  John  Butler  Coles 
and  General  Nathaniel  Coles,  built  the  two  flouring-mills 
on  the  dam  between  the  two  islands.  All  three  of  the 
mills  did  a large  business.  The  first  was  taken  down; 
the  last  two  were  burned. 

The  scenery  here  is  beautiful,  the  soil  excellent  and 
the  air  salubrious,  rendering  it  a delightful  place  of  resi- 
dence. Dosoris  contains  some  of  the  oldest  locust  trees 
on  Long  Island.  The  place  was  thickly  populated  with 
Indians,  as  the  numerous  skeletons  and  domestic  uten- 
sils show.  It  is  now  occupied  by  the  Coles  family,  who 
came  here  over  a century  since,  and  several  other  fam- 
ilies. East  Island  contains  about  75  acres,  and  is  occu- 
pied by  Townsend  Cox,  commissioner  of  charity  in  New 
York  city.  West  Island  contains  50  acres,  and  is  occu- 
pied by  Charles  A.  Dana,  editor  of  the  New  York  Sun. 


GLEN  COVE. 

This  village  at  its  first  settlement  was  called  “ the 
Place,”  then  “ Musceata  Coufe,”  and  for  some  time  went 
by  the  name  of  “ Pembroke.”  In  1834  by  a vote  of  the 
people  the  name  was  changed  to  Glen  Cove. 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


5 J4 


In  1667  one  Joseph  Carpenter  applied  to  the  governor 
for  permission  to  buy  “ a certain  piece  of  land  on  each 
syde  of  the  ryver  at  Musceata  Coufe,  where  he  proposes 
to  settle  two  or  three  plantations  and  to  erect  a saw  and 
fulling-mill.”  This  petition  was  granted.  On  the  24th 
of  May  1668  Carpenter  bought  the  land  of  the  Indians. 
November  24th  1668  he  joined  with  him  as  equal  share- 
holders in  the  property  Nathaniel  Coles,  Abia  Carpenter, 
Thomas  Townsend  and  Robert  Coles.  In  1677  Governor 
Andros  granted  letters  patent  to  Joseph  Carpenter,  N. 
and  R.  Coles  and  Nicholas  Simpkins  for  the  land  around 
Mosquito  Cove.  The  following  is  a partial  copy  of  this 
ancient  document: 

“ Edward  Andross  Esq.,  by  the  grace  of  God  lieuten- 
ant and  governor-general  under  his  Royal  Highness 
James  Duke  of  York  and  Albany,  &c.,  of  all  his  territory 
in  America.  Whereas  there  is  a certain  tract  of  land  at 
Musketo  Cove,  in  the  north  riding  of  Yorkshire  upon 
Long  Island,  which  by  my  order  hath  been  laid  out  for 
Joseph  Carpenter,  Nathaniel  Coles,  Robert  Coles,  Daniel 
Coles  and  Nicholas  Simpkins — the  said  land  lying  by 
the  side  of  Hempstead  Harbor,  beginning  at  a certain 
marked  tree,  formerly  marked  for  Colonel  Lewis  Morris; 
running  then  due  east  by  the  land  of  the  said  Colonel 
Morris  80  chains,  ranging  the  same  course  from  Colonel 
Morris’s  eastern  bounds  to  a certain  marked  tree  upon 
the  common  40  chains;  thence  south  160  and  4 chains 
to  certain  markt  trees;  90  chains  due  west,  to  the  rear  of 
the  lots  of  Richard  Kirby,  Jacob  Brocken,  George 
Downing  and  Robert  Godfrey;  thence  due  north  by  the 
said  lots  60  chains,  and  thence  due  west  to  the  water 
side;  ranging  then  by  the  water  side  to  the  run  of  Col- 
onel Lewis  Morris,  and  thence  nearest  south  to  the  first 
markt  tree;  including  in  the  same  the  swamp  and  mill 
run — * * * I have  given  and  granted  and  by  these 

presents  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto  the  said  Joseph 
Carpenter,  Nathaniel  Coles,  Daniel  Coles,  Robert  Coles 
and  Nicholas  Simpkins,  their  heirs  and  assignees,  the 
aforementioned  track  of  swamp,  mill  run  and  premises, 
with  their  and  every  of  their  appurtenances;  they  making 
improvements  thereon  according  to  law  and  yielding  and 
paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  year  unto  His  Royal 
Highness’s  use  as  a quit-rent  one  bushel  of  good  winter 
wheat,  unto  such  officer  or  officers  as  shall  be  empowered 
to  receive  the  same.” 

We  will  give  the  bounds  of  this  patent  in  a form  more 
comprehensible  to  the  present  generation.  The  starting 
point  was  at  a marked  tree,  now  replaced  by  a stone 
marked  B,  upon  the  land  of  John  T.  Valentine;  from 
there  the  line  ran  in  an  easterly  direction,  a little  to  the 
south  of  the  present  residence  of  Stephen  M.  Cock,  to  a 
point  at  or  near  the  northeast  corner  of  his  farm;  thence 
in  a southerly  course,  crossing  the  highway  just  east  of 
the  dwelling  of  the  late  Simon  Craft,  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  Pound  Hollow  Woods;  along  the  west  side  of 
the  woods  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Andreas  McQueen’s 
farm;  thence  westerly  along  the  north  side  of  his  farm  and 
across  the  Cedar  Swamp  road  to  a point  a short  distance 
southeast  of  the  residence  of  Darius  Benham;  then 
northerly,  passing  a little  west  of  Samuel  Craft’s  resi- 
dence, until  about  opposite  Littleworth  lane;  then  west- 
erly to  and  along  that  lane  as  far  as  the  first  turn  of  the 
lane  southwardly;  then  in  a direct  line  to  Hempstead 
Harbor  and  Long  Island  Sound,  to  Dosoris  Creek,  up  the 


creek  to  the  pond;  then  to  and  through  the  west  or  old 
pond  (thus  including  West  Island)  to  the  mouth  of  Flag 
Brook;  up  that  brook  (which  is  a southerly  course)  to  its 
head,  and  then  in  a direct  line,  which  is  still  southerly,  to 
the  marked  stone.  The  tract  contained  according  to  the 
patent  “ seventeen  hundred  acres;”  but  from  a list  of  the 
landholders  dated  November  nth  1786  (which  we  give 
below),  made  out  upon  the  occasion  of  a final  payment 
of  quit-rent  and  which  gives  the  number  of  acres  owned 
by  each  person  within  the  patent,  the  total  number  of 
acres  appears  to  amount  to  3,678;  which  being  more  than 
double  the  quantity  given  under  the  hand  of  the  surveyor 
points  to  a mistake  somewhere,  in  which  the  Indians  must 
have  been  the  losers.  In  the  following  paragraph  the 
number  of  acres  of  each  owner  is  followed  by  the  amount 
of  his  tax: 

Caleb  Coles,  125,  2s.  6d.;  Benjamin  Coles,  100,  2s.; 
Jacob  Valentine,  277,  5s.  6d.;  Coles  Mudge,  80,  is.  8d.; 
Jordan  Coles,  19,  4d.;  James  Bennett,  3,  id.;  Henry 
Mott,  26,  6d.;  Charles  Thorne,  19,  4d. ; Thomas  Kipp’s 
estate,  6,  2d. ; Joseph  Wood,  120,  2s.  5d.;  Benjamin 
Craft,  73,  is.  6d. ; Joseph  Craft,  147,  2s.  1 1 d. ; Solomon 
Craft,  60,  is.  3d.;  Morris  Carpenter,  15,  4d.;  William 
Hyde,  11,  3d.;  Coles  Carpenter,  200,  4s.;  Albert  Coles, 
75,  is.  6d.;  Derich  Coles,  62,  is.  3d.;  William  Coles,  48, 
is.;  Benjamin  Coles  jr.,  100,  2s.;  Isaac  Coles,  19,  4d.; 
Daniel  Coles,  120,  2s.  5d.;  Ananias  Downing,  156,  3s.  2d.; 
William  Hopkins,  80,  is.  8d.;  Thomas  Hopkins,  140,  2s. 
iod.;  Silas  Downing,  20,  5d.;  Jeromas  Bennett,  80,  is. 
8d. ; George  Bennett,  80,  is.  8d. ; Thomas  Pearsall,  185, 
3s.  gd. ; Charles  Frost,  3,  id.;  John  Frost,  3,  id.;  Wil- 
liam Bennett,  6,  2d. 

Joseph  Carpenter,  the  first  purchaser,  appears  to  have 
resided  for  some  time  with  his  father,  William,  at  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.;  from  there  he  moved  to  Oyster  Bay  early 
in  the  year  1667,  and  thence  to  Mosquito  Cove. 

Nathaniel  Coles  was  the  son  of  Robert  Coles,  one  of 
the  associates  of  Governor  Winthrop  in  the  settlement  of 
Ipswich,  Mass.  He  came  to  Long  Island  in  1654,  in 
company  with  Robert  Williams,  and  settled  at  Oyster 
Bay.  Many  of  the  descendants  of  these  two  men  are 
still  living  in  the  village  and  vicinity. 

A saw-mill  was  built  immediately  after  the  settlement, 
and  soon  afterward  it  was  thought  necessary  to  build  a 
grist-mill  for  the  convenience  of  the  settlers.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a copy  of  the  builder’s  agreement  with  the  set- 
tlers after  it  was  built: 

“Agreed  yt  whareas  I,  Joseph  Carpenter,  haveing  Built 
A grist-mill  joyneing  to  oure  new  saw-mill,  and  upon  ye 
stream  which  belongeth  to  us  five  purchased — Nathanell 
Colies,  Daniel  Colies,  Robert  Colies,  Nickolas  Simkins 
and  my  selfe — and  in  consideration  of  three  parts  in  ye 
streme  and  timbar  I Joseph  Carpenter  doe  pledge  my 
selfe,  my  heyres,  Exsexetors,  Administrators,  and  Asignes, 
soe  long  as  my  selfe,  my  heyres,  Exsexetors,  Administra- 
tors, or  Asignes  shall  keep  or  mantaine  ye  said  mill,  tto 
grind  ye  aforesaide  proprietors’  corne  or  grayne  for  each 
of  their  famylies  well  and  Tolle-free  for  ever;  and  iff 
my  selfe,  my  heyres,  Exsexetors,  Administrators,  or 
Asignes  for  ye  futar  shall  see  case  to  Lett  ye  sayde  grist- 
mill fall,  and  not  to  keep  it  in  repayre  for  ye  fulfilling  of 
ye  conditions  as  above  inserted,  that  then  and  after,  for- 
ever, ye  aforesayde  streme  to  remaine  to  us  five  proprie- 
tors and  our  heyres  and  Asignes  for  ever,  to  order  and 


THE  GROWTH  OF  GLEN  COVE. 


5i5 


dispose  of  as  we  shall  see  Case — to  which  I have  sett  my 
hand  and  seale  ye  14th  of  Janewry  1677. 

“Joseph  Carpenter. 

“Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  ye  presence  of  us — 
Tho.  Townsend,  Samuel  Pell.” 

The  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  were  erected  upon  a dam 
thrown  across  the  stream,  and  we  are  told  vessels  would  run 
up  to  the  dam  and  load  at  the  lowest  tide.  The  saw-mill 
soon  grew  very  advantageous  to  the  colony,  for  in  1678 
we  find  Carpenter  receiving  extensive  orders  for  plank 
to  be  used  in  the  construction  or  repair  of  old  Fort  James, 
which  stood  on  the  Battery,  New  York.  The  growth  of 
the  settlement  was  rapid.  Following  Carpenter,  Simp- 
kins, Coles  and  Mudge  came  Robert  and  Daniel  Coles, 
John  Thompson,  Matthias  Harvey,  Thomas  Townsend, 
Job  Wright  and  Isaac  Doughty.  A year  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Cove  the  list  of  freeholders  in  Oyster  Bay 
included  but  forty-one;  yet  the  increase  in  population 
was  so  rapid  that  in  twenty  years  (1687)  Governor  Don- 
gan  stated  that  the  people  complained  of  a want  of  room. 

The  records  would  show  some  confusion  of  boundaries 
among  the  proprietors;  but,  such  was  the  liberal  and 
friendly  policy  pursued  by  the  people,  we  can  hear  of  no 
disputes,  but  confirmations,  concessions  and  grants.  Un- 
der one  of  these  Richard  Kirby,  Jacob  Broking,  George 
Downing  and  Robert  Godefree  were  established  in  the 
ownership  of  land  which  was  part  of  the  original  pur- 
chase by  Simkins,  Coles  and  Carpenter. 

The  Weeks  family  appears  as  interested  in  lands,  but 
resided  at  Oyster  Bay  until  somewhat  later.  There  is  no 
trace  of  Simpkins  or  any  of  his  descendants,  so  it  is  sup- 
posed he  must  have  left  Mosquito  Cove  soon  after  be- 
coming associated  in  the  purchase.  Besides  the  families 
above  mentioned  the  names  of  Mudge,  Albertson  and 
Thornycraft  appear  very  often  upon  old  papers.  It  is  a 
curious  fact  that  the  name  of  Thornycraft  now  furnishes 
two  distinct  surnames — Thorne  and  Craft — both  of  which 
can  be  directly  traced  back  to  their  common  ancestor 
William  Thornycraft. 

In  selecting  places  for  their  homes  the  early  settlers 
chose  sites  in  proximity  to  springs  or  streams,  or  where 
water  would  be  found  near  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
which  fact  is  very  noticeable  along  Cedar  Swamp  Valley. 

In  the  war  of  the  Revolution  the  inhabitants  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  colonies,  and  none  endured  more  or  suf- 
fered more  to  defend  that  liberty  which  hitherto  they 
had  held  as  sacredly  their  own. 

In  this  region  a company  of  eighty  men  was  organized, 
which  marched  to  join  the  brigade  of  gallant  Woodhull, 
who  afterward  fell  in  defense  of  his  country,  as  related 
on  page  41.  It  would  be  hard  to  surmise  which  felt  the 
ravages  of  war  the  most — those  who  marched  to  the  field 
or  those  who  were  left  at  home  to  put  up  with  the  insults 
of  the  British  and  Hessian  soldiers,  who  swarmed  through 
all  parts  of  the  country.  On  the  arrival  of  the  news  of 
peace  the  people  made  every  manifestation  of  joy  and 
gratitude. 

When  treason  threatened  to  subvert  our  national  gov- 
ernment few  villages  gave  a readier  or  more  generous  re- 
sponse. Through  the  long  struggle  of  north  and  south 


her  sons  defended  many  a post  of  honor  and  trod  many  a 
field  of  death,  and  her  daughters  were  foremost  in  works 
of  mercy  to  soften  in  camp  and  hospital  the  misery  oc- 
casioned by  the  war. 

The  growth  of  the  village  itself  was  slow  for  many 
generations.  It  had  but  twelve  houses  during  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  had  but  little  increase  up  to  1812. 
In  1835  a boarding  house  called  the  Pavilion  was  erected 
by  William  M.  Weeks,  which  in  after  years  was  extended 
to  an  establishment  accommodating  300  people  and 
worth  $35,000.  This  valuable  building  has  since  been 
destroyed  by  fire. 

For  some  forty  years  past  Glen  Cove  has  been  a 
favorite  resort  for  the  elite  of  New  York  and  other  cities. 
Some  of  these  gentlemen  have  splendid  residences  in  the 
village  and  its  vicinity.  The  brothers  Duryea  have 
added  much  to  the  prosperity  of  the  village  by  establish- 
ing here  their  starch  manufactory,  of  which  an  account 
is  given  elsewhere.  In  addition  to  this  the  industries  of 
the  locality  consist  of  the  New  York  Block  Building 
Company,  which  compresses  sand  and  lime  into  a build- 
ing material;  Atwater,  Benham  & Co.’s  tin  and  sheet  iron 
ware  factory;  the  very  extensive  Glen  Cove  Flour  Mills, 
and  the  large  sand  and  clay  works  at  South  Glen  Cove. 

Land  around  the  village  is  valued  at  from  $400  to 
$1,000  an  acre.  There  are  four  churches  (Presbyterian, 
Episcopal,  Methodist  and  Catholic).  The  first  school  of 
importance  was  a private  academy,  which  was  succeeded 
by  the  present  union  school.  The  village  is  situated  on 
the  north  shore  of  Long  Island,  on  Hempstead  Harbor, 
and  about  twenty-five  miles  from  New  York. 

Among  the  noted  men  who  have  been  residents  of  Glen 
Cove  we  must  mention  the  great  Quaker  George  Fox, 
whose  gift  of  opening  the  Scriptures  was  unrivaled.  He 
visited  this  region  about  four  years  after  its  settlement. 
His  preaching  was  powerful  and  impressive.  The  sect 
which  he  founded  has  adorned  humanity  and  passed  into 
a proverb  for  the  personal  virtues  of  its  members. 

The  place  has  given  birth  to  tw'o  distinguished  physi- 
cians— Dr.  Thomas  Cock  and  Valentine  Mott.  Dr.  Cock 
enjoyed  a high  reputation  and  stood  among  the  leading 
physicians  of  New  York  city.  Dr.  Mott’s  renown  was  as 
broad  as  the  expanse  of  civilization. 

Glen  Cove’s  Bicentennial. 

A public  meeting  was  called  on  the  15th  of  April  1868 
to  arrange  for  celebrating  the  200th  anniversary  of  the  set- 
tlement of  Glen  Cove.  The  call  was  signed  by  Samuel  M. 
Titus,  William  M.  Weeks,  David  A.  Valentine,  J.  K.  Mil- 
nor,  R.  M.  Bowne,  Isaac  Coles,  Willet  Weeks,  John  T. 
Valentine,  Samuel  Frost,  James  Titus  and  Elwood  Val- 
entine. 

The  proposed  celebration  was  carried  out  on  Monday 
September  25th,  having  been  postponed  from  the  23d 
through  the  inclemency  of  the  weather.  The  president 
of  the  day  was  William  M.  Weeks.  The  vice-presidents, 
thirty-five  in  number,  were  in  great  part  descended  from 
the  original  settlers.  The  marshal  was  Samuel  M.  Titus, 
with  General  Charles  A.  Hamilton,  James  B.  Pearsall 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


5*6 


and  Samuel  M.  Weeks  as  aids.  The  toast  master  was 
C.  B.  Gruman.  The  procession  included  a band,  Com- 
pany E fifteenth  regiment  N.  Y.  State  militia,  ihe  fire 
department,  civic  societies,  the  children  of  the  public 
schools,  etc.  It  was  formed  opposite  the  Glen  Cove  pub- 
lic school-house,  marched  to  Union  Square,  and  returned 
through  School  and  Glen  streets  to  the  grove  of  James 
H.  Coles,  where  the  following  exercises  preceded  the 
clambake:  Music  by  the  band;  invocation  by  the  Rev.' 
Thomas  Mallaby;  singing  by  the  schools;  prayer  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Goodsell;  singing  by  the  glee  club;  address  by 
H.  J.  Scudder;  toasts  and  sentiments;  singing  by  the 
schools;  benediction.  The  attendance  was  very  large, 
and  the  address  of  Mr.  Scudder  was  listened  to  with  a 
great  deal  of  interest.  The  feast  that  followed  the  in- 
tellectual treat  consisted  of  a bake  of  sixty  bushels  of 
clams,  and  2,000  sandwiches.  The  day  was  one  which 
will  ever  be  held  in  pleasant  recollection  by  all  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  celebration. 

Steamboats. 

The  first  steamboat,  which  was  called  the  “ Linneus,” 
had  previously  run  to  New  Rochelle  on  the  main  shore. 
She  was  owned  and  commanded  by  Captain  Elijah  Peck. 
A stock  company  was  formed  in  1829,  which  issued 
eighty-two  shares  at  $20  each.  The  building  of  the  dock 
cost  $2,000,  and  its  site  $50.  The  dock  was  at  Cape 
Breton;  Henry  Hyde  was  the  builder.  The  following  is 
a list  of  boats  which  have  been  on  this  route:  “ Lin- 
neus,” “ Flushing,”  “ Fairfield,”  “ Nimrod,”  “ Westches- 
ter,” “Sun,”  “American  Eagle,”  “Croton,”  “Norwalk,” 
“Glen  Cove,”  “Mayflower,”  “George  Law,”  “Island 
City,”  “Stamford,”  “Long  Island,”  “Arrowsmith,”  “Gen- 
eral Sedgwick,”  “Jessie  Hoyt,”  “ Seawanhaka.”  The 
“Glen  Cove”  and  “ Long  Island  ” were  burned  in  the 
south  during  the  war.  The  memory  of  the  burning  of  the 
“Seawanhaka”  is  but  too  deeply  engraved  in  the  hearts 
of  many  a household  to  need  further  mention  here.  The 
“ Idlewild  ” succeeded  the  “Seawanhaka,”  making  reg- 
ular trips  between  Roslyn  and  intervening  ports  and  New 
York  up  to  the  year  1881. 

Temperance  Efforts. 

The  first  meeting  known  of  at  Glen  Cove  was  held 
about  July  8th  1815  in  Jacob  Titus’s  store,  which  stood 
on  the  site  of  Fancher’s  jewelry  store.  Benjamin  Coles 
was  chosen  chairman  and  George  D.  Coles  secretary. 
The  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
adopting  measures  to  enforce  laws  for  the  suppression  of 
vice  and  immorality.  After  a review  of  the  ravages 
caused  by  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  the  following 
resolutions  were  adopted: 

“ Resolved , unanimously,  that  as  good  citizens  the 
friends  of  civil  liberty  and  religious  order,  regarding  the 
present  and  everlasting  welfare  of  our  fellow  men,  we 
are  in  duty  bound  to  unite  with  promptitude  and  zeal  to 
stop  the  progress  of  these  threatening  evils,  and  to  prevent 
the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week. 


“ Resolved,  unanimously,  that  James  Coles,  Richard 
Udall  and  Lewis  Valentine  be  a committee  of  vigilance, 
vested  with  power  and  authority  to  nominate  and  appoint 
supernumerary  agents  to  give  information  to  the  proper 
authority  of  all  persons  who  shall  vend  spirituous  liquors 
or  any  kind  of  merchandise,  contrary  to  the  law  of  the 
land,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week. 

“ Resolved , unanimously,  that  the  proceedings  of  the 
meeting  be  published  in  the  Long  Island  Star." 

There  is  now  in  existence  in  the  village  a very  strong 
temperance  organization,  as  well  as  a Young  Men’s  Chris- 
tian Association;  the  influence  of  both  these  organiza- 
tions is  widely  spread  and  felt. 

Glen  Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

The  great  fire  in  the  city  of  New  York  which  happened 
in  the  winter  of  1835-36,  causing  the  failure  of  nearly  all 
the  insurance  companies  in  that  city  and  the  consequent 
difficulty  of  effecting  insurance  after  this  event,  was  the 
prime  cause  which  led  to  the  organization  of  the  “Glen 
Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company.”  William  M.  Weeks, 
a prominent  merchant  of  Glen  Cove,  having  received 
notice  of  the  failure  of  the  company  in  which  he  was 
then  insured,  conceived  the  idea  of  engaging  the  atten- 
tion of  property  holders  of  Queens  county  on  the  sub- 
ject of  mutual  insurance.  A meeting  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Glen  Cove  and  vicinity  was  called  at  his  sug- 
gestion, and  during  the  year  1836  the  subject  was  fre- 
quently considered  in  public  meetings  convened  for  that 
purpose.  It  was  resolved  to  petition  the  Legislature  to 
incorporate  the  Glen  Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
and  an  act  to  that  effect  was  passed  March  27th  1837,  to 
continue  in  operation  20  years.  On  the  18th  of  August 
1837  a meeting  of  the  petitioners  was  held,  the  act  as 
passed  was  accepted,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
appointed  officers:  President,  James  C.  Townsend,  M. 
D.;  secretary,  Elwood  Valentine;  together  with  21 
directors.  The  plan  devised  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
business,  and  which  has  always  been  adhered  to,  is  based 
on  a strictly  mutual  and  co-operative  system.  Each 
member  is  credited  with  all  payments  of  premiums  and 
with  interest  on  yearly  balances,  and  is  charged  with  his 
or  her  proportion  of  losses  and  contingent  expenses. 
Any  surplus  remaining  is  the  sole  property  of  such  mem- 
ber. The  company  now  insures  over  $7,000,000  worth 
of  property — being  an  annual  gain  of  about  $170,- 
000 — which  testifies  to  the  soundness  of  its  principles 
and  the  care  in  its  management.  The  charter  has  been 
twice  renewed  and  the  company  still  enjoys  the  highest 
confidence  of  its  numerous  patrons  and  friends.  Of  the 
original  incorporators  only  two  remain — James  C.  Town- 
send and  William  M.  Weeks.  The  former  is  yet  and 
always  has  been  president  of  the  company,  and  the  latter, 
who  was  the  originator  of  the  enterprise,  is  now  acting 
as  assistant  secretary.  The  present  officers  are:  James 
C.  Townsend,  M.  D.,  president;  Daniel  V.  Weeks,  secre- 
tary; William  M.  Weeks,  assistant  secretary;  George  S. 
Downing,  treasurer. 


DURYEA'S  GLEN  COVE  MANUFACTURING  C OiS  WORKS, GLEN  COVE, QUEENS  CO, LI 


5>9 


The  Glen  Cove  Manufacturing  Company. 


Over  a quarter  of  a century  has  passed  since  this  com- 
pany commenced  the  manufacture  of  starch  in  the  beau- 
tiful village  of  Glen  Cove.  When  the  Duryeas  started 
the  business  here,  which  has  carried  the  name  of  Glen 
Cove  starch  to  every  quarter  of  the  civilized  world,  the 
country  was  on  the  verge  of  a great  commercial  revolu- 
tion. Telegraphy,  discovered  only  a few  years  before, 
had  but  recently  come  into  general  use,  and  our  railroad 
system,  since  grown  to  such  gigantic  proportions,  was 
then  in  comparative  infancy.  The  old  methods  of 
starch-making,  which  had  been  practiced  for  hundreds 
of  years,  were  still  in  vogue,  and  with  some  slight  mod- 
ifications and  clumsy  machinery  furnished  the  imperfect 
manufactures  that  supplied  the  starch  with  which  our 
grandmothers  dressed  their  laces  and  stiffened  their 
ruffles  half  a century  ago.  Corn,  wheat,  rice,  potatoes 
and  other  vegetables  and  cereals  had  been  well  known  for 
ages  as  factors  in  the  starch  manufacture,  but  it  re- 
mained for  the  Duryeas  to  bring  the  manufacture  of 
starch  from  corn  to  perfection,  which  has  led  to  corn 
now  being  the  principal  agent  for  the  manufacture  of 
starch,  and  one  before  which  every  other  has  faded  into 
comparative  insignificance. 


The  Glen  Cove  Manufacturing  Company  was  formed  in 
the  year  1855.  The  population  of  the  United  States  was 
then  only  a little  over  half  what  it  is  at  present.  Starch 
— such  as  there  was — was  abundant  and  cheap,  and  the 
only  hope  of  success  for  the  new  firm  lay  in  creating  a 
quality  superior  to  any  then  known,  the  superiority  of 
which  should  make  it  supersede  all  similar  grades  then 
in  use. 

Unlike  most  new  productions  the  starch  manufac- 
tured by  the  Duryeas  was  at  once  a success.  It  was  no 
sooner  placed  upon  the  market  than  its  superiority  was 
recognized  throughout  the  commercial  world.  The 
growing  necessities  of  their  business  compelled  addition 
to  their  works,  till  they  have  reached  their  present  sur- 
prising magnitude. 

In  1862  the  second  great  international  exposition  was 
held  in  the  city  of  London.  The  fame  of  the  first  Expo- 
sition and  the  unequaled  resources  of  the  British  Empire 
drew  competitors  in  every  department  of  trade  from  the 
four  quarters  of  the  globe.  It  almost  seemed  like  a haz- 
ardous experiment  to  enter  the  lists  against  such  tremen- 
dous odds.  Yet  the  result  was  the  triumphant  vindica- 
tion of  the  Duryeas’  starch  when  placed  in  competition 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


with  the  manufactures  of  the  world;  and  their  corn 
starch,  which  had  been  entirely  unknown  in  Europe 
before,  received  the  highest  medical  endorsement,  and 
was  specially  mentioned  as  “ Exceedingly  Excellent  for 
Food.”  Paris,  Vienna,  Belgium,  Flolland,  even  the  Cape 
of  Good  Flope  and  the  distant  continent  of  Australia, 
saw  the  Duryeas  enter  into  competition  with  their  best 
manufacturers  of  starch,  and  saw  them  everywhere  tri- 
umphant. The  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia 
in  1876  was  another  great  opportunity.  The  company 
on  that  occasion  made  a most  magnificent  display  in  a 
beautiful  Moorish  kiosk,  which  was  erected  at  a cost  of 
several  thousand  dollars  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
chief  attractions  of  Agricultural  Hall.  The  starch  man- 
ufacturers from  all  parts  of  the  world  were  there,  and 
numbers  of  our  domestic  manufacturers  made  a splendid 
showing.  Yet  even  against  these  tremendous  odds  the 
Glen  Cove  makers  received  a medal,  coupled  with  the 
endorsement  of  “ Notable  or  Absolute  Purity.” 

The  international  exposition  at  Paris  in  1878  brought 
them  once  more  prominently  before  the  public  of  Europe. 
In  1867  they  had  received  a medal  and  the  endorsement 
of  the  empire  “for  Perfection  of  Preparation.”  The  last 
exposition  was  under  the  republic;  and  against  all  com- 
petitors they  received  a gold  medal,  coupled  with  the  en- 
dorsement “the  Best  Production  of  its  Kind;”  also  at 
Brussels,  1876,  for  “ Remarkable  Excellence,”  and  at 
Franklin  Institute,  Pa.,  “ for  Superior  Merit,  not  alone 
as  being  the  Best  of  the  Kind  Exhibited,  but  as  the  Best 
Known  to  Exist  in  the  Market  of  American  Produc- 
tion.” 

Since  the  company  started  its  works  at  Glen  Cove  a 
beautiful  village  has  grown  up  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  factory,  the  homes  of  a contented  and  happy  pop- 
ulation. The  works  are  pleasantly  situated  on  a small 
stream  which  reaches  up  from  Hempstead  harbor,  on  the 
sound.  They  occupy  about  thirty  acres  and  employ  sev- 
eral hundred  hands.  One  large  engine,  of  600  horse 
power,  and  about  thirty  smaller  engines  supply  the  work- 
ing power  of  the  factory,  the  works  being  the  most  exten- 
sive of  the  kind  in  the  world.  They  are  an  example  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  by  skilled  knowledge,  steady 
push,  indomitable  pluck  and  abundant  capital.  The 
success  of  the  Duryeas  is  due  to  a thorough  knowledge 
of  their  business,  and  a perfect  appreciation  of  the  wants 
of  the  public  which  they  were  called  upon  to  supply.  The 
evidence  of  their  energy  and  success  is  found  all  over  the 
continent  of  America,  from  Cape  Horn  to  Alaska;  through 
the  islands  of  the  Pacific,  on  the  continent  of  Australia, 
on  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  through  British  India 
and  every  portion  of  Europe,  the  starch  manufactur- 
ed by  the  Glen  Cove  Manufacturing  Company  can  be 
found. 

In  the  commercial  contests  of  the  ’past  twenty-five 
years  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe  American  manu- 
facturers have  done  much  to  maintain  American  su- 
premacy abroad,  but  among  them  all  there  have  been  none 
that  have  left  a more  honorable  record  than  the  Glen 
Cove  Manufacturing  Company. 


James  Thorne’s  Lumber  and  Coal  Yards. 

The  lumber  and  coal  yards  at  Glen  Cove,  established 
by  James  Thorne,  are  still  owned  and  operated  by  their 
original  proprietor.  Mr.  Thorne,  a descendant  of  one  of 
the  pioneers,  was  formerly  engaged  as  a contractor  and 
builder  at  Glen  Cove.  In  1855  he  erected  the  starch 
works,  which  were  subsequently  burned.  In  1858  he 
began  business  at  this  place  as  a dealer  in  lumber,  tim- 
ber, lath,  shingles,  wood,  coal,  lime,  cement,  brick,  slating, 
sewer  pipes,  builders’  hardware,  paints,  glass  and  all  other 
materials  for  building  purposes.  He  has  a well  estab- 
lished trade,  amounting  to  at  least  $50,000  per  annum, 
and  has  extensive  means  for  carrying  it  on.  His  property 
shown  in  the  accompanying  view  has  a large  water  front, 
some  200  feet  of  which  is  thoroughly  docked,  giving  him 
ample  facilities  for  receiving  supplies  by  water  from  New 
York  or  other  ports.  The  cooperage  shown  in  the  illus- 
tration has  been  in  operation  since  1871,  and  is  conducted 
by  parties  leasing  the  shop  from  Mr.  Thorne. 

Pembroke  Lodge,  No.  73,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

This  lodge  was  instituted  July  23d  1846,  the  charter 
having  been  granted,  July  14th  1846,  to  William  M. 
Weeks,  James  W.  Merritt,  Edwin  A.  Wilson,  John  F. 
Golden  and  Stephen  B.  Smith.  At  the  institution  of  the 
lodge  the  following  officers  were  duly  elected  and  in- 
stalled: N.  G.,  William  M.  Weeks;  V.  G.,  James  W. 
Merritt;  secretary,  John  F.  Golden;  treasurer,  Stephen 
B.  Smith.  The  following  are  the  past  grands  of  the 
lodge  at  present  in  good  and  regular  standing:  James  W. 
Merritt,  Isaac  V.  Baldwin,  Thomas  J.  Davis,  James  C. 
Miller,  David  S.  Clows,  A.  V.  Hicks,  George  W.  Hat- 
field, Robert  Jeffries,  Samuel  Thorne,  James  Taylor,  E. 
T.  L.  Youde,  George  Washington,  G.  W.  Cox,  Charles  G. 
Miller,  N.  R.  Stetson,  C.  B.  Gruman,  John  B.  Kirby, 
Thomas  Lockard,  George  W.  Robbins,  Isaac  Downing, 
E.  P.  Titus,  C.  K.  Boardman,  Alex.  McDougal,  William 
M.  Peck,  Edward  Eastment  and  A.  M.  Davis. 

The  present  officers  are:  Willis  M.  .Corwin,  N.  G.; 
John  P.  Tappan,  V.  G.;  William  M.  Peck,  secretary; 
Robert  Jeffries,  treasurer;  James  M.  YVansor,  permanent 
secretary;  N.  R.  Stetson,  C.  B.  Gruman  and  William  M. 
Peck,  trustees. 

The  lodge  meets  every  Saturday  evening  in  Baldwin’s 
block. 

Pembroke  has  admitted  392  members.  Among  the 
first  initiated  were  Thomas  J.  Davis,  Edgar  Wright,  Wil- 
liam Valentine,  M.  D.,  Robert  F.  Ludlam,  Elbert  S.  Hen- 
drickson, Elisha  Germain,  George  Germain  and  George 
Wilcoxson.  At  present  the  lodge  has  a membership  of 
rip.  Each  full  member,  when  disabled  by  sickness  or 
other  cause  from  pursuing  his  “ usual  occupation,” 
receives  a weekly  benefit  of  $3  besides  attendance.  The 
lodge  is  in  an  excellent  financial  condition,  being  man- 
aged by  sagacious  business  men. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Glen  Cove. 

The  precise  date  of  the  introduction  of  Methodism 
into  Mosquito  (now  Glen)  Cove  is  unknown.  Several 


-*! A EJffZrMJ! 


CHURCHES  OF  GLEN  COVE— J.  S.  CARPENTER. 


525 


circumstances  point  to  1785  as  the  year  of  the  formation 
of  the  first  Methodist  society.  The  first  class  leader  was 
Jesse  Coles.  At  that  period  religious  meetings  were  held 
alternately  at  the  houses  of  Jesse  Coles  and  the  senior 
Latting  Carpenter.  The  former  place  afterward  became 
the  residence  of  Dr.  Garvey.,  near  Sheep  End  Point;  the 
latter  is  still  standing,  included  within  the  limits  of  what 
is  now  known  as  Sea  Cliff.  The  public  services  were 
continued  in  private  residences  until  1827,  when  they 
were  removed  to  the  new  school-house,  now  a part  of 
the  union  school  building.  The  Rev.  David  Buck 
preached  the  first  or  dedicatory  sermon. 

About  this  time  a union  Sunday-school  was  organized, 
and  the  sessions  were  held  in  the  school  building.  James 
S.  Carpenter,  John  E.  Platt,  and  other  Methodists  took 
part  in  conducting  the  school.  From  this  sprang  the 
present  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday-school  of  Glen 
Cove. 

The  year  1844  marks  a new  epoch  in  the  history  of  this 
church.  On  the  10th  of  February  a meeting  was  held  at 
the  house  of  J.  B.  Kirby  (now  living  and  an  officer  in 
the  church),  when  definite  action  was  taken  in  reference 
to  the  erection  of  a suitable  house  of  worship.  James 
S.  Carpenter,  Latting  Carpenter,  J.  B.  Kirby,  Amerman 
Wright  and  Carman  Wilson  were  elected  trustees. 

In  March  following  land  was  secured  on  School  street, 
virtually  the  generous  gift  of  Jacob  Titus.  During  that 
year  a building  30  by  40  feet  was  erected  and  dedicated. 
At  the  time  of  the  dedication  a sufficient  amount  of 
money  was  secured  to  free  the  building  from  all  indebted- 
ness. The  union  Sunday-school,  which  had  been  con- 
tinued from  1827,  was  in  March  1846  removed  from  the 
school-house  to  the  basement  of  the  church,  and  it  con- 
tinued a union  school  until  1851. 

The  increase  in  the  society  and  congregation  demand- 
ing more  ample  accommodation,  in  1861,  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  F.  C.  Hill,  the  church  was  rebuilt  and  en- 
larged, with  the  addition  of  a steeple.  The  reopening 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Cyrus  D.  (now  Bishop) 
Foss.  At  this  time  a reed  organ  took  the  place  of  the 
tuning  fork.  J.  B.  Kirby  acted  as  leader  of  the  choir 
for  over  thirty  years  without  pecuniary  compensation. 

In  1868,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  T.  Mallory,  a 
beautiful  and  convenient  parsonage  was  erected  in  an 
eligible  location,  in  the  north  part  of  the  village,  at  an 
expense  of  $4,000. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  about  140. 
The  Sunday-school  numbers  150,  teachers  and  scholars. 
The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Gilder. 

First  Presbyterian  Church,  Glen  Cove. 

This  church  was  organized  by  tlfe  presbytery  of 
Nassau,  synod  of  Long  Island,  June  8thT869,  being  then 
composed  of  15  members.  From  April  nth  to  June  8th 
of  the  same  year  the  services  were  conducted  by 
the  Rev.  J.  H.  Hopkins,  of  Ravenswood,  and  by  clergy- 
men appointed  by  the  presbytery  until  December  1st 
1869.  At  that  date  the  church  engaged  Rev.  John  H. 
Roberts,  a returned  missionary  from  China,  to  supply  the 


pulpit.  From  September  1st  1870  the  Rev.  T.  S.  Brad- 
ner,  of  Hudson  Presbytery,  supplied  the  pulpit  until 
October  27th  1871,  when  he  was  elected  pastor;  and  he 
has  remained  to  the  present  date — the  only  pastor 
the  church  has  had.  Moving  his  family  to  Glen 
Cove  in  April  he  was  duly  installed  pastor  June 
1 8 th  1872. 

From  the  organization  of  the  church  it  worshiped  in 
Continental  Hall,  owned  and  for  two  years  granted  free 
of  rent  by  Wright  Duryea.  Having  secured  a beautiful 
and  commanding  lot  of  one  and  a half  acres  in  a grove 
near  the  hall,  in  the  fall  of  1875  the  constituted  author- 
ities began  a church  building.  January  20th  1876  the 
present  neat  and  beautiful  building,  capable  of  seating 
250  people,  with  furnace,  gas,  sofa  pews  of  black  walnut 
and  green  rep,  and  stained  glass  windows,  was  dedicated. 

Since  the  organization  with  15  members  70  members 
have  been  received  into  its  communion. 

The  Sabbath-school  numbers  about  100  regular  at- 
tendants; William  Robinson  is  the  superintendent. 

Prominent  Citizens  of  Glen  Cove. 

JAMES  S.  CARPENTER. 

James  S.  Carpenter,  son  of  Latting  and  Martha  Car- 
penter, was  born  January  13th  1793.  lived  with  his 

father  on  the  farm  until  he  was  21  years  old,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  served  until  the  war 
was  ended,  and  he  was  honorably  discharged;  and  he 
drew  a pension  from  the  time  the  government  began  to 
issue  pensions  until  his  death. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  lived  a seafaring  life  for 
some  years,  and  became  captain  of  a market  vessel,  and 
he  was  known  as  “ Captain  Jimmy  ” as  long  as  he  lived. 
His  father  persuaded  him  to  leave  the  water  and  return 
to  the  farm,  which  he  did,  working  for  his  father  for 
three  shillings  a day  and  boarding  himself. 

At  the  age  of  28  he  married  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Deborah  Coles,  of  Tarrytown.  In  a few  years 
they  were  able  to  buy  a small  farm  about  half  a mile 
below  what  is  now  called  the  homestead.  On  this  little 
farm  they  lived  twenty  years,  six  children-  being  born  to 
them.  In  1842  Mr.  Carpenter  had  an  opportunity  to 
buy  the  homestead  farm,  containing  forty  acres,  for 
which  he  paid  $3,600,  hiring  the  money  and  paying  5 per 
cent,  interest.  It  took  many  years  to  pay  for  this  farm, 
which  was  considered  a poor  one  by  the  neighbors,  and 
many  thought  he  had  made  a poor  bargain;  but  soon  he 
commenced  digging  in  the  banks  and  discovered  beauti- 
ful clay  and  a superior  quality  of  sand,  specimens  of 
which  he  took  to  the  different  potteries,  and  a permanent 
business  became  established,  which  is  still  carried  on  by 
his  two  youngest  sons  under  the  name  of  James  S.  Car- 
penter’s Sons.  Clay  was  first  found  on  the  Carpenter 
property  as  early  as  1827.  In  1853  Mr.  Carpenter  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  fire-brick,  which  he  continued 
eight  years.  During  that  time  he  built  three  large  docks, 
two  in  the  creek  and  one  outside,  now  called  the  Sea 
Cliff  dock.  In  1864  he  bought  his  father’s  farm  of  174 


526 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


acres  for  $18,000.  In  1871  he  sold  to  the  Sea  Cliff 
Grove  and  Metropolitan  Camp  Ground  Association  of 
New  York  and  Brooklyn  for  $400  per  acre,  and  in  less 
than  ten  years  this  farm  became  a beautiful  growing  city. 
In  1872  Mr.  Carpenter  bought  the  William  Downing 
farm  of  79  acres  at  $200  per  acre. 

The  men  employed  by  Mr.  Carpenter  were  many  of 
them  his  neighbors,  and  in  this  way  the  money  brought 
into  the  neighborhood  remained  there  and  was  an  aid  to 
the  improvement  of  that  part  of  Glen  Cove.  Mr.  Car- 
penter built  many  houses  on  his  lands  and  was  the  first 
to  erect  a two-story  house  in  his  vicinity. 

June  30th  1869  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding.  There  were  about  two  hundred 
relatives  present,  including  all  of  the  children  of  this 
venerable  couple:  Smith  S.,  Jesse  L.,  Coles  A.,  Charles 
W.,  Mary  K.  (Mrs.  Hicks),  Martha  D.,  Phebe  E.  and 
Sarah  J.  Seven  years  later  their  oldest  son,  Smith  S., 
started  from  Schoharie  county  to  attend  the  anniversary 
of  the  golden  wedding.  The  horses  attached  to  the 
coach  on  which  he  was  riding  became  frightened  and 
ran  away,  and  Mr.  Carpenter  was  thrown  from  the  coach 
and  instantly  killed.  This  sad  accident  cast  a gloom 
upon  the  whole  family,  and  the  anniversary  of  the  golden 
wedding  became  as  much  a day  of  mourning  as  a day  of 
rejoicing.  The  next  death  that  occurred  in  this  family 
was  that  of  its  head,  James  S.  Carpenter,  who  died  April 
19th  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of  88  years.  During  Mr. 
Carpenter’s  last  illness  his  son  Jesse  L.,  who  came  to 
help  nurse  him,  was  suddenly  taken  ill  at  his  father’s 
bedside,  and  died  within  five  days  after  his  father’s  death. 

Captain  James  S.  Carpenter  was  distinguished  chiefly 
for  his  long  and  unbroken  connection  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  which  extended  through  a period  of 
seventy-one  years;  and  for  the  valuable  services  he 
rendered  the  church,  both  in  its  material  and  spiritual  in- 
terests. He  held  the  offices  of  class-leader,  steward, 
trustee  and  Sunday-school  teacher  and  superintendent, 
and  was  honored  by  being  made  the  first  superintendent 
of  the  first  Sunday-school  ever  organized  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. Cautious  in  his  utterances,  conciliatory  in  his 
spirit,  gentle  in  his  manners  and  punctual  in  his  business 
relations,  he  secured  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  Such  were  his  strictness  in  the  observ- 
ance of  the  public  and  social  means  of  grace  and  the 
uprightness  of  his  daily  life  that  he  was  regarded  by  all 
who  knew  him  as  the  type  of  a genuine  Christian.  The 
infirmities  of  age  gradually  impaired  both  his  physical 
and  mental  energies,  until  he  was  finally  compelled  to 
relinquish  attention  to  business  and  attendance  upon  the 
public  services  of  religion;  and  in  the  quiet  of  his  home 
and  the  society  of  his  wife  and  children,  who  were  ever 
ready  with  loving  hearts  and  willing  hands  to  minister  to 
his  needs  and  his  comforts,  he  patiently  waited  and 
watched  for  the  time  of  his  departure.  Mr.  Carpenter 
constituted  one  of  the  few  remaining  links  which  con- 
nected the  early  with  the  present  generation  of  Method- 
ists. It  is  a remarkably  interesting  fact  that  he  lived 
to  see  the  Methodists,  in  this  country  alone,  increase 


from  163,000  in  1809  (the  year  he  joined  the  church)  to 
over  3,300,000  in  1880.  With  the  advance  of  time  there 
came  increasing  debility,  until  without  any  perceptible 
disease  the  heart  ceased  its  pulsations,  “the  golden  bowl 
was  broken,”  and  Father  Carpenter  was  no  more  an  in- 
habitant of  earth. 

Thus  closed  a life  of  rare  excellence.  He  lived  as  we 
all  should  live,  and  left  the  world  as  we  should  all  be 
prepared  to  leave  it. 

DR.  ALT-MULLER. 

Detier  George  Christoph  Alt- M til ler,  doctor  of  med- 
icine and  surgery,  was  born  October  4th  1808,  at  his 
mother’s  old  homestead  in  Schwartan,  Germany,  and  was 
baptized  and  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  church.  His 
father  was  a merchant  of  Liibeck.  Muller  was  the  origi- 
nal family  name.  Alt  was  prefixed  to  it  to  distinguish  it 
from  others  of  the  same  name.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Anna  Wilhelmine  von  Buchwald,  was 
the  youngest  daughter  of  Johannes  von  Buchwald,  who 
for  his  chemical  and  literary  attainments  was  twice  hon- 
ored by  a call  from  Catherine  the  Second,  Empress  of 
Russia,  to  visit  St.  Petersburg.  The  father  of  the  doc- 
tor died  young,  leaving  two  daughters  and  three  sons  to 
the  care  of  a young  mother,  to  whose  influence  our  sub- 
ject attributes  all  the  good  that  he  in  after  life  may  have 
been  instrumental  in  achieving.  He  attended  a private 
school  from  his  fifth  until  his  ninth  year.  From  this  time 
until  his  fifteenth  year  his  mother  entrusted  him,  for 
guidance  and  education,  to  Head  Master  George  Blume 
and  Frederick  Richter,  of  the  Dom  Platz  Institute.  He 
left  the  institute,  third  in  the  highest  class,  for  Hamburg, 
to  profit  by  the  literary  advantages  of  that  city.  There 
he  studied  under  the  special  supervision  of  Eckmeier, 
Phy.  Dr.,  and  his  uncle  Adolph  von  Buchwald,  M.  D., 
an  eminent  surgeon,  in  whose  family  he  resided.  En- 
couraged by  his  uncle,  he  at  that  early  age  frequently  at- 
tended the  anatomical  lectures  of  Prof.  Von  Spangenberg 
and  Dr.  Fricke,  and  with  his  cousin  often  visited  the 
dissecting  rooms  in  the  anatomical  theater,  where  his 
taste  for  anatomy  was  developed.  In  1830,  in  order  to 
pursue  the  study  of  medicine  and  surgery,  he  became  a 
student  of  the  University  of  Copenhagen.  Upon  leaving, 
after  a full  two  years’  course,  in  1832,  he  received  from 
Prof’s.  Saxtorph,  Thale,  Herhold,  Svitzer,  Eschericht, 
Withusen  and  others  very  flattering  testimonials  of  indus- 
try and  diligence  in  attending  special  lectures  on  anat- 
omy, general  physiology,  pharmacology,  chemistry  and 
fractures  and  luxation. 

During  a visit  to  his  home  in  1832  the  first  cholera 
epidemic  broke  out,  affording  him  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity of  studying  this  new  Asiatic  plague.  The  post- 
mortem examinations  and  pathological  investigations  in 
the  hospital,  which  he  voluntarily  made  in  the  presence 
of  the  sanitary  committee,  evinced  such  proficiency  that 
the  members  thereof  unanimously  chose  him  assistant  to 
the  resident  physician,  Dr.  Frederick  Liebold,  until  the 
cessation  of  the  epidemic.  In  1832,  in  order  to  pursue 
his  studies,  he  went  to  the  Frederick  William  University 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,  GLEN  COVE. 


527 


in  Berlin,  whose  medical  faculty  was  at  that  time  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best.  Here  on 
the  24th  of  October  he  was  matriculated  as  student  of 
medicine  and  surgery,  and  his  abiturient  certificates  from 
the  rector  and  senate,  after  two  years’  faithful  applica- 
tion to  the  study  in  all  branches  of  medical  and 
surgical  science,  demonstrate  that  he  was  an  attentive 
student  during  that  time.  To  this  his  alma  mater,  and 
to  the  many  friends  he  made  there,  he  is  much  attached. 
The  most  noted  among  his  professors  there  were  Ehren- 
berg,  Von  Grafe,  Rust,  Dieffenbach,  Horn,  Busch,  Hufe- 
land,  Johannes  Muller,  Schlemm,  Rose,  Link  and  Mits- 
cherlich.  At  the  lectures  and  experiments  in  natural 
philosophy  of  Mitscherlich  he  had  the  pleasure  of  occu- 
pying a seat  near  Alexander  von  Humboldt,  who,  in  his 
advanced  years,  refused  the  seat  of  honor  assigned  to 
him,  preferring  to  mingle  with  the  students,  an  attentive 
listener  and  observer  of  the  professor’s  lectures  and  ex- 
periments. At  the  end  of  the  summer  simester  of  1834 
he  wished  to  perfect  himself  in  general  hospital  and 
clinical  practice,  and,  to  accomplish  this,  he  went  to 
Rostock’s  University,  where  he  profited  by  the  teachings 
of  Dr.  Von  Vogel,  Stremple,  Kraul,  and  others.  This 
completed  his  medical  studies.  From  Rostock  he  went 
as  doctorant  to  the  University  of  Kiel,  where  in  May 
1835  he  received  his  diploma  as  Doctor  Medicines  ei 
Chirurgice  from  the  Christian  Albert  University.  His 
dissertation  was  Nonnulla  de  Epilepsia.  It  is  gratifying 
to  him  that  some  of  his  investigations,  made  nearly  fifty 
years  ago  and  expressed  in  his  dissertation,  have  stood 
the  test  of  time.  In  the  same  year  (1835)  he  commenced 


to  practice  in  Ltibeck,  where,  by  constant  application  to 
his  duties,  he  soon  acquired  a large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. 

From  boyhood  he  had  possessed  an  ardent  desire  to 
visit  America;  so,  after  practicing  eleven  years,  he  em- 
barked for  this  country  in  the  company  of  a younger 
brother,  and  landed  at  New  York  in  September  1846,  in- 
tending to  remain  three  months.  But,  prolonging  his 
visit  to  fifteen  months,  he  had  learned  to  like  the  liberty, 
customs  and  institutions  of  this  country  so  well  that  he 
decided,  in  January  1848,  to  return  to  Europe  and 
arrange  his  affairs  preparatory  to  becoming  a citizen  of 
the  United  States  of  America.  Returning  in  May-  1848, 
he  speculated  largely  in  real  estate,  in  and  near  Hicks- 
ville,  with  no  profit  except  in  experience,  verifying  the 
old  adage  Ne  sutor  ultra  crepidam.  In  April  1850  he 
married  Miss  Charlotte  Vietch,  of  New  York  city,  and 
moved  to  his  farm  in  Manetto  Hill,  intending  to  spend 
the  summer  there;  but  the  loss,  by  fire,  of  his  house  in- 
duced him  to  settle  in  Jericho,  where  he  earnestly  prac- 
ticed his  profession,  and  soon  enjoyed  a large  patronage. 
By  this  marriage  he  has  had  eight  children,  three  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Two  sons  and  a daughter  died  in 
infancy,  and  in  1879  he  was  greatly  bereaved  by  the  death 
of  his  only  remaining  son,  who  had  reached  the  age  of 
16,  a lad  of  rare  promise  and  ability.  Four  daughters 
are  living,  one  of  whom  is  married  to  Dr.  C.  F.  Clark,  of 
Brooklyn. 

In  1853  Dr.  Alt-Miiller  became  a member  of  the 
Queens  County  Medical  Society,  and  after  filling  several 
offices  was  elected  president  in  1867.  In  1854  he  re- 
ceived his  naturalization  papers,  and  in  i860,  in  response 
to  repeated  calls  from  many  friends,  he  removed  to  Glen 
Cove,  where  he  now  resides.  By  keeping  up  with  the 
age,  and  by  familiarizing  himself  with  all  the  discoveries 
and  improvements  in  the  science  of  medicine,  he  has  won 
the  confidence  of  his  many  patients,  and  his  practice  ex- 
tends over  a large  area  in  Queens  county.  Although  not 
a specialist  he  delights  in  difficult  cases.  The  time  un- 
occupied by  professional  duties  he  devotes  to  the  study 
of  botany,  geology,  numismatics,  etc.,  and  he  has  made 
quite  extensive  collections  in  these  branches.  He  is 
especially  fond  of  electricity  and  microscopy,  and  at  an 
early  hour  daily  he  may  be  found  investigating  the  many 
phenomena  of  electricity,  or  the  wonders  revealed  by 
the  microscope.  It  is  his  custom  every  night,  before 
retiring,  to  spend  thirty  minutes  or  more  reviewing  his 
daily  work.  His  large  library,  to  which  he  is  constantly 
adding,  contains  some  valuable  medical  works. 

WILLIAM  MUDGE. 

The  Mudge  family  of  Long  Island  traces  its  ancestry 
back  to  1637,  when  Jarvis  Mudge  came  from  England 
and  settled  in  Boston,  Mass.  From  there  he  removed  to 
Pequot  (New  London),  where  he  died  in  1653.  His  son 
Moses,  born  in  1652,  came  to  Oyster  Bay  and  became  the 
progenitor  of  the  present  generation.  He  died  in  1729, 
leaving  a son  William,  who  subsequently  settled  at  what 
is  now  Glen  Cove.  Here  he  raised  a prosperous  family, 


68 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


528 


and  at  his  death  left  the  homestead  to  his  son  Coles 
Mudge,  who  in  turn  left  it  to  his  son  Jacob. 

Jacob  Mudge  married  Hannah  Titus,  and  their  family 
consisted  of  one  son  and  one  daughter.  The  daughter, 
now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Valentine,  and  the 
son,  now  occupying  the  same  old  homestead,  is  William 
Mudge  whose  portrait  accompanies  this  sketch.  He  was 
born  August  17th  1812.  His  wife,  Martha  T.  Willets, 
a daughter  of  Richard  Willets,  was  an  estimable  woman, 
whose  death  he  was  called  to  mourn  January  1st  1872. 
Their  two  sons,  William  J.  and  Henry  W.,  are  well 
situated  in  life.  Henry  W.  was  married  in  1879  to 
Jessie  C.  Jackson,  and  is  now  a practicing  attorney  in 
New  York  city.  His  brother  William  J.  is  on  the  home- 
stead with  his  crippled  father. 

Several  generations  of  this  family  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  the  survivors  still 
live  in  the  faith  and  practices  of  that  sect.  Politically, 
Mr.  Mudge  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  as 
the  successor  of  the  Whig  party,  to  which  his  father  also 
belonged.  In  the  business  world  he  is  regarded  as  a 
successful  man,  and  in  the  community  as  a useful 
citizen. 

WILLIAM  M.  WEEKS. 

William  M.  Weeks  was  born  November  6th  1803,  at 
Red  Spring,  near  Glen  Cove,  L.  I.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm  of  his  ancestors,  where  he  remained,  aiding  in 
the  duties  of  the  farm,  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  21 
years.  He  then  left  the  farm  and  purchased  a small 
place,  called  Cape  Breton,  lying  about  a mile  south  of 
his  former  home.  The  access  to  the  place  was  through 


a thicket  of  trees  and  bushes.  Here  he  commenced  his 
business  career  by  establishing  a small  grocery  in  a part 
of  the  old  house  standing  on  the  place,  keeping  “bach- 
elor’s hall  ” and  devoting  his  spare  time  to  grading  and 
improving  his  place. 

After  five  or  six  years  he  removed  to  Mosquito  Cove, 
now  Glen  Cove,  leased  a small  store  and  commenced 
trade,  living  and  sleeping  in  his  store  in  single  life  for  a 
few  years.  Here  he  gradually  increased  his  business, 
and,  taking  a lively  interest  in  local  enterprise,  he  built 
shops  and  otherwise  aided  mechanics,  such  as  carriage 
makers,  blacksmiths,  tailors,  and  shoemakers,  in  starting 
their  respective  kinds  of  business.  He  also  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  auctioneer  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
and  became  well  known  as  well  as  popular  in  that  branch 
of  business.  Soon  after  his  coming  to  the  village  and 
commencing  business  the  movement  for  starting  a steam- 
boat line  between  that  place  and  New  York  city  was  or- 
ganized, and  Mr.  Weeks  caused  the  wharf  to  be  built  at 
Cape  Breton,  as  the  point  was  then  called.  A small  hotel 
was  erected  here  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  visitors  who 
now  began  to  come  from  the  city  in  quest  of  summer 
board.  The  name  of  the  place  was  changed  to  the  new 
and  more  attractive  appellation  Glen  Cove — the  old 
name,  Mosquito  Cove,  having  a certain  suspicious  sound 
to  would-be  visitors,  who  feared  lest  the  name  and  nature 
of  the  locality  might  be  one. 

After  the  great  fire  in  New  York  in  December  1836 
Mr.  Weeks  conceived  the  plan  of  a mutual  insurance 
company.  This  resulted,  after  many  meetings  and  much 
exertion,  in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Glen  Cove 
Mutual  Insurance  Company,  which  began  business  in 


SEA  CLIFF. 


529 


1837.  After  Mr.  Weeks’s  mercantile  business  had  suf- 
ficiently increased  he  took  his  brother  Willet  Weeks  as 
partner.  They  continued  in  business  together  until  1852, 
when  William  M.  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Jacob  M. 
Weeks.  In  January  1848  Mr.  Weeks  became  a partner 
of  A.  J.  Bleecker  in  the  auction  and  commission  business 
in  New  York  city. 

In  1855,  at  the  solicitation  of  Wright  Duryea,  he  be- 
came the  financial  support  of  the  then  new  starch  manu- 
facturing company  at  Glen  Cove. 

Mr.  Weeks  still  resides  at  Glen  Cove,  and  enjoys  the 
esteem  and  respect  of  his  townsmen.  Although  seventy- 
eight  years  of  age  he  remains  at  his  desk  in  the  insurance 
company’s  office.  He  has  been  a director  of  this  com- 
pany since  its  organization,  and  was  elected  a number  of 
years  since,  by  unanimous  vote,  to  the  position  of  assist- 
ant secretary — a position  which  he  now  holds.  History 
enrolls  William  M.  Weeks  as  one  of  Glen  Cove’s  most 
useful  citizens. 


SEA  CLIFF. 

The  “ Sea  Cliff  Grove  and  Metropolitan  Camp-ground 
Association  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn”  was  first  organ- 
ized and  became  a body  corporate,  under  the  laws  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  October  12th  1871.  During  the  en- 
suing session  of  the  State  Legislature  a special  charter 
was  obtained  (bearing  date  April  24th  1872)  confirming 
and  extending  its  rights,  privileges  and  franchises  as  a 
corporation.  The  object  for  which  the  corporation  was 
formed  was  declared  to  be  “ the  erection  of  buildings  for 
meetings  for  religious  purposes,  and  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  those  who  shall  attend  them;  the  acquiring  of  the 
necessary  ground  and  land  therefor,  and  the  erection 
thereon  of  suitable  buildings,  cottages,  and  improvements 
for  meetings,  dwellings,  boarding-houses,  shelter  and 
other  purposes  connected  with  the  general  objects  of 
such  society.” 

The  plan  was  to  provide  a select,  healthful  and  delight- 
ful seaside  summer  rtsort  for  Christian  families,  where 
such  families  could,  with  ample  privileges  of  camp-meet- 
ing and  other  religious  services,  spend  a few  weeks  during 
each  season  free  from  the  large  expense  and  objection- 
able associations  incident  to  most  of  the  fashionable 
summer  resorts  throughout  the  country.  Costly  or  per- 
manent residences  were  not  anticipated,  and  provision 
was  made  only  for  accommodating  families  in  the  use  of 
tents  or  inexpensive  cottages.  To  this  end  the  grounds 
were  laid  out  into  small  lots  of  40  by  60  feet,  and,  except 
a few  business  streets,  the  avenues  were  narrow,  in  most 
cases  being  scarcely  more  than  lawn  avenues.  No  pro- 
vision was  made  for  barns  on  the  portion  of  the  grounds 
set  apart  for  tents  and  cottages.  A great  open  taber- 
nacle and  large  open  dining-halls  were  erected,  all  ar- 
ranged for  use  only  during  the  heated  season  of  summer. 
Provision  for  water  was  made,  also,  for  a brief  season, 
and  the  supply  pipes  were  laid  without  protection  from 
the  frosts  of  winter.  The  expense  of  furnishing  water 


was  to  extend  only  for  about  three  months  of  each  year. 

In  order  to  protect  the  grounds  for  the  occupants,  and 
to  arrange  permanently  for  meeting  the  current  expenses 
of  keeping  up  the  grounds,  the  lots  were  disposed  of  by 
restricted  leases  instead  of  deeds,  and  the  annual  rental 
was  permanently  limited  to  a maximum  charge  of  only 
$10  per  year.  As  a protection  against  business  or  specu- 
lative monopoly  the  stockholders  were  limited  to  a max- 
imum of  twenty  shares  each  (in  a total  of  1,500  shares), 
and  the  early  lot  purchasers  to  the  selection  of  only  two 
lots  each. 

With  these  objects,  plans  and  restrictions  the  Sea  Cliff 
enterprise  was  inaugurated  and  conducted  during  its 
early  stages.  Large  sums  of  money,  received  from  stock 
and  lots,  were  spent  in  building  docks  and  roads,  provid- 
ing a suitable  water  supply,  erecting  commodious  build- 
ings and  furnishing  convenient  transportation  for  res- 
idents and  visitors. 

The  lands  of  the  association  embrace  a total  purchase 
of  240  acres.  The  original  cost  of  the  land,  together 
with  the  association  buildings  and  furniture,  the  tents, 
docks  and  piers,  the  water-works,  the  cost  of  laying  out 
and  mapping  the  grounds,  building  of  streets  and 
avenues,  aggregated  the  sum  of  $270,000.  Add  to  this 
the  sum  since  expended  in  repairs,  interest,  taxes  and 
improvements,  and  the  total  is  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars  greater.  The  association  purchase  embraces 
about  a mile  of  water  front. 

The  proximity  of  Sea  Cliff  to  New  York  (twenty  miles 
in  a straight  line  from  the  City  Hall,  and  only  about 
twenty-five  by  the  boat  or  cars)  and  its  beauty  and  health- 
fulness of  location  have  led  to  a marked  change  in  the 
plan  of  temporary  residences.  Instead  of  the  tent  and 
cheap  summer  cottage,  to  be  occupied  only  for  a few 
weeks,  permanent  homes  were  arranged  for,  and  cottages 
and  grounds  have  been  fitted  up  at  a cost  varying  from 
$1,000  to  $20,000  each.  Avenues  have  been  widened, 
the  water-pipes  have  been  enlarged  and  laid  deep,  so  as 
to  be  protected  from  the  frosts  of  winter,  and  barns 
have  been  erected,  under  proper  restrictions,  for  the 
convenience  of  those  desiring  to  keep  horses  and  car- 
riages. The  trustees  have  also  arranged  for  selling 
larger  plots  of  ground,  and  to  give  deeds  instead  of 
leases  to  those  who  prefer  them. 

The  trustees  determined  to  turn  over  the  municipal 
management  to  the  lot  owners  and  residents  as  soon  as 
they  (the  trustees)  were  relieved  from  the  financial  ob- 
ligations which  they  assumed  in  conducting  the  affairs  of 
the  association.  At  a meeting  of  the  lot  owners,  held  a 
few  years  ago,  and  largely  attended,  a resolution  was 
adopted  approving  of  this  changed  plan  as  to  the  man- 
agement, and  agreeing  to  accept  the  transfer  of  the  cor- 
porate authority.  In  accordance  with  this  plan,  and  as 
a necessary  preliminary  step  to  its  earliest  possible  con- 
summation, the  trustees  funded  the  debts  of  the  associa- 
tion by  the  issue  of  bonds  amply  secured  by  mortgage 
upon  all  its  unsold  property.  About  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars’ worth  of  these  bonds  was  immediately  taken 
at  par. 


53° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


EAST  NORWICH. 

This  small  village  was  formerly  called  Norwich,  by 
James  and  George  Townsend,  sons  of  John  Townsend 
ist.  The  word  East  was  prefixed  to  designate  the  post- 
office.  The  brothers  owned  a tract  of  land  here  about 
1680,  and  named  the  place  in  honor  of  their  father’s  birth- 
place, Norwich,  England.  Andrew  C.  Hegeman  (an  of- 
ficer in  the  war  of  1812)  is  credited  with  having  done 
much  for  the  prosperity  of  the  village.  It  contains  a 
hotel;  a general  store,  where  the  post-office  is  kept;  a 
small  grocery;  a tailor’s  establishment,  John  N.  Remsen 
proprietor  (who  has  been  town  clerk  over  25  years);  a 
wagon  shop;  a printing  office  and  a church;  also  the  res- 
idences of  several  active  business  men.  It  is  situated 
about  two  miles  south  of  Oyster  Bay,  on  the  turnpike 
leading  through  Flushing  to  New  York. 

A few  gentlemen  residing  at  East  Norwich  contributed 
about  $1,000  to  purchase  a hand  press  and  necessary  ap- 
purtenances, and  issued  on  the  nth  day  of  September 
1880  the  first  copy  of  the  East  Norwich  Enterprise , a 
weekly  newspaper,  with  Halsted  H.  Frost  as  manager. 
The  Enterprise  has  met  with  marked  success. 

The  East  Norwich  M.  E.  Church. 

Nearly  one  hundred  years  ago  (1784)  the  Rev.  Philip 
Cox,  a Methodist  minister  belonging  to  the  Jamaica  cir- 
cuit, preached  in  this  place.  Services  were  held  at  pri- 
vate houses.  From  1784  to  1822  traveling  ministers  of 
the  Jamaica  circuit  officiated  here.  In  1822  the  Rev. 
Joshua  Burch  was  located  here,  and  held  services  at  the 
residence  of  .Thomas  Cheshire.  During  the  summer  of 
1833  a grove  meeting  was  held  at  Muttontown,  then 
called  Christian  Hill.  This  grove  meeting  was  a memor- 
able one;  out  of  it  grew  a well  organized  and  efficient 
working  Methodist  society  in  this  place,  and  the  erection 
of  a suitable  building.  About  forty  persons  were  con- 
verted upon  this  occasion,  and  among  them  we  find  the 
name  of  James  Vernon.  The  first  thought  of  this  good 
man  after  his  conversion  was  to  devise  plans  for  a suita- 
ble place  of  worship.  He  aroused  enthusiasm  among  a 
few  neighbors.  They  held  a meeting  in  a barn  now 
standing,  drew  up  a paper  stating  their  object,  and  Mr. 
Vernon  started  the  list  of  subscribers  with  $40,  a very 
large  sum  in  those  days.  Attached  to  this  paper  are 
seventy-four  names,  with  the  amount  promised.  George 
Peters,  Thomas  Cheshire,  Henry  Cheshire,  John  Nos- 
trand, Abraham  Remsen,  Catherine,  Mary  and  Sally  Pe- 
ters and  Andrew  C.  Hegeman  gave  $25  each;  Thomas 
Cheshire  and  William  Duryea,  $20  each;  John  Van  Cott, 
$15;  Jackson  Vernon,  George  Remsen,  John  Jackson, 
John  Layton,  John  Cheshire,  Charles  Cheshire,  Joseph 
White,  C.  & J.  Stores,  Samuel  Mott,  Gideon  Wright  and 
Townsend  W.  Burtis,  $10  each;  and  others  from  five  dol- 
lars down  to  one  as  they  were  able.  The  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends  also  contributed  liberally. 

The  church  was  built  in  1834,  and  it  has  been  of  great 
use  and  benefit  to  the  entire  neighborhood.  It  is  31  by 
37  feet,  located  just  south  of  the  village,  and  is  worth, 


with  the  ground  attached,  about  $2,500.  The  site  was  a 
gift  from  James  Vernon.  The  parsonage,  situated  a short 
distance  north  of  the  village,  is  a two-story  structure, 
built  in  1866  or  1867,  and,  with  the  plot  of  ground,  worth 
perhaps  $1,500. 

The  Sabbath-school  was  started  during  the  year  1834, 
and  George  Remsen,  father  of  John  N.  Remsen,  had 
much  to  do  with  its  organization.  Joseph  Latting  was 
its  first  superintendent.  Rev.  George  Hollis  (now  liv- 
ing) is  credited  with  starting  this  school.  At  present 
there  are  75  scholars  and  10  teachers  and  officers. 

Joseph  C.  Thomas  was  stationed  here  as  preacher  in 
1875  and  1876,  and  under  his  ministry  forty  new  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  church.  A younger  class  of  men 
now  controls  its  management,  and  its  future  usefulness  is 
well  assured. 

George  S.  Downing. 

[By  H.  H.  Frost,  of  the  “ East  Norwich  Enterprise.”] 

George  S.  Downing  was  born  in  the  village  of  East 
Norwich,  Queens  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  30th  of  March 
1815.  His  father,  Richard  Downing,  resided  in  his  early 
life  in  Littleworth,  now  Sea  Cliff,  L.  I.,  with  his  father, 
George  Downing,  who  was  the  grandfather  of  George  S., 
and  also  of  William  H.  Downing,  now  of  Greenvale,  and 
of  Benjamin  W.  Downing,  of  Flushing,  who  has  been 
district  attorney  of  Queens  county  during  the  last  six- 
teen years. 

The  facilities  afforded  by  the  district  schools  half  a 
century  ago  for  obtaining  an  education  were  limited,  and 
Mr.  Downing’s  opportunities  in  this  respect  were  not  ex- 
tensive. The  lack  of  early  advantages,  however,  in  this 
particular  has  not  impaired  his  usefulness  as  a public 
servant,  nor  detracted  from  his  standing  as  a citizen. 
Early  in  life  evincing  an  interest  in  politics,  he  was  in 
1844  chosen  constable  and  collector  of  taxes  of  his 
native  town,  and  held  the  position  four  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  he  was  elected  town  clerk,  and  he 
held  that  office  five  years.  When  Robert  S.  Seabury 
took  the  office  of  sheriff  of  the  county,  January  1st 
1850,  Mr.  Downing  was  made  under  sheriff,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  until  January  ist  1853,  when  he  succeeded 
Mr.  Seabury  as  sheriff.  At  the  expiration  of  his  official 
term,  in  January  1856,  he  accepted  the  position  of  under 
sheriff,  under  his  successor,  Bernardus  Hendrickson,  and 
this  office  he  retained  until  the  close  of  the  term  of 
Sheriff  Hendrickson,  in  1859,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  village,  locating  upon  the  homestead  purchased  of 
the  estate  of  Townsend  U.  Franklin. 

The  next  year,  i860,  he  was  chosen  supervisor  of  the 
town,  and  for  seven  consecutive  years  thereafter  he  was 
re-elected,  and  in  several  instances  without  opposition. 
This  period  covered  the  four  years  of  the  great  Rebel- 
lion. The  varied  and  responsible  duties  that  devolved 
upon  him  as  the  financial  officer  of  the  town  during  this 
troublous  period  Mr.  Downing  discharged  in  such  a man- 
ner as  to  win  the  approval  and  elicit  the  indorsement  of 
an  appreciative  constituency. 


«b 


GEORGE  S.  DOWNING. 


533 


War  has  been  said  to  be  the  father  of  all  things;  for  it 
is  only  in  the  strife  of  strong  passions,  and  amid  the 
sudden  and  pressing  demands  which  arise  in  a state  of 
war,  that  fine  qualities,  noble  impulses,  and  superior 
abilities  find  opportunity  for  their  action,  and  come  to 
the  light  of  day  and  the  admiration  of  men.  No  war 
was  ever  so  sustained  by  the  persistent  devotion  and  zeal 
of  the  home  population  as  was  this  great  civil  conflict. 
Aside  from  the  regular  and  enormous  expenditures  of 
the  government  nearly  $80,000,000  were  raised  and  ex- 
pended by  the  loyal  citizens  in  providing  for  the  soldiers, 
and  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  died  in  de- 
fending the  Union.  While  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay 
raised  its  full  share  of  money  with  which  to  pay  liberal 
bounties  to  its  volunteers  it  did  not  forget  to  afford 
relief  to  the  needy  wives  and  children,  and  in  some  in- 
stances to  the  aged  and  infirm  parents,  of  those  who  had 
left  their  homes  at  their  country’s  call. 

By  referring  to  the  town  records  it  will  be  found  that 
at  a special  town  meeting  held  in  East  Norwich  August 
26th  1862  it  was  decided  to  raise  by  taxation  the  sum  of 
$20,000,  a part  of  which  was  to  be  expended  in  payment 
of  bounties  to  volunteers,  and  the  remainder  to  be  ap- 
propriated to  the  relief  of  the  needy  wives  and  children 
of  those  who  had  gone  forth,  with  their  lives  in  their 
hands,  to  defend  and  preserve  their  government.  At 
the  regular  town  meeting  held  April  7th  1863  the  sum  of 
$3,500  was  authorized  to  be  raised  by  taxation,  to  be 
used  exclusively  for  the  relief  and  benefit  of  the  families 
of  volunteers.  The  testimony  of  one  of  the  oldest  com- 
manding officers  of  the  war  was  that  the  two  most  ef- 
fective ways  in  which  our  armies  in  the  field  were  sus- 
tained in  the  long  struggle  were — first,  by  the  general 
assurance  that  was  felt  that  neither  the  wives,  children, 
parents,  nor  others  dependent  on  those  in  the  field  would 
suffer  for  the  necessaries  of  life  while  their  supporters 
were  in  the  service  of  their  country;  second,  that  the 
sick  and  wounded  would  not  lack  for  any  of  those  things 
which,  though  not  provided  by  army  regulations,  might 
conduce  to  comfort,  expedite  recovery,  save  the  lives 
and  sustain  the  morale  of  the  soldiers.  On  the  16th  of 
July  1864  a special  town  meeeting  was  held,  when  it 
was  voted  to  raise  $60,000  for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
the  town’s  quota  of  men  upon  an  anticipated  call  by  the 
government.  At  another  special  town  meeting,  held  Jan- 
uary 17th  1865,  the  sum  of  $150,000  was  voted,  to  be  ex- 
pended in  furnishing  men  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town 
under  a then  recent  call  of  the  president.  During  the 
war  the  town  incurred  an  indebtedness  of  $220,000,  a 
debt  that  in  amount  surpassed  anything  ever  dreamed  of 
by  that  generation  until  the  Rebellion,  with  its  fearful 
prophecy  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Union,  was  evidencing 
unthought-of  vitality  and  strength. 

It  is  simply  Mr.  Downing’s  due  to  have  herein  re- 
corded the  fact  that,  previous  to  any  action  of  the  town 
authorizing  the  raising  of  money  by  taxation,  to  be  paid 
to  volunteers  as  bounty  or  for  the  relief  of  their  families, 
he  had,  aided  by  a few  patriotic  citizens,  advanced  thou- 
sands of  dollars  for  that  purpose,  having  no  security  for 


its  return  by  the  town.  It  is  perhaps  needless  to  add 
that  the  town  honored  this  patriotic  act  of  its  citizens  at 
its  first  meeting.  The  town  was  particularly  fortunate  at 
that  time  in  having  for  its  chief  officer  a gentleman  of 
acknowledged  executive  ability,  of  unquestioned  integ- 
rity and  of  indomitable  energy  and  courage;  one  who 
possessed  to  a marked  degree  the  fullest  confidence  of 
the  citizens  of  the  town,  wholly  irrespective  of  party  af- 
filiations. He  was  enabled,  with  the  co-operation  of 
prominent  men  of  both  political  parties,  to  carry  forward 
to  a successful  issue  the  raising  of  enormous  sums  of 
money,  with  which  they  promptly  forwarded  to  the  seat 
of  war  the  town’s  full  quota  of  men,  and  very  liberally 
provided  for  the  families  of  volunteers.  The  disburse- 
ment of  all  the  monies  raised  by  the  town  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  war  was  placed  in  Mr.  Downing’s  hands 
as  supervisor,  with  discretionary  power  to  use  and  apply 
it  as  he  deemed  most  judicious. 

There  were  769  men  furnished  the  government  by  the 
town,  of  whom  54  were  substitutes  procured  by  and 
for  citizens  who  had  been  or  were  liable  to  be 
drafted. 

In  August  1862  a large  number  of  young  men  from  the 
town  volunteered  and  joined  the  government  forces  at 
Washington.  Among  these  patriotic  young  men  from 
the  village  of  East  Norwich  were  James  Vernon  and 
Daniel  L.  Downing,  the  last  named  being  the  son  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography.  At  the  battle  of  Brandy  Sta- 
tion the  valiant  and  courageous  young  soldier  Vernon 
was  killed,  and  about  ten  days  later  (June  17th  1863)  the 
fearless  hero  young  Downing  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of 
Aldie,  Va.  The  loss  of  his  son  was  a severe  trial  to  the 
father,  and  the  sad  fate  of  these  two  estimable  boys  was 
deplored  by  all  who  knew  them.  The  loss  of  a battle, 
the  disastrous  repulse  of  the  army,  in  no  one  case  cast 
so  dark  a gloom  over  the  village  or  created  so  profound 
and  lasting  a sorrow  as  did  the  sudden  death  of  these 
two  promising  young  men.  In  Virginia  soil  lies  buried 
the  one,  Vernon,  his  resting  place  unknown;  and  the 
other  is  entombed  at  Brookville,  in  this  town.  Thus 
sleep  these  two  sons — the  best  their  fathers  had  to  give, 
the  costliest  sacrifice  they  could  offer  on  the  altar  of  their 
country.  Their  last  battle  is  fought,  their  last  march 
ended,  their  last  bivouac  is  made.  They  sleep  well,  in 
that  slumber  from  which  no  bugle  call  or  sound  of  any 
kind  can  awaken  them.  They  fell  bravely.  Their  names 
shall  be  forever  linked  with  the  great  battle  fields.  The 
cause  for  which  they  shouldered  arms  and  for  which  they 
lost  their  lives  has  been  carried,  by  the  united  struggles 
and  sacrifices  of  all,  to  a triumphant  issue  and  a glorious 
peace. 

In  January  1865  Mr.  Downing  was  presented  with  an 
elegant  and  costly  gold  watch  and  chain  by  his  towns- 
men, as  a testimonial  of  their  high  regard  and  esteem  for 
his  personal  character,  and  as  an  imperfect  recognition 
of  his  valuable  and  efficient  aid  during  the  alarming  and 
trying  period  of  a protracted  and  terrible  war.  The 
watch  bears  the  following  inscription: 

“ George  S.  Downing.  From  his  Fellow  Townsmen, 


534 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY 


in  appreciation  of  his  services  as  Supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Oyster  Bay,  Queens  County.  January  ist  1865.” 

Doctor  James  C.  Townsend,  of  Glen  Cove,  made  the 
presentation  address,  in  forcible  language  eloquently  por- 
traying the  many  excellencies  and  the  substantial  worth 
of  Mr.  Downing’s  character,  closing  his  masterly  effort 
with  the  quotation  “an  honest  man’s  the  noblest  work  of 
God.” 

After  leaving  the  office  of  supervisor  Mr.  Downing 
occupied  his  time  in  cultivating  his  farm  and  managing 
the  numerous  estates  of  which  he  is  custodian.  In  1875, 
however,  he  was  again  elected  supervisor,  and  held  the 
office  until  1881,  when  he  peremptorily  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  taxpayers 
of  the  town,  signally  irrespective  of  party.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  other  positions  Mr.  Downing  has  filled  may 
be  mentioned  that  of  director  of  the  Glen  Cove  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  of  which  institution  he  was  chosen 
treasurer,  a position  he  now  occupies.  He  is  also  a 
director  of  the  Roslyn  Savings  Bank,  and  for  several 
years  has  been  a director  of  the  Queens  County  Agricul- 
tural Society.  Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Downing 
has  been  the  recipient  of  the  popular  confidence,  and 
during  a long  public  service,  nearly  forty  years,  that  con- 
fidence has  been  faithfully  maintained. 

The  personal  character  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
as  stainless  as  his  private  life  is  unassuming.  Universally 
esteemed  by  friend  and  foe  for  his  unswerving  integrity, 
he  has  won  a reputation  for  straightforwardness,  exacti- 
tude in  all  his  business  relations,  and  inflexibility  of 
purpose,  which  has  everywhere  made  him  honored  and 
universally  respected.  In  personal  opinion  Mr.  Downing 
is  outspoken,  never  timid,  but  resolute  and  at  times,  per- 
haps, somewhat  unyielding.  A man  of  strong  convic- 
tions, he  is  never  reluctant  in  giving  expression  to  his 
views  and  opinions.  He  is  not  inclined  to  sacrifice  what 
he  regards  as  right  and  just  to  the  doctrine  of  expedi- 
ency. He  is  a man  open  to  reason,  patient  in  investiga- 
tion, cautious  and  jealous  of  false  conclusions,  ready  to 
admit  mistakes,  and  always  open  to  new  truths.  His 
moral  nature  is  constitutionally  pure  and  noble.  He 
utterly  abhors  duplicity,  and  makes  truth  the  first  article 
of  his  moral  code.  Nothing  can  bend  him  a hair’s 
breadth  from  the  line  of  rectitude.  While  his  charity 
for  the  unintentional  errors  of  others  is  broad  and  liberal 
his  detestation  of  premeditated  wrong  and  injustice  is 
signally  pronounced.  He  is  wholly  unostentatious,  dis- 
liking show,  form,  and  all  vain  and  idle  pageantry.  Even 
now,  having  attained  an  affluent  position,  he  retains  the 
simplicity  of  habits  and  manners  that  has  been  peculiar 
to  his  life.  While  he  is  and  always  has  been  strictly 
temperate  in  all  his  habits,  he  adopts  no  ultra  theories, 
but  lets  his  moderation  be  known  of  all  men.  Before 
his  children  had  reached  manhood’s  estate  his  govern- 
ment was  absolute  as  regarding  his  family,  as  a father’s 
government  ought  to  be,  and  was  prompted  by  the  high- 
est possible  disinterested  regard  for  their  future  well- 
being. An  intelligent  affection  for  those  who  are  con- 
nected with  us  is  best  displayed  by  bringing  our  own 


knowledge  and  experience  to  bear  upon  disputed  points, 
as  against  conclusions  reached  by  those  who,  from  their 
limited  years  and  experience,  are  but  superficial  observ- 
ers. He  enforced  perfect  respect  and  obedience  from 
his  children,  and  even  the  deference  of  the  younger  to 
those  who  were  more  matured,  and  he  is  now  honored 
and  looked  up  to  by  them  as  a father  who  made  no  mis- 
take in  their  earlier  training.  He  governed  by  the  power 
right  actions  give,  and  by  the  evident,  although  perhaps 
unexpressed,  affection  he  had  for  them. 

Every  man  of  natural  executive  talent  and  possessed 
of  a decided  character  has  a ruling  passion.  From  early 
life  Mr.  Downing  has  been  ruled  and  moved  by  a passion 
for  usefulness.  It  has  engrossed  his  life,  and  will  never 
cease.  When  once  he  had  erected  and  consecrated 
the  idol  of  his  devotion  there  was  not  a thought,  not  a 
feeling,  that  went  forth  upon  the  broad  track  of  the 
future,  which  failed  to  come  back  again  to  tell  the  issue 
of  its  errand.  In  the  orthodox  sense  of  the  term  he  is 
not  a professor  of  religion,  but  he  has  the  profoundest 
veneration  for  the  divine  will  and  character.  He  spends 
his  life  in  doing  good.  He  misses  no  chance  to  serve 
the  wronged,  the  suffering,  the  weak  or  unfortunate.  He 
is  especially  the  widow’s  and  the  orphan’s  friend.  He 
loves  wholly  and  truly  the  things  of  God,  if  by  these  are 
meant  peace,  truth,  justice,  purity,  and  his  fellow  man. 
In  wise  words,  in  ingenious  suggestions,  in  serious  re- 
monstrances, in  incentives  to  encouragement,  he  makes 
his  life  a precious  possession  and  power  in  his  own  com- 
munity. The  crown  which  his  patient,  discreet,  and 
faithful  service  to  his  neighbors  'and  the  public  has 
placed  upon  his  head  can  never  be  dethroned. 


BROOKVILLE. 

Brookville,  called  by  the  Indians  Susco’s  Wigwam  and 
by  the  Dutch  Wolver  Hollow,  is  a hamlet  on  Shoo 
Brook,  above  Beaver  Swamp.  It  was  founded  soon  after 
1650,  by  the  Dutch,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  protec- 
tion to  their  eastern  border.  A Dutch  settlement  has 
sprung  up  here,  and  from  it 

The  Reformed  'Dutch)  Church  of  Oyster  Bay. 

The  house  of  worship  is  in  Brookville.  The  church 
took  its  name,  as  was  not  unusual  many  years  ago,  from 
the  township  rather  than  from  the  immediate  locality  in 
which  it  was  situated. 

On  the  9th  of  September  1732  the  people  of  Wolver 
Hollow,  Cedar  Swamp  (now  Greenvale),  Eastwood  (now 
Syosset)  and  Matinecock  (now  Locust  Valley)  and  vicini- 
ties met  and  decided  to  have  a church  of  their  own. 
Some  were  members  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  of 
Jamaica,  more  attended  there,  and  most  of  them  were  of 
Dutch  parentage  and  spoke  the  Dutch  language;  so  the 
new  church  was  Dutch  Reformed.  For  many  years  the 
services  were  conducted  in  that  language. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  9th  of  September  1732  a sub- 
scription was  started  and  it  was  determined  to  build  a 
house  of  worship  at  once.  On  the  25th  of  the  same 


REFORMED  CHURCH,  BROOKVILLE — J.  B.  LUYSTER. 


539 


month  an  acre  of  ground  for  a building  site  was  bought 
of  Edmund  Wright  for  £6,  New  York  money.  The 
church  building  was  probably  completed  as  early  as 
April  1734,  for  on  the  25th  day  of  that  month  the  people 
met  in  it  and  elected  Peter  Luyster  and  Cornelius 
Hoagland  church  masters  ( kerche  meesters ),  to  have 
charge  of  the  sittings,  and  to  take  a general  oversight  of 
the  house  of  worship.  The  first  structure  was  an  eight- 
sided building,  with  pointed  roof,  surmounted  by  a 
weather  vane.  The  good  old  Dutch  people  were  accus- 
tomed to  look  toward  the  church  to  see  which  way  the 
wind  blew,  in  more  than  one  sense.  When  it  did  not 
blow  from  the  right  quarter,  especially  inside,  they  were 
inclined  to  inquire  the  reason.  The  men  and  women 
occupied  different  parts  of  the  church,  the  former  sitting 
on  benches  ( bancken ) or  pews  near  the  pulpit  (though 
there  was  a row  of  benches  along  the  walls),  while  the 
latter  were  seated  farther  away,  each  by  herself  on  a 
straight  backed  chair. 

The  first  house  of  worship  stood  for  nearly  one  hun- 
dred years.  It  was  taken  down  in  1832,  and  the  present 
one  was  raised  August  29th  of  the  same  year,  and  ded- 
icated January  20th  1833.  This  was  remodeled  in  1875. 

There  is  in  the  records  no  list  of  members  at  the  or- 
ganization, but  there  is  a record  of  those  who  subscribed 
for  building  the  first  church.  In  this  list  there  are  names 
spelled  Amerman,  Brinkerhoff,  Bennet,  Durland,  Haff, 
Hegeman,  Hoogland,  Hardenberg,  Janse  (Jansen), 
Koole  (Cole),  Luister,  Loyse,  Monfoort,  Noorstrant, 
Onderdonck,  Polhemus,  Remsen,  Reyde  (Ryder), 
Schenck,  Symense  (Simonson),  Snedecer,  Van  Nortstrant, 
Voorhis,  Vanvoris,  Van  Wyck  and  Woertrnan. 

In  1836  a house  near  the  church,  with  several  acres  of 
ground  and  necessary  buildings,  was  bought  for  a par- 
sonage. This  has  at  different  times  been  repaired,  and 
in  1880  was  rebuilt,  remodeled  and  enlarged,  making  it  a 
tasty  and  comfortable  parsonage. 

The  Sabbath-school  connected  with  the  church  was 
begun  about  1834,  with  James  Madison  Montfort  as 
superintendent.  No  records  of  the  school  except  of  late 
years  remain.  During  the  past  few  years  J.  B.  Luyster, 
W.  McKay,  William  Chapman  and  H.  A.  Stoutenberg 
(the  present  incumbent)  have  superintended  the  Sabbath- 
school.  Its  present  membership  is  150;  its  library  con- 
tains over  300  volumes. 

For  two-thirds  of  the  first  century  of  its  existence  the 
church  was  associated  with  the  Reformed  churches  of 
Newtown,  Jamaica  and  Success,  now  North  Hempstead 
(at  Manhasset),  and  under  the  same  pastoral  care;  and 
from  1802  until  1834  was  associated  with  the  church  at 
Manhasset  alone.  For  nine  years  after  its  organization 
the  church  of  Oyster  Bay,  with  its  associates,  waited  in 
vain  for  a pastor  from  Holland;  and  in  1741  settled 
Johannes  H.  Goetschius,  who  left  in  1748.  From  1754 
to  1760  Thomas  Romeyn  was  pastor.  He  was  followed 
after  an  interval  of  years,  in  1766,  by  Hermanes  Van 
Boelen,  who  remained  six  years.  In  1775  Solomon  Froe- 
ligh,  noted  in  later  years  for  his  secession  from  the  Re- 
formed Dutch  church,  became  pastor.  His  stay  was 


short.  He  was  a noted  Whig  and  was  forced  to  leave 
Long  Island  to  escape  from  the  British,  after  a pastorate 
of  fifteen  months.  After  him  came  Rynier  Van  Nest, 
who  remained  as  pastor  from  1785  to  1797.  In  1794  Z. 
H.  Kuypers  (Cooper)  became  a collegiate  minister,  and 
remained  in  charge  as  pastor  until  1824.  With  Mr.  Kuy- 
pers in  1813  D.  S.  Bogert  became  colleague,  and  he  left 
in  1826.  Henry  Hermanes  followed,  but  staid  less  than 
a year.  He  was  succeeded  in  1827  by  James  Otterson, 
who  gave  up  his  charge  in  1834.  After  Mr.  Otterson 
left,  this  church  separated  from  that  of  North  Hemp- 
stead, and  called  R.  A.  Quinn  in  1835.  In  1841  he  left 
and  Thomas  B.  Gregory  became  pastor,  remaining  until 
1844.  He  was  followed  the  same  year  by  P.  D.  Oakey, 
who  removed  at  the  beginning  of  1847.  From  the  mid- 
dle of  that  year  Rev.  N.  E.  Smith  was  pastor  until  Feb- 
ruary 1853;  then  J.  L.  McNair  twenty  months;  I.  A.  De 
Baun  three  years  from  1855;  J.  C.  Lowe  from  1859  until 
1863;  J.  Searle,  1863-66;  J.  H.  Smock,  1866-71;  M. 
Swick,  exactly  six  years.  In  1877  J.  A.  Davis,  the  pres- 
ent pastor,  assumed  charge. 

The  church  reports  a membership  of  131,  and  about 
130  families  under  the  care  of  its  pastor.  While  its  in- 
crease has  not  been  great,  considering  its  years  of  life,  it 
is  well  to  remember  that  as  many  as  twelve  churches 
have  been  formed  within  what  were  once  its  bounds. 

John  B.  Luyster. 

John  B.  Luyster  was  born  at  Greenvale,  Queens  coun- 
ty, L.  I.,  October  22nd  1813.  The  family  in  a short  time 
moved  on  to  his  grandfather’s  farm  at  Syosset,  and  lived 
with  him.  John  B.  was  sent  to  school,  and  finished  his 
education  when  about  18  years  of  age.  February  12th 
1833  he  began  teaching  in  the  Syosset  school  district, 
and  taught  six  quarters  (a  year  and  a half).  He  then 
went  back  and  lived  with  his  father,  working  on  the  farm 
until  the  spring  of  1837,  at  which  time  he  removed  to 
East  Norwich  and  engaged  in  a mercantile  business  which 
had  been  commenced  the  fall  previous.  He  continued 
in  that  business  about  nine  years. 

December  30th  1842  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Reformed  Church  of  Oyster  Bay,  located  at  Brook- 
ville,  and  since  that  date  he  has  a great  portion  of  the 
time  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of  that 
church.  He  exerted  his  influence  and  contributed  of  his 
means  to  build  the  houses  of  worship  of  the  Reformed 
churches  of  Locust  Valley  and  Jericho. 

In  the  winter  of  1846  he  exchanged  his  property  in 
East  Norwich,  consisting  of  a dwelling  and  store-house, 
for  a farm  of  about  204  acres  in  Brookville;  on  March 
1 6th  following  moved  on  to  it,  and  has  resided  there  ever 
since. 

In  April  1856  he  was  elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Jones  Fund,  and  he  served  eleven  years  in  that  capacity. 

It  is  the  constant  endeavor  of  Mr.  Luyster,  through 
the  blessing  of  God  on  his  exertions,  to  have  the  world 
better  for  his  having  lived  in  it,  and  in  some  degree  to 
answer  the  divine  purpose  in  bringing  him  into  this  state 
of  existence. 


540 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


Genealogy  op  John  B.  Ltjyster. 

Gr  eat- great-grandfather, 

Peter  Luyster,  was  born  November  9th 
1696,  and  died  April  18th  1772, 

76  years  of  age. 

Sarah  Monfort  was  born  February  28th  1696, 
and  died  February  7th  1757, 

61  years  of  age. 


Peter  Luyster  and  Sarah  Monfort  were  married  May 
nth  1718. 


DESCENT  OF  FATHER : 

Great-grandfather , 

John  Luyster,  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Luyster,  was 
born  January  24th  1721  and  died  June  2nd  1803,  82 
years  of  age. 

Elizabeth  Van  Voorhis  was  born and  died 

March  17th  1792. 


John  Luyster  and  Elizabeth  Van  Voorhis  were  mar- 
ried June  12th  1747. 


Grandfather , 

Peter  Luyster,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Luyster, 
was  born  May  26th  1748,  and  died  August  nth  1834, 
86  years  of  age. 


Gertrude  Onderdonk  was  born  August  23d  1756,  and 
died  May  27th  1848,  91  years  of  age. 


Peter  Luyster  and  Gertrude  Onderdonk  were  married 
October  19th  1781. 


Father , 

Adrian  Luyster,  son  of  Peter  and  Gertrude  Luyster, 
was  born  April  19th  1790,  and  died  December  1 6th 
1861,  71  years  of  age. 


Adrian  Luyster  and  Phebe  Luyster  were  married 
April  15th  1812. 


DESCENT  OF  MOTHER  : 

Great-grandfather , 

Peter  Luyster,  son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  Luyster,  was 
born  September  30th  1722,  and  died  November  27th 
1801,  79  years  of  age. 


Phebe  Bennet  was  born  October  27th  1736,  and  died 
November  23d  1822,  86  years  of  age. 


Peter  Luyster  and  Phebe  Bennet  were  married  August 
3d  1753-  

Grandfather , 

James  Luyster,  son  of  Peter  and  Phebe  Luyster,  was  born 
October  29th  1760,  and  died  March  24th  1847,  86  years 
of  age. 


Sarah  Bennet  was  born  June  14th  1758,  and  died 
April  16th  1837,  79  years  of  age. 


James  Luyster  and  Sarah  Bennet  were  married  June 
24th  1792. 

Mother , 

Phebe  Luyster,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Luyster, 
was  born  February  12th  1794,  and  died  November  6th 
1880,  86  years  of  age. 


John  B.  Luyster,  son  of  Adrian  and  Phebe  Luyster,  was 
born  October  22nd  1813. 


Ann  Simonson,  daughter  of  Mouris  and  Catha- 
rine Simonson,  was  born  February 
25th  1811. 


John  B.  Luyster  and  Ann  Simonson 
were  married  April  20th 
1836. 


BAYVILLE— DANIEL  HEGEMAN. 


54 


The  Hegeman  Family. 


Adrian  Hegeman,  the  first  of  the  name  who  settled  in 
the  town  of  Oyster  Bay,  located  primarily  at  Dosoris,  and 
afterward  at  Cedar  Swamp,  where  he  resided  till  the  year 
1743,  when  he  died,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age.  He  left 
three  sons.  The  eldest,  named  Peter,  who  was  born  in 
1704  and  died  in  1770,  left  one  son,  Joost  (George)  Heg- 
eman, who  was  born  in  1733  and  died  in  1790.  He  left 
four  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Jacobus  (James)  Hege- 
man, was  born  in  the  year  1765  and  married  Catherine 
Onderdonck,  a sister  of  Peter  Onderdonck  of  Cow  Neck, 
in  the  town  of  North  Hempstead.  They  raised  a family 
of  seven  children,  viz.,  Peter  Onderdonck,  Daniel,  Elbert, 
Gertrude,  Maria,  and  Elizabeth  and  Anna,  who  were 
twins.  Of  these  none  are  living  except  Daniel,  the  second 
son,  and  his  brother  Elbert,  who  resides  at  Glen  Cove. 

Daniel,  whose  portrait  appears  in  connection  with  this 
sketch,  was  born  July  25th  1802,  on  the  farm  which  he 
now  owns  and  upon  which  he  is  spending  the  evening  of 
his  days.  It  is  the  old  farm  at  Cedar  Swamp,  so  long  in 
possession  of  the  family.  Mr.  Hegeman  received  his  ed- 
ucation at  a common  district  school.  His  chosen  voca- 
tion was  farming,  a business  in  which  he  has  been  re- 
warded with  success.  In  1827  he  left  the  home  farm  and 
purchased  and  removed  to  the  farm  of  Andrew  C.  Hege- 
man, at  East  Norwich.  He  purchased  the  old  homestead 
in  1845,  and  has  since  resided  upon  it. 

He  was  married  June  1 6th  1824  to  Mary  Jane  Simon- 
son, a daughter  of  Norris  Simonson.  They  had  eleven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz.,  James  A.,  William, 


Peter,  Mary  (now  the  widow  of  George  Mitchell),  Elbert, 
and  Ann  Eliza,  wife  of  William  Chapman  of  New  York. 
Elbert  resides  in  Brooklyn,  and  is  an  employe  in  the 
National  Park  Bank  in  New  York;  William  is  on  the 
farm  with  his  father,  and  the  other  two  sons  occupy  farms 
on  the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  homestead. 

Mrs.  Hegeman  died  January  13th  1861,  and  on  the 
9th  of  June  1862  Mr.  Hegeman  married  Ann  Van  Cott, 
a daughter  of  George  Van  Cott  of  Greenvale. 

Mr.  Hegeman  is  a man  universally  loved,  honored  and 
respected  by  the  people  of  his  town,  having  been  called 
to  serve  them  a number  of  years  in  each  of  the  offices  of 
assessor,  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  trustee  of  the  Jones 
Fund.  He  also  served  with  fidelity  twelve  years  as  su- 
perintendent of  the  county  poor.  He  is  an  attendant 
and  supporter  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Brookville,  of 
which  his  wife  and  several  of  his  children  are  members. 


BAYVILLE. 

Bayville,  formerly  called  Oak  Neck,  contains  90  dwel- 
lings and  325  inhabitants.  The  peninsula  Oak  Neck 
derived  its  name  from  its  many  large  oaks.  Only  one 
remains,  which  stands  on  an  eminence  styled  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant. 

At  Francis  Cove,  on  the  east  side  of  the  neck,  the  In- 
dians had  a camping  place,  which  is  marked  by  a pile  of 
clam  and  oyster  shells.  There  was  a rock  with  a deep 
hole  in  it,  in  which  they  pounded  their  corn.  Arrow 
heads  and  stone  mortars  and  pestles  are  found.  William 
R.  Bell  presented  the  writer  with  a stone  axe  which  was 
plowed  up  near  his  house. 

In  1745  a road  was  surveyed  commencing  at  Beaver 
Swamp  and  running  through  Bayville  to  Mingo  Springs, 
on  Center  Island,  where  Charles  Ludlam  furnished  the 
surveyors  with  a sumptuous  dinner,  which  ended  the  sur- 
vey of  the  road.  In  1836  there  were  fifteen  houses  in 
the  place.  Oysters  and  clams  were  the  chief  source  of 
income.  The  names  of  the  oyster  planters  in  1832  were 
George  Campbell,  Daniel  Dickerson,  John  Ellison,  Reu- 
ben Hall  and  Jacob  Baldwin.  From  planting  a few  hun- 
dred bushels  the  business  has  increased  to  planting  50,000 
bushels  a year. 

A meeting  called  at  William  R.  Bell’s  in  1850  decided 
to  build  a school-house.  Money  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion and  a building  erected.  An  application  to  be  set 
off  into  a separate  district  was  granted.  Aaron  Payne 
was  the  first  teacher. 

One  of  the  two  main  branches  of  business  was  started 
here  in  1825,  when  John  Bell  planted  half  an  acre  of 
asparagus,  which  produced  two  years  afterward  25  bunches 
a day.  The  number  of  bunches  has  increased  to  11,000 
a day  and  the  acreage  to  125. 

The  place  was  provided  with  a Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  i860,  and  a post-office  in  1876.  The  first 
store  was  built  by  Lewis  Dickerson  and  William  R.  Bell, 
the  present  owner.  James  Beatty  opened  a grocery  store 
in  1866. 


59 


542 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


BETHPAGE. 

Bethpage  is  a farming  settlement  in  the  south  part  of 
the  town.  The  original  Bethpage  tract  was  purchased 
from  the  Indians  August  1 8th  1695,  and  settled  upon  by 
Thomas  Powell,  an  active  Friend  from  Huntington.  He 
made  another  purchase  in  1699,  and  sold  a third  of  his 
interest  the  following  year  to  Thomas  Whitson,  the  sec- 
ond settler.  This  tract  was  large,  embracing  most  of  the 
central  portion  of  the  southern  part  of  the  town.  The 
tract  was  surveyed  by  Thomas  Willis. 

A Friends’  meeting  every  five  weeks,  on  First-day,  was 
commenced  here  as  early  as  1698.  In  1742  a meeting- 
house was  commenced.  In  the  year  1816  $1,250  was 
raised  for  a new  meeting-house;  a surplus  of  $175  was 
contributed  toward  building  horse  sheds  at  Westbury. 
The  meeting  is  described  as  irregularly  attended  in  1826, 
and  the  society  as  well  as  the  building  seems  to  be  going 
into  decay.  The  Stewart  estate  has  an  extensive  brick- 
yard here,  with  H.  F.  Barton  as  superintendent. 


JERICHO. 

The  Indian  name  of  this  village  was  Lusum.  It  has 
also  gone  by  the  name  of  Springfield  or  “ the  Farms.” 
It  is  pleasantly  situated  near  the  center  of  the  town, 
upon  the  Jericho  turnpike,  27  miles  from  New  York.  It 
was  a part  of  the  purchase  made  by  Robert  Williams  in 
1650,  and  was  settled  by  a number  of  substantial  Quaker 
families,  the  descendants  of  whom  remain  here,  including 
a branch  of  the  Underhills,  several  families  of  Willetses, 
the  Seamans  and  others.  The  village  is  supplied  with 
abundance  of  pure  water  from  springs  which  never  fail, 
issuing  from  the  foot  of  a neighboring  hill.  There  are 
now  in  the  village  two  stores,  the  principal  one  kept  by 
S.  J.  Seamans,  a descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
and  first  settlers  here.  It  is  a wholesale  and  retail  store 
of  drygoods,  groceries,  hardware,  etc.  There  are  here 
also  blacksmith  and  wagon  shops  and  a large  cider-mill 
in  which  is  manufactured  only  the  pure,  refined  article, 
which  is  shipped  to  various  points.  The  proprietors  are 
Ketchum  & Jagger.  The  school  facilities  are  good,  there 
being  a large,  substantial  school  building. 

The  Friends’  Society. 

Here  is  the  Hicksite  Friends’  meeting-house.  The  origin 
of  this  society  runs  into  the  hidden  past,  before  minutes 
were  kept.  In  1676  the  quarterly  meeting  desired 
Friends  of  “ the  Farms”  to  observe  their  week-day  meet- 
ings with  diligence  as  formerly  ordered.  For  over  a 
century  there  was  no  public  meeting-house,  but  Friends 
met  at  private  houses.  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas  and 
mother  of  Richard  Willets  (“a  mother  in  Israel”), ■ as 
early  as  1678  had  opened  her  house  for  meetings  and  the 
entertainment  of  traveling  Friends.  She  died  at  Jericho 
in  1713,  aged  85  years,  a worthy  minister  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  In  1683  it  was  agreed  that  Friends’  papers  be 
read  at  “ the  Farms”  in  the  twelfth  month  every  year, 
“ that  our  children  may  come  to  understand  the  order  of 
Friends  in  their  marriage  and  other  relations.”  In  1690 
a First-day  meeting  was  held  at  Jericho  every  five  weeks, 
but  the  week-day  meetings  were  kept  alternately  at 


Westbury  and  Jericho,  Friends  of  both  meetings  joining 
in  one.  In  1713  the  monthly  meeting  kept  at  Jericho 
was  directed  in  future  to  be  at  Westbury.  In  1758  Wil- 
liam Reckitt  had  a meeting  of  several  hundred  on  a 
First-day.  In  1786  it  was  proposed  to  divide  Westbury 
preparative  meeting  and  settle  one  at  Jericho,  in  the 
house  of  the  two  widows  Seaman.  In  1787  it  was  pro- 
posed to  build  a meeting-house,  which  was  done.  This 
is  the  building  now  standing  and  used  as  a Hicksite 
Friends’  meeting-house.  The  value  of  the  buildings, 
etc.,  is  thought  to  be  about  $3,000.  There  are  two 
branches  of  this  society — one  at  Jerusalem  and  one  at 
Bethpage.  The  celebrated  Elias  Hicks  occasionally 
officiated  here  for  many  years. 

The  graveyard  attached  to  the  church  has  been  in  use 
since  1790.  It  is  under  the  sole  care  of  the  Friends,  but 
others  than  members  of  that  society  are  permitted  to 
use  it.  The  first  interments  are  supposed  to  have  been 
those  of  John  Willets  and  a son  of  Elias  Hicks. 

Jericho  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church. 

In  1870  Rev.  J H.  Smock,  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
church  at  Brookville,  began  preaching  on  Sabbath  after- 
noons in  the  public  school-house  at  Jericho.  The  large 
audiences  indicated  that  there  would  soon  be  a call  here 
for  a church.  Shortly,  however,  the  school  room  was 
closed  to  religious  services.  A chapel  was  at  once  pro- 
posed, and,  Lewis  Ficken  giving  the  ground,  a subscrip- 
tion was  started  and  the  chapel  begun.  Aid  was  given 
by  the  Church  Building  Fund  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  in  April  1871  the  chapel  was  dedicated.  Rev.  M. 
Swick,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Smock  at  Brookville,  also 
preached  in  the  Jericho  chapel  until  1875,  when  the  pul- 
pit was  supplied  by  theological  students  from  the  semi- 
nary at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

In  1876  a request  was  made  to  the  North  Classis  of 
Long  Island  for  an  organization.  A committee  was  ap- 
pointed, which,  strange  to  say,  organized  a church  here 
with  only  six  members,  and  only  one  man  among  them. 

Rev.  H.  De  Vries,  a recent  graduate  of  New  Bruns- 
wick Theological  Seminary,  was  called  in  September 
1876,  and  installed  near  the  close  of  the  same  year.  He 
left  the  year  following;  but  sometime  before  his  leaving 
both  of  the  elders  had  removed — the  one  dismissed,  the 
other  not,  as  he  really  had  never  been  a member  at  all. 
The  North  Classis  of  Long  Island  met,  decided  that  this 
organization  had  not  been  legally  made,  and  attached  the 
members  to  the  Oyster  Bay  church. 

At  the  close  of  1877  Rev.  J.  A Davis  became  pastor 
of  the  Brookville  church,  and  he  supplied  the  pulpit  at 
Jericho  each  Sabbath.  After  two  years  increasing  duties 
and  lack  of  strength  compelled  him  to  relinquish  the  ser- 
vice at  Jericho.  In  1880  Rev.  E.  Schultze  assumed 
charge  on  trial,  but  left  at  the  end  of  three  months,  and 
for  the  three  months  ending  that  year  Mr.  Davis  again 
supplied  the  pulpit. 

Early  in  1881  Rev.  James  B.  Wilson  became  pastor  in 
charge,  under  the  care  of  the  Domestic  Mission  Board 
of  the  Reformed  Church,  in  the  hope  that  the  enterprise 
would  soon  be  strong  enough  to  be  separated  from  the 
church  at  Brookville. 

The  Sabbath-school  connected  with  this  enterprise  was 
begun  in  1870,  with  T.  B.  Imlay  as  superintendent. 


543 


Daniel  Underhill. 

Captain  John  Underhill,  a narrative  of  whose  life  as  a 
pioneer  has  already  been  given  at  some  length  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  town,  was  the  ancestor  of  several  of  the  most 
worthy  men  and  women  that  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  has 
produced.  Among  these  it  is  very  proper  to  make  special 
mention  of  Daniel  Underhill  of  Jericho,  who  is  one  of 
the  most  stalwart  representatives  of  this  old  family  and 
one  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  his  native  town. 
His  descent  from  the  illustrious  ancestor  is  thus  traced: 
Captain  John  Underhill  married  Mary  Mosely.  Their 
son,  John  Underhill  2nd,  married  Mary  Prior.  Abra- 
ham, their  son,  married  Sarah  daughter  of  Thomas 
Townsend.  One  of  their  sons  became  the  head  of  a 
family,  and  his  son  Adonijah  Underhill  married  Pheba 
Willets,  a daughter  of  Daniel  Willets.  Adonijah  settled 
at  Jericho  and  purchased  of  the  Townsend  family  the 
farm  which  has  since  been  the  birthplace  of  five  genera- 
tions of  the  family.  Here  his  son  Daniel  was  born. 
Daniel  married  John  Jackson’s  daughter  Mary,  and  here 
on  the  28th  of  July  1797  their  son  Samuel  Jackson  Un- 
derhill was  born.  His  wife  was  Samuel  Willets’s  daugh- 
ter Mary,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Daniel  Underhill, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Underhill  was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  was 


born,  and  after  improving  all  the  advantages  afforded  by 
the  district  school  he  attended  for  a few  months  a private 
school  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.  He  was  married  on  the 
26th  of  October  1847 — just  30  days  before  he  was  21 
years  old — to  Caroline  a daughter  of  James  Post,  of  Old 
Westbury,  and  sister  of  Captain  Charles  Post,  of  Glen 
Cove.  Their  only  living  child  is  Samuel  J.  Underhill, 
who  is  also  the  head  of  a family,  his  children  represent- 
ing the  tenth  generation  of  the  Underhill  family  from  the 
progenitor  first  mentioned. 

Mr.  Underhill  has  made  farming  his  leading  occupa- 
tion, although  largely  interested  in  other  business.  While 
not  regarded  as  a politician  in  the  modern  sense  of  the 
term,  still  there  are  few  men,  if  any,  in  the  town  who 
wield  a wider  influence.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  Republican  party  since  its  formation.  He  is  a trustee 
of  the  Roslyn  Savings  Bank  and  was  for  eleven  years  a 
director  of  the  Glen  Cove  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
of  which  his  father  was  one  of  the  original  incorporators. 

.In  religious  interests  Mr.  Underhill  is  identified  with 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  he  is  at  the  present  time  a 
member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  Swarthmore  Col- 
lege, near  Philadelphia.  He  was  happy  in  his  domestic 
relations,  and  his  married  life  for  over  thirty-four  years 
was  a signally  pleasant  one;  but  in  January  1882  his  wife 
died,  in  the  full  respect  of  all  who  knew  her. 


544 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


MANNETTO  HILL, 

a small  settlement  north  of  Bethpage,  received  its  name 
from  an  Indian  tradition  concerning  a spring  of  water 
here.  The  spring,  found  during  a severe  drought,  was 
considered  a “ godsend,”  and  the  hill  was  named  after 
their  god  Mannet.  There  is  a small  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  here,  built  in  1857. 


FARMINGDALE. 

Farmingdale  (formerly  called  Hardscrabble)  is  situated 
both  on  the  main  line  of  the  Long  Island  Railroad  and 
on  the  Stewart  Central  extension,  about  thirty-two  miles 
from  New  York.  The  place  is  a part  of  the  Bethpage 
tract.  It  contains  a hotel,  several  stores,  a bakery,  a 
union  free  school,  three  churches  and  Bernard  Levino’s 
picture  frame  and  moulding  manufactory.  This  busi- 
ness has  been  established  a year,  and  is  the  first  factory 
started  in  the  place.  His  business  is  large,  as  he  has 
little  competition.  Mr.  Levino  has  here  100  building 
lots,  which  he  offers  gratis  to  those  who  will  build  there- 
on. The  street  is  60  feet  wide  and  set  with  shade 
trees. 

The  Free  Methodist  church  here  is  of  recent  origin. 
The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  built  a small  edifice 
here  in  1843,  and  it  is  at  present  an  active,  energetic 
society.  A more  complete  account  of  this  church  would 
have  been  given  had  not  a gentleman  failed  to  furnish  a 
promised  history  of  it. 

St.  Thomas’s  Episcopal  Church. 

The  corner  stone  of  this  neat  and  churchly  edifice  was 
laid  July  19th  1877  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Paddock,  D.  D., 
then  rector  of  St.  Peter’s  Church,  Brooklyn,  now  bishop 
of  Washington  Territory.  Services  had  been  previously 
held  in  a small  hall  for  more  than  a year,  and  a congre- 
gation of  about  thirty  families  collected.  The  church 
edifice  was  completed  in  May  1878,  and  opened  May 
i'ith  by  Bishop  Littlejohn.  The  structure  is  60  feet  long 
by  26  feet  wide,  with  basement  8 feet  high  under  the 
whole  building,  fitted  up  for  social  meetings,  Sunday- 
school,  etc.  The  church  is  ceiled  with  narrow  white 
pine  on  the  rafters,  and  has  a recess  chancel.  The  windows 
on  the  sides  are  of  plain  stained  glass;  the  chancel 
window  is  filled  with  appropriate  emblems.  The  church 
has  a beautiful  spire,  with  belfry,  in  which  has  been 
placed  a bell  of  suitable  size.  The  cost  of  the  building 
was  $2,500.  This  church  is  pronounced  by  experts  a 
perfect  “gem,”  considering  its  cost  and  size. 

The  building  was  erected  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Cook,  head  of  the  Associate  Mission  for 
Suffolk  county,  acting  for  and  under  the  missionary  com- 
mittee of  the  diocese.  He  is  not  only  the  founder  of 
the  mission,  but  by  his  indefatigable  zeal  in  raising  the 
necessary  funds  has  brought  the  work  to  a successful 


termination.  The  ground  upon  which  the  church 
stands  was  donated  to  the  trustees  of  the  diocese  of 
Long  Island  by  A.  Noon,  and  the  cost  of  the  building 
was  defrayed  by  subscriptions  obtained  by  the  mission- 
ary in  charge.  Rev.  J.  J.  A.  Morgan  officiates  at 
present. 


CENTER  ISLAND. 

Center  Island,  sometimes  called  Hog  Island,  was  in 
the  original  deed  reserved  by  the  Indians;  but  was  soon 
purchased  by  Cornelius  Van  Raynen,  Govert  Locker- 
mans  (Kissam)  and  Jacobus  Bucker,  who  transferred  it 
to  the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  in  1665.  This,  and  Pine 
Island,  both  properly  peninsulas,  were  among  the  town’s 
most  valuable  property.  Part  of  it  was  planted  occa- 
sionally, to  prevent  the  use  of  it  as  common  pasture,  and 
there  are  several  engagements  with  different  persons  to 
live  there  and  take  care  of  the  crops.  But  its  principal 
value  was  in  its  grazing  and  meadow  lands.  For  grazing 
purposes  the  island  was  divided  into  twenty-two  equal 
shares.  Each  of  these  shares  entitled  the  owner  to  pas- 
turage for  six  cows;  or  he  might  put  in  the  place  of  each 
cow  either  two  swine  or  four  sheep,  or  two  yearling  cat- 
tle and  one  horse  in  the  place  of  two  cows.  Goats  were 
free  for  each  owner  to  keep  as  many  as  he  pleased. 

The  Ludlam  Family. 

Joseph  Ludlam,  the  first  of  the  name  who  settled  on 
Center  Island,  purchased  the  house  of  John  Pratt,  which 
is  now  standing  and  constitutes  a part  of  the  residence 
of  Henry  Ludlam.  Joseph  at  his  death,  in  1698,  left 
two  sons,  Joseph  2nd  and  Charles.  The  eldest,  accord- 
ing to  British  law,  inherited  the  landed  property;  but, 
not  thinking  it  just  to  his  brother,  Charles,  he  divided 
with  him.  Joseph  retained  the  south  part  of  the  island, 
which  is  at  present  owned  by  the  Smith  family,  and  gave 
to  his  brother  the  north  part,  which  is  mostly 
owned  by  his  descendants.  The  family  is  of  English 
origin.  The  first  Joseph  was  buried  beside  a large  rock 
near  the  old  homestead.  Most  of  the  other  deceased 
members  of  the  family  are  buried  in  the  Ludlam  bury- 
ing ground  on  Center  Island.  Joseph  Ludlam  2nd  died 
in  1730.  His  descendants  are  represented  by  James 
Ludlam,  S.  Y.  Ludlam,  and  Elbert  Ludlam  of  Oyster 
Bay. 

Charles  Ludlam  1st  was  born  on  Center  Island,  in 
1691,  and  died  in  1769.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Feakes. 
Their  issue  were  born  as  follows:  In  1717,  Charles  2nd, 
progenitor  of  the  families  of  Robert  Ludlam  and  Wil- 
liam Ludlam;  in  1720  Sylvanus,  who  died  in  Nova 
Scotia;  in  1722  Henry  Ludlam,  in  1725  Daniel,  in  1728 
Cleamants,  in  1730  Elizabeth,  in  1733  Susannah. 

Henry  Ludlam,  who  was  born  in  1722,  married  Naomi 
Feakes,  and  at  his  death,  in  1791,  left  six  children,  viz.: 


r 


H.T.SMITH'S  BRICK  YARD, CENTER  ISLAND,  QUEENS  CO.L.I. 


CENTER  ISLAND  AND  SYOSSET. 


547 


Henry,  who  left  no  issue;  Susannah,  who  married  Na- 
thaniel Smith  of  Islip;  Sarah,  who  married  Jonathan 
Cables;  Phoebe,  not  married;  Esther,  who  married  Wil- 
liam Birdsall;  and  Charles  3d,  who  was  born  in  1770  and 
married  Sarah  Feakes. 

Charles  Ludlam  3d  had  one  child,  Henry  Ludlam,  who 
was  born  at  the  old  homestead  on  Center  Island,  Febru- 
ary 4th  1796.  The  portrait  which  appears  in  connection 
with  this  biographical  sketch  represents  him  as  he  now 
appears,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age.  The  signature  un- 
derneath is  a fac  simile  of  his  name  as  he  now  writes  it. 
He  was  married  January  18th  1822  to  Ruth  F.  Coles,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Coles  of  Philadelphia,  and  a 
grand-daughter  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Coles  who  was  for 
many  years  the  pastor  of  Oyster  Bay  Baptist  church,  of 
which  she  is  now  a member.  The  twain  still  reside  on 
the  old  ancestral  farm.  They  are  surrounded  by 
their  family  of  children,  all  now  grown  to  man- 
hood and  womanhood.  Their  house  is  a home  of 
hospitality. 

Mr.  Ludlam  has  always  devoted  himself  mainly  to  the 
care  of  his  farm  and  is  an  admirer  of  good  livestock, 
especially  horses.  He  is  kind,  charitable  in  a quiet  way, 
and  always  very  positive  in  his  views  and  conclusions. 
In  politics  he  was  an  “Old  Line  Whig,”  and  afterward  a 
Republican  until  later  in  life,  when  he  came  to  indorse 
the  Democratic  party. 


Smith’s  Brick  Yard. 

This  brick  yard  is  located  on  the  extreme  south  end 
of  Center  Island,  on  a part  of  the  old  Smith  farm;  with 
the  accompanying  clay  beds  and  necessary  room  it  oc- 
cupies over  fifteen  acres  of  ground,  and  has  400  feet  of 
docks  fronting  Oyster  Bay  harbor.  The  yard  was  started 
in  the  year  1854  by  Jacob  and  Daniel  V.  Smith,  who 
were  associated  with  their  father,  Daniel  Smith.  The 
buildings  were  erected  that  year,  and  the  manufacture  of 
brick  was  commenced  the  following  year.  The  machinery 
is  propelled  by  the  same  steam  engine  which  has  been 
used  from  the  establishment  of  the  yard.  The  primitive 
pits  were  the  old  style  sod  pits.  In  1878  Jacob  Smith 
and  his  son  Charles  put  in  the  new  circular  pits  and  in- 
troduced new  machinery,  improving  the  quality  of  the 
brick  and  increasing  the  producing  capacity,  until  now 
the  yard  turns  out  annually  five  millions  of  brick,  which 
are  well  known  in  the  trade  as  Center  Island  brick  and 
are  of  extra  quality.  The  yard  has  furnished  brick  for 
Steinway’s  piano  factory  at  Astoria,  Bogart  & Grant’s 
factory  at  Flushing  and  other  important  buildings. 

Forty  men  and  boys  and  four  horses  are  employed. 
The  manufacture  of  brick  is  superintended  and  managed 
by  G.  W.  Conway,  a native  of  Haverstraw,  who  has  had 
more  than  thirty  years’  experience  in  the  business.  About 
500,000  brick  are  burned  in  a kiln.  To  properly  burn 
these  according  to  the  improved  process  requires  80 
cords  of  wood  and  600  bushels  of  culm  or  coal  dust. 

In  the  year  1880  Daniel  V.  Smith  died,  and  his  interest 
in  the  business  passed  by  will  to  his  son  Henry  T.  Smith, 
who  purchased  the  remaining  interest  of  Jacob  Smith  and 
is  now  carrying  on  the  business  as  sole  proprietor. 


SYOSSET. 

Syosset  is  a village  of  250  inhabitants.  It  has  a sta- 
tion on  the  Long  Island  Railroad,  sixty  or  seventy  resi- 
dences, a post-office,  a blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shop, 
a tavern,  two  groceries,  a school-house  and  a free  church 
edifice,  standing  on  a one-acre  lot,  donated  by  S.  W. 
Cheshire.  This  church  was  built  in  i860,  under  the 
direction  of  five  inhabitants  of  the  place,  who  became 
trustees.  It  cost  about  $1,300. 

The  free  church  building  is  open  to  all  denominations 
of  Christians,  and  various  clergymen  have  officiated  frorn 
time  to  time. 

A Sunday-school  of  50  or  60  scholars  is  maintained, 
with  a corps  of  efficient  teachers  of  both  sexes.  John 
Cook  is  the  superintendent. 

Rev.  R.  G.  Hutton,  rector  of  Christ  Church,  Oyster 
Bay,  obtained  a parish  organization,  according  to  statute, 
under  the  title  of  St.  George’s  Church  of  Syosset. 

This  Episcopal  congregation  has  not  yet  attained  suf- 
ficient strength  to  support  a minister,  and  depends  upon 
lay  reading,  with  services  by  clergymen  on  special  occa- 
sions. 


548 


of  Hempstead  for  the  year  1685  we  find  that  Arthur 
Alburtus  was  owner  of  249  acres  of  land.  The  name 
“ Alburtus  ” is  in  some  records  written  “ A1  Burtus.”  To 
simplify  this  name  to  Burtis  required  less  change  than  in 
many  contemporary  cases;  an  instance,  for  example,  be- 
ing the  division  of  the  name  “ Thorneycraft  ” into  the 
two  names  “ Thorne  ” and  “ Craft.”  We  find  that  James 
Burtis  was  born  in  Hempstead,  September  1st  1708.  He 
had  a son  Elias  Burtis,  born  in  Hempstead.  June  22nd 
1746.  The  latter  had  a son  by  the  name  of  Elias  D. 
Burtis,  born  also  in  Hempstead,  January  12th  1781;  he 
was  a farmer;  his  wife  was  Elizabeth  Dorlon.  To  them 
were  born  a number  of  children,  among  whom  was  Oliver 
D.  Burtis. 

He  was  born  November  5th  1809,  and  was  reared  on 
the  old  farm  at  Hempstead.  At  the  age  of  10  years  we 
find  him  with  his  father  on  a farm  in  Oneida  county, 
which  Long  Island  people  then  considered  in  “ the  far 
west,”  Buffalo  being  on  the  frontier.  His  education  was 
limited  to  what  he  himself  denominates  the  “commonest 
kind  of  common  schools.”  After  his  father’s  death, 
which  occurred  April  26th  1826,  he  returned  to  Long 
Island,  and  at  the  age  of  i6J^  years  became  a clerk  in  a 
grocery  house  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  was  thus  employed 
until  1830,  when  he  obtained  the  position  of  book- 


Oliver  I).  Burtis. 

The  derivation  of  the  name  Burtis  comes  down  to  us 
through  the  misty  vale  of  tradition.  It  is  said  that  two 
brothers  who  came  from  Italy  purchased  lands  on  Man- 
hattan Island  and  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  tobacco; 
but,  finding  the  soil  poor,  one  of  them  removed  across 
the  East  River  and  purchased  lands  at  the  place  called 
Wallabout,  where  he  resumed  his  former  business.  As  a 
confirmation  of  this  traditional  statement  we  find  in  the 
Kings  county  register’s  office  (page  34,  Vol.  I of  deeds) 
that  on  the  22nd  of  June  1643  Goveror  Kieft  granted 
lands  at  Wallabout  to  one  Peter  Cesar,  Italian,  for  a 
tobacco  plantation.  May  1st  1647  Peter  Cesar  received 
an  additional  grant  of  land  adjoining  his  first.  This 
property  was  afterward  sold  by  the  vendue  master  to 
John  Damon,  by  authority  of  the  children  of  Peter 
Cesar.  In  connection  with  this  sale  we  find  the  name 
“Albertus  ” or  “ Alburtus  ” added  to  Peter  Cesar’s  name, 
and  in  Vol.  II,  pages  65  and  70,  of  the  same  records, 
two  of  his  sons’  names  are  written  in  each  respective 
place  “ John  Alburtus”  and  “William  Alburtus.”  These 
two  sons  were  then  residents  of  Newtown.  Riker’s 
“Annals  of  Newtown”  mentions  the  name  among  those 
of  early  settlers  of  the  town.  In  the  records  of  the  town 


HICKSVILLE— OLIVER  D.  BURTIS. 


549 


keeper  in  a clothing  house.  His  wages  were  less  than 
$100  a year,  but  he  saved  $50  from  this  and  started  bus- 
iness in  1831  for  himself  as  a clothier  in  Brooklyn,  on 
Fulton  street,  nearly  opposite  Hicks.  His  “ pile  ” in 
money  was  exceedingly  small,  but  he  had  a capital  in 
good  credit j he  says  his  credit  was  then  as  good  for  any- 
thing he  wanted  to  buy  as  it  has  ever  been  since. 

He  continued  his  business  as  a clothier  in  Brooklyn 
until  1857,  investing  his  surplus  capital  in  real  estate  in 
that  city.  Having,  in  the  26  years,  amassed  a snug 
fortune,  he  began  to  experience  a longing  for  the  voca- 
tion of  his  youth — “ to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  an  agricul- 
tural life.”  Accordingly  he  relinquished  all  business  in 
the  city  and  purchased  a farm  of  125  acres  at  Syosset, 
where  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Burtis  is  the  only  one  left  of  his  father’s  family,  ex- 
cept a sister  in  Brooklyn.  His  wife,  formerly  Rachel 
Smith,  whom  he  married  in  1833,  died  in  1848.  Of  their 
children  five  sons  and  a daughter  are  living,  viz.: 
Augustine  W.,  commission  woolens,  in  New  York; 
B.  Franklin,  chief  clerk  yards  and  docks  department, 
Brooklyn  navy  yard;  Theodore  E.,  a farmer  at  Queens; 
George  Alvan,  of  the  firm  of  Smyth  & Burtis,  real  estate 
and  insurance,  in  New  York;  Charles  H.,  an  attorney  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Olivia  R.,  wife  of  William  Wisner 
Taylor,  an  attorney  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

The  portrait  printed  in  connection  with  this  sketch 
represents  Mr.  Burtis  as  he  now  appears,  in  his  73d 
year.  His  family  are  old-time  Episcopalians.  He  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  the  Free  Church 
at  Syosset  in  i86t.  While  Rev.  Mr.  Hutton,  rector  of 
the  church  at  Oyster  Bay,  was  holding  services  at  Syosset 
he  requested  Mr.  Burtis  to  officiate  one  evening  as  lay 
reader,  which  service  he  performed  with  acceptance,  and 
he  has  since  culled  and  collated  a considerable  number 
of  sermons.  He  is  interested  in  schools  and  education 
generally.  A characteristic  of  his  family  is  honest  in- 
dustry without  aspirations  for  distinction;  he  takes  no 
part  in  politics,  not  even  voting. 

In  temperance  work  Mr.  Burtis  has  always  taken  an 
active  part;  he  has  lived  to  see  some  fruits  from  his 
labors,  and  has  the  credit  for  such  work  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  resides.  He  says  to  his  sons,  “Your 
father  has  never  in  his  life  taken  a glass  of  intoxicating 
drink  at  a public  bar.” 

Although  Mr.  Burtis  has  retired  from  business  life  he 
did  not  retire  from  his  life  of  usefulness.  His  friends  do 
not  like  to  be  regarded  as  selfish,  but  they  do  wish  him 
many  more  years  to  live,  in  which  to  do  his  good  work 
for  the  community. 


HICKSVILLE. 

This  village  takes  its  name  from  Elias  Hicks,  who  was 
well  known  as  the  founder  of  the  Hicksite  branch  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  In  1836  he  and  others  bought  a 
large  tract  of  land  and  laid  it  out  in  streets  and  building 
lots.  In  1842  the  Long  Island  Railroad  was  extended  to 
the  village.  In  that  year  Elias  Hicks  and  others  put  up 


some  fifteen  buildings,  and  the  railroad  company  built 
an  engine  house  and  extensive  sheds  for  the  storage  of 
wood.  These  sheds  some  time  afterward  were  burned, 
with  other  buildings,  leaving  nothing  standing  but  the 
hotel. 

In  1849  Frederick  Heyne,  a native  of  Germany,  bought 
over  a thousand  acres  of  land  here  and  began  a settle- 
ment. He  was  quickly  followed  by  others,  and  their 
thrift  and  energy  once  more  commenced  to  build  up  the 
village.  Some  of  these  first  settlers  were  Jacob  Sevin, 
Christopher  Yeagle,  E.  H.  de  Languillette,  and  John  F. 
Heitz.  Land  was  broken  up,  houses  were  erected,  trees 
planted,  etc.  John  F.  Heitz  took  particular  interest  in 
the  laying  out  of  wide  and  regular  streets  and  the  plant- 
ing of  trees  and  laying  of  walks  along  both  sides.  In 
1852  a public  school-house  was  built  on  land  donated  by 
Mr.  Heitz;  the  school  still  flourishes.  From  the  health- 
fulness of  the  village  and  the  picturesque  scenery  about 
it  it  soon  began  to  attract  a large  number  of  settlers,  of 
different  nationalities  but  principally  Germans.  The 
village  is  laid  out  on  what  may  be  called  a rolling  prairie, 
surrounded  by  hills  on  the  north  and  east.  Extensive 
woods  lie  to  the  south.  Hicksville  is  now  a thriving 
village.  There  are  eight  firms  engaged  in  gold  and  silver 
beating,  giving  employment  to  60  or  70  persons.  There 
are  numerous  stores,  some  of  them  large. 

Julius  Augustin  does  a very  extensive  business  in  dry- 
goods,  groceries,  coal,  wood  and  fertilizers.  Other  busi- 
ness men  are  E.  H.  de  Languillette,  William  Fraytag, 
wholesale  dealer  in  liquors,  etc.,  Henry  Kahn,  William 
Becker,  brewer,  and  Edgar  Davis,  soda  water  manufac- 
turer. There  is  also  a sash  and  door  manufactory. 

There  is  here  a farmers’  and  mechanics’  club,  with  its 
own  hall  and  grounds.  The  agricultural  association  of 
the  town  of  Oyster  Bay  holds  its  meetings  in  this  village 
in  its  own  hall. 

A Lutheran  church  and  a Methodist  union  church 
stand  on  land  donated  by  John  F.  Heitz,  a Baptist 
church  on  land  donated  by  Joseph  Wallace,  and  a Roman 
Catholic  church  on  land  donated  by  Mr.  Parker. 

The  Hicksville  people  had  to  go  to  Jericho  for  mail 
until  1855,  when  a post-office  was  established,  and  David 
Sammis  appointed  postmaster.  He  held  the  office  till 
1857,  and  E.  H.  de  Languillette  from  1857  to  1861. 
David  Sammis  was  then  appointed  postmaster,  but  soon 
afterward  his  house  with  the  post-office  papers  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  In  1862  the  office  was  under  the  charge 
of  John  H.  Bonnihr,  and  it  was  kept  at  F.  Herzog’s 
store  for  two  years.  It  was  then  transferred  to  the 
store  of  E.  H.  de  Languillette,  who  was  postmaster 
till  1869,  since  which  year  Ernest  Liebke  has  held  the 
office. 

The  hotel  is  a very  extensive  one,  owned  by  F.  Herzog 
and  kept  by  Charles  Gottert,  under  the  name  of  the 
American  House.  Every  convenience  may  here  be 
found  for  man  and  beast. 

Hicksville  is  24  miles  from  the  city  of  New  York,  7j£ 
miles  from  Long  Island  Sound  and  10  miles  from  the 
Atlantic  Ocean;  it  is  126  feet  above  sea  level. 


Frederick  Herzog. 

Frederick  Herzog  was  born  in  the  village  of  Wilhel- 
tnine,  Prussia,  May  ist  1825.  He  was  the  son  of  a farmer. 
His  education  was  obtained  at  such  schools  as  were  fur- 
nished to  the  common  people  at  that  time.  At  the  age 
of  15  years  he  adopted  the  life  of  a sailor,  shipping  before 
the  mast,  in  which  station  he  remained  nearly  ten  years. 

In  the  year  1849  he  shipped  from  Hamburgh  for  the 
new  world,  and  arrived  in  New  York  after  a long  and 
tiresome  passage  of  fourteen  weeks.  He  was  very  poor, 
but  in  less  than  a year  after  his  arrival  in  New  York  he 
was  made  the  second  officer  on  board  a merchantman  in 
the  New  Orleans  trade,  under  Captain  Ward.  He  is 
next  found  under  Captain  Singer  on  board  of  a mer- 
chantman engaged  in  the  European  trade.  Here  he 
learned  the  first  elements  in  the  science  of  navigation. 
The  next  year  he  studied  it  with  Captain  Thompson,  of 
Cherry  street,  New  York,  who  was  principal  of  a school 
of  navigation.  Having  attained  proficiency  in  this  di- 
rection he  again  essayed  to  take  his  place  as  a sailor. 
His  increased  knowledge  of  the  science  now  commanded 
a better  position,  and  he  shipped  in  the  year  1854  as  first 
officer  on  board  the  “Lexington.” 

During  this  year  he  took  to  himself  a wife — Wilhel- 
mine  Braas,  a native  of  Eberfeld,  Prussia.  This  led  to 
his  quitting  the  sea,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  1855 
he  was  busily  engaged  in  the  retail  grocery  trade  in  New 
York  city.  His  career  as  a grocer  was  prosperously  con- 
tinued until  1863,  when  he  sold  his  business  in  New  York 
on  account  of  ill  health  and  removed  to  Long  Island. 
Previous  to  Mr.  Herzog’s  settling  on  the  island  he 
traversed  nearly  the  whole  of  it  on  a tour  of  inspection, 
going  down  on  the  south  side  and  returning  on  the  north 
side,  but  could  find  no  satisfactory  rest  for  the  sole  of 
his  foot  until,  turning  his  steps  toward  the  interior,  he 
reached  the  village  of  Hicksville.  He  saw  at  a glance 


that  here  was  a possible  reward  for  all  his  searchings,  and 
immediately  made  up  his  mind  to  settle  down  to  busi- 
ness. He  reasoned  that,  as  the  railroad  ran  through  the 
center  of  the  then  scantily  populated  village,  there  must 
in  course  of  time  be  some  commerce,  and  by  persever- 
ance and  energy  the  place  could  soon  be  made  to  take  a 
brighter  appearance.  His  capital  was  limited,  but  re- 
turning health  inspired  him  with  new  zeal  and  courage, 
and  with  the  assistance  of  his  wife  (whose  business  quali- 
ties are  excellent)  he  was  encouraged  to  rent  the  place 
where  he  is  now  located,  which  the  former  owner  claimed 
that  he  could  not  make  pay.  Being  located  opposite  the 
depot,  he  could  observe  the  traffic  of  the  railroad  and 
see  freight  trains  pass  day  after  day  without  leaving  a 
pound  of  freight,  which  was  not  encouraging.  But,  know- 
ing that  the  railroad  had  given  Hicksville  the  best  facil- 
ities for  traffic  of  all  places  on  the  island,  he  determined 
not  to  let  them  go  unused.  Accordingly  he,  in  addition 
to  his  grocery  business,  began  shipping  brewers’  grains 
from  New  York,  and  dealing  in  all  kinds  of  fertilizers, 
besides  establishing  a coal  and  wood  yard.  In  this  way 
he  soon  built  up  a trade,  and  in  a few  months  purchased 
the  property  and  commenced  to  make  additions  to  it. 
The  work  of  addition  was  continued  until  he  now  has  a 
building,  including  his  dwelling,  with  a front  of  85  feet 
and  a depth  of  20.  In  addition  to  this,  he  has  a store- 
house on  the  opposite  side  of  the  railroad  track,  besides 
grounds  for  his  wood  and  coal  yard.  He  also  owns  the 
large  hotel  at  Hicksville  and  the  barns  connected. 

Mr.  Herzog  tells  of  his  first  aspirations  for  emigration 
to  America  as  follows:  When  a boy  on  board  of  a 
Prussian  ship,  with  sails  all  reefed  on  account  of  stormy 
weather,  he  saw  a vessel  heave  in  sight  with  full  sail  and 
moving  very  rapidly.  The  Prussian  captain  hailed  by  a 
sign,  when  the  fast  ship  ran  up  the  stars  and  stripes.  The 
boy  immediately  conceived  the  idea  that  he  should  like 
to  live  in  a country  where  they  do  business  in  that  way. 


John  F.  Heitz. 

John  F.  Heitz,  whose  portrait  appears  in  connection 
with  this  sketch,  was  born  February  21st  1818,  at  Neuen- 
kirchen  bey  Melle,  near  Osnabrueck,  Germany,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  Frederick  Nicholas  Heitz.  His  mother’s 
name  was  Anna  Maria  Elsa  Hanhardt.  The  father,  who 
died  when  the  son  was  but  six  years  of  age,  desired  him 
to  become  a minister.  Accordingly  he  studied  diligently 
for  this  object,  acquiring  more  than  a common  educa- 
tion. Changing  his  purpose,  he  left  his  studies  at  the 
age  of  16  or  17  and  commenced  an  apprenticeship  as  a 
watchmaker.  At  this  he  served  four  years,  and  he  after- 
ward traveled  several  years  in  different  parts  of  Europe 
to  perfect  his  knowledge  of  the  trade.  Returning  home 
he  commenced  business  for  himself  in  the  manufacture 
of  watches  and  clocks.  He  continued  at  this  business 
until  1847,  when  he  with  his  widowed  mother  and  her 
children  decided  to  come  to  America.  Arriving  in  New 
York  he  spent  a few  months  as  a workman  in  order  to 
better  learn  to  speak  the  English  language.  Then,  hav- 
ing some  means  of  his  own,  he  started  the  business  of 
watchmaking  again  in  a small  way  for  himself.  He  had 
become  proficient  in  his  chosen  work,  and  by  his  thrift 
and  energy  was  soon  enabled  to  pave  the  way  to  fortune 
and  an  honorable  position  among  his  fellow  men,  owning 
valuable  real  estate  both  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn. 

In  the  year  1850  he  invested  a portion  of  his  surplus 
funds  in  the  village  of  Hicksville,  and  in  the  year  follow- 
ing erected  a small  dwelling  and  made  Hicksville  his 


home.  Gradually,  as  his  funds  increased,  he  purchased 
more  lands  in  and  around  the  village,  until  at  the  time 
of  his  death  he  was  the  largest  landholder  in  the  place. 
In  1863  he  retired  from  business  in  the  city,  intending  to 
live  a private  life.  He  followed  farming  for  a time,  but 
being  restless  in  his  new  life  he  again  entered  business 
in  1869  at  Hicksville,  as  a dealer  in  dry  goods  and  cloth- 
ing, in  which  business  he  continued  until  his  death.  Mr. 
Heitz,  being  one  of  the  first  business  men  who  came  to 
Hicksville,  was  one  to  take  a strong  interest  in  the  future 
development  of  the  village.  He  was  a great  admirer  of 
trees,  and  to  him  the  village  must  render  thanks  for  her 
wide,  shaded  streets.  He  donated  the  sites  of  the  pub- 
lic school  building,  the  Lutheran  church  and  the  union 
church.  He  was  also  the  originator  of  the  “Heitz 
Resting  Place,”  a cemetery  on  Mannetto  Hill  avenue, 
which  was  incorporated  in  1870.  It  contains  two  or 
three  acres  of  land,  with  more  adjoining  which  may  be 
added  as  necessity  requires;  is  nicely  ornamented  with 
shade  trees,  and  is  neatly  laid  out  with  walks  and  drives. 

Mr.  Heitz  was  at  one  time  an  officer  in  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  secretary  and 
trustee  in  the  union  church,  and  also  vice-president  of 
the  Oyster  Bay  Town  Agricultural  Society. 

On  the  occasion  of  his  death  this  society  met  and 
passed  these  appropriate  resolutions: 

“Whereas,  this  society  has  learned  with  sorrow  of  the 
death  of  John  F.  Heitz,  one  of  its  originators  and 
founders,  and  his  death  has  caused  a shadow  to  pass 
over  our  village;  therefore  be  it 


552 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


“ Resolved , That  by  his  death  the  community  has  lost  a 
valuable  citizen  and  friend,  his  family  an  honored  mem- 
ber and  a good  husband  and  father. 

“ Resolved , That  the  deceased,  though  quiet  and  modest 
in  his  bearing,  fully  exemplified  the  highest  type  of  man- 
hood in  his  truthfulness,  his  integrity,  his  practical 
charity  to  all.  He  fully  demonstrated  the  poet’s  motto: 
‘ An  honest  man’s  the  noblest  work  of  God.’ 

“ Resolved , That  we  tender  to  his  beloved  relatives  our 
earnest  sympathy,  to  the  society  this  evidence  of  the 
great  loss  it  has  sustained,  and  to  the  community  this 
memento  of  one  who  made  the  world  brighter  by  his  life 
and  precepts. 

“ Resolved , That  this  preamble  and  these  resolutions  be 
engrafted  upon  the  minutes  of  this  society,  and  a copy 
thereof,  signed  by  the  president  and  secretary,  be  for- 
warded to  the  widow  of  our  beloved  member;  and  that 
these  proceedings  be  published  in  the  Signal 

Mr.  Heitz  was  married  August  ioth  1861  to  Jane 
Sutton  Norris,  and  at  his  death,  August  14th  1881,  left  a 
family  of  three  children,  viz.:  Olma  Maria,  now  a pleas- 
ing young  lady  of  19  years;  Frederick  N.,  born  Novem- 
ber ioth  1864,  and  Arnold,  born  September  15th  1870. 
Two  others,  William  Alexander  Norris  and  Nicholas 
Heitz,  are  deceased. 


COLD  SPRING. 

Cold  Spring,  called  also  Cold  Spring  Harbor,  to  distin- 
guish it  from  Cold  Spring  on  the  Hudson,  is  a pretty  village 
lying  at  the  head  of  Cold  Spring  harbor  and  mostly 
within  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Huntington.  It  has  a 
number  of  fine  residences  on  the  Oyster  Bay  side  of  the 
line.  The  Indian  name  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek 
was  Wawepex , that  on  the  east  Nachaquatuck.  The  place 
has  been  a port  of  entry  for  many  years.  William*  and 
Benjamin  Hawxhurst  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury were  actively  engaged  here  in  importing  goods  from 
England  and  elsewhere.  They  also  owned  a store  and 
grist  and  fulling-mills.  The  present  mill  was  built  near 
the  close  of  the  last  century.  The  Hewlett  and  Jones 
families  have  been  largely  engaged  in  fitting  out  whaling 
ships,  and  to  some  extent  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolens. 

An  Episcopal  church,  standing  a few  rods  west  of  the 
town  line,  was  erected  in  1836  by  the  aid  of  Trinity 
Church,  New  York.  The  number  of  communicants  in 
1845  was  I8.  The  society  is  now  active  and  self-sup- 
porting. 

Woodbury,  formerly  East  Woods,  is  an  old  settlement, 
and  is  now  the  railway  station  for  Cold  Spring,  which 
lies  about  a mile  north. 

The  Jones  Family. 

This  family  may  be  classed  among  the  older  and  most 
numerous  families  that  Long  Island  has  produced. 
Perhaps  none  has  furnished  a greater  number  of  men 
who  have  left  the  impress  of  strong  character  and  in- 
dividuality. From  the  date  when  its  founder  settled 
here  until  the  present  time  the  Jones  family  has  not  been 
without  one  or  more  distinguished  representatives  in 
business  and  political  life. 


Thomas  Jones  was  a major  in  the  army  of  King  James 
II.  The  king  being  dethroned  and  his  army  defeated, 
Major  Jones  sought  a home  in  the  new  world,  emigrat- 
ing to  Rhode  Island  from  Strabane,  Ireland,  in  1692. 
Soon  afterward  he  is  found  in  Oyster  Bay,  where  he 
married  Freelove,  daughter  of  Thomas  Townsend.  Mr. 
Townsend  presented  the  newly  wedded  pair  with  his 
Fort  Neck  estate,  under  a deed  dated  June  16th  1695. 
The  old  brick  house  was  built  by  Major  Jones  from 
brick  burned  on  this  estate.  During  his  life  here  he 
was  called  upon  to  occupy  several  of  the  important 
offices  of  the  county.  He  left  a family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.:  David,  Thomas,  William,  Margaret,  Sarah, 
Elizabeth  and  Freelove. 

David,  the  eldest  son,  known  as  Judge  David  Jones, 
left  two  sons,  neither  of  whom  left  male  descendants. 
The  estate  of  his  eldest  son,  Judge  Thomas  Jones,  passed 
by  entailment  to  the  children  of  his  sister  Arabella,  the 
wife  of  Colonel  Richard  Floyd.  These  children,  in  order 
to  fully  conform  to  the  terms  of  entailment,  added  the 
word  ‘‘Jones”  to  their  name,  and  they  with  their  de- 
scendants have  since  been  known  as  Floyd-Joneses. 

Thomas,  the  second  son  of  Major  Jones,  was  drowned 
in  crossing  the  sound  while  yet  a young  man. 

Thus  it  was  left  to  William  Jones,  the  third  son,  to 
raise  up  a family  to  perpetuate  the  name,  and  he  may 
therefore  be  regarded  as  the  head  of  the  Jones  family. 
Unlike  his  brother  David,  who  devoted  his  time  to  poli- 
tics and  the  law,  William  was  obliged  to  apply  all  his 
energies  to  the  management  of  his  estate  in  order  to  pro- 
vide for  the  wants  of  his  large  family.  In  this  he  was 
blessed  with  success,  and  of  his  sixteen  children  fourteen 
came  to  be  heads  of  families.  His  wife  was  Phoebe 
Jackson,  a daughter  of  Colonel  John  Jackson.  The 
names  of  their  children  were  David,  Samuel,  William, 
Thomas,  Gilbert,  John,  Walter,  Richard,  Hallet,  Free- 
love (married  Benjamin  Birdsall),  Elizabeth  (married 
Jacob  Conkling),  Margaret  (married  Townsend  Hewlett), 
Phoebe  (married  Benjamin  Rowland),  and  Sarah,  who 
married  John  Willis. 

Samuel,  the  second  son,  came  to  be  a distinguished 
lawyer  and  statesman;  his  son  Samuel  was  no  less  dis- 
tinguished as  a lawyer  and  judge;  and  he  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  a son,  Judge  Samuel  T.  Jones. 

John  Jones,  the  sixth  son  of  William  and  father  of  a 
branch  of  the  Jones  family  to  which  this  article  is  spec- 
ially devoted,  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  at  South 
Oyster  Bay,  June  27th  1755.  He  was  married  May  2nd 
1779  to  Hannah  Hewlett,  a daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Hewlett,  of  Cold  Spring.  Purchasing  a farm  of  his 
father-in-law,  he  removed  from  the  south  side  and  settled 
upon  it.  Here  he  built  a new  house  and  pursued  the 
cultivation  of  his  farm.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  chil- 
dren— a family  no  less  distinguished  in  business  and  com- 
mercial pursuits  than  his  brother  Samuel’s  family  was  in 
law  and  politics.  His  children  were:  William  H.,  born 
October  14th  1780,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Hewlett;  John  H.,  born  May  18th  1785,  married  Louretta, 
daughter  of  Divine  Hewlett;  Sarah,  born  July  22nd 


THE  JONES  FAMILY  OF  COLD  SPRING. 


555 


1787,  not  married;  Mary  T.,  born  June  4th  1790,  not 
married;  Walter  R.,  born  April  15th  1793,  not  married 
(named  Walter  Restored,  in  lieu  of  a son  born  in  1783, 
who  was  killed  by  an  accident  when  six  years  of  age); 
Phoebe  J.,  born  December  13th  1795,  married  Charles 
Hewlett;  Elizabeth  H.,  born  December  9th  1798,  mar- 
ried Jacob  Hewlett;  Joshua  T.,  born  July  10th  1801,  not 
married;  Charles  H.,  born  November  6th  1804,  married 
Eliza  G.  Gardiner,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  Gardiner  of 
Eaton’s  Neck,  L.  I. 

At  Cold  Spring  the  father  and  his  sons  William  H., 
John  H.,  and  Walter  R.  established  and  successfully 
carried  on  extensive  woolen  manufactories  and  flouring 
mills.  During  the  prosperous  years  of  the  whaling  bus- 
iness the  sons  fitted  out  from  that  port  eight  vessels  of 
their  own.  Later  in  life  Walter  R.  founded  and  organ- 
ized that  most  successful  institution  the  Atlantic  Mutual 
Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  of  which  he  was  the 
head  through  life.  This  institution  is  now  managed  by 
his  nephew  John  D.  Jones,  a son  of  John  H.  Jones,  and 
is  the  largest  and  wealthiest  of  its  kind  on  the  con- 
tinent. 

CHARLES  H.  JONES.  • 

Charles  Hewlett  Jones,  the  youngest  child  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Hewlett)  Jones,  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  last  resided,  and  where  he  died  on  Monday, 
January  23d  1882,  aged  77  years.  He  was  of  the  third 
generation  from  Major  Jones,  the  founder  of  the  family 
on  the  island.  The  house  in  which  he  was  born  was 
built  by  his  father.  It  is  still  standing,  about  thirty  rods 
southeast  of  his  late  residence,  in  a fair  state  of  preser- 
vation, and  is  now  occupied  by  laborers  on  the  farm. 
Mr.  Jones  took  pleasure  in  showing  his  friends  the  old 
house,  which  awakened  in  him  many  fond  and  tender 
remembrances  of  the  days  of  his  childhood. 

He  married  Eliza  Gracy  Gardiner,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Gardiner,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Gardiner  of 
Gardiner’s  Island,  who  removed  therefrom  about  1793, 
having  purchased  the  whole  of  Eaton’s  Neck  from 
Robert  Watts  of  New  York  city.  The  marriage  took 
place  July  1 2th  1838.  They  established  their  home  on 
the  farm,  and  reared  a family  of  four  children,  viz.: 
John  G.,  born  June  22nd  1839;  Fanny  Hannah,  born 
April  18th  1842;  Phoebe  Jackson,  born  August  20th 
1845;  and  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  July  5th  1854. 

Mr.  Jones  attended  the  district  school  at  Cold  Spring, 
but  was  early  called  from  the  school-room  to  hard  labor 
on  the  farm.  Here  he  spent  his  life.  Although  largely 
engrossed  with  the  cares  of  his  farm,  yet  by  his  indus- 
trious habits  he  found  time  to.  engage  in  other  pursuits. 
During  the  prosperous  days  of  whale  fishing  he  was  inter- 


ested with  his  brothers  in  that  business.  In  1836  he 
commenced  operating  in  brick,  starting  yards  on  the 
east  side  of  Cold  Spring  Harbor.  In  this  business  as  in 
whaling  he  was  connected  with  one  or  more  of  his 
brothers.  His  next  elder  brother,  Joshua  T.,  was  the 
principal  manager  and  owner  of  several  brick  yards  up 
the  Hudson  River,  but  Charles  H.,  after  the  death  of  his 
brother,  had  the  entile  management  of  them.  The  four 
yards  at  Green  Cove  and  Caldwell  on  the  Hudson  lie 
rented,  but  of  the  two  at  Cold  Spring  Harbor  he  retained 
a personal  supervision.  He  had  also  large  amounts  of 
property  in  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  He  was  always 
busy,  and  yet  had  time  to  give  a kindly  greeting  to 
those  he  met,  causing  one  to  feel  that  he  was  in  the 
presence  of  a man  possessing  a noble  and  generous 
heart. 

The  Jones  family  has  generally  been  allied  to  the 
Episcopal  church,  as  was  C.  H.  Jones,  with  all  his  family. 
The  wife  united  with  that  communion  after  her  marriage, 
having  been  brought  up  in  the  Presbyterian  faith. 

Mr.  Tones  was  very  unfortunate  in  the  loss  by  death  of 
nearly  all  his  family,  and  had  left  to  him  in  his  latest 
years  only  his  youngest  child,  Mary  Elizabeth,  who  lived 
in  and  presided  over  his  house,  though  married  Novem- 
ber 5th  1873  to  Oliver  Livingston  Jones,  M.  D.  Dr. 
Jones  was  born  May  4th  1850,  and  is  a son  of  Oliver  H. 
Jones,  a son  of  William  H.,  the  eldest  brother  of  the 
subject  of  our  narrative.  Dr.  Jones  is  a graduate  of 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  receiving  his  degree 
at  21  years  of  age.  Pressure  of  business  in  managing 
his  estate  prevents  his  practicing  in  his  chosen  profes- 
sion. He  is  a grandson  of  the  late  James  Duane  Liv- 
ingston, of  Livingston  Manor.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  have 
a family  of  three  children — Louise  E.,  born  September 
1 8th  1875;  Charles  Herbert,  born  December  18th  1877; 
and  Oliver  Livingston  jr.,  born  April  1st  1880. 

Their  residence,  which  stands  on  a farm  of  700  acres, 
was  erected  in  1855  by  Walter  R.  Jones,  president  of  the 
Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  six  acres  having 
been  set  apart  to  him  by  the  brothers  and  sisters  for  that 
purpose.  The  building  was  made  with  natural  braces, 
the  posts  being  trees  brought  from  the  forest  with  a part 
of  their  branches  remaining.  It  is  one  of  the  largest 
residences  on  Long  Island.  Its  builder  made  his  home 
here  with  his  brother  Charles  H.  until  his  death.  The 
walls  of  the  rooms  are  hung  with  portraits  of  the 
Jones  family.  There  are  also  preserved  here  many  relics 
of  their  ancestors,  among  which  is  an  ancient  punch 
bowl,  with  these  words  inscribed  in  the  bottom: 

“ Heroick  Britons,  Boldly  strive, 

Kenown  of  Old  Maintain ; 

Your  ancient  Fathers  When  alive 
Oft  humbled  France  and  Spain.” 


DAVID  W.  JONES. 

In  the  preceding  biographical  sketch  of  Charles  H. 
Jones,  Samuel  Jones  is  casually  mentioned  as  the  second 
son  in  William  Jones’s  family  of  fourteen,  and  from  this 
point  in  the  family  history  we  trace  the  line  of  descent 
to  a branch  which  has  also  reflected  its  share  of  credit 
on  the  family  name.  Hon.  Samuel  Jones  was  born  at 
West  Neck,  South  Oyster  Bay,  July  26th  1734.  He  was 
a distinguished  lawyer  and  jurist.  Among  the  many 
students  who  studied  in  his  office  and  afterward  rose  to 
distinction  was  Governor  De  Witt  Clinton.  At  the 
dawn  of  the  Revolution  he  was  called  into  the  public 
councils  and  served  his  country’s  cause  with  much  zeal 
and  capacity.  He  was  chosen  in  1788  as  a member  of 
the  convention  in  which  New  York  adopted  the  consti- 
tution of  the  United  States.  The  revising  of  the  stat- 
utes of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1789  was  principally 
executed  by  him.  He  was  also  appointed,  the  same 
year,  to  the  position  of  recorder  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
In  1796,  at  the  request  of  Governor  John  Jay,  he  organ- 
ized the  office  of  comptroller,  and  was  the  first  to  fill 
that  office  in  this  State.  He  was  twice  married.  His 
second  wife  was  Cornelia  Haring,  of  an  ancient  Dutch 
family  of  the  province  of  New  York.  This  marriage  was 
blessed  with  a family  of  seven  sons,  five  of  whom,  Samuel, 
William,  Elbert  Haring,  Thomas,  and  David  S.,  lived  to 
old  age.  Hon.  Samuel  Jones  died  on  the  21st  of  No- 
vember 1819,  at  the -advanced  age  of  85  years,  and  is  by 


common  consent  remembered  as  the  “ father  of  the  New 
York  bar.” 

The  eldest  of  his  five  sons,  afterward  Judge  Samuel 
Jones,  became  quite  as  noted  as  his  father,  and  at  his 
death  left  a son  known  as  Judge  Samuel  T.  Jones. 

William,  the  son  next  younger  than  Samuel,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  October  4th  1771.  By  living 
in  the  country  with  his  aunt  he  acquired  a taste  for 
farming,  and  after  his  marriage  (October  14th  1790)  to 
Kezia  Youngs,  daughter  of  Captain  Daniel  Youngs,  of 
Oyster  Bay,  he  commenced  life  as  a farmer  at  South 
Oyster  Bay.  In  April  1793  he  purchased  and  removed 
to  a farm  on  the  western  border  of  Cold  Spring  Harbor. 
All  of  his  children  except  the  first  were  born  here. 
Their  names  were:  Samuel  W.,  David  W.,  Cornelia 
Haring,  Susan  Maria,  Elbert  W.,  Eleanor,  Hannah 
Amelia  and  Daniel.  All  of  these  grew  up  and  raised 
families  except  Elbert  W.,  who  died  aged  22. 

In  the  year  1800  Wiliam  Jones  erected  a large  and 
commodious  mansion  on  his  estate,  beautifully  situated, 
with  lawn  extending  down  to  the  harbor,  surrounded  by 
ornamental  trees.  The  grounds  are  under  a high  state 
of  cultivation  and  abound  in  fruits  of  all  kinds.  Soon 
after  his  settling  at  Cold  Spring  a military  organization 
was  formed  by  the  young  men  of  the  vicinity,  and  he 
was  appointed  by  the  governor  as  captain.  He  was  after- 
ward raised  to  the  rank  of  major,  by  which  title  he  has 
since  been  known.  In  the  year  1816  he  was  elected  a 


THE  JONES  FAMILY  OF  COLD  SPRING 


557 


member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  was,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  or  two  years,  annually  re-elected  until 
1825,  when  he  positively  declined  renomination.  In  this 
capacity  he  formed  the  lasting  friendship  of  many  of  the 
leading  men  of  his  State.  He  was  a kind  and  charitable 
neighbor  and  an  indulgent  husband  and  father.  He  died 
September  16th  1853  leaving  behind  a name  of  which  his 
descendants  may  well  be  proud. 

The  portrait  which  appears  in  connection  with  this 
sketch  is  that  of  David  W.  Jones,  the  second  son  of 
Major  William  Jones.  He  was  born  May  3d  1793,  on 
the  paternal  estate,  upon  a portion  of  which  he  lived  and 
died.  His  education  was  but  little  more  than  that  afford- 
ed by  the  common  schools  in  the  vicinity.  His  mind 
mind  was  active  and  his  judgment  singularly  sound  and 
reliable.  As  a farmer  he  was  successful;  but  to  succeed 
in  that  vocation  drew  largely  on  his  physical  as  well  as 
mental  powers,  absorbing  all  his  energies.  After  gaining 
a competence  he  lessened  somewhat  his  labors  on  the 
farm  and  employed  some  of  his  time  in  other  directions. 
He  was  a frequent  contributor  to  the  Spirit  of  the  Times , 
under  the  nom  de  plume  of  “Long  Islander.”  He  in- 
herited from  his  father  a great  admiration  for  the 
“blooded  horse.”  Among  the  fruits  of  his  practical 
knowledge  in  that  direction  is  his  contribution  to  Henry 
W.  Herbert’s  great  work  on  the  horse,  which  stands  in  the 
book  precisely  as  he  wrote  it.  All  his  writings  are  so 
comprehensive  and  so  graphically  and  gracefully  written 
that  they  show  a high  order  of  thought  as  well  as  cul- 
ture and  taste. 

He  was  married  on  July  4th  T822  to  Dorothy  Adams, 
who  was  born  in  England,  December  30th  1792. 

His  death  took  place  July  6th  1877,  in  the  85th  year 
of  his  age.  To  his  family  he  has  left,  in  addition  to  a 
handsome  estate,  something  which  is  far  more  valuable, 
and  which  money  cannot  buy — a character  with  no  dis- 
honoring stain,  honest  and  faithful. 

His  family  consisted  of  five  sons,  viz.:  Edmund,  un- 
married; Robert,  who  died,  unmarried,  in  1868;  Charles 
and  Elbert  W.,  who  married  sisters,  Clara  and  Margaret 
Foster  of  Waupun,  Wis.;  and  David,  who  was  married 
August  2nd  1870  to  Julia  W.  Neilson,  a great-grand- 
daughter of  General  Nathaniel  Coles.  David  was  edu- 
cated at  the  common  school  and  at  Jamaica  Academy. 
He  and  his  wife  reside  at  the  old  homestead. 

WALTER  R.  JONES. 

Queens  county  is  closely  connected  and  largely 
identified  with  the  commercial  interests  of  the  State. 
The  names  of  Woolsey,  Sands,  Lawrence,  Townsend, 
King  and  other  prominent  merchants  and  bankers 
will  occur  readily  to  the  memory  of  our  readers.  At 
present  many  of  the  leading  citizens  are  actively  engaged 
in  conducting  various  branches  of  commerce,  and  hence 
are  deeply  interested  in  marine  insurance.  Some  of  the 


most  important  fire  insurance  companies  and  several  of 
the  marine  underwriting  organizations  of  New  York  city 
are  managed  by  them,  and  notably  the  foremost  institu- 
tion of  the  kind  in  the  country,  as  is  generally  conceded, 
the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  New  York. 
As  the  present  chief  officer  of  this  company,  John  D. 
Jones,  and  his  able  predecessor  Walter  R.  Jones,  were 
Long  Islanders  by  birth,  by  long  descent  and  by  early 
associations,  and  were  loyal  in  the  maturity  of  their  pow- 
ers to  their  home  and  the  home  of  their  forefathers,  it 
seems  appropriate  in  thi§  connection  to  include  a brief 
notice  of  them. 

In  Hunt’s  “ Lives  of  Eminent  American  Merchants  ” 
there  is  a memoir  of  Walter  Restored  Jones,  which  will 
explain  and  excuse  the  brevity  of  this  slight  outline  of 
his  career  and  character.  He  was  born  at  Cold  Spring, 
Queens  county,  April  15th  1793;  was  a most  prominent 
member  (in  an  entirely  new  direction)  of  the  old  and 
well  known  Jones  family  of  Queens  county,  particularly 
distinguished  for  the  celebrity  of  four  generations  of  its 
members  at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench  of  the  colony,  city 
and  State  of  New  York,  for  the  period  of  a century  and 
a half.  For  over  a quarter  of  a century  the  late  presi- 
dent of  the  Atlantic  was  a most  intelligent,  active,  ener- 
getic and  successful  man  of  business,  chiefly  in  the  line 
of  marine  insurance,  to  whose  financial  interests  and  their 
beneficial  development  he  devoted  his  remarkable  powers. 
At  an  early  age  he  was  engaged  as  a clerk  in  the  United 
Insurance  Company,  one  of  the  first  institutions  of  the 
kind  for  undertaking  marine  risks.  In  1829  he  was  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Atlantic  Insurance  Company.  This 
company  pursued  a successful  career  and  continued  bus- 
iness to  1842,  when  the  old  stock  company  was  discon- 
tinued and  a new  one  organized  on  the  mutual  plan. 
This  had  become  the  popular  method  of  conducting  in- 
surance, as  being  the  most  secure  and  at  the  same  time 
the  most  advantageous  to  the  assured.  The  present  At- 
lantic Mutual  Insurance  Company  was  then  organized, 
with  Mr.  Jones  as  president.  His  untiring  industry, 
acute  penetration,  high  character  for  probity  and  honor, 
exact  methodical  habits,  promptness  and  punctuality  all 
combined  to  raise  this  association  to  the  highest  rank 
and  insure  its  success  and  reputation.  After  thirteen 
years  of  unexampled  prosperity  the  company  sustained 
an  immense  loss  in  the  death  of  its  chief,  by  apoplexy, 
induced  and  aggravated  by  intense  labor  and  unflagging 
attention  to  the  business  interests  of  the  company  and 
unselfish  neglect  of  the  laws  of  health.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  nephew  John  D.  Jones,  the  present  incum- 
bent, who  has  wisely  and  energetically  carried  out  the 
rules’ of' his’predecessor,  which  had  established  the  char- 
acter of  the  company,  and  in  following  them  ad- 
vanced the  institution  to  a higher  degree  of  repu- 
tation and  greatly  increased  its  strength,  influence  and 
resources. 


558 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


JOHN  D.  JONES. 

John  D.  Jones  was  born  at  Cold  Spring,  Long  Island, 
on  the  15th  of  August  1814.  His  father,  John  H.  Jones, 
was  a son  of  John  Jones,  one  of  the  sons  of  William 
Jones,  a son  of  Thomas  Jones,  the  common  ancestor  of 
the  Queens  county  family  of  that  name.  His  mother 
was  a daughter  of  Judge  Divine  Hewlett,  of  an  old 
Huguenot  family.  The  father  of  Mr.  Jones  was  a man 
remarkable  for  intelligence,  activity  and  versatile  business 
talents,  occupied  with  agriculture,  manufactures,  com- 
merce and  whaling  adventures;  of  high  character  and  en- 
dearing domestic  qualities,  most  hospitable  and  kindiy 
in  disposition,  he  was  all  together  a genuine  man.  In  his 
father’s  house  and  in  management  of  his  farm,  mills  and 
store  the  son  was  early  well  grounded  in  the  fundamental 
principles  of  political  economy  and  their  application  to 
the  practical  conduct  of  affairs.  These  occupations 
constituted  an  admirable  school  for  an  underwriter,  and 
formed  the  basis  of  his  business  education.  The  mother 
of  Mr.  Jones  was  a lady  warmly  beloved  by  her  children, 
and  her  character  as  wife,  mother,  hostess  and  neighbor, 
and  indeed  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  warranted  their  af- 
fectionate devotion  to  her  memory. 

Mr.  Jones,  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years  ^November 
29th  1829),  was  engaged  as  clerk  for  the  Atlantic  Insur- 
ance Company  of  New  York,  and  as  the  youngest  em- 
ploye performed  duties  the  modern  clerk  would  not 
consider  his  proper  work.  In  those  days  the  higher 
officers  thought  differently,  and  considered  that  the 
humblest  offices  were  fitting  work  of  the  young  aspirant, 
who  having  thus  practically  learned  his  calling  from  the 
very  rudiments  would  be  educated  intelligently  to  direct 
and  command  in  the  highest  sphere  he  might  thereafter 
attain.  Josiah  L.  Hale  was  the  presiding  officer  at  this 
date.  He  was  a cultured  gentlemen,  of  much  experience 
in  underwriting,  obtained  by  practice  in  Boston,  Mass.,  of 
which  State  he  was  a native.  He  was  popular  with  the 
merchants  of  New  York,  and  by  his  honor  and  integrity 
gained  their  esteem  and  confidence.  Mr.  Jones  con- 
tinued as  clerk  with  various  advancements  until  July 
1842,  when  the  institution  discontinued  business  as  a 
stock  company  and  was  succeeded,  under  the  same  of- 
ficers and  management,  by  the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  a marine  underwriting  organization,  as  before 
stated,  on  the  mutual  plan.  In  this  company  Mr.  Jones 
continued  his  clerkship  until  July  23d  1842,  when  he  was 
elected  secretary.  He  was  appointed  second  vice-pres- 
ident in  the  same  institution  June  6th  1849  (a  new  office 
then  created  by  reason  of  increase  of  business).  He  was 
appointed  vice-president  February  15th  1854,  and  on  the 
25th  of  April  1855,  after  a novitiate  of  over  25  years  of 
faithful  and  efficient  service,  succeeded  to  the  presidency. 

During  the  years  from  1837  to  1841  Mr.  Jones  was  sec- 
retary of  the  Merchants’  Marine  Insurance  Company,  of 
which  Thomas  Hale,  a brother  of  Josiah  L.  Hale,  was 
the  president.  At  the  same  time,  by  request  of  the  of- 


ficers of  the  Atlantic  Insurance  Company,  he  retained 
charge  of  the  department  of  loss-adjusting  of  that  com- 
pany, and  performed  the  duties  pertaining  thereto;  thus 
continuing  unbroken  his  relation  with  that  and  the  suc- 
ceeding mutual  company  from  the  commencement  of  his 
career  in  1829,  making  a period  of  over  52  years.  Thus 
the  united  business  lives  of  Walter  R.  and  John  D.  Jones 
for  over  half  a century  have  been  devoted  to,  and  really 
embody  the  history  of,  that  institution,  which  it  would 
require  a separate  chapter  to  give. 

There  are  other  kindred  institutions  with  which  Mr. 
Jones  has  long  been  identified  through  his  positions  as 
vice-president  and  president  for  the  past  27  years — 
among  them  the  Board  of  Underwriters,  the  Coast  Wreck- 
ing Company,  the  American  Shipmasters’  Association 
and  the  Life-saving  Benevolent  Association.  In  the 
management  of  each  of  these  he  took  an  active  part. 
These  most  useful  associations,  growing  out  of  and  closely 
allied  to  the  work  of  the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance 
Company,  commended  themselves  especially  to  his  atten- 
tion. Mr.  Jones  is  of  course  a member  of  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce. 

Of  the  domestic  life  and  character  of  Mr.  Jones  we 
do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  speak  as  freely  as  we  could  wish 
in  the  present  brief  sketch  of  his  career  as  a man  of  af- 
fairs. For  this  purpose,  and  to  render  justice  to  his 
purely  business  character  as  well,  a much  fuller  and  more 
elaborate  memoir,  similar  to  that  of  his  uncle,  is  de- 
manded, which  with  that  referred  to  would  comprise  a 
comprehensive  sketch  of  these  two  careers  and  an  out- 
line history  of  the  Atlantic  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

A few  personal  details  are  essential  to  complete  this 
brief  sketch  of  this  representative  Long  Islander.  Mr. 
Jones  married,  on  the  9th  of  June  1852,  at  the 
“ old  home,”  the  residence  of  the  late  General  Henry 
Floyd-Jones,  one  of  the  daughters  of  that  well  known 
senator  and  accomplished  gentleman,  his  third  cousin 
once  removed,  Miss  Josephine  Katharine  Floyd-Jones, 
whose  mother,  a most  estimable  lady  of  old  Scottish 
blood,  was  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  characteristic 
national  virtues.  She  was  a sister  of  Judge  Watts  of 
Louisiana,  and  one  of  her  sons,  whose  career  has  re- 
flected honor  on  his  family  and  name,  is  Colonel  De 
Lancey  Floyd-Jones,  of  the  regular  army  of  the  United 
States. 

The  health  of  Mr.  Jones  was  delicate  for  many  years, 
and  is  preserved  now  by  care  and  attention.  This  in- 
duced him  in  1859  to  take  a European  tour,  and  for  some 
years  past  to  make  annual  visits  to  the  south,  for  benefit 
from  the  climate  and  relaxation  from  the  toils  and  anx- 
ieties of  business.  Hs  has  always  been  accompanied  on 
these  journeys  by  his  devoted  wife. 

His  portrait  was  painted  in  early  life  by  Shepherd 
Mount — a very  pleasing  picture;  and  later,  at  the  request 
of  the  Board  of  Underwriters,  by  Mr.  Huntington,  the 
eminent  artist. 


J.  C.  HEWLETT— Dr.  O.  L.  JONES’S  SUMMER  HOTEL. 


563 


Jacob  C.  Hewlett. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  at  Cold  Spring 
Harbor,  N.  Y.,  September  23d  1800,  and  died  at  the 
same  place,  December  28th  1879. 

His  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  their 
respective  sections.  He  was  the  lineal  descendant  of 
George  Hewlett,  who  was  actively  engaged  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  town  of  Hempstead,  L.  I. 

John  the  youngest  son,  from  whom  Jacob  C.  descended 
and  who  is  designated  as  John  Hewlett  the  first,  settled 
at  Rockaway.  His  wife’s  name  was  Mary  Smith.  They 
had  a son  John,  who  in  the  line  of  descent  is  called  John 
Hewlett  second.  He  married  Hannah  Jackson,  daughter 
of  the  second  Colonel  John  and  Elizabeth  Jackson,  who 
lived  at  Jerusalem,  L.  I.  After  their  marriage  he  bought 
a tract  of  land  located  in  East  Woods  (now  known  as 
Woodbury).  Here  he  settled  and  remained  till  his 
death,  May  5th  1790,  in  the  88th  year  of  his  age. 
His  wife,  Hannah  J.,  died  three  years  previous,  viz. 
March  3d  1787,  in  the  90th  year  of  her  age.  Their  re- 
mains rest  in  a family  burying  ground  situated  on  a nar- 
row projecting  mound  a short  distance  east  of  the  house, 
now  designated  as  Mount  Nebo.  The  place  is  now  in 
the  possession,  and  the  ground  thus  dedicated  is  to  be 
the  burial  place,  of  the  descendants  of  John  Hewlett  the 
second,  who  among  other  children  left  a son  John,  born 
February  17th  1731,  who  is  designated  as  John  Hewlett 
the  third.  He  married  Sarah  Townsend,  a daughter  of 
Ruraoan  and  Mary  Townsend.  John  Hewlett  the  third 
died  April  4th  1812,  and  his  wife  Sarah  died  September 
9th  1808.  They  had  seven  children  married,  including 
Devine,  who  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
Devine  Hewlett  married  Annie  Coles,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Coles  and  Sarah  Cock.  Annie  Coles,  the  mother  of  Ja- 
cob Coles  Hewlett,  was  of  the  7th  generation  from 
Robert  Coles,  who  came  from  England  in  1630  and 
settled  in  Massachusetts,  afterward  going  with  Roger 
Williams  to  Rhode  Island,  where  he  died  about  1651. 
Devine  and  Annie  Hewlett  had  twelve  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Sarah,  who  married  John  Hewlett  for  her  first 
husband  and  Singleton  Mitchell  for  her  second;  Amelia, 
married  Thomas  Coles;  Loretta,  married  John  H.  Jones; 
Elizabeth,  married  Henry  Scudder;  Martha  and  an  in- 
fant son,  died  young;  Hannah,  married  Thomas  Harri- 
son; Phebe,  died  unmarried;  John  D.,  married  first  Jane 
P.  Townsend,  second  Elizabeth  T.  Townsend;  William, 
unmarried;  Margaret  Anne,  married  Edward  K.  Bryar; 
Jacob  C.  Hewlett,  married  Elizabeth  Jones.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Jones,  and  was  born 
December  9th  1798,  and  died  at  Cold  Spring  Harbor 
January  13th  1869. 

The  children  of  Jacob  C.  Hewlett  were:  Mary  E.,  who 
married  Townsend  Jones;  John  D.,  who  married  Harri- 
ette  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Harrison,  for  his  first, 
and  Emma  E.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Maria  L.  Labagh, 
for  his  second  wife;  Sarah,  who  married  William  E. 
Jones;  Walter  R.,  who  married  Henrietta  Muhl;  and 
Phebe  A.,  who  married  John  E.  Chase. 


The  children  of  Walter  R.  Hewlett  now  living  are 
Walter  J.,  Phebe  E.,  Louis,  Robert,  and  Henrietta  A. 

The  children  of  Townsend  Jones  and  Mary  E.  Hew- 
lett are  Townsend,  who  married  Katharine  S.  Howard, 
and  Joshua  Thomas. 

The  children  of  William  E.  Jones  and  Sarah  Hewlett 
are  Sarah  E.,  Florence  L.,  and  William  E. 


LAURELTON. 

[By  h.  h.  Frost.] 

Laurelton  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  Cold  Spring 
Harbor,  near  the  sound,  and  is  thirty  miles  east  of  New 
York  city. 

The  property  upon  which  Laurelton  Hall  is  built 
formerly  belonged  to  the  late  Oliver  H.  Jones,  of  New 
York  city,  who  was  president  of  the  New  York  Fire 
Insurance  Company  for  thirty  years.  Twenty-five  years 
ago  Mr.  Jones  erected  a spacious  mansion  upon  the  site 
occupied  by  the  present  mammoth  structure.  It  was  his 
custom  to  bring  his  family  to  this  secluded  and  pictur- 
esque spot  for  summer  recreation,  remaining  until  late  in 
the  season,  the  scenery  being  particularly  attractive  and 
the  foliage  charmingly  beautiful  when  tinged  with  the 
various  hues  which  follow  October  frosts. 

In  the  distribution  of  the  large  estate  of  his  father  Dr. 
Oliver  L.  Jones  became  owner  of  this  choice  bit  of  real 
property.  This  occurred  in  1871,  at  the  time  the  doctor 
graduated.  This  young  man  possessed  to  a commenda- 
ble degree  a spirit  of  enterprise,  which  he  inherited  from 
his  public  spirited  father,  and  which  directed  his  atten- 
tion to  the  project  of  establishing  a summer  resort  upon 
this  delightful  and  attractive  peninsula,  which  subse- 
quently was  named  Laurelton.  In  November  1872 
ground  was  broken  for  the  erection  of  the  building  that 
now  adorns  the  locality.  In  June  of  the  following  year 
the  hall  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  guests. 

The  edifice  is  150  feet  long,  50  feet  wide  and  four 
stories  high,  with  mansard  roof.  A fine  basement  and 
cellar  are  under  the  entire  building;  in  the  former  of 
which  are  the  laundry  and  kitchen,  thoroughly  equipped 
with  the  best  approved  of  modern  appliances.  The 
purest  of  spring  water  is  led  through  the  house,  and 
every  portion  of  the  large  structure  is  supplied  with  gas, 
which  is  manufactured  in  an  adjacent  building  erected 
for  that  purpose.  One  hundred  sleeping  rooms  are  con- 
veniently and  pleasantly  arranged  upon  the  upper  floors, 
with  broad  corridors  running  between  them,  affording 
perfect  ventilation  to  each  apartment;  while  abundant 
light  is  secured,  and  also  a magnificent  view  of  the  broad 
bay,  a long  stretch  of  the  sound  just  beyond,  and  near 
by  the  sloping  hills  and  quiet  valleys  which  very  nearly 
surround  this  delightful  home. 

As  the  hall  stands  upon  an  elevation,  which  almost 
constitutes  a peninsula,  the  facilities  for  perfect  drainage 
are  not  surpassed  by  those  of  any  similar  summer  resort 
anywhere,  for  the  bold  shore  and  deep  water  of  the  bay 
enable  the  sewers  to  discharge  their  contents  beyond 


564 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


recall.  The  healthfulness  of  this  location  is  one  of  its 
particular  characteristics,  and  is  combined  with  rare  and 
exquisite  beauty  of  natural  scenery,  with  which  the  eye 
never  wearies.  A generation  ago  the  perfect  healthful- 
ness of  this  immediate  neighborhood  had  been  widely 
published  and  commented  upon  in  the  metropolis,  and 
thus  it  was  that  the  late  lamented  Dr.  James  R.  Wood, 
the  eminent  surgeon  of  New  York  city — with  whom  Dr. 
O.  L.  Jones  pursued  his  medical  studies — selected  here 
the  site  of  his  beautiful  summer  residence,  which  he  pur- 
chased of  the  former  owner  of  Laurelton,  and  which  is 
but  a few  hundred  feet  from  the  hall.  Dr.  Thomas  F. 
Cock,  also  of  New  York  city,  owns,  and  occupies  from 
May  until  November  each  year,  a handsome  residence 
near  by,  and  during  the  season  of  1881  Louis  Bell,  who 
married  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Wood,  built  a charming 
“ box,”  which  is  fittingly  alluded  to  as  the  central  gem 
in  the  diadem  that  crowns  this  scene  of  rural  beauty. 

Laurelton  enjoyed  marvelous  prosperity  so  long  as 
direct  traveling  facilities  were  afforded  it,  but  when  the 
steamboat,  from  lack  of  support  from  other  sources, 
ceased  to  run,  and  the  patrons  of  the  house  were  com- 
pelled to  depend  solely  upon  the  railroad,  the  nearest 
station  of  which  was  three  miles  distant,  the  number  of 
visitors  decreased  to  some  extent;  yet  it  is  claimed  that 
a wealthier  and  more  select  class  abundantly  compen- 
sates for  any  deficiency  in  this  respect. 

From  the  upper  stories  of  the  house  the  Connecticut 
shore  is  plainly  visible,  the  eye  taking  in  at  a glance  the 
entire  country  from  Rye  Beach  on  the  west  to  and  in- 
cluding Bridgeport  on  the  east.  The  pretty  New  Eng- 
land villages  reflect  the  morning  sun,  and  the  blue  hills 
rise  grandly  in  the  background.  Lloyd’s  Neck,  a bold 
promontory  bordering  the  sound,  is  but  a short  distance 
from  Laurelton,  and,  although  wholly  separated  from  it 
by  water,  is  a portion  of  Queens  county.  Upon  Lloyd’s 
Neck  is  Fort  Hill,  a relic  of  Revolutionary  days,  which 
was  the  center  of  dark,  traitorous,  and  murderous  deeds, 
that  ought  to  bring  regretful  feeling  to  every  patriotic 
heart.  English  vessels  were  crusing  in  the  sound,  and 
those  who  should  have  stood  firmly  by  their  country  in 
her  imminent  peril  in  many  instances  gave  aid  and  com- 
fort to  the  enemy,  supplying  them  with  provisions  by 
raiding  the  farm  yards  of  the  patriots  at  night  in  search 
of  stock  and  poultry,  which  they  exchanged  for  British 
gold. 

Not  far  from  Laurelton,  on  the  west  side  of  the  harbor 
is  Cooper’s  Bluff,  which  has  been  visited  by  the  curious 
for  the  purpose  of  viewing  a remarkable  depression  in 
the  earth  at  this  point.  The  height  of  the  bluff  above 
tide-water  is  probably  ninety  feet,  and  this  deep  cavity 
is  only  a short  distance  inland.  It  is  formed  like  an  in- 
verted cone,  with  surprising  regularity  of  Qiitline.  At 
the  surface  of  the  ground  this  vast  identation,  which  is 
sixty  feet  deep,  occupies  an  area  of  six  acres,  but  at  the 
bottom  it  comes  to  a point.  Nothing  appears  to  prove 
the  wonder  the  result  of  human  agency.  Tradition 
connects  it  with  the  aborigines  of  the  locality.  This 
section  of  the  island  was  occupied  before  the  whites 


came  by  the  Matinecock  tribe  of  Indians.  They  were 
engaged  in  many  conflicts  with  the  Pequots  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  every  autumn  invaded  the  harbors  and  bays  of 
the  north  shore  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  game  and 
corn,  and  wives  too  from  among  the  many  comely  mai- 
dens that  belonged  to  this  lordly  tribe.  But  the  race  is 
gone;  the  name  of  the  once  powerful  tribe  dwelling  here 
would  have  been  forgotten  long  ago  had  not  the  Society 
of  Friends  adopted  it  in  locating  their  meeting-house 
near  Glen  Cove.  Hundreds  of  this  brave  tribe  died, 
man  by  man,  on  the  ground  they  loved,  before  the  wig- 
wams they  guarded,  and  are  now  part  and  parcel  of  the 
earth  under  our  ver-y  feet.  The  ferocious  wolves  of  the 
tribe  across  the  sound  were  ever  preying  upon  their 
substance.  The  last  battle  of  these  two  tribes  is  said  to 
have  occurred  on  the  extreme  northern  point  of  Lloyd’s 
Neck.  The  Matinecock  tribe  was  driven  inland  by  the 
hordes  of  Pequots.  That  night  the  gallant  defenders  of 
their  homes  and  hunting  grounds  retreated  to  Cooper’s 
Bluff,  there  to  await  succor,  and  the  invaders,  with  the 
dawn,  rushed  into  an  empty  fortification  half  a mile 
south  of  Cold  Spring  Harbor.  During  the  night  the 
valiant  Long  Island  braves,  who  were  intrenched  near 
Laurelton,  were  reinforced  from  the  section  of  country 
now  comprising  Oyster  Bay,  Locust  Valley  and  Glen 
Cove,  and  the  approach  of  the  enemy  was  awaited  with 
confidence.  At  early  dawn  they  came,  but  when  hosts 
of  young  warriors  emerged  from  the  cover  the  huge  ex- 
cavation afforded  them  they  precipitately  fled.  Many 
were  slain,  and  the  few  who  reached  their  canoes  and 
subsequently  their  homes  conveyed  the  intelligence  that 
the  Matinecocks  “ outnumbered  the  stars,”  which  re- 
sulted in  the  cessation  of  hostilities  and  depredations  by 
the  Pequots.  It  is  recorded  somewhere  that  these  island 
Indians  were  never  conquered,  and  it  is  said  they  left  a 
purer  name  for  good  faith  and  friendship  than  any  other 
tribe  of  America. 

We  were  at  Laurelton  soon  after  the  place  was  for- 
mally opened  to  the  public.  A sweet  faced  little  girl, 
whom  we  afterward  knew  to  be  the  eldest  child  of  the 
present  owner  of  Laurelton,  was  playing  upon  the  beach, 
tossing  the  smooth  pebbles  and  pretty  shells  in  the  water; 
and  later  in  the  day  a company  of  young  men  and 
maidens,  who  were  the  guests  of  the  hall,  were  crushing 
the  yielding  sand  under  their  feet  as  they  promenaded 
hither  and  yon.  We  contrasted  these  scenes  with  those 
enacted  there  centuries  ago,  and  in  our  reverie  the  fol- 
lowing words,  from  another  writer,  came  to  mind: 

“Little  thought  the  gay  maidens  and  gallant  beaux 
gave  to  the  bones  of  the  mighty  dead  that  lay  moulder- 
ing everywhere  about  them.  How  lightly  rang  the  song, 
the  laugh,  the  clear  glad  carol  of  youth  in  the  serene 
sunshine;  and  yet  how  solemnly,  in  what  fearful  calm- 
ness, slept  a thousand  men  under  the  grass.  The  same 
air  once  rang  to  the  wail  of  Indian  maidens,  who  sat  by 
the  bodies  of  the  valiant  dead.  The  same  sunshine  fell 
on  horrible  wounds,  and  teeth  clenched  in  the  last  long 
gasp,  and  cold  foreheads  moist  with  the  death  dew.  The 
same  holy  twilight  that  mantled  us  after  a while,  as  with 
an  atmosphere  of  love,  shrouded  the  sleep  of  the  Matine- 
cock, as  his  grasp  relaxed  on  the  throat  of  his  foe,  his 


■ • 


LAUf 

WEST  SIDE  COLD  3PRI 


CLTON. 

HARBOR,  QUEENS  CO.,L.I. 


LAURELTON — BENJAMIN  S.  POWELL. 


brown  cheek  was  laid  quietly  on  the  green  sward,  and  he 
sank  to  rest  under  the  stars.  They  have  slept  well  thus 
far,  through  centuries.  Thrones  have  crumbled.  The 
thunder  of  the  invaders’  cannon  shook  these  hills  to 
their  foundation.  The  meteor-like  lives  of  men  have 
dazzled  the  world  with  their  radiance  while  they  red- 
dened it  with  blood.  More  than  ten  generations  have 
been  born  and  returned  to  the  earth  from  which  they 
sprang,  and  the  sleep  of  the  stalwart  brave  is  as  deep 
as  when  the  dark-eyed  girls  sang  sadly  over  him, 
and  his  dust  was  mingled  with  the  dust  of  his  foe.  Four 
hundred  years  ago!  What  right  had  we  to  be  sitting 
within  sound  of  those  glad  voices  down  by  the  shore, 
where  the  waves  rippled  so  musically,  and  think  of  the 
forgotten  centuries?  What  right  had  we  to  summon 
ghosts  of  the  grim  warriors  to  frighten  the  maidens  of 
quiet  later  years?  But  they  were  there.  Their  giant 
forms  stalked  through  the  wooded  uplands,  and  we  gazed 
on  their  plumes  and  saw  their  dark  eyes  flash  in  the 
gloom  of  the  coming  evening.  Four  hundred  years  ago, 
fair  child  of  the  white  man,  on  the  site  of  Laurelton 
Hall,  sat  an  Indian  girl,  holding  in  her  arms  the  head  of 
her  dying  lover.  He  is  buried  under  the  green  turf  of 
your  croquet  ground.” 

The  facilities  of  travel  afforded  the  patrons  of  Laurel- 
ton  are  scarcely  satisfactory,  although  with  a shorter 
route,  by  a road  recently  opened  to  the  station,  the  time 
from  the  city,  in  the  summer  at  least,  is  only  one  hour 
and  a half — not  so  tedious  a trip,  all  things  considered, 
as  at  first  appears.  All  visitors  are  well  rewarded  for 
any  loss  of  time  incurred,  if  only  for  one  day  to  breathe 
the  delicious  air  of  Laurelton,  and  in  connection  with 
this  enjoyment  they  are  permitted  to  look  upon  a land- 
scape of  surpassing  beauty.  Crest  upon  crest  of  the  sur- 
rounding hills  rise  in  every  direction  save  to  the  north, 
and  the  soft  and  ever  varying  shadows  which  pass  over 
their  verdant  slopes  and  wooded  ravines,  and  that 
peculiar  atmosphere  which  gives  so  great  a range  of 
vision,  in  so  picture-like  a scope,  impart  that  serenity, 
that  softness  and  beauty,  which  are  as  enchanting  as 
indescribable. 


SOUTH  OYSTER  BAY. 

South  Oyster  Bay  is  a continuous  line  of  residences  on 
the  south  road  for  about  three  miles,  which  is  the  breadth 
of  the  town  on  this  side  of  the  island.  There  are  a num- 
ber of  very  fine  places  here,  occupied  principally  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Jones  family.  This  place  is  noted  for  its 
beautiful  and  productive  trout  ponds. 


Benjamin  S.  Powell. 

Benjamin  Seaman  Powell  was  born  April  23d  1824, 
on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  South  Oyster  Bay,  that  had 
been  in  the  possession  of  his  forefathers  for  several  gen- 
erations. His  father,  Walter  Powell,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 6th  1792  and  died  January  30th  1853.  The  father 
of  the  last  named  was  Benjamin  Powell,  and  after  him 
our  subject  was  named.  Mrs.  Walter  Powell  was  Maria, 


569 


daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Seaman,  of  Jerusalem,  in 
the  town  of  Hempstead.  She  was  born  October  6th 
1796,  and  died  May  30th  1879,  in  the  83d  year  of  her 
age. 

They  had  two  children,  Mary  Alice,  born  January 
27th  1822,  and  Benjamin  Seaman,  whose  portrait  appears 
above.  This  brother  and  sister  have  always  remained 
on  the  old  home  farm,  with  the  exception  of  about  a 
year’s  time,  when  Benjamin,  then  near  the  age  of  20, 
was  a clerk  in  the  store  of  S.  S.  & W.  D.  Jones  & Co.,  in 
Jerusalem  South,  now  called  Seaford.  In  return  for 
the  care  they  received  from  their  parents  in  childhood 
they  have  enjoyed  the  privilege  and  nobly  performed  the 
duty  of  tenderly  caring  for  them  in  their  declining  years, 
and  administering  that  comfort  which  is  such  a blessing 
when  parents  reach  their  second  childhood  and  receive 
back  the  gentle  attentions  they  had  lavished  so  many 
years  before.  Since  the  death  of  the  father  and  mother 
they  have  still  remained  in  the  home  of  their  childhood, 
neither  of  them  ever  having  been  married.  Although 
not  active  members  of  the  church  organization,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Powell  family  have  always  been  nearer  to  the 
Friends’  way  of  thinking  in  religious  matters  than  to  any 
other.  In  politics  Mr.  Powell  has  been  a firm,  consistent 
Republican  ever  since  the  campaign  of  i860.  He  has  been 
to  the  polls  and  voted  when  he  was  the  only  Republican 
in  all  his  section  of  the  town.  He  has  never  sought  or 
accepted  any  political  or  other  public  place.  His  life  is 
a fine  example  of  the  thrift,  prosperity  and  integrity  of 
an  upright  farmer,  who  has  attended  to  his  own  business 
and  done  it  well. 


57° 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


FORT  NECK. 

Fort  Neck  was  bought  from  the  Marsapeague  Indians 
in  1693,  for  ^15  current  silver  money,  by  Thomas  Town- 
send, who  gave  the  same  to  his  son-in-law  Major  Thomas 
Jones  and  his  daughter  Freelove,  the  wife  of  Jones,  on 
the  29th  of  June  1695.  This  neck  was  the  principal 
dwelling  place  of  the  Marsapeague  Indians.  There  were 
two  Indian  forts  here,  for  which  reason  the  English  gave 
it  the  name  Fort  Neck.  The  forts  were  nearly  quadran- 
gular. The  breastwork  or  parapet  of  the  first  is  of 
earth;  a ditch  or  moat  extended  around  the  outside,  ap- 
pearing to  have  been  about  six  feet  wide.  The  other 
fort,  situated  at  the  most  southern  point  of  the  salt 
meadow,  adjoining  the  bay,  consisted  of  palisades  set  in 
the  meadow.  The  tide  has  worn  away  the  meadow  where 
it  stood,  and  it  is  now  covered  with  water.  Between  the 
beach  and  the  meadows  are  the  Squaw  Islands.  Tradi- 
tion says  that  the  Indians  erected  these  forts  a long  time 
ago  to  protect  themselves  from  their  enemies,  and  in 
times  of  battle  the  squaws  and  papooses  were  sent  over 
to  these  islands.  Thomas  Jones  came  to  Rhode  Island 
from  Strabane,  Ireland,  in  1692.  He  very  soon  came  to 
Oyster  Bay,  married  and  settled  on  his  new  estate.  Here 
he  built  “ the  old  brick  house  ” from  bricks  burned  on 
his  own  land.  This  old  relic,  the  subject  of  many  le- 
gends, was  taken  down  in  1837  to  make  way  for  more 
modern'  improvements,  after  standing  more  than  140 
years.  This  part  of  the  estate  is  called  Massapequa,  and 
is  now  occupied  by 

William  Floyd-Jones. 

William  Floyd-Jones,  second  son  of  General  Thomas 
Floyd-Jones,  and  at  the  present  time  the  oldest  living 
member  of  the  Floyd-Jones  family,  was  born  March  10th 
1815,  at  the  family  mansion  on  Fort  Neck,  South  Oyster 
Bay.  Preferring  a commercial  to  a professional  career, 
he  left  school  in  1831  and  entered  the  old  and  highly 
respected  wholesale  hardware  house  of  Tredwell,  Kis- 
sam  & Co.,  of  New  York.  He  became  a partner  therein 
in  1837,  upon  the  retirement  of  Seabury  Tredwell.  He 
continued  in  the  business,  prosecuting  it  with  close  ap- 
plication and  energy,  always  in  association  with  his  friend 
and  fellow  clerk  William  Bryce.  In  1855,  having  by  the 
death  of  his  father  become  the  owner  by  inheritance  of 
a large  and  valuable  estate  at  South  Oyster  Bay,  he  re- 
tired from  business,  and,  making  that  his  future  residence, 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  its  care  and  cultivation. 
For  a time  he  was  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  thorough- 
bred cattle,  with  what  success  the  premium  lists  of  the 
Queens  County  Agricultural  Society  bear  honorable 
record.  One  of  the  greatest  attractions  of  his  country 
home  was  in  the  opportunities  it  afforded  for  his  two  favor- 
ite amusements — casting  the  fly  for  trout  in  the  spring, 
and  duck  hunting  in  the  fall.  As  to  the  former — being  the 
fortunate  owner  of  Massapequa  Lake,  a beautiful  sheet 
of  water  near  his  residence,  covering  about  60  acres  and 
known  by  all  fishermen  as  probably  the  finest  trout  pre- 


serve in  the  State,  and  being  also  the  owner  of  Massape- 
qua River,  flowing  for  about  four  miles  through  his  prop- 
erty— he  possessed  unusual  facilities  for  its  enjoyment. 
As  for  quail  shooting,  his  large  domain  furnished  an 
ample  field  for  the  pleasure  sought  in  that  direction. 

For  political  position  he  has  had  no  taste  whatever,  there- 
in differing  widely  from  his  elder  brother  David  R.  Floyd- 
Jones,  who  entered  political  life  almost  immediately  after 
leaving  college  and  continued  more  or  less  in  connection 
with  State  affairs  until  his  death,  in  1871,  having  occupied 
all  the  prominent  positions  from  that  of  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor down;  and  differing  also  from  his  younger  brother 
Elbert  Floyd-Jones,  who  for  several  years  creditably 
represented  the  first  Assembly  district  of  Queens  county  in 
the  State  Legislature.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  though 
often  solicited,  never  under  any  circumstances  would 
permit  his  name  to  be  used  in  connection  with  any  elect- 
ive political  position,  prefering  independence  of  thought, 
speech  and  action  to  the  trammels  and  obligations  with 
which  such  positions  are  necessarily  encumbered. 

He  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  energetic  movers 
in  the  construction  of  the  South  Side  Railroad  of  Long 
Island.  While  to  Charles  Fox,  its  president,  the  great 
honor  of  its  construction  under  the  adverse  circumstan- 
ces of  limited  means  and  the  bitterest  opposition  is  most- 
ly due,  yet  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  for  several  years 
its  vice-president,  was  his  confidential  friend,  adviser 
and  co-worker  for  the  successful  completion  of  this  en- 
terprise, so  much  needed  and  so  important  to  the  south 
side  of  Long  Island. 

In  church  matters  Mr.  Floyd-Jones  took  an  active 
and  leading  interest,  having  always  since  1855  been 
either  warden  or  vestryman  of  Grace  Church,  South 
Oyster  Bay.  He  was  also  among  the  earliest  movers  in 
the  effort  to  withdraw  Long  Island  from  the  old  diocese  of 
New  York,  and  erect  it  into  a separate  diocese,  which 
being  accomplished,  every  diocesan  convention  since  that 
time  has  found  him  numbered  among  the  attending  del- 
egates, and  for  the  last  six  years  he  has  been  annually 
elected  a member  of  the  standing  committee.  This,  as 
is  known  among  churchmen,  is  the  highest  and  most 
honorable  position  in  church  organization  to  which  a 
layman  can  attain,  as  the  standing  committee  is  canon- 
ically the  bishop’s  adviser,  and  in  his  absence  becomes 
the  episcopal  authority  of  the  diocese. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Floyd-Jones  is  of  full 
medium  height,  fair  complexion  and  good  physique; 
he  has  robust  health,  being  almost  a stranger  to  ailments 
of  any  kind. 

In  1847  he  married  Caroline  A.,  daughter  of  the  late 
Robert  Blackwell,  a prominent  merchant  of  New  York, 
and  a granddaughter  of  James  Blackwell,  formerly 
owner  of  Blackwell’s  Island,  which  takes  its  name  from 
him.  Their  family  consists  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  the  hand  of  Death  having  up  to  this  time 
been  mercifully  withheld  from  this  family  circle;  and, 
although  now  somewhat  scattered,  all  still  bear  with  them 
the  most  charming  memories  of  and  cling  with  the  fond- 
est affection  to  “ Massapequa,”  their  happy  island  home. 


573 


MAJOR  JOHN  BIRDSALL. 


Among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  town  of  Oyster 
Bay  was  Nathaniel  Birdsall,  who,  judging  from  the  nu- 
merous conveyances  made  by  him,  was  one  of  the  largest 
landholders  in  the  young  settlement.  After  residing  for 
a time  at  Oyster  Bay,  on  the  north  side  of  the  island,  he 
moved  to  the  south  side  in  the  neighborhood  of  Jeru- 
salem, where  he  had  purchased,  in  connection  with  a few 


moved  to  Brooklyn  (where  John  was  educated),  and  from 
Brooklyn  he  moved  to  Glen  Cove. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  John,  then 
scarcely  having  attained  his  majority,  was  commis- 
sioned as  lieutenant  in  the  13th  regiment  of  New  York 
volunteer  cavalry,  and  was  promoted  to  a captaincy  on 
entering  upon  service  in  the  field.  The  regiment  was 


others,  a large  tract  of  land,  a portion  of  which  he  and 
his  descendants  lived  upon  for  several  generations,  and 
where  was  born  Seaman  Birdsall,  grandfather  of  Major 
John  Birdsall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Seaman  Bird- 
sall with  his  family  removed  from  Jerusalem  to  Flatbush, 
Kings  county,  when  his  son  James  Birdsall,  the  father  of 
John,  was  about  15  years  old.  James  Birdsall  married 
Elizabeth  Jackson  and  lived  at  Flatbush,  where  his  son 
Major  Birdsall  was  born.  James  Birdsall  afterward 


ordered  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  did  very  active  work 
in  guarding  the  approaches  to  the  capital,  as  well  as 
making  effectual  sallies  within  the  rebel  lines  in  Virginia 
and  along  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In  1864  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  major.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was,  without  any  solicitation  and  upon  the  recommenda- 
tion of  General  Grant,  appointed  by  President  Johnson 
captain  of  cavalry  in  the  regular  army.  Having  seen 
enough  of  military  life  he  declined  the  appointment,  and 


574 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


soon  after  entered  on  the  mercantile  business,  which  he 
prosecuted  for  some  time.  It  was  during  this  period, 
in  1868,  that  he  was  married  to  Annie,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Frost.  Afterward  he  held  several  responsible 
positions  in  the  customs  service,  from  which  he  resign- 
ed in  1879. 

During  that  year  his  name  was  brought  before  the 
public  as  the  probable  Republican  candidate  for  the 
office  of  State  senator,  which  nomination  he  received. 
The  comments  of  the  press  during  the  campaign  that 
followed,  after  all  necessary  allowance  is  made  for  parti- 
san bias,  constitute  a tribute  to  the  substantial  and  agree- 
able qualities  of  Major  Birdsall  of  which  any  man  might 
be  proud.  The  New  York  Times  said:  “Major  John 
Birdsall,  the  Republican  candidate  in  the  first  Senate  dis- 
trict, comes  from  one  of  the  oldest  Long  Island  families, 
his  ancestors  having  occupied  property  in  Oyster  Bay  for 
about  230  years.  In  the  war  he  made  a magnificent 
record  for  so  young  a man,  becoming,  though  barely  of 
age,  a major  of  cavalry,  and  at  the  end  of  the  war  he  was 
appointed  a captain  of  cavalry  in  the  regular  army,  for 
specially  gallant  services,  but  this  he  declined.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  politics  of 
Queens  county,  generally  being  the  representative  of  his 
county  in  State  conventions.  Major  Birdsall  is  a man 
of  fine  physique,  generous  to  a fault,  and  exceed- 
ingly popular.” 

The  Flushing  Times , then  occupying  a neutral  posi- 
tion in  politics,  spoke  as  follows:  “ While  an  active 
and  earnest  Republican,  yet  no  one  is  more  generally 
popular  among  the  Democrats — his  frank  manners, 
generosity,  and  never-failing  readiness  to  assist  others 
making  friends  in  all  quarters.  He  was  far  from  seek- 
ing this  nomination;  in  fact  it  was  forced  upon  him 
by  the  weight  of  general  public  opinion.”  An  opposition 
journal  was  compelled  to  say:  “In  selecting  Major 
John  Birdsall  for  their  senatorial  nominee  the  Republi- 
cans and  independent  Democrats  have  chosen  a gentle- 
man of  immense  political  strength.  Personally  unassail- 
able, his  only  drawback  is  his  party  proclivities.” 

Major  Birdsall  was  elected  by  a very  large  majority. 
As  senator  he  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  col- 
leagues; and  his  course  as  a legislator  was  such  as  to  be 
highly  satisfactory  to  his  constituents. 

He  was  a member  of  the  county  committee  a number 
of  years,  as  well  as  of  the  State  committee.  He  has  been  a 
delegate  to  numerous  State  conventions,  and  has  always 
exercised  a marked  influence  in  them.  He  was  also  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention  held  at  Chicago  that 
nominated  the  lamented  Garfield,  and  was  active  in 
bringing  about  the  final  result  in  that  body. 


THE  FIRST  LAND  PURCHASE. 

The  following  deed  for  land  in  Oyster  Bay,  older 
than  any  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  history  of  this 
town,  was  discovered  by  William  S.  Pelletreau,  of  South- 
ampton, Suffolk  county,  and  furnished  by  him  for  publi- 
cation after  our  account  of  early  real  estate  transactions 
in  the  town  was  printed: 

“Know  all  men  whom  this  p’snt  writeing  may  concearne 
that  I,  James  ffarrett,  gent.,  Deputy  to  the  right  Honor- 
able the  Earle  of  Starelinge,  doe  by  these  p’sents,  in  the 
name  and  behalfe  of  the  said  Earle,  and-  in  my  own 
name  as  his  deputy  as  it  doth  or  may  any  way  concerne 
myselfe,  give  and  graunt  free  leave  and  liberty  unto 
Mathew  Sinderland,  Seaman  at  Boston  in  New  England, 
to  possesse  and  ymprove  and  enjoy  two  little  necks  of 
Land,  the  one  uppon  the  East  side  of  Oyster  Bay  Har- 
bour, and  the  other  uppon  the  west  side  of  the  said  Har- 
bour, w’ch  two  necks,  and  every  part  of  them,  and  all 
belonging  thereunto  or  that  the  aforesaid  two  necks  may 
afford,  to  remain  unto  the  said  Mathew  Sinderland,  his 
heires  and  assignes  for  now  and  ever,  with  full  power  to 
the  said  Mathew  to  dispose  thereof  at  his  own  pleasure. 
But,  forasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  our  Royall  King  to 
grant  a patent  of  Long  Island  to  the  said  Earle,  in  con- 
sideration thereof  it  is  agreed  upon  that  the  said  Mathew 
Sinderland  shall  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  yearely  to  the 
said  Earle  or  his  deputy  tenn  shillings  lawfull  money  of 
England,  and  the  first  payment  to  bee  and  beginn  at  our 
Lady  day  next  ensuinge,  in  the  year  of  God  one  thous- 
and six  hundred  and  fforty  yeares,  and  so  to  continue. 
And  it  shall  bee  lawfull  for  the  said  Mathew  to  com- 
pound and  agree  with  the  Indians  that  now  have  the  pos- 
session of  the  said  necks  for  theire  consent  and  good  will. 

“In  witness  I have  sett  my  hand  and  seale  this  day, 
beinge  18th  of  June  1639. 

“Robert  Turner.  James  Farrett.” 

“ Whereas  Mathew  Sinderland,  seaman,  hath  apporcon 
of  Land  at  Oyster  Bay  on  Long  Island  from  one  James 
Farrett,  in  the  name  and  behalfe  of  the  Earle  of  Stare- 
linge, and  the  said  Mathew  is  to  pay  for  the  said  propor- 
tion tenn  shillings  a yeare  to  the  said  Earle  or  his  dep- 
uty, Know  you  that  I James  ffarrett  to  have  received 
from  the  said  Mathew  twenty  shillings,  and  that  for  the 
rent  of  the  said  land  for  the  first  yeare  of  his  possession, 
beinge  from  thirty-nyne  unto  the  fortieth,  w’ch  I reseaved 
and  graunt  the  receipt  thereof. 

“ Witness  my  hand  the  4th  of  September  1639. 

“James  Farrett, 

“ Recorded  the  1st  of  March  1660,  by  me. 

“Will:  Wells,  Recorder.” 


OLIVER  CHARLICK. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  Long  Island, 
near  Hempstead,  Queens  county,  in  the  year  1813.  His 
parents  gave  him  a good  common  school  education,  and 
being  naturally  ambitious  he  profited  to  the  full  extent  of 
his  opportunities.  At  the  age  of  15  he  entered  as 
clerk  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Gardiner  & Howell, 
New  York,  and  at  19  he  had  risen  to  be  chief  clerk  of  an 
importing  house  in  Broad  street.  His  employers,  sus- 
taining heavy  losses,  became  bankrupt;  and  so  high  was 
young  Charlick  held  in  the  estimation  of  the  mercantile 
community  for  integrity  and  ability  that  at  this  early  age 
he  was  selected  by  the  creditors  (among  whom  were 
Victor  Bardalow,  E.  H.  Nicoll  and  Scribner  & Hick- 
cock,  leading  merchants)  to  close  out  the  business  and 
divide  the  assets. 

After  this  he  went  into  business  on  his  own  account 
and  prospered  until  the  great  fire  of  1835,  which  devas- 
tated the  first  ward,  then  the  business  center  of  New 
York,  almost  ruined  him.  But  he  rose  superior  to  dis- 
aster. Opening  a grocery  and  ship  chandlery  he  engaged 
in  the  supplying  of  coastwise  and  seagoing  vessels  with 
stores.  He  gave  the  closest  attention  to  business,  being 
personally  on  hand  early  and  late  to  meet  the  wants  of 
his  customers.  By  this  means  he  prospered  abundantly 
for  those  days,  and  soon  became  recognized  as  a rising 
and  successful  merchant. 

In  1843,  although  still  young,  he  was  drawn  into  poli- 
tics, being  nominated  as  an  independent  candidate  for 


assistant  alderman  of  the  first  ward  and  elected.  Subse- 
quently he  was  chosen  alderman,  and  for  three  terms 
represented  that  ward  with  credit  and  fidelity  in  the 
common  council.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  official  career 
he  was  president  of  the  board,  and  acting  mayor  during 
the  absence  of  Mayor  Havemeyer.  This  latter  patriotic 
and  public-spirited  magistrate,  whose  name  is  still 
synonymous  with  the  best  era  in  New  York  municipal 
affairs,  conceived  a friendship  and  respect  for  Mr.  Char- 
lick, from  this  official  relation,  which,  surviving  all  the 
mutations  of  party  strife,  continued  uninterrupted  until 
his  death.  Mr.  Charlick  was  tendered  the  nomination 
for  mayor;  but,  having  resolved  to  retire  from  politics, 
he  declined  the  honor  and  returned  to  mercantile  pur- 
suits. 

The  gold  excitement  in  1849  was  the  golden  oppor- 
tunity of  many  an  enterprising  man,  and  Mr.  Charlick 
was  not  slow  to  see  the  advantages  which  it  offered.  In 
connection  with  Marshall  O.  Roberts  and  others  he  took 
an  interest  in  an  opposition  line  of  steamships  on  the 
Pacific,  and  went  out  and  gave  the  business  his  closest 
personal  supervision.  Such  were  his  energy  and  fore- 
sight that  in  fifteen  months,  from  the  most  meagre  be- 
ginnings and  with  quite  inadequate  resources,  he  had 
placed  his  enterprise  on  such  stable  foundations  that  the 
old  line  gave  way  and  a consolidation  took  place. 

When  success  was  assured  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  entered  upon  the  construction  of  the  Eighth  avenue 


S7<5 


HISTORY  OF  QUEENS  COUNTY. 


railroad.  For  seven  years  he  had  the  sole  management 
of  this  line;  and  when  he  retired  he  turned  over  to  the 
stockholders  a road  built  at  an  expense  of  $800,000  and 
already  paid  for  out  of  the  earnings,  after  paying  12  per 
cent,  dividend  in  the  interim. 

In  i860  he  disposed  of  his  stock  in  horse  railroads, 
and  went  into  steam  lines.  Taking  the  Flushing  Rail- 
road, which  was  sold  under  foreclosure,  he  renovated  it, 
developed  its  resources,  and  sold  it  again.  He  also  in- 
vested largely  in  Harlem,  Hudson  River,  Vermont,  and 
other  lines,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  management. 

But  his  main  achievement  was  in  the  resuscitation  of 
tfie  Long  Island  Railroad,  then  a sadly  dilapidated  and 
dangerous  concern.  When  it  became  apparent  to  the 
managers  that  he  would  get  the  control  of  the  road  they 
contrived  to  hamper  the  property  with  all  sorts  of  con- 
tracts for  extensions,  supplies,  etc.,  before  he  got  it  into 
his  possession,  and  when  he  finally  took  it  there  was  not 
a pound  of  spikes  on  hand,  not  a cord  of  wood,  and 
hardly  a sound  rail  or  tie  on  the  track,  while  the  rolling 
stock  was  rickety  and  almost  worn  out.  Judicious  and 
economical  management  enabled  him  to  relay  the  track 
with  new  ties  and  rails,  extend  the  branch  roads,  and  re- 
new the  rolling  stock,  and  now  there  is  no  safer  or 
sounder  road  in  the  country.  Mr.  Charlick’s  forte  as  a 
railroad  manager  appears  to  have  been  to  develop  and 
improve  a great  property  and  then  turn  it  over  for  public 
use.  Many  of  our  roads  are  indebted  to  him  for  their 
present  proportions. 

As  a man  Mr.  Charlick  was  close  in  his  bargains,  but 


rigid  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  obligations  to  the  uttermost. 
To  those  whom  he  knew  and  could  trust  he  was  liberal 
and  confiding  to  a degree,  and  many  young  men  of  New 
York  city  now  rising  in  the  world  can  date  their  start  in 
life  at  the  time  when  he  lent  them  a helping  hand.  He 
was  ready  to  forgive  an  enemy,  and  he  never  deserted  a 
friend.  He  was  free,  frank  and  outspoken,  was  an  in- 
veterate foe  to  pretenders  of  all  sorts,  and  never  con- 
sidered his  personal  popularity  when  a question  of  duty 
was  involved.  In  short,  Oliver  Charlick  was  emphati- 
cally a self-made,  self-reliant,  thoroughly  trustworthy, 
progressive  man  of  his  day. 


Perry  Belmont. 

Hon.  Perry  Belmont,  son  of  August  Belmont,  was 
born  in  New  York  city,  December  28th  1851;  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1872;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1876,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 
In  1881  he  was  nominated  for  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  the  XLVIIth  Congress  by  the  Demo- 
crats of  the  first  district  of  New  York,  consisting  of  the 
counties  of  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Richmond;  and  was 
elected  over  the  Republican  candidate,  John  A.  King,  by 
a vote  of  20,815  to  18,163.  As  a young  man,  in  his  first 
term  of  Congressional  service,  he  has  taken  remarkably 
high  rank  and  attracted  unusual  attention,  especially  in 
connection  with  the  foreign  relations  of  the  United 
States  government. 


\ 


h 

\ 


